When the markets drop like they did today, most folks get that tight, sinking feeling in their stomach. You know the one. It’s like your 401(k) just texted you “we need to talk.” Red arrows, screaming headlines, and Wall Street panic can trigger some serious regret—especially for those who thought riding the market rollercoaster was the golden ticket to a secure retirement.

But here’s the dirty little secret nobody on CNBC is shouting: you don’t have to play that game. You can opt out of the chaos entirely. Enter fixed and indexed annuities—those boring, beautiful lifeboats built for stormy seas like today. While everyone else is bleeding paper losses and praying the Fed pulls a rabbit out of its hat, annuity holders are sleeping just fine. Why? Because when you’re parked in a fixed or indexed annuity, losses are virtually non-existent. You’re not in the market—you’re only linked to it. Big difference.

Indexed annuities let you capture the upside of the market (up to a cap), but when things turn ugly—like today—your principal and prior gains stay locked in. No clawbacks. No “market correction” wiping out five years of growth. Fixed annuities are even simpler: slow, steady, and untouched by Wall Street’s emotional breakdowns. It’s not sexy, but neither is eating cat food at 78 because you chased unicorns instead of guarantees.

So if you’re anywhere near retirement age, today should be a flashing neon sign. Markets don’t care how close you are to hanging up the briefcase. But fixed and indexed annuities? They do. They’re built to protect you when it matters most—right now.

Let everyone else panic. You? You’re playing chess while the market plays Jenga.