Wealth Ladders is a sophisticated, process-based solution for constructing the vital foundation, or “floor,” of secure lifetime income that is essential in an overall strategy for retirement income distribution. Wealth Ladders is an annuity laddering process that strategically combines four annuities to deliver lifetime income with two pre-planned “step-ups.” Four distinct time-specific “segments” comprise the laddering framework. Each segment has a specific role to play in the overall process.