Annuity vs. Life Insurance

Annuities and life insurance are both financial contracts issued by insurance companies. Both can allow for tax-deferred growth of your money, and both can provide death benefits to your beneficiaries; however, this is where the similarities end.

headshot of Thomas J. Brock, CFA, CPA
  • Written By Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA
    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA

    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA

    Investment, Corporate Finance and Accounting Professional

    Thomas Brock, CFA®, CPA, is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience in investments, corporate finance and accounting. He currently oversees the investment operation for a $4 billion super-regional insurance carrier.

    Read More
  • Edited By Michael Santiago, CRPC™
    Michael Santiago, CRPC™
    Headshot of Michael Santiago, senior editor for Annuity.org

    Michael Santiago, CRPC™

    Senior Financial Editor

    Michael Santiago is a skilled writer and editor with over a decade of experience in various industries. As a senior financial editor, he collaborates with a team of experts to develop compelling and accurate content.

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  • Reviewed By Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA
    Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA
    Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA, Annuity.org expert contributor

    Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EA

    Co-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.

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  • Updated: August 15, 2024
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 3 Cited Research Articles

Key Takeaways

  • Annuities and life insurance policies are both tax-advantaged financial contracts issued by insurance companies, but they serve very different purposes.
  • An annuity is designed to provide guaranteed income in the event you live longer than expected.
  • A life insurance policy is designed to create income for your heirs in the event of your untimely death.
  • In many cases, owning both annuities and life insurance is an effective way to achieve your financial objectives.

Annuities and life insurance policies are both financial contracts issued by insurance companies, but they are not interchangeable. They are designed to accomplish opposing objectives. 

Annuities are designed to provide guaranteed income in the event you live longer than expected. Conversely, life insurance is designed to create income for your heirs in the event of your untimely death.

Annuities and life insurance both provide you and your family with financial protection, but on opposite ends of the longevity spectrum. Life insurance protects your family due to death, while annuities protect you if you live longer than expected.

Which Solution Is Right for You?

When it comes to optimizing your finances, choosing between buying an annuity or buying life insurance is not always sensible. In many cases, implementing a financial strategy that includes both annuities and life insurance is the best way to achieve your near-term objectives and enhance your retirement plan.

To assess your individual circumstances and formulate an optimal plan, the experts at Annuity.org recommend you leverage a fiduciary financial advisor. To facilitate the conversation, we offer some context on the various types of annuities and life insurance policies below.

Annuity vs. life insurance comparison
Comparison of annuities and life insurance policies

Types of Annuities

There are two types of annuities — immediate and deferred. With an immediate annuity, you begin receiving income distributions within a year of purchase. With the latter, you begin receiving income distributions after a specified accumulation period that usually lasts between six and 10 years.

Within the deferred annuity category, there are three distinct groups of products – fixed, fixed index and variable annuities, all of which offer investors the benefit of tax-deferred growth. 

  1. Fixed annuities are the safest type of instrument, offering a guaranteed rate of interest.
  2. Fixed index annuities are a little riskier than fixed annuities because their returns can fluctuate. However, they usually provide downside protection.
  3. Variable annuities are the riskiest type of annuity because they entail investment positions in volatile assets, like bonds and stocks, which can lose value.
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How soon are you retiring?

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What is your goal for purchasing an annuity?

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Types of Life Insurance

Just as there are two basic types of annuities, there are two primary types of life insurance — term and permanent. The former is a relatively inexpensive risk management tool that provides financial protection to your beneficiaries. The latter is more costly, but also more versatile, providing a means to achieve various financial goals in a tax-advantaged manner. 

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period, usually, between 10 and 30 years. If the policyholder dies during this period, his or her beneficiaries receive a tax-free death benefit payout, assuming the policy’s premium payments are current. If the policyholder outlives the term, the insurance coverage expires and no death benefit is paid.

Term policies may be annually renewable with increasing premiums or have level premiums for a stated period. Regardless, the cost of both structures increases significantly as you age.

Term policies are most popular with people who have minimal discretionary income, but wish to provide a certain level of financial protection to their loved ones. This type of insurance is very affordable compared to permanent life insurance. 

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance provides coverage for the policyholder’s entire life, and the money paid into it funds two components – a death benefit and a cash value reserve. The death benefit provides a tax-free payout to named beneficiaries upon the policyholder’s death (just like a term life policy), and the cash value reserve gives the policyholder an equity stake in the policy.

Like annuities, the funds comprising the cash value reserve can be invested in fixed- or variable-rate assets and are allowed to grow on a tax-deferred basis. Once the reserve is large enough, the money can be temporarily or permanently withdrawn. However, permanent withdrawals typically result in a reduction of the policy’s death benefit.

Using a 1035 Exchange To Convert a Life Insurance Policy to an Annuity

While it can make sense to hold both life insurance and annuity contracts, there may come a time when you no longer need life insurance. In this situation, there is an exchange mechanism endorsed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that may interest you – the Section 1035 exchange.

A Section 1035 exchange allows the tax-free exchange of an annuity for another annuity, a life insurance policy for another life insurance policy or a life insurance policy for an annuity. It does not, however, allow for an annuity to be exchanged for a life insurance policy.

Did You KNow?

The reason the IRS permits tax-free Section 1035 exchanges is because they do not result in any income streams or capital gains, which are taxable. Generally, taxable events arise from cash distributions.

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Is An Annuity Right For You?

Our short quiz provides clarity on whether an annuity is a smart choice for your retirement portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an annuity a good investment for me?

Investing in an annuity can be sensible for conservative, hands-off investors that want to generate a consistent stream of income. However, before investing in an annuity (especially, a deferred annuity), make sure you have ample near-term liquidity.

Does term or permanent life insurance make sense for me?

Term life insurance makes the most sense for people looking to provide financial protection to loved ones in the event of their untimely death. Permanent life insurance is more suitable for higher-earning individuals looking to protect their loved ones, while sheltering their income from relatively high tax rates.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: August 15, 2024
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