Fixed Annuity

A fixed annuity provides a guaranteed rate of interest during the accumulation period and a guaranteed (“fixed”) amount of income when the contract is annuitized. With a fixed annuity, the insurance company is responsible for investing the premium payments and therefore assumes investment risk. The insurance company is obligated to provide guaranteed annuity payments regardless of whether their investments have generated an adequate rate of return. With a fixed annuity: 1) the money can go in as a single premium payment or a series of payments; 2) the money is invested at a fixed or guaranteed rate, and; 3) payments are at a fixed rate and can begin immediately or at some future date.

Large Declines in Variable Annuity Sales Seen While Fixed Annuity Sales Surge

Sales of variable annuity products in the United States cratered 27% during the first quarter of 2009. First quarter sales were $30.7 billion compared to $40.9 billion during the first three months of 2008. At the same time, sales of fixed annuities surged 74% to $35.6 billion. This is the first time since 1995 that sales of fixed annuities have exceeded sales of variable annuities for two straight quarters. This sales dynamic is not surprising and is largely a reaction to the market volatility...

Warren Buffett Comments on Social Security as a Form of a Nationalized Annuity

Warren Buffett had some comments on the life insurance and...

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Fixed Annuity Sales Continue to Soar While Massive Inflation Risks are Ignored

Bloomberg reports that there is continued strength in fixed and immediate...

Article Discusses the Tax Implications of Purchasing an Immediate Fixed Annuity with an IRA

This article addresses the process of using funds in an individual retirement account (IRA) to fund the purchase of an immediate fixed annuity . "Annuity in an IRA" and "trustee-to-trustee" rollovers both enable assets to be transferred directly from an IRA to an annuity. Tax implications are also addressed. Source: Wall Street Journal Full Story (subscription required)
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Who insures my annuity? What happens if they fail?

"What happens to my

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