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General Information |
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What is an annuity?
Contract between purchaser and insurance company
An annuity is a contract between you (the purchaser or owner) and the issuer (usually an insurance company). In its simplest form, you pay money to the annuity issuer, the issuer invests the money for you, and then the issuer pays out the principal and earnings back to you or to a named beneficiary.
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What are the different types of annuities?
There are literally hundreds of different annuity types--enough to boggle the mind of anyone at first glance. Furthermore, the companies that issue annuities are busy creating new types of annuities every day to meet the changing needs of consumers. However, when all the different types of annuities are clustered together, it is easy to see that most differ on just a few important variables. The remainder of this discussion identifies these major variables, and subsequent discussions will explore the various annuity types in more depth.
Caution: The following discussion includes references to certain guarantees made by issuers of annuities. Note that these guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
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Fixed vs. Variable Annuities |
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Annuity products have grown more sophisticated over the years to meet the demands of today's more sophisticated investors.
Just as mutual funds grew in popularity as an alternative to certificates of deposit, the variable annuity was developed as an alternative to the fixed annuity. Variable annuities offer potentially higher returns than fixed annuities. Of course, there is a risk of loss as well. So, deciding which annuity product to invest in often comes down to deciding how much risk you are willing to take.
Fixed annuities provide certain guarantees
When you purchase a fixed annuity, the issuer guarantees that you will earn a minimum interest rate during the accumulation phase and that your premium payments will be returned to you. If you annuitize the contract (i.e., take a lifetime or other distribution payout option), the issuer guarantees the periodic benefit amount you will receive during the distribution phase. (Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.) The interest rates earned during the accumulation phase will reflect current fixed income rates, changing periodically. During the distribution phase, the payment is based on the prevailing interest rates at the start of the distribution phase, and then remains constant. This fixed payment may lose purchasing power over time due to inflation. Consequently, many investors are hesitant to lock in a fixed annuity payout rate.
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Qualified and Nonqualified Annuities |
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Annuities come in many different forms. There are immediate and deferred annuities, with both fixed and variable rates. However, whatever the type of annuity, all can be classified as either qualified or nonqualified annuities. And the distinction is easy.
Qualified annuities are used in connection with tax-advantaged retirement plans, such as defined benefit pension plans, Section 403(b) retirement plans (TSAs), or IRAs. Premiums for qualified annuities are generally paid with pretax dollars, as are any investments purchased for use in a qualified retirement plan.
By definition, any annuity not used to fund a tax-advantaged retirement plan or IRA is considered a nonqualified annuity. Contributions to nonqualified annuities are made with after-tax dollars--premiums are not deductible from gross income for income tax purposes.
In essence, then, the products are the same. It is the placement in or out of a retirement plan (and the resulting tax treatment) that distinguishes one from the other.
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Immediate vs. Deferred Annuities |
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The terms immediate annuity and deferred annuity simply indicate when the distribution phase of the annuity begins. Both allow unlimited contributions, and both can provide, upon election, a continuous stream of payments for life.
Immediate annuities
Immediate annuities allow you to convert a lump sum of cash into an income stream. They differ from deferred annuities in that they do not have an accumulation period. They are funded with a single lump-sum payment rather than with a series of premium payments. An annuity option is chosen, and the distribution period begins within 12 months after the purchase.
Immediate annuities appeal to those investors who want an investment return that they cannot outlive. The distributions are considered partly a return of the original investment and partly earnings. You are taxed on the earnings portion only.
Immediate annuities are also used to provide benefits from a terminated defined benefit pension plan. In this situation, the accrued benefits under the plan are determined for each plan participant, and a single premium annuity may be purchased for each plan participant, with benefits usually starting at age 65.
Another common use is in the structured settlement of lawsuits. In these cases, the parties agree to pay a sum of money not as a lump sum but as a series of payments, often for the life of an injured party. A monthly amount to be paid is agreed to by the parties, and an annuity is purchased that provides that amount.
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