First-Time Annuity Buyers

Important Considerations for a First-Time Annuity Buyer

You’ll have to take several considerations into account when purchasing an annuity. Think about how soon you want to receive income from your annuity, how long you want the payments to last, what fees you might have to pay and what the tax implications will be.

What Type of Payout Do You Want?

All annuities exchange a premium now for income later, but that income can be paid out in a few different ways. Understanding your payout options is key when considering an annuity.

The two main payout options with an annuity are immediate or deferred. Immediate annuity contracts annuitize — convert an annuity into regular income payments — within one year of purchase. In contrast, deferred annuities delay annuitization for several years and may not even require you to annuitize your contract. The period before a deferred annuity converts to income is the accumulation phase. 

Besides choosing when payments begin, you must also consider how long you want payments to last. Many annuity purchasers select a single life contract that guarantees income payments for their lifetime. 

You can opt to continue payments over your and your spouse’s lifetime with a joint and survivor annuity. An annuity with period certain guarantees that, if you pass away before the payout period elapses, your beneficiary will receive the remaining payments. Finally, you can also select a lump-sum payout on most annuity contracts.

The process for researching and purchasing an annutiy can be lengthy, so it is important to give yourself time to consider your options and decide what is right for you.

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.

Fees and Penalties

One of the most important considerations when shopping for annuities is the fees and penalties associated with the contract. Take a close look at the products you’re considering and compare the costs and fees.

Nearly all deferred annuities come with a surrender charge. This is a penalty imposed on annuity owners who withdraw money from their annuity too soon after purchase.

Surrender charges typically represent a percentage of the annuity’s value, and the charge becomes less expensive each year until the surrender period is over.

Aside from the surrender charge, your annuity may have other fees depending on the type of annuity you purchase. The more complex an annuity is, the more fees it typically carries.

Variable annuities have the most fees, while fixed annuities tend to have very few.

Tax Implications

Finally, you should understand the tax implications of purchasing an annuity. Many financial advisors recommend annuities for their tax-deferred growth potential, but this doesn’t mean you won’t owe taxes on your annuity.

Annuities grow on a tax-deferred basis, so you won’t be taxed on the interest your annuity accumulates until you receive payments. The portion of your annuity payments that are taxable depends on whether your annuity is qualified or nonqualified.

A qualified annuity is purchased with pre-tax funds, such as a qualified retirement plan. The entire value of your income payments is taxable when you annuitize a qualified contract.

An annuity purchased with after-tax funds is nonqualified. When you receive income from a nonqualified annuity, only the portion of the payout that represents the interest earned counts as taxable income. If you decide to cash out or surrender your nonqualified annuity without annuitizing, the growth of that annuity may become taxable all at once. It is important to understand any and all tax implications before making any decisions on withdrawal.

Which Type of Annuity Works Best for You?

There are many types of annuities, and you can customize each to fit different income strategies. 

The four most common types of annuities are fixed annuities, fixed index annuities, variable annuities and income annuities. Each of these products can serve a purpose in your retirement plan, but not all annuities will work for all investors.

Read More: Reasons To Buy an Annuity

Different Types Serve Different Purposes

Finding the Right Annuity Provider

To find the best annuity provider for you, it’s important to conduct your own research and consider multiple options.

One of the most significant things to look for in an annuity provider is their financial strength rating. Annuities are not backed by the federal government like CDs or savings accounts, so the security of your annuity’s value depends on the insurance company itself.

Credit rating agencies like AM Best, Moody’s and Fitch issue financial strength ratings for annuity providers. The grade a provider receives represents how likely it is to fulfill its financial obligations. A rating of B or better usually shows a sufficient level of financial stability for an annuity provider, Gale said.

While a provider’s financial strength is an important consideration, it’s far from the only factor to account for when choosing where to purchase an annuity.

“As an advisor, I’m looking at how consistent their rates are,” said Gale. “A lot of companies start out with really high rates and then go right to the minimum the next year. So, it looks good up front, but then it doesn’t produce the way it should.”

In addition to investigating rate history, research the specific products the company offers. You may want a provider that specializes in your preferred type of annuity, or one that offers an attractive living benefit or similar feature.

Tips for Avoiding Fraudulent Companies

Unfortunately, unscrupulous insurance companies can take advantage of the inherent complexity of annuities and make fraudulent or misleading claims to consumers. 

Here are some indicators that an annuity provider is legitimate:

• Strong financial strength ratings
• Positive independent reviews
• Clearly states fees on annuity products
• Transparent brokers or advisors
• Brokers or advisors have relevant designations or licenses

On the other side, there are a few red flags to watch out for when speaking with an annuity broker. If the broker uses high-pressure tactics or tries to create urgency with a “today-only” offer or signing bonus, this could indicate a bad actor. A good advisor or broker will give you time to look over an annuity contract before signing.

You’ll want to work with a trusted financial advisor and speak to representatives from the providers you’re considering before making any decisions.

Read More: How to Customize an Annuity

Purchasing an Annuity

When you’re thinking about purchasing an annuity, you may want to first reach out to a financial professional for advice. 

Annuity customer Chuck Burton told Annuity.org that speaking with a financial advisor is of the utmost importance when thinking about purchasing an annuity. “You could do your own research with the internet, but you really want to talk to somebody you trust,” Burton said. “Probably a professional, a financial professional.”

Gale suggested working with a professional who’s licensed in both insurance and investment advising, as annuities are only one part of a financial plan. “You want [someone] in the middle that understands both sides,” he explained. Working with a financial advisor can help you understand the terms of an annuity contract and how different annuity products can affect your financial situation. 

After choosing the annuity product that’s best for you, you can complete the application and transfer the funds to pay the premium. This completes the purchasing process.

After the contract has officially been issued, the annuity’s free look period begins. This period typically lasts between 10 and 30 days, depending on what your state’s insurance commissioner requires. During the free look period, you can cancel your contract with no penalty and receive a full refund.

The free look period is an opportunity to review your contract in full one last time. Make sure you understand the fees and how interest is credited, as well as how any riders or extra provisions will affect your contract.

Read More: Are Multiple Annuities a Good Idea?

Questions To Ask When You’re Ready To Buy

When you sit down with an advisor to discuss purchasing an annuity, you might find it helpful to have some questions prepared. Here are some potential questions to ask your advisor to determine how an annuity can help you:

• What is the minimum guaranteed interest rate?
• What is the current interest rate?
• How long is the surrender period and how much are the surrender charges?
• Is there a free withdrawal option? If so, what are the terms?
• Can the annuity lose value?
• Will the annuity pay my beneficiaries after I die?
• What is the maturity or annuitization date?
• What are the fees?

Source: Texas Department of Insurance

Is an Annuity Right for You?

Ultimately, annuities are insurance products where you pay a premium upfront in exchange for receiving income later. The first step to deciding whether an annuity is right for you is to understand how this product will fit into your financial plan.

“You need to understand what your goals and objectives are,” Russ Gaiser III, MBA, a Certified Social Security Claiming Strategist and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, told Annuity.org. “If you’re thinking about an annuity, what is the purpose of the annuity in the [financial] plan?”

Most people purchase annuities for income in retirement. Assessing your current financial situation, how close you are to retirement and what your retirement income goals look like are important factors in determining whether an annuity will be beneficial to you.

What Do Your Retirement Income Goals Look Like?

To understand how much income you’ll need in retirement, you must first consider the options available to you. Many Americans receive regular payments in retirement through pension plans or Social Security. 

However, the income provided by these programs is often not enough to support a retiree’s lifestyle. 

“One of the questions you have to ask is, do you expect to live the same type of lifestyle in retirement?” Ralph Gale, a Certified Long-Term Care (CLTC) specialist and Certified Financial Fiduciary®, told Annuity.org.

If you don’t expect your lifestyle to change, your annual expenses are likely to increase during retirement, Gale explained. “[In retirement], there’s more traveling, there’s more dining out, there’s more entertainment.”

You need to understand what your goals and objectives are. If you’re thinking about an annuity, what is the purpose of the annuity in the [financial] plan?

Russ Gaiser IIIMBA, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and Certified Social Security Claiming Specialist

How Does an Annuity Benefit Your Plans?

Annuities have many benefits for investors that make them a great addition to a retirement financial plan. 

Increased expenses, along with the effects of inflation, might make another stream of income necessary for many retirees. If you’re worried about outliving your savings, an annuity can provide an additional income source that’s guaranteed to last the rest of your life.

“You ask yourself, ‘Do I need a guaranteed income for the rest of my life?’ If yes, then an annuity might be your answer,” Gale explained. “‘Do I need to make sure that my long-term care is taken care of and paid for?’ The answer there might be yes as well.”

For example, let’s say you are nearing retirement and have a large amount of cash assets. You could invest the funds in a brokerage account, but you run the risk of losing your money if the market takes a downturn. The closer you are to retirement, the less time your investment will have to weather the ups and downs of the stock market.

However, you can still grow your savings while keeping your money out of the market by purchasing a fixed annuity. Your money will grow at a guaranteed rate with no downside risk.

Featured Experts

Russ is a financial advisor and retirement income planning specialist at The Financial Guys, an independent wealth management firm outside of Buffalo, NY. He earned an MBA from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management. Russ is a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and a Certified Social Security Claiming Strategist. He holds Series 6, 7, 63, 65, and New York State Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses.

Ralph holds a Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC) designation from the Corporation for Long-Term Care and specializes in long-term care. He is also a Certified Financial Fiduciary, signifying his commitment to supporting the best interests of his clients. Ralph has spent his entire career educating himself and his clients on what will be needed financially in retirement.