Annuities

What Is an Annuity?

An annuityAnnuityAn insurance product that earns interest and generates periodic payments over a specified period of time, typically with the purpose of providing income in retirement. is a customizable contract issued by an insurance company that converts an investor’s premiums into a guaranteed, fixed-income stream.

More specifically, an annuity contract is a legally binding, written agreement between you and the annuity provider that issues the contract. This contract transfers your longevity riskLongevity RiskLongevity risk is the risk that you will outlive your retirement savings. — the risk of you outliving your savings — to the insurance company. In exchange, you pay premiumsPremiumA regular payment made to keep insurance coverage active. as outlined in the contract.

Many retirees need more than Social SecuritySocial SecuritySocial Security is a federal benefits program for retirees in the United States, funded by taxes. and investment savings to provide for their daily needs. Annuities provide a way to potentially accumulate wealth, defer taxes, preserve their principal and ensure a reliable income stream in retirement.

Annuities offer retirees the opportunity to transfer the risk of their retirement income to an insurance company. Rather than depending on volatile market returns for all of their income, retirees can leverage annuities to add reliability to their regular income stream now or in the future.

Consumers today have more varied and aspirational retirement goals than in the past. Whether they have unique travel plans or wish to start a new business, retirees seek to be more active than ever. In line with broad trends toward personalization and customization in consumer goods, contemporary annuity contracts allow for various optional riders, features and growth options to meet specific needs. Annuities can be a versatile option for retirees who want to stress less over their retirement income plan.

Stephen Kates, CFP®Principal Financial Analyst for Annuity.org

Stephen Kates, CFP® is a personal finance expert specializing in financial planning and education. He serves as the Principal Financial Analyst for Annuity.org, where he delves into industry trends to support consumers and financial advisors on wealth management, annuities, retirement planning, and investing.

Types of Annuities

Different types of annuities exist to fit the diverse needs of the market. Your personal goals and objectives will determine the type of annuity that is right for you.

Annuities can be structured for immediate or deferred payout. When considering an annuity, you must first define your financial goals and when you want to start receiving annuity payments.

If you want to begin receiving annuity payments within a year or less, you will choose an immediate annuity. 

Alternatively, if you’d rather set your payments to begin at some point in the future, you will purchase a deferred annuity and specify the start date in your contract. Most deferred annuities can be categorized into three main types: fixed, indexed and variable annuities.

How Do Annuities Work?

At their most basic, annuities work by converting a premium into a stream of payments. The amount and duration of the payments depend on various factors, including the type of annuity, the premium amount, the annuitant’s age and the chosen payout option. 

Most annuities supply income through a process of accumulation and annuitization. The exception is immediate annuities that begin paying out as soon as within a month of purchase with no accumulation phaseAccumulation PeriodAn accumulation period is the period of time when annuity premiums increase in value. necessary.

When you buy a deferred annuity, you pay a premium to the insurance company. That initial investment grows throughout the accumulation phase, typically anywhere from five to 30 years based on the terms of your contract. An annuity’s growth is tax-deferred; unlike other safe accumulation products like certificates of deposit (CDs), you won’t owe taxes on the growth of your annuity while it’s in the accumulation phase.

Once the annuitization, or distribution, phase begins — again, based on the terms of your contract — you may start receiving regular payments. At this point, any income you receive from your annuity is considered taxable income.

Annuities can be a great tool to help you generate retirement income or reach other financial goals, but there are many kinds of annuities. It’s important that you understand how they work to know if one is right for you.

Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EACo-Owner of Belonging Wealth Management

As a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®, Brandon Renfro is well-versed in the financial information and strategies needed to meet retirement goals. In addition to co-owning Belonging Wealth Management and assisting clients, Brandon writes regularly for financial publications.

Annuity contracts transfer all the risk of a down market to the insurance company. This means you, the annuity owner, are protected from market risk and longevity risk. To offset this risk, insurance companies charge fees for investment management, contract riders, and other administrative services. In addition, most annuity contracts include surrender periods during which the contract holder cannot withdraw money from the annuity without incurring a surrender charge.

How Do Annuities Pay Out?

Many people choose annuities to create a lifetime income stream, but annuities pay out in a couple of different ways. When a deferred annuity reaches the end of the surrender period, the owner has a choice; they can leave the annuity to continue accumulating value, withdraw the entire value of the annuity in a lump sum, or annuitize the contract.

Annuitization refers to the process of converting a contract into income payments. Annuity owners can choose from several options for how long they continue to receive those payments. The length of the payout period will affect how much income goes into each payment; the longer the expected payout, the smaller the payment amounts will be.

Annuitized Payout Options

• Period Certain: guarantees payments for a set number of years, usually 5 to 20.
• Straight Life: pays a guaranteed stream of income for the lifetime of the annuitant.
• Life With Period Certain: guarantees payments until a set number of years elapses or until the annuitant dies, whichever comes last.
• Joint and Survivor: guarantees payments so long as the contract owner or a secondary annuitant lives. 

How Annuity Rates Impact Payout

The amount of income you’ll receive from an annuity payment depends not only on how long the annuity pays out but also how much value the contract accumulated before annuitization. For fixed, indexed or immediate annuities, this is referred to as the annuity rate.

Annuity rates influence payout because the higher an annuity’s rate is, the more value it will accumulate. The more valuable the annuity is when it is annuitized, the bigger the payments will be.

Fixed and immediate annuities accumulate interest according to a set rate that’s guaranteed when the contract is purchased. Indexed annuities earn interest based on a minimum fixed rate and additional interest that’s credited based on the performance of an equity market index like the S&P 500.

Guarantees and Riders

Certain contract provisions, like guarantees and riders, can also influence annuity payouts. Riders are additional features that annuity customers use to customize their contract, usually for a fee.

Some riders offer guarantees for how long an annuity will pay out or how much the payout will be. These types of riders are especially popular as add-ons for variable annuities, which normally have an unpredictable payout. A majority of variable annuities are sold with living benefit riders, which lock in certain guarantees for annuity payouts while the annuitant is alive.

Who Is an Annuity Good For?

An annuity could be good for someone who is looking for a conservative savings vehicle that can establish a lifetime income stream in retirement. For this reason, annuities are generally considered appropriate for older people who are close to retirement and have already contributed to other tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicles like a 401(k) or IRA.

Key Considerations When Buying an Annuity

Financial Goals and Needs

How will this annuity fit into your overall financial plan? Do you want to generate retirement income, plan for long-term care expenses, or leave a legacy to your heirs? Understanding your goals will help you select the most suitable type of annuity.

Tax Implications

Annuities grow on a tax-deferred basis, but the income you receive from the annuity will be taxable. Understand all the tax implications of purchasing an annuity, including how withdrawals and distributions are taxed.

Beneficiary Designation

What will happen to the annuity when you die? Do you want to pass on the annuity to your spouse, child or other beneficiary? Consider how your annuity fits into your estate plan.

Provider Selection

Research and select a reputable annuity provider. Look for providers with strong financial stability, a good track record and positive customer reviews.

Disadvantages of Annuities

Annuities can help customers nearing retirement grow their savings with no downside risk and create lifetime income, but these products aren’t for everyone. It’s important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of annuities before deciding to purchase one.

Some consumers see sacrificing liquidity in return for lifetime financial security as a disadvantage. Indeed, if your financial status or short-term goals limit the amount of cash you have on hand, an annuity is probably not the right solution for you.

Other common concerns about the structure and design of annuities include:

• Commissions and fees
• Complex contracts
• Conservative returns (compared to other investment products)
• Loss of potential returns from other investments

The loss of potential returns is what’s known as “opportunity cost.” People with higher risk tolerance frequently cite opportunity cost as a drawback for annuities. Younger investors with longer time horizons would most likely benefit from a more aggressive investment strategy because they have time for their money to grow and could bounce back from temporary market losses.

“Like all investments, annuities are exposed to certain risks. That said, if structured properly, they can be a highly beneficial aspect of a retirement plan, providing a guaranteed stream of income in a relatively low-risk, hands-off manner,” said Thomas Brock, CFA®, CPA.

Annuities vs. Other Products

When considering buying an annuity, you might also think about alternative products that could achieve the same goals. 

For example, the most popular type of annuity, fixed annuities, are principal-protected savings vehicles that grow your investment at a guaranteed rate. You might compare fixed annuities to CDs or savings accounts, which likewise feature principal protection and an interest rate.

Q&A With Annuity.org Principal Financial Analyst Stephen Kates

For even deeper insights on annuities, review this Q&A with Annuity.org Principal Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner^TM professional Stephen Kates.