Annuity Overview
One of the attractive aspects of an annuity is that its earnings are tax deferred until you begin to receive payments back from the annuity issuer. In this respect, an annuity is similar to a qualified retirement plan. Over a long period of time, your investment in an annuity can grow substantially larger than if you had invested money in a comparable taxable investment. Like a qualified retirement plan, a 10 percent tax penalty may be imposed if you begin withdrawals from an annuity before age 59½. Unlike a qualified retirement plan, contributions to an annuity are not tax deductible, and taxes are paid only on the earnings when distributed.
An annuity is a contract between you, the purchaser or owner, and an insurance company, the annuity issuer. In its simplest form, you pay money to an annuity issuer, and the issuer pays out the principal and earnings back to you or to a named beneficiary. Life insurance companies first developed annuities to provide income to individuals during their retirement years.
An annuity helps you accumulate money for future income needs. An annuity is not a savings account or savings certificate and it should not be bought for short-term purposes. The most appropriate use for income payments from an annuity contract is to fund your retirement.
Types of annuities
There are two basic types of annuity contracts—fixed and variable. At the time you buy an annuity contract you will select between a fixed or variable. This determines how earnings are credited in your contract.
A fixed annuity provides fixed-dollar income payments backed by the guarantees in the contract. During the accumulation period of a fixed deferred annuity, your money (less any applicable charges) earns interest rates set by the insurance company spelled out in the annuity contract. Every fixed annuity has a current interest rate and a minimum guaranteed interest rate. The company guarantees that it will pay no less than a minimum rate of interest. During the payout period, the amount of each income payment to you is generally set when the payments start and will not change.
An indexed annuity is a type of fixed annuity, but its returns are based upon the performance of a market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the S&P 500), the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).
A variable annuity offers a range of investment or funding options. During the accumulation period of a variable annuity, the insurance company puts your premiums, less any applicable charges, into a separate account. You decide how the company will invest those premiums, depending on how much risk you want to take. You may put your premium into a stock, bond, or other account, with no guarantees, or into a fixed account, with a minimum guaranteed interest rate. During the payout period of a variable annuity, the amount of each income payment to you may be fixed (set at the beginning) or variable (changing with the value of the investments in the separate account).
When is an annuity appropriate?
It is important to understand that annuities can be an excellent tool if you use them properly. Annuities are not right for everyone.
Annuity contributions are not tax deductible. That's why most experts advise funding other retirement plans first. However, if you have already contributed the maximum allowable amount to other available retirement plans, an annuity can be an excellent choice. There is no limit to how much you can invest in an annuity, and like other retirement plans, the funds are allowed to grow tax deferred until you begin taking distributions.
Annuities are designed to be very-long-term investment vehicles. In most cases, you'll pay a penalty for early withdrawals. If you take a lump-sum distribution of your annuity funds within the first few years after purchasing your annuity, you may be subject to surrender charges imposed by the issuer. As long as you're sure you won't need the money until at least age 59½, an annuity is worth considering. If your needs are more short term, you should explore other options.
Two phases to an annuity
There are two distinct phases to an annuity: (1) the accumulation (or investment) phase and (2) the distribution phase.
The accumulation (or investment) phase is the time period when you add money to the annuity. When using this option, you'll have purchased a deferred annuity. You can purchase the annuity in one lump sum (known as a single premium annuity), or you make investments periodically, over time.
The distribution phase is when you begin receiving distributions from the annuity. You have two general options for receiving distributions from your annuity. Under the first option, you can withdraw some or all of the money in the annuity in lump sums.
The second option (commonly referred to as the guaranteed income or annuitization option) provides you with a guaranteed income stream from the annuity for your entire lifetime (no matter how long you live) or for a specific period of time (e.g., 10 years). (Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company). This option can be elected at any time on your deferred annuity. However, if you want to invest in an annuity and start receiving payments within the first year, you'll purchase what is known as an immediate annuity.
You can also elect to receive the annuity payments over both your lifetime and the lifetime of another person. This option is known as a joint and survivor annuity. Under a joint and survivor annuity, the annuity issuer promises to pay you an amount of money on a periodic basis (e.g., monthly, quarterly, or yearly). The amount you receive for each payment period will depend on how much money you have in the annuity, how earnings are credited to your account (whether fixed or variable), and the age at which you begin the annuitization phase. The length of the distribution period will also affect how much you receive. If you are age 65 and elect to receive annuity distributions over your entire lifetime, the amount you will receive with each payment will be less than if you had elected to receive annuity distributions over five years.
