Annuity

MoneyBestPal Team
A financial contract that provides a guaranteed stream  of income payments over a specified period of time.
Image: Moneybestpal.com

A financial contract known as an annuity offers a stream of income payments that is guaranteed for a given time period. Many people buy annuities as a way to guarantee an income for their heirs when they pass away or as a safe source of income throughout their retirement years.


Fixed annuities and variable annuities are the two basic categories of annuities. A fixed annuity offers a stream of income payments that is guaranteed together with a fixed rate of return. When an annuity is acquired, the rate of return and the size of the income installments are established, and they remain constant over time. In contrast, a variable annuity invests the premiums into a portfolio of securities like stocks or bonds. The quantity of income payments and the rate of return is influenced by the performance of the underlying investments and are subject to change over time.

Either immediate annuities or deferred annuities can be purchased as annuities. A deferred annuity starts paying out income payments at a later time, such as the policyholder's retirement, whereas an immediate annuity starts paying out income payments as soon as the annuity is acquired.

A person usually pays an insurance firm a lump sum, or a number of installments, to obtain an annuity. The annuity contract, which offers a guaranteed stream of income payments, is subsequently purchased by the insurance company with the help of the premiums paid. Numerous variables, such as the amount of premiums paid, the interest rate, the policyholder's age and health, and others, affect the amount of income payments.

Along with other savings options like 401(k) plans and IRAs, annuities are frequently employed as part of a larger retirement planning approach. They can assist people to guarantee they have enough money to sustain their standard of living during their golden years and offer a reliable source of income during retirement.
Tags