Annuities
Annuities – what they are, how they work and how to choose the best type of Annuity
Found 148 Articles.
Get access to our full article archive by subscribing to Retirement Watch and Retirement Watch Spotlight Series.
Are Variable Annuities Safe?
First to fall were the homebuilders and mortgage companies. Then the investment banks and a few commercial banks tumbled. Next in line in the financial crisis might be insurance companies. Insurers, especially those that issue a lot of variable annuities, are under scrutiny and facing skepticism about their financial stability. The focus of attention lately […]
Why Fixed Annuity Sales are Soaring
Fixed annuities are drawing many more investors these days, especially annuities sold through banks. Insurance companies report sales are 80% and more above last year’s sales. Several factors make fixed annuities more attractive relative to other investments than in the recent past: Volatility and steep losses in stocks and many types of bonds make them […]
Pros and Cons of the New Annuities
Variable annuities long have been a controversial financial product. They became more controversial and confusing as insurers added features to make them attractive to more consumers. The controversy heated up recently in the pages of Financial Planning, a magazine for financial planners. It started with a white paper issued by Ibbotson Associates in October 2007 […]
Finding Higher Returns with Low Risks – Equity Indexed Annuities
Market volatility and uncertainty spur the search for investment alternatives. Index fund investors broke even or lost money the last 10 years, depending on what the markets did in the latest week. Investors need their portfolios to grow if they are to meet retirement goals, but many investors want to avoid the risks and volatility […]
SUBSCRIBE TO RETIREMENT WATCH
What you don’t know about retirement can hurt you. In fact, just a few wrong decisions in your investments, taxes, or estate planning could completely derail your retirement plans. Worse yet, the rules of the game keep changing, making it harder to keep up. For these reasons, I’ve assembled all the key points – everything you need to know — into one comprehensive report. Click here today for free access.
Increase Annuity Income by 20%
Fixed annuities or immediate annuities can make a portfolio last longer. They can provide steady income for life and smooth the portfolio; it won’t be as subject to fluctuations from market activity. Annuities are not all the same. Yields and rates of return vary considerably. Insurers have different investment experience, life expectancy assumptions, and expenses. […]
New Rules Protect Variable Annuity Shoppers
Better late than never seems to be a principle of regulators. In that spirit new regulations were issued recently covering the sale of variable annuities. Variable annuities are one of the most-discussed investment vehicles of the last couple of decades. They have had strong sales, as investors are attracted by mutual fund investments coupled with […]
Is Longevity Insurance a Solid Safety Net?
longevity insurance is the latest tool designed to relieve Baby Boomers’ anxiety about outliving their income. This innovation now is offered by Hartford Financial Services and MetLife, and other insurers are developing their own versions. You know the problem. A 65-year-old today has about a 50% probability of living past 85, and a 34% chance […]
Handling Unwanted Annuities
A number of people bought annuities years ago that no longer suit their needs. Sometimes there has been a major life change relating to marriage, death, or inheritance. Other times a person’s financial needs have changed. They want money now instead of waiting for annuity payouts. Some simply are dissatisfied with the returns of the […]
