Deferred annuities are designed for building a tax-deferred retirement nest egg by people age 20 to 60. During volatile times, this may be one of the better retirement options for conservative investors. You can have your funds guaranteed by the insurance company and receive their modest annual declared interest rate or you can opt for a variable annuity where you, the investor, select from a menu of investment accounts in hope of gaining a return better than the fixed annuity rates provided by the insurance company. In both cases, your money accumulates tax deferred. IRS wants these vehicles to be used for retirement savings so there is a 10% penalty for withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2.
Deferred Annuity Accumulation Phase
During the accumulation phase is when the money goes in. You can make a single payment, additions over time or systematic monthly payments from your checking account. During this time period, the funds grow tax deferred. In a deferred variable annuity, you have the flexibility to switch your funds between the various investment options offered. During the accumulation phase surrender charges apply. Think of these as early withdrawal fees. If the annuity has a 7 year term (which you can renew at the end of each term if you choose), any withdrawals during the term may trigger a surrender charge. Most every insurance company allows you to withdraw 10% of your account value each year before the surrender charge is assessed. Additionally, many allow larger withdrawals, exempt for surrender charges, for emergencies so as confinement in a nursing home.
Deferred Annuuity Distribution Phase
After age 59 1/2, you may want to take distributions for your retirement years. You can choose several ways to distribute your money
1. in a lump sum. This is not a good idea as you would need to pay the deferred income tax all at once.
2. in payment over a term of years (e.g. 10 years) or lifetime payments. In the case of lifetime payments, the insurance company guarantees a regular payment for as long as you live. if you live to 105, you win. If you die tomorrow, they keep your money and they win. The lifer arrangement can also be arranged over two live, e.g. you and your spouse.
3. interest withdrawals
In the case of the life annuity, it is best to start that flow later in life. The monthly guaranteed payments to you are higher the later you start. In the case of a variable annuity, your payments will normally vary based on the performance of your investment choices by most insurance companies will offer conversion to a fixed payment stream for retirement. It's possible that between a social security check and a lifetime fixed payment from your annuity, you may have all the income you need. Consult the retirement calculators. (Note that if you like the idea of a fixed payment for life and have not saved through a deferred annuity, you can still purchase a retirement annuity or immediate annuity now).
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My colleague Kerry Pechter, who wrote the book Annuities for Dummies, recently held a roundtable where deferred annuities were discussed. If you click here and register for a trial you can read the article, which is worth a look. Thanks.
The bank told me you have to be a certain age to buy annuties. If you could buy a lifetime one when your younger i would imagine you would make alot more income.
Annuties sound like a good way to increase retirement savings when you max out all other retirment plans like 401 and iras. I did not know you could buy one at 20 years old that might be a interesting investment for your children.
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With these volitile times, I'll bet we'll see more investors moving toward vehicles like annuities. Many people just can't stomach the risk that exists in the stock market right now. Annuities make a lot of sense for those people.
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Annuities are certainly the way to go if you have $$ to invest. Currently, less riskier than the plagued stock market, it is a true retirement vehicle. Many people do not understand annuities or that there are different types of annuities, but a call to a licensed advisor should point out, that annuities might not be for everyone, but they just might assist you in achieving your investment goals.
We have had more interest in annuities in 2009 than in previous years. Depending on your financial goals it can make a lot of sense.
I heard that you have to be a certain age to buy annuities. Does anyone know if this is true?
I think it is also important to note that you may not want to use all of your retirement nest egg to purchase an annuity income. After all, most annuities do not let you stop the income stream. You're locked in. So... I would consider buying enough coverage to pay for your cost of living, and try to keep some money in reserve. You can alway purchase more annuity income later. Do you agree?
The additional annual growth from tax deferral in a deferred annuity account, compared to a stock or bond index mutual fund that is outside an annuity account, is less than 0.2% (see cash flow projection on annuityevaluator.com). An immediate annuity that pays you a stream of periodic payments has no tax-deferred advantage over a stock or bond index mutual fund that is outside an annuity account. An index mutual fund that is outside an annuity account generates few short-term capital gains and, therefore, is mostly taxed at a low long-term capital gains tax rate, compared to annuity income which is taxed at the higher ordinary tax rate. Some of the annuity income is excluded from taxes, but the higher tax rate largely offsets benefit of the exclusion.