Buying an Annuity: A How-To Guide
You’ve heard us talk about annuities on the radio, but how do you go about buying an annuity when you are ready? If you are retired or planning for retirement, you may have learned that transferring the burden of generating lifetime income and managing market risk to an insurance company makes a lot of sense. Peace of mind and guaranteed retirement income come through the purchase of an annuity.
But which type of annuity is right for you? Which company should you trust your hard-earned retirement money to? Who has the highest returns with the best income payouts? Where do you even start?
Knowledge is Power
There are four very distinct types of annuities: immediate, fixed, fixed index, and variable. The type of annuity that is best for you will depend on how soon you need income, your age, your risk tolerance, and other factors. Educating yourself on annuity types and the crediting methods they use can save you from making a disastrous purchase decision.
We have created a free educational video series designed to help you get familiarized with annuity terminology and features before you ever talk to an advisor. You can have FREE access to the video series here.
Lastly, make sure you have a clear understanding of your own income needs, available assets, and requirements before you speak to an advisor.
Buying an Annuity Step 1: Choose the Right Expert
Most consumers start out by calling their broker or their banker, and it’s true they will be more than happy to assist you in your search. The problem is, these advisors can only sell what’s on their shelves, so to speak. Brokerage houses and banks have what are known as selling agreements for specific insurance companies and specific products offered by those companies. Similarly, beware of “captive” insurance agents. These agents can only show you their company’s product line.
Buying an annuity with captive agents and limited advisors is like looking at the Grand Canyon through a pinhole.
We are independent financial professionals. That means we have the ability to work with all of the best products issued by the best companies, and that means we can find the right match for your exact situation.
Check the Source
Let’s face it, some bad agents who work in the annuity space have given the industry a bit of a black eye – either because they intentionally misinform clients in order to make a sale, or because they simply don’t understand their own products.
It is critical that you protect yourself by finding an advisor with a proven track record. Remember, it’s okay to ask questions just as you would ask any other professional service provider.
- “How long have you been in business?”
- “How many clients do you have?”
- “What led you to get into the financial services industry?”
- “What are your total assets under management?”
- “If I need help with my annuity down the road, who do I call?”
- “Can I take home a brochure that will summarize the annuity you’ve described?”
In the words of Ronald Reagan, “Trust but verify.” When your annuity is delivered, you have the right to review it for several days before you are bound by the contract. Read the summary and declarations page thoroughly to make sure the terms and rates line up with what you were told.
More at Annuity Rates Explained.
Related Articles from DeWitt & Dunn Financial Services and Annuity Watch USA
Disclosure: Guarantees and benefits are subject to the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
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