Compare fixed, variable, indexed, and immediate annuities. Understand which type fits your retirement planning strategy best.

Annuities can help provide critical retirement income, but some are safer than others if there's a market downturn.

Read the fine print before purchasing an annuity. For example, some fixed annuities may have a minimum guaranteed interest rate of 0%. So, while you won't lose the principal, your money will not grow.

The type of annuity significantly impacts cost, however. For example, fixed annuities generally have lower entry points (about $5,000 to $10,000) compared to variable annuities which might require ...

For example, if your spouse dies and you elect to receive a lump-sum payment from their pension, you can then invest that money into an immediate fixed annuity.

“For example, if you invest $250,000 into a fixed immediate annuity, that $250,000 is no longer available as an asset that ...

For example, rather than having a fixed $1,000 a month payment for the life of the annuity, you could choose to structure the annuity to start off paying $600 per month, but then grow by 2% each ...

Similarly, a fixed index annuity, also known as indexed annuity or equity-indexed annuity, offers payment or returns based on the performance of a market index (the S&P 500, for example).

For example, a $100,000 fixed annuity with a guaranteed 5.00% APY would generate about $5,000 in interest the first year. Variable annuities.

A fixed indexed annuity is an insurance contract that provides an income stream in retirement. ... For example, if the company has a 2.5% administrative fee and your return is 7.5%, ...

He cited the example in which a 65-year-old might receive $59,000 a year from a $750,000 annuity, versus an 80-year-old, who might receive $75,000 per year. The annuity's structure considers these ...

Sometimes, it's better to have a low guaranteed return than it is to take a big risk that might pay off (or might not). That's the approach more people are taking amid tariffs and ...