Facts every retiree should know about Annuities

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FIRST, KNOW WHAT AN ANNUITY IS

 An annuity is a product sold by an insurance company where you make a lump-sum payment in exchange for guaranteed income. These products aren't well understood by many retirees, so here are a few things all retirees (and pre-retirees) should know about annuities in order to make smart retirement-planning decisions. 

ANNUITIES CAN BE SMART TAX-SAVING TOOLS

Annuities can help you avoid big tax bills in retirement. If you use a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k), to fund the annuity, you'll only pay taxes as you receive payments, instead of all at once. Don't neglect taxes and liabilities when you're planning for your retirement. 

ANNUITY PAYMENTS ARE LIKELY TO RISE WITH INTEREST RATES

A 65-year-old man could buy a $100,000 annuity and expect to receive about $565 per month for the rest of his life. This translates to annual income of $6,780, or 6.8% of the annuity cost per year.

 This is historically low. In fact, there have been time periods within the past few decades when annuities paid out double what they do today. If interest rates rise in the coming years, as they're widely expected to do, it's fair to speculate that annuity payments will rise also. 

IMMEDIATE ANNUITIES VS DEFERRED-INCOME ANNUITIES

Annuity payments can begin immediately, or at some time in the future. Immediate annuities are typically purchased by retirees who want to convert their savings into a guaranteed income stream for the rest of their lives. Deferred annuities, on the other hand, start making payments at some point in the future. For example, you may buy a deferred annuity at age 55 that starts making payments when you turn 70. A Smith Insurance agent can be sure that is you do purchase an annuity, you select the right style. 

ANNUITY PAYMENTS CAN BE FIXED, OR DECREASE OVER TIME 

Fixed annuities are exactly what they sound like -- they make a certain monthly payment for the rest of your life, or for some pre-determined time period.

Variable  and indexed annuities have monthly payments that are tied to the performance of the stock market, so your monthly payments can potentially increase over time. However, it's important to mention that many of these products have caps on how much the payment can increase in a single year.

If you're worried about inflation, you may be able to have your monthly payouts increased at a certain rate each year. This will lower your initial payments, but may be worth it for long-term peace of mind. Be sure to consult a professional to explore the differences before you decide. 

ANNUITIES ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE COMPANIES THAT ISSUE THEM

Unlike money in a savings account, annuities are not protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or any similar agency, and insurance companies do fail from time to time. A failed insurance company can wipe out your annuity payments.

Therefore, the annuity you buy is only as safe as the company that issued it. When shopping for an annuity, look for the highest-rated insurance companies and consider splitting your money into several annuities issued by several different companies. For example, instead of buying a $200,000 annuity from Company X, buy two $100,000 annuities, one from Company X and one from Company Y. Smith Insurance works with several A+ rated annuity companies to help secure your retirement dollars. 

NOT ALL ANNUITY PAYMENTS EXPIRE WHEN YOU DO 

A basic annuity's payments stop coming after the owner dies. However, there are many other options available.

For example, you can have the payments continue until the end of your spouse's life, if he or she happens to outlive you. Or you can buy a period-certain annuity, which continues to make payments for a minimum number of years, even if you die. The point is that many people believe that when you buy an annuity, your money is lost forever if you die within the first few years of receiving payments -- but this doesn't need to be the case.

Contact a annuity professional at Smith Insurance for more information and to schedule a time to decide if an annuity is the right choice for you.