Author: Selena Maranjian, The Motley Fool

It’s smart to consider annuities for your retirement, as they can deliver pension-like guaranteed income for a certain number of years or even the rest of your life.

One simple chart shows how much you can increase or shrink your Social Security checks, simply via timing.

Reading up on Social Security may not sound enticing, but the more you know, the savvier decisions you’ll make, and that can lead to increased Social Security benefits and many thousands of dollars more in retirement.

Both offer cash flow and passive income, but if you want a higher long-term rate of return, one is likely to serve you better.

Investing can be complicated and difficult — or relatively quick and easy. Here are the steps to start building long-term wealth in the stock market.