The Value of Annuities
Annuities are Financial Contracts
Index Annuities have become a very popular choice for retirement planning, especially with the stock market volatility over they last decade. Annuities are insurance contracts between an insurance company and contract owners.
Annuities are Financial Contracts
Payments into an annuity can be made via a lump sum, or a series of monthly payments to the insurance company. These funds will accumulate on a tax-deferred basis, which can be a tremendous advantage over time.
Fixed Index Annuities
Fixed Index Annuities provide an opportunity for growth without the risk involved with most investments. This is especially attractive to pre-retirees and retirees looking to preserve assets they have built over several decades.
Optional Benefits
Many annuities offer the ability to add optional benefits such as a lifetime income riders, which gives clients a guaranteed income no matter how long they live.
Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs) do not involve investments in an index. The index performance used to calculate credited interest typically does not include dividends. Some FIAs involve the use of multiple indexes. Methodologies for crediting interest differ among FIA products (e.g., point to point, high water mark, annual resets, single year, multi-year, etc.). Interest crediting methodologies may include caps, participation rates, spreads, margins, or fees that may change from time to time depending on the product. Interest and other guarantees in an annuity are subject to the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the insurance carrier that issues the product. Annuities are long-term vehicles. Many have surrender charges over many years, and withdrawals from an annuity prior to age 59 ½ may be subject to a 10% tax penalty.