How to Compare Annuities
Annuities have earned the reputation of being too confusing for the average retirement saver to confidently consider. But annuities have a place in the world of personal finance and retirement planning. So rather than discounting these guaranteed income-generating insurance products, why not learn to compare annuities intelligently and decide for yourself whether an annuity is right for you?
- Written By Kim Borwick
Kim Borwick
Financial Editor
Kim Borwick is a writer and editor who studies financial literacy and retirement annuities. She has extensive experience with editing educational content and financial topics for Annuity.org.
Read More- Edited By
Emily MillerEmily Miller
Managing Editor
Managing editor Emily Miller is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience as a researcher, writer and editor. Throughout her professional career, Emily has covered education, government, health care, crime and breaking news for media organizations in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Texas. She joined the Annuity.org team in 2016.
Read More- Financially Reviewed By
Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPAThomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA
Expert Contributor
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- Updated: February 7, 2023
- 5 min read time
- This page features 5 Cited Research Articles
- Edited By
With the variety of types, riders, payout options, interest-crediting methods and tax treatment, it’s no wonder people’s eyes begin to glaze over at the mention of annuities.
It is true that annuities can get complicated as a result of their flexibility. It is also true that annuities are technically contracts — which means they’re filled with legalese. And when insurance companies combine this specialized “lawyer’s language” with complex actuarial formulas and contract-specific clauses, it can be daunting to the general public.
But this shouldn’t prevent you from accessing all the information you need to make informed decisions about your finances and retirement.

Compare Annuity Benefits, Not Annuity Features
When we talk about all the different types of annuities, we’re referring to the available features. You’ll be presented with options regarding premiums, payout schedules, investment types, add-on features and death benefits. But the first choice you must make — and a good financial advisor will lead with this — is your objective.
Every financial instrument and investment vehicle you include in your portfolio should serve your individual long- and short-term goals. Just as a restaurant can’t satisfy every diner with one dish, an insurance company can’t serve every client with one annuity product.
If you’re allergic to gluten, you’re not going to order the lobster ravioli — unless the waiter assures you that the pasta is gluten-free. This is good news for you, but not as helpful to your date, who’s allergic to shellfish.
In other words, if you know what you want and you’re realistic about your limits, you can, with the help of a knowledgeable expert, narrow down your options and make a decision that’s right for you.
The Most Common Annuity Objectives
Stan Haithcock discusses the PILL strategy in great detail on his own website and in interviews and publications across the financial and insurance field.
- Premium protection
- Lifetime income
- Legacy (or bequests)
- Long-term care
These objectives are common among retirees and people nearing retirement, and annuities are uniquely suited to solve for them.
PILL represents the origin of annuities as insurance products intended exclusively to provide lifetime income for retirees.
The annuity industry has grown to accommodate clients with other objectives, offering various riders and strategies that solve for a range of goals, including minimizing taxes, managing required minimum distributions, extending death benefits and growing capital.
Annuity Classification
Annuities can be classified by several characteristics. And they are often classified by more than one, which can lead to confusion.
For example, annuities are classified by their underlying investments, with fixed annuities based on bonds and other fixed-income products and variable annuities based on subaccounts that may include mutual funds, money market funds and other investments. A third investment type, indexed, functions as a hybrid with income payments determined by a stock index. Indexed annuities offer upside potential with protection against market risk. This is your gluten-free lobster ravioli.
Fixed annuities are the least complicated and least expensive type of annuity. They’re intended to provide a guaranteed income stream with fixed payment amounts. They are reliable and predictable, which makes them a great fit for those seeking the benefit of income security without regard for capital appreciation.
Conversely, variable annuities offer the potential for growth tied to the market but lack the reliability and security of fixed annuities. Variable annuities are more suitable for people who are willing to trade the predictability of a guaranteed income stream for the possibility of capital appreciation.
In this case, the gluten allergy from our restaurant analogy is the equivalent of your risk tolerance. If you know your goal is income security in retirement, then your risk tolerance — the degree of volatility you’re willing to bear from the annuity — is naturally going to be low. This is your limit, and it should dictate your decision to purchase a fixed annuity.
But the investment type isn’t the only characteristic that determines how a specific annuity works.

The periodic payments, which are referred to by insurance companies as “income benefits,” may begin within a year of the contract purchase date — immediate — or at or at a date set in the future — deferred. Be aware that the terms “deferred” and “immediate” may also refer to annuitization.
For example, a deferred income annuity is technically an immediate annuity with a deferred payout schedule.
In an excerpt from his book “Safety-First Retirement Planning: An Integrated Approach for a Worry-Free Retirement (The Retirement Researcher Guide Series),” annuity expert Dr. Wade Pfau recognizes the ambiguity, stating that “[the label ‘deferred immediate annuity’] is not really a contradiction because the immediate part of the name refers to immediate annuitization, and the deferred part of the name refers to the delay in starting the annuitized payments.”
Some people choose not to annuitize their contracts at all. For them, the purpose of the annuity is safety and growth, as opposed to guaranteed income. These people prefer to have control over the funds and are willing to sacrifice the security of a payment stream they can’t outlive.
For those who choose to annuitize their annuities, there are the decisions of when to begin the payout phase and how long the payments should last. Insurance companies offer the options of lifetime payouts and period certain payouts. Lifetime payouts may be categorized even more precisely as single-life or joint-life payout options.
As always, never make a financial decision without examining it through the lens of a holistic plan, and when in doubt, talk to a trusted, reputable financial advisor about your long-term goals and your reasons for considering buying an annuity. Ask your advisor to break down any complicated concepts to ensure that you understand not only the product, but also how it enhances your portfolio and your life.
Connect With a Financial Advisor Instantly
Our free tool can help you find an advisor who serves your needs. Get matched with a financial advisor who fits your unique criteria. Once you’ve been matched, consult for free with no obligation.
5 Cited Research Articles
Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.
- Haithcock, S. (2020, April 29). What are the best annuity rates? Retrieved from https://www.stantheannuityman.com/annuity-rates
- Insurance Information Institute. (n.d.). What are the different types of annuities? Retrieved from https://www.iii.org/article/what-are-different-types-annuities
- Pfau, W. (2020, June 19). What You Need To Know - An Overview Of Annuities Continued. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadepfau/2020/06/19/what-you-need-to-know-overview-of-annuities-continued/?sh=79c912c76074
- Rodeck, D. (2022, February 17). Retirees, Here's What To Consider When Buying an Annuity. Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/annuities/604213/retirees-heres-what-to-consider-when-buying-an-annuity
- Texas Department of Insurance. (2022, May 2). Annuities Guide. Retrieved from https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb078.html
Calling this number connects you to Senior Market Sales (SMS), a trusted partner of Annuity.org.
If you're interested in buying an annuity, a representative will provide you with a free, no-obligation quote.
SMS is committed to excellent customer service. The company can help you find the right insurance agent for your unique financial objectives.
877-918-7024Your web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are interested in learning more about buying or selling annuities, call us at 877-918-7024