Annuities can be optimized for income or long-term growth, but they are not short-term investment strategies. These products appeal to people whose objectives include long-term financial security, retirement income, diversification and principal preservation.
Key Takeaways
- An annuity is an insurance product designed to provide consumers with guaranteed income for life.
- The type of annuity you purchase determines your future annuity payments.
- The primary benefits of buying an annuity include principal protection, the potential for guaranteed lifetime income and the option to leave money to your beneficiaries. Some annuities may also be optimized to help pay for long-term care.
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 insurance company 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.
How Do Annuities Work?
Annuities work by converting a lump-sum premium into a stream of income that a person can’t outlive. 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 are designed to supply this income through a process of accumulationAccumulation PeriodAn accumulation period is the period of time when annuity premiums increase in value. and annuitization or, in the case of immediate annuitiesImmediate AnnuityType of annuity that converts premiums to a stream of income immediately. Also known as an income annuity, single premium immediate annuity (SPIA), or deferred income annuity (DIA) an immediate annuity has no cash value and withdrawals are generally not allowed before income benefits begin., lifetime payments guaranteed by the insurance company that begin within a month of purchase — no accumulation phase necessary.
In essence, when you buy a deferred annuityDeferred AnnuityAn annuity contract with an accumulation phase and a payout phase. Deferred annuities begin distributing income at a specified date in the future, typically 10 to 30 years., you pay a premium to the insurance company. That initial investment will grow tax-deferred throughout the accumulation phase, typically anywhere from ten to 30 years, based on the terms of your contract. Once the annuitizationAnnuitizationThe process of converting the premiums and interest earned on a deferred annuity to a stream of income through a series of periodic payments., or distribution, phase begins — again, based on the terms of your contract — you will start receiving regular payments.
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, that is, the risk of outliving your money.
To offset this risk, insurance companies charge fees for investment management, contract ridersRiderA provision added to a contract., 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.
Furthermore, insurance companies generally impose caps, spreads and participation rates on indexed annuities, each of which can reduce your return.
- Free-Look Period
- Most states require insurance companies to include a free-look period that allows a buyer to cancel the contract without incurring a surrender charge.
- Riders
- Riders are addendums that allow the customization of basic annuity contracts. It’s important that you understand the riders you select and are aware of their additional costs.
- Beneficiaries
- You can add a death benefit rider to your contract to ensure that your beneficiary receives a portion of the contract value.
- Fees and Commissions
- The fees and commissions for annuities vary by the type of annuity. Fixed annuities generally have the lowest fees.
- Taxation
- One of the most attractive features of annuities is their favorable tax treatment from the IRS. If your annuity was purchased with money that you’ve already paid taxes on, then only your earnings will be taxed when the money is withdrawn.
Annuities Explained
How Are Annuity Rates Set?
Annuity rates are set differently depending on the type of annuity. For example, the issuing insurance company sets the rateAnnuity RateThe rate of growth, expressed as a percentage, set by the insurance company at the start of the annuity contract term. Depending on the type of annuity, the insurance company may guarantee the interest rate for a year or longer, or the rate may fluctuate with a stock market index. of a fixed annuity. They will guarantee this rate for a set period, usually between three and 10 years.
Rate setting is more complicated for other kinds of annuity contracts whose interest rates may vary throughout the term of the contract. A fixed indexed annuity, for example, has both a fixed rate and a rate that’s tied to the growth of an equity market index. The indexed rate may be set according to several factors, including rate caps and floors, to keep the rate within a specified range.
How Are Annuities Taxed?
Finance professionals widely recommend annuities to their clients for their tax-deferred growth potential. Once you purchase the annuity, your investment grows tax free for the length of the contract. You won’t owe taxes until you receive income payments when the annuity matures.
The part of your annuity payout that is taxed depends on the type of annuity you have. If you own a qualified annuity, you’ll pay income taxes on the full withdrawal amount. Meanwhile, only earnings are taxed on non-qualified annuity withdrawals.
How Do Annuities Pay Out?
Annuities come in two basic configurations: immediate or deferred.
The option you select will depend on your financial goals. If you want to begin receiving annuity payments right away, you will choose an immediate annuity.
Alternately, if you would like to 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.
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Immediate Annuities
Read More: How Much Does A $100,000 Annuity Pay Per Month?
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.
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Reasons To Buy an Annuity
People buy annuities to create long-term income. While most often considered financial solutions for older people who are close to retirement, annuities can benefit investors of any age with a variety of financial goals.
Reasons to buy an annuity include:
- Long-term security
- Tax-deferred growth
- Principal protection
- Probate-free estate distribution
- Inflation adjustments
- Death benefits for heirs
Income annuities are generally suitable for people who are within a year of retirement and want the security of guaranteed income. Remember, single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) begin paying out within a year of purchase. This means there is no accumulation period as there is with deferred annuities.
For this reason, SPIAs are also beneficial for younger people who have inherited a large sum of money and wish to protect the windfall from poor financial management.
In contrast, deferred annuities are generally not recommended for people who have short-term financial needs or younger people with more aggressive investment strategies.
Annuity Benefits
One of the key benefits of an annuity is that it allows the investor to save money without paying taxes on the interest until a later date. Annuities have no contribution limits, unlike 401(k)s and IRAs.
Another significant benefit of annuities is the creation of a predictable income stream to fund retirement. With an annuity, you don’t have to worry about outliving your savings. This is a major advantage in the post-pension age.
Your reasons for investing in an annuity should align with your unique lifestyle and financial situation.
Tax-Deferred Growth
You save money without paying taxes on the interest until a later date.
No Contribution Limits
Unlike 401(k)s and IRAs, you set the dollar amount you invest.
Fund Your Retirement
Annuities create predictable income streams for life.
Provide for Your Family
Death benefit riders allow you to transfer your money to your loved ones.
Disadvantages of Annuities
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. It wouldn’t make financial sense to purchase a valuable, viable product if it’s not valuable and viable for you.
Other common concerns about the structure and design of annuities include:
- Commissions and fees
- Complexity
- Conservative returns (as compared with investment products)
- Loss of potential returns from other investments
The loss of potential returns is what’s known as “opportunity cost.” People frequently cite opportunity cost as drawback. This objection is valid for people with higher risk tolerance. For example, 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.
Older investors and retirees, on the other hand, need to assess opportunity costs as they relate to their specific circumstances. It is less likely that people in this age group would consider opportunity costs a disadvantage of an annuity.
Reduce Your Opportunity Cost
For many investors, the main objection to annuities is the risk of losing access to their money for the length of their contract. This means that in addition to the possibility that you won’t be able to cover unexpected expenses, you may miss the opportunity to take advantage of higher interest rates or to invest in the stock market.
This is where your understanding of your long-term goals comes in. Your decision to purchase — or sell — an annuity should be in alignment with your goals, and you should be comfortable with having your money locked down for a modest payout in exchange for guaranteed lifetime income.
To reduce your opportunity cost, consider a partial investment upfront. This will allow you to reserve some of your savings for unplanned expenses and give you the ability to capitalize on a potential rise in interest rates.
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Annuities vs. Other Fixed Income Products
Annuities are often compared to other fixed income products, including life insurance, certificates of deposit (CDs) and bonds. Let’s explore how annuities stack up to these alternatives.
Annuities vs. Life Insurance
While insurance companies issue both products, there are key differences between annuities and life insurance. The major difference is that annuities provide lifetime income for the annuitant with the option to pass on income to a beneficiary after death, while life insurance traditionally serves as a death benefit after the policy holder passes away.
Annuity contracts and life insurance policies are both tax-deferred investment products, and some life insurance policies can grow over time like annuities do. When an annuity matures, the income is usually distributed as a series of payments on a set schedule. Life insurance benefits, on the other hand, are generally distributed in a lump sum to the beneficiary of the policy.
Both products require a premium, which is what you initially pay to purchase the annuity contract or the life insurance policy. However, the way companies determine your premium is different for these two products. Annuity premiums are calculated based on life expectancy, but life insurance premiums are determined by the mortality of the insured.
Because of their differences, a sound financial strategy could include both an annuity and a life insurance policy. Whether one or both products are right for you depends on your long-term money goals.
Annuities vs. CDs
Annuities and CDs are both considered very safe ways to grow your savings over time. Both products provide a guaranteed rate of return over a set period. Annuities and CDs also both favor protecting the investment’s principal over aggressive growth.
There are some notable differences between the two products. CDs are short-term investments offered by banks, while annuities are considered more long-term products and are issued by insurance companies. Taxation on an annuity contract doesn’t kick in until you withdraw payments, while CD interest is taxed annually.
Annuities are more customizable than CDs because you can choose the terms of the contract and add features like death benefit riders. CDs also tend to offer lower interest rates than annuities because the terms are shorter.
Choosing between an annuity and a CD comes down to how soon you expect to need the money you’re investing as principal. Annuities are preferable for long-term savings goals like retirement. CDs, however, are well suited for saving for shorter-term goals such as a house down payment.
Annuities vs. Bonds
Bonds are like annuities in that both are purchased with lump-sum payments and have an established date of maturity. A fundamental difference between annuities and bonds is that annuity contracts are somewhat negotiable, while the terms of bonds are not. You can add benefits or modify terms before you finalize an annuity contract, but a bond indenture cannot be changed.
Annuities also have the advantage of being tax-deferred, while bond income is taxable. In the long term, annuities typically show better rates of return than bonds, and annuities tend to hold their carrying value better over time. The value of bonds tends to decline when interest rates rise.
Bonds and annuities can both be important tools for growing your savings. When choosing which product is right for you, consider the risks and rewards of both financial vehicles and how they align with your own financial priorities.
Annuities in 2023
The economic climate of 2023 has made annuities attractive for consumers looking to maximize their retirement savings. While individual annuity sales spiked 22% in 2022, sales are expected to see a 14% increase in 2023, according to Financial Advisor.
This is partially due to the SECURE 2.0 Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The law opened a new door for annuities in the retirement space, allowing them to be offered as an investment option within 401(k) plans.
In addition, inflation continues to pose a major risk to retirees in 2023, but annuities present a few solutions to this problem.
First, the growth rates of annuities, even the more conservative fixed annuities, are typically higher than the returns on products like CDs or bonds.
An annuity can also be helpful for consumers looking to close the “retirement gap,” in which your savings and retirement income aren’t enough to cover all your expenses. Annuities offer guaranteed income for the lifetime of the annuitant, and this can help supplement an existing retirement account if those savings are not enough.
One type of annuity is especially good at combating the effects of inflation. An inflation-indexed immediate annuity is tied to the movements of the Consumer Price Index, which is the index used to measure inflation. You can further customize an annuity to hedge against inflation by adding a cost-of-living adjustment rider. This feature increases the monthly payouts of the annuity to keep pace with inflation.
Is an Annuity a Good Investment?
To determine whether an annuity is a good investment, you must consider your personal investment needs and goals. It’s also important to account for factors like your age, risk tolerance and lifestyle.
Generally, the younger you are, the more risk you can tolerate. In this case, you might invest in products with greater growth potential. The returns on annuities are modest compared to stocks and other investment vehicles, but they offer guaranteed growth over an extended period.
Annuities tend to be sound investments for older consumers preparing for retirement. The modest returns annuities provide are balanced out by principal protection and tax-deferred growth. Annuities also provide a stream of income you can’t outlive, unlike other retirement solutions.
When deciding whether to invest in an annuity, weigh which characteristics of a savings vehicle are most important to you. If you want a safe investment that allows your money to grow tax-deferred and gives you the option to pass on your investment to a beneficiary, an annuity might be the right choice.
How To Buy an Annuity
Annuities are issued by insurance companies, but most contracts are not sold directly to the public from the company’s own agents. The majority of annuities in America are purchased from distributors, brokerage firms, banks, mutual fund companies and independent agents.
These distributors will work with you to negotiate your contract and help you manage the contract as your annuity matures. You will primarily work with the agent who sold you the annuity, though you may occasionally receive information from the insurance company that backs the annuity.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Annuities
Annuities are financial instruments that earn interest and provide a guaranteed income stream through payments over a predetermined amount of time. Annuities are often used to fund retirement and come in a variety of types that align with different financial goals and risk tolerance.
All annuities share similar fees, but the total cost of an annuity can differ by type. When you purchase an annuity, you pay a premium that can be converted into a fixed income stream. The annuity’s administrative fees offset the risks held by the annuity provider, including market volatility. Your contract will outline your financial obligations and the annuity’s growth rate.
Benefits of annuities include a stream of income, tax advantages, tax-deferred growth over time and contain no contribution limits. Annuities are primarily used to supplement traditional sources of retirement income. In the event of death, annuities also offer riders that allow you to transfer money to your beneficiaries.
Purchasing an annuity is among the safest options for long-term financial planning. They are insurance products, so they experience less volatility with market fluctuations, although some annuity types have higher risks — and higher potential rewards — than others.
Annuities are insurance products, and annuity providers are often insurance companies. Although the annuity itself is not insured in the literal sense, annuity owners are protected by state guaranty associations if the insurance company defaults on payments.
You can designate one or more beneficiaries in your annuity contract if it has a death-benefit provision. The beneficiary would inherit either a specific amount or the remaining money in the annuity.
The typical age for buying an annuity is between 45 and 75, but a multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) can be suitable for just about any age.
When you purchase an annuity, your premium is placed in an investment portfolio called an annuity fund. This portfolio determines the rate of return you’ll earn on your annuity.
