What You Need to Know About Annuities
With the constant threat of stock market volatility, more and more people are looking for safety when it comes to a retirement income stream. Annuities can provide that safety. So let’s take a look at what you need to know about annuities and consider whether or not they make sense for your retirement income needs.
1) Annuities are an insurance product.
Annuities are a contract with an insurance company to hold and invest a defined initial sum or a series of principal payments, and then pay the principal and all accrued interest out over a pre-determined period that could be as long as the life of the annuitant.
2) Annuities can be “pay me now” or “pay me later”.
The “pay me now” annuities are called immediate annuities and the “pay me later” annuities are called deferred annuities. With an immediate annuity, a single payment is made to fund the annuity, and payments to the annuitant begin immediately.
With a deferred annuity, either a single payment or a series of payments are used to fund the annuity, but payments to the annuitant do not begin until a predetermined time has elapsed or the annuitant reaches a certain age.
3) When an annuity is first established, there are many features to choose from.
For instance, if the annuitant is most concerned about a premature death during the term of the annuity, they could decide to enhance the death benefit. On the other hand, if they wish to provide a guaranteed income for the rest of their life they could structure the annuity with an indefinite term. Some annuities can have a cost-of-living adjustment rider. Other common riders are guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB), guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit (GMAB), and there is also a disability/unemployment rider. Essentially, there are a host of options available when it comes to annuities, so it is best to work with a professional to determine which features are best for your particular situation.
4) Annuities can greatly reduce risk.
Generally speaking, the younger the person, the more risk they can afford to take with their money. This is because mistakes at this early stage of life can be recouped over time. However, as people get closer to retirement age, they tend to look more to asset protection than growth. Unlike other financial products, fixed annuities are not subject to market fluctuations that affect mutual funds or equities. With a fixed index annuity, your principal can be 100% protected against stock market losses. Less risk means less return but greater peace of mind.
5) Annuities can be tax deferred.
Annuities can defer tax payments on interest earned or on market gains until payments to the annuitant begin. The beauty of tax deferred annuities is that your gains work for you and not the IRS.
6) Variable annuities have greater risks.
The investment options tied to a variable annuity are typically mutual funds that invest in stocks, bonds, money market instruments, or some combination of the three. Unlike fixed index annuities, variable annuities are subject to stock market losses and there is no limit to those losses. On the flip side, with variable annuities, there is also no limit to possible gains, depending on how your allocated investments perform, which is unlike most fixed annuities which are capped at a predetermined level.
7) A fixed index annuity allows you to share in stock market gains.
A fixed index annuity protects both principal and any accrued earnings against stock market losses. This is accomplished by setting the annuity interest rate based on a percentage of stock market growth while still guaranteeing a minimum positive interest rate if the market loses value. The only significant difference between fixed annuities and fixed index annuities is that the interest rate in a fixed index annuity is determined by the gain in the underlying stock index whereas in a fixed annuity the interest paid is based on the prevailing interest rates for fixed income investments like CDs.
Do you think you know what you need to know about annuities? To determine if an annuity is right for your retirement portfolio, we strongly suggest that you consult with an expert on annuities. As you’ve seen, annuities can have a wide range of options and more options are made available on a regular basis, so it can be extremely difficult to figure out on your own. That’s where we come in. Use this link if you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our representatives, or call us at +1 (972) 473-4700For more information, we also suggest some of our following articles and pages:
>> Get the latest annuity rates
>> Questions to ask when considering FIAs
>> Is an annuity right for me?
Disclosure: Indexed annuities are insurance contracts that, depending on the contract, may offer a guaranteed annual interest rate and some participation growth, if any, of a stock market index. Such contracts have substantial variation in terms, costs of guarantees and features and may cap participation or returns in significant ways. Any guarantees offered are backed by the financial strength of the insurance company, not an outside entity. Investors are cautioned to carefully review an indexed annuity for its features, costs, risks, and how the variables are calculated. A fixed annuity is intended for retirement or other long-term needs. It is intended for a person who has sufficient cash or other liquid assets for living expenses and other unexpected emergencies, such as medical expenses. A fixed or indexed annuity is not a registered security or stock market investment and does not directly participate in any stock or equity investments or index.
Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing in Variable Annuities. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the variable annuity contract and the underlying investment options, can be obtained from the insurance company or your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest. The investment return and principal value of the variable annuity investment options are not guaranteed. Variable annuity sub-accounts fluctuate with changes in market conditions. The principal may be worth more or less than the original amount invested when the annuity is surrendered.
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