Indexed Annuity

When an annuity’s capital appreciation potential is tied to the performance of an index, it is referred to as an indexed annuity (IA). Indexed annuities are also commonly referred to as equity indexed annuities (EIA) or fixed indexed annuities (FIA). Generally, the annuity’s losses are limited while a portion of its gains are tied to the individual equity index’s returns. Some common indexes include the S&P, DIJA and the NASDAQ. With an indexed annuity: 1) the money can go in as a single premium payment or a series of payments; 2) the money is invested at a variable rate although there is a guaranteed minimum rate of return that provides a floor, and; 3) payments begin at a future date and are at a fixed rate that is based on market performance and is supported by the guaranteed minimum rate.

Equity-Indexed Annuities Can be a Shell Game for Consumers

The first time I visited New York I was taken in a sidewalk shell-game within 45 minutes of being in the city—no kidding.  Shell games involve trying to guess where a card or any other item might reside after being shuffled among various covers by a dealer.

There are basically three reasons why I lost $40 within 45 minutes of arriving in NYC: 1) I was naïve; 2) I was overconfident in my card-spotting abilities, and; 3) there was a large amount of asymmetric information—in other words, the “dealers” (to use a polite term) had a heck of...

Sales of Indexed Annuities Rise and Record Projections for 2009

Turmoil from the financial crisis drives record sales in fixed annuities. Uncertainty in equity markets has fueled part of the growth. The guarantee in indexed annuities is the defining difference from variable annuities, enticing customers seeking protection against further losses. Sales of indexed annuities often go up when sales of variable annuities go down or when certificate of deposit rates — a competitor for annuities — are unfavorable, Moore said. Total 2008 indexed annuity sales were...

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