Personal Investing

An annuity is an insurance contract that guarantees an income. This tool is a way to save money for retirement by increasing your investment portfolio and simultaneously deferring taxes on growth....

Annuities are one of the most common forms of saving for retirement. They are good for deferring taxes on contributions up until a certain age, or as a safeguard against a life-altering event....

Fixed rate annuities and variable annuities are financial instruments typically issued by insurance companies or other financial entities. Annuities are contracts between a company and individuals...

Annuities are investment and income products offered by insurance companies. They are used to save for retirement and provide a stable income during retirement. The tax code gives special tax...

A fixed annuity is a series of fixed payments in exchange for one lump sum payment at the beginning of the time period. They are designed primarily for retirement accounts and can be purchased...

Purchasing a structured settlement is often compared to purchasing an insurance policy. These types of investments have similarities and differences, but making this purchase can be part of your...

While annuities may not be the right choice for every investor, there are times when these unique investments make a great deal of sense. Immediate annuities in particular can be a good choice for...

Annuities are investments designed to help investors save for retirement. Money in an annuity grows tax-deferred for investors holding the money in the account until age 50 1/2 or later. There are...

Annuities are contracts typically issued by insurance companies or financial entities that promise specific interest gains and payments to the buyer, who is called the annuitant. Typically, the...

Variable annuities were first introduced into the United States by the Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association - College Retirement Equity Fund (TIAA-CREF) in 1952, to fund pension...

Fixed index annuities are a recent addition to the annuity marketplace. They offer investors a chance to earn a reasonable rate of return without risking principal.

Certificate of Deposits (CDs) are issued by banks, and annuities are issued by insurance companies. Understanding some differences may help you decide which one is best for you.

A fixed annuity may be a good option depending on your personal financial situation. It offers safety of principal, competitive interest rates and other benefits.

Fixed deferred annuities can be a good option for investing, depending on your personal financial situation. There are benefits and drawbacks to fixed deferred annuities. Consult a professional...

Fixed annuities are considered a "safe" investment. Issued by insurance companies, they are somewhat similar to CDs. They offer a fixed rate of return credited annually on a tax-deferred basis,...

Purchasing a fixed annuity is a complex decision. The purchaser must understand the function of the annuity, the benefits, liabilities, fees and penalties the investment carries. Fixed annuity...

Annuities can provide additional tax-deferred growth opportunities to help supplement your retirement savings. Annuities offer no income restrictions on contribution eligibility and there is no...

TVM stands for the time value of money. In long-term payment contracts, it represents what the money might have earned had you received it immediately.

Although annuities can be excellent long-term savings vehicles, there can be times when you need the entire proceeds of the contract immediately. Cashing out of an annuity contract generally...

Although annuties can provide excellent long-term savings, there can be times when you need the entire proceeds of the contract immediately. Cashing out of an annuity contract generally entails...

Although your indexed annuity is invested in the stock market via an index fund, you enjoy only a percentage of the growth of that particular index. This is because most annuities don't have a 100...

If you want to exchange a lump sum of money for the security of regular income, consider buying an immediate annuity. Purchased as insurance products, immediate annuities provide you with a...

A variable annuity is a type of financial product in which payments are made to the holder (or holders of the annuity) for the duration of his life. The amount of these payments is usually tied to...

One way to grow your passive income earnings over time is to invest some of your investment dollars in immediate annuities. What happens with immediate annuities is that an individual gives a...

You purchase an immediate annuity from an insurance company with a certain amount of money (a single premium). You may begin to collect regular income on your investment in approximately thirty...

When setting up annuities, identify the annuity company to buy an annuity from, figure out when to get the money back, and tell the company what to do with the money. Think about the beneficiary...

Annuities are financial products that have been a cornerstone investment product for a long time. Although they take a variety of forms depending on the law of the land, generally speaking an...

When it comes to saving for retirement, you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket. Once you assess how much you can contribute to your overall retirement portfolio, set up a variety of...

Annuities are contractual agreements between individuals and insurance companies that guarantee a specific income or lump sum return from the insurance company in exchange for a premium paid by...

An annuity works very much like the reverse of life insurance. With life insurance, you pay a small amount over a period of time. If you die during that time, the insurance will pay out a large...

A fixed annuity is a fairly straight forward investment. It is essentially a contract between an individual and an insurance company. The investor agrees to give a specified amount of cash to the...

Buying annuities is a great way to save for retirement. They return relatively steady gains, and are predictable when compared to stocks. However, you can get stuck with several fees for benefits...

Variable annuities can be great tax-deferred retirement vehicles. They are a simple contract between you and an insurance company and can be a productive place to put your money, provided you've...

Purchase an annuity for income over a period. You pay a lump sum or fixed sums to the insurance company for a guarantee of payment starting now or sometime in the future. Annuities guarantee...

Buying an annuity… …that starts giving you payments immediately. These are sold by insurance companies and after some research, you’ll know if it will work for you. You want your money to work...

If you want to secure a future for yourself that promises income for life and you aren't afraid to take risks in getting to that point, the variable annuity may be the choice for you. This...

An annuity is a great tool to help you plan for your future. Whether you set up one through your job (a qualified annuity) or on your own (a non-qualified annuity), you can enjoy tax-deferred...

A market value adjusted annuity offers several options for people who want some choices in their investing. You can choose from annuities with guaranteed returns or those that are dependent on the...

An equity indexed annuity is connected to an equity index or stock, and the interest earned is dependent on the market performance of that stock or index. Your account is credited with interest...

Many annuities (contracts between you and an insurance company) are set up to provide income for the lifetime of the annuitant. A fixed period annuity enables the contracting party to provide...

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that provides for the payment of a designated amount of money for a specific period of time. When you select an annuity you must...

Everyone wants to be able to retire with enough income to sustain his or her lifestyle. Purchasing an annuity is a smart way to guarantee that you'll receive a certain amount of income for the...

A single premium annuity is a contract you make with an insurance company. You promise to invest a lump sum (your premium) of money with the insurance company and it promises to provide income for...

A nonqualified annuity is a contract you make with an insurance company to provide a certain amount of income for a designated period. Unlike a qualified annuity, you do not need to set up this...

A qualified annuity is a contract with an insurance company through your employer, that you fund with pretax dollars. The company promises to pay a certain income to you for a designated amount of...

For those who don't want to worry about whether they will have enough money to live on after retiring, the lifetime annuity is one of the best options among investment vehicles. The lifetime...

Legacy or stretch annuities are some of the best annuities for those concerned about the welfare of loved ones left behind after they die. This annuity allows the beneficiary to keep the favorable...

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for federal employees is designed to disburse funds upon retirement and in certain other instances, such as for loans or account closure if you leave your job before...