If I purchase a fixed rate annuity and die after 15 or so years, what happens to the initial principal or purchase amount?
There are many different features that would affect the payout (or lack thereof) in light of your question.
There are many different features that would affect the payout (or lack thereof) in light of your question.
I depends on your specific contract.
Some insurance companies may provide loan provisions for their single premium deferred annuities.
Loan provision availability will vary from company to company.
Also, if there is a loan provision feature available, the specifics of what that feature allows will vary from product to product.
I am not aware of anyone working on a standalone guaranteed death benefit, although I am not super close to it.
Very good question.
In most cases, there is no guarantee.
I suppose people could argue that there is some correlation between equity values and inflation. If so, then increases in inflation would be accompanied by increases in equity prices.