Last year, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch released a study that aimed to answer once and for all which type of stock, growth or value, yielded the best returns over the long run. The results showed that value stocks trumped growth between 1926 and 2016, with an average gain of 17% a year to 12.6% for growth stocks. With value stocks winning out, and seniors living longer than ever, today's retirees need more than just income during their golden years.