"Private equity and real estate ... can offer access to private deals and growth opportunities not found in typical mutual funds. Annuities ... are marketed as a way to guarantee income in retirement ... However, these offerings are much harder to evaluate and even harder to escape. That makes them risky for the average saver who doesn't have a team of analysts at their side.... The strongest push is coming from the companies that stand to profit, such as insurance firms, recordkeepers and investment managers."  MORE >>