Learn what annuities are, how fixed, variable, indexed, immediate, and deferred annuities work, and how they can help provide steady retirement income.

There's an old saying that reveals a lot about the annuity business: "Annuities are not bought, they're sold." Variable annuities are a good example of this, as they often are a better deal for the ...

For starters, a variable annuity is a long-term financial contract that can be purchased through single, or multiple, premium deposit(s). Riders and benefits These annuities can be purchased with or ...

Next, we consider the joint impacts of rollup rates and payout rates on the amount of guaranteed income the annuity can support. When it comes time to begin taking guaranteed withdrawals, it is ...

Imagine turning a single $400,000 investment into a steady monthly paycheck that lasts the rest of your life. For many ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Dr. Melody Bell is a personal finance expert, entrepreneur, educator, and researcher. Melody ...

Variable annuities are complex insurance products — so complex that what people actually buy and what they think they’re buying may be quite different. Those misunderstandings can end up costing them, ...

When it comes to retirement, we all have our own goals and visions. For my grandparents, they preferred to stay in the home that they paid off for several reasons.... When it comes to retirement, we ...

Ensuring that you have enough income to cover your living expenses and support your lifestyle is one of the central financial challenges of retirement planning. Guaranteed lifetime annuities are ...

Annuity remorse. That may be the diagnosis if you regret purchasing a contract that you no longer want or that you think charges too much in fees. The cure could be costly if the annuity is in a ...

A variable annuity can make sense for some people, but they also have significant drawbacks. There's an old saying that reveals a lot about the annuity business: "Annuities are not bought, they're ...

There's an old saying that reveals a lot about the annuity business: "Annuities are not bought, they're sold." Variable annuities are a good example of this, as they often are a better deal for the ...