An annuity is a financial contract you can sign with an insurance company, wherein you pay a premium in exchange for guaranteed payments at a later date. Annuities can be a useful tool to help you fund your retirement. If you’re worried that you might outlive the savings you’ve built with your 401(k) or IRA won’t quite cover the cost of your lifestyle, an annuity might be a good idea. Here’s what you need to know.
A financial advisor can help you put a financial plan together for your retirement.
How an Annuity Works
An annuity is a financial contract that you enter into with an insurance company. You purchase the contract for a specific amount of money, either through a lump sum or periodic payments. In exchange, the insurer agrees to pay you a set amount on a recurring basis.
Depending on the type of annuity you buy, you may begin receiving payments immediately or defer them to a later date. Typically, annuity benefits are payable until your death, but some plans only allow you to receive payments for a fixed amount of time.
Types of Annuities
Annuities are not one-size-fits-all. There are several different types to choose from, and they generally fall into one of two categories: fixed and variable. A fixed annuity offers a guaranteed return of the principal you paid in, along with a minimum amount of interest. Your payments stay the same for the entire length of the contract, so you’ll know exactly how much income you can expect. Certain fixed annuities may be indexed, which means your returns are linked to a specific market index, such as the S&P 500.
Variable annuities, on the other hand, work a little differently. Generally, your principal investment is still guaranteed but your returns are not. When you invest in this type of annuity, you have the opportunity to choose your investments, and the better they perform, the higher your returns will be. Variable annuities have the best potential for growth, but they also tend to carry a higher degree of risk.
You’ll also need to choose between an immediate annuity or a deferred annuity. An immediate annuity starts paying off as soon as you make an initial investment. Deferred annuities, though, don’t pay off until later. If you are retired, an immediate annuity might make sense. Younger people gravitate towards deferred annuities as a plan for the future.
Fixed annuities are also categorized as either equity-indexed or market-value-adjusted, based on how the interest is generated.
Pros and Cons of Annuities
There are a number of pros to getting an annuity, which make them great additions to your overall retirement plan. Here’s a breakdown of the some of the most common perks they hold:
- Guaranteed income on a regular basis in retirement
- Delayed taxes on earnings
- Lower investment risk
- Can sometimes extend to a beneficiary
Like any financial product, there are also downsides to using an annuity as part of your retirement plan. Below are some drawbacks of annuities to consider before you purchase one:
- Lower risk means less growth
- Contract limitations mean you can’t pull out principal
- A chance you don’t risk break-even point if you don’t live long enough
- Fees can be high
How Annuities Are Taxed
One of the most important things you need to consider before purchasing an annuity is how it may impact your tax situation. Generally, your earnings become taxable at your regular rate once you start making qualified withdrawals. That means you don’t get the added benefit of being able to apply the lower capital gains tax rate. If you start receiving payments before age 59.5, you’ll also get hit with an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty. If you see a substantial amount of growth from your annuity investment, you could find yourself shelling out more in taxes each year.
Whether or not an annuity is a good fit really depends on how much you already have saved and what your long-term retirement goals are. If you’re looking for a stable, predictable investment that offers some tax advantages, annuities generally fit the bill.
Bottom Line
An annuity is a contract with an insurance company exchanging premium payments for a regular payout. Annuities are a useful tool for generating retirement income. There are various types of annuities, each with pros and cons — the type of annuity that is right for you will depend on where you are in life and what you are looking to get out of your annuity.
Retirement Tips
- A financial advisor can help you figure out how annuities and other investments fit into your retirement plan. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Before you get an annuity you should know how much money you’ll need in retirement and whether you’re on pace to meet your goals. Get an estimate with SmartAsset’s free retirement calculator.
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