Retirement Planning with Fixed Annuities
Will annuities help you build up a retirement income?
Who sells annuities? Insurers market them because they combine investment and insurance features. Two common reasons people purchase them is to save for a long term goal, or to assure income later. So even though people tend to associate them with retirement income, they can also be used for other reasons.
There are two main types of way to build up the cash value, so something can start generating income for retirement.
An immediate annuity is funded by one large sum at the start. Consider a retiree with a lump sum payout or a person who has inherited cash from a family member. This product, as the name implies, begins to make income for the owner right away.
A deferred annuity, on the other hand, must be kept intact for a period of time that is agreed to when it is applied for. If money is withdrawn before this, except for specified reasons, the owner must pay a penalty. So these are meant to reach longer term goals, and for people who do not need the money right away. They could be funded with a lump sum or with a series of payments made over a period of years.
How do you get paid? There are a variety of different options for getting money back. A lifetime payout may guarantee income for life. But some people accept payouts for less time, like 10 years, or for the lifetime of either spouse (joint survivorship). They payout that you would choose would depend upon your needs and the cash value of the account.
Some have flexible payout options, and people use them to save money for an emergency.
Many people like annuities because of the favorable way that the IRS tax code treats them. They can grow in a tax deferred manner. They may be qualified or unqualified, which will affect the tax treatment of income payments.
Another advantage is the safety of fixed products. Fixed products may pay at a contract rate, or they may be pegged to a market index.
The S&P 500 is one example of this. During good years, the account will earn an interest rate that follows the index. During down years, the account is guaranteed not to lose money.
Of course, most people want to know how long their annuity will pay out, and how much money they will get. This will depend upon how much money is in the fund, the rate of return, and the type of annuity. It is important to be able to compare different annuity products on the market, and see how they will help you reach your goals. - 23167
Who sells annuities? Insurers market them because they combine investment and insurance features. Two common reasons people purchase them is to save for a long term goal, or to assure income later. So even though people tend to associate them with retirement income, they can also be used for other reasons.
There are two main types of way to build up the cash value, so something can start generating income for retirement.
An immediate annuity is funded by one large sum at the start. Consider a retiree with a lump sum payout or a person who has inherited cash from a family member. This product, as the name implies, begins to make income for the owner right away.
A deferred annuity, on the other hand, must be kept intact for a period of time that is agreed to when it is applied for. If money is withdrawn before this, except for specified reasons, the owner must pay a penalty. So these are meant to reach longer term goals, and for people who do not need the money right away. They could be funded with a lump sum or with a series of payments made over a period of years.
How do you get paid? There are a variety of different options for getting money back. A lifetime payout may guarantee income for life. But some people accept payouts for less time, like 10 years, or for the lifetime of either spouse (joint survivorship). They payout that you would choose would depend upon your needs and the cash value of the account.
Some have flexible payout options, and people use them to save money for an emergency.
Many people like annuities because of the favorable way that the IRS tax code treats them. They can grow in a tax deferred manner. They may be qualified or unqualified, which will affect the tax treatment of income payments.
Another advantage is the safety of fixed products. Fixed products may pay at a contract rate, or they may be pegged to a market index.
The S&P 500 is one example of this. During good years, the account will earn an interest rate that follows the index. During down years, the account is guaranteed not to lose money.
Of course, most people want to know how long their annuity will pay out, and how much money they will get. This will depend upon how much money is in the fund, the rate of return, and the type of annuity. It is important to be able to compare different annuity products on the market, and see how they will help you reach your goals. - 23167
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To get more help, look here - Explain Annuities. Find defereed or Immediate Annuity Quotes.


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