ANNUITIES INFORMATION

Life spans in the United States have been increasing for over a hundred years. It is now common for people who reach retirement age to live 20 years or more in retirement, most of those years in good health. It’s good to live a long and full life, but you want to be sure that your income lasts as long as you do, and its purchasing power is as strong as you are. How can you manage the risk of “outliving your assets”?Annuities are a unique financial product that, along with Social Security, employer pensions, your 401(k) plan, IRA and other assets, can enhance your retirement security. Discuss this option with your insurance professional or financial planner when mapping out your retirement strategy.

BASICS
What is an annuity? Why should I consider purchasing an annuity? How are annuities different from life insurance? How much should I invest in an annuity?
Related Information
FACTS AND STATISTICS: Annuities

Web Video: Are you ready for retirement?
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BUYING AN ANNUITY
How are annuities sold? How do I pick a life insurance company? How do I pick an insurance agent? What is a “free-look” provision? What are surrender fees? How will I receive my annuity payments?

TYPES OF ANNUITIES
What are the different types of annuities? What is a lifetime annuity? What are deferred and immediate annuities? What is the difference between a fixed and variable annuity?

WEB VIDEO: Fixed vs. Variable Annuities
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HELP!
How often should I review my annuity portfolio? Where can I get additional information on annuities? How will I receive my annuity payments? What if I lose my annuity policy?