Annuities
Annuity Guides for Retirement Income
Learn how fixed and indexed annuities work, when they fit, and what trade-offs to watch before buying.
Annuity Topic Lanes
Annuity Basics
Learn the core annuity terms and structures so you can evaluate products with more confidence and less confusion.
Explore Annuity BasicsSafety & Guarantees
Understand what fixed annuity guarantees cover, how insurer strength matters, and where common misconceptions begin.
Explore Safety & GuaranteesRetirement Income
Review lifetime income options, payout structures, and practical ways annuities can support retirement cash-flow planning.
Explore Retirement IncomeRates & Interest
Compare introductory, renewal, and minimum guaranteed rate concepts before selecting a fixed annuity contract.
Explore Rates & InterestTaxes
Understand tax deferral, withdrawal taxation, and key tax planning trade-offs tied to annuity ownership decisions.
Explore Annuity TaxesSurrender Charges
See how surrender schedules, free-withdrawal rules, and liquidity constraints influence contract fit and flexibility.
Explore Surrender ChargesFixed Annuity vs CD
Compare annuities and CDs across guarantees, liquidity, tax treatment, and retirement income suitability.
Compare Annuity vs CDBeneficiaries & Death Benefits
Review beneficiary options, death-benefit trade-offs, and planning considerations for couples and families.
Explore Beneficiary PlanningBuyer Guides
Use educational buying frameworks to evaluate suitability, illustrations, and whether a contract supports your goals.
Explore Buyer GuidesLatest guides
Fixed Annuity vs CD: What Retirees Should Compare
Educational comparison of fixed annuities and CDs for retirement income planning, liquidity, and tax considerations.
What Is a Fixed Annuity? Plain-English Basics
Understand what a fixed annuity is, how guarantees work, and where it may fit in retirement income planning.
Can You Lose Money in a Fixed Annuity?
Educational overview of principal protection, surrender charges, inflation risk, and practical annuity risk checks.
Are Fixed Annuities FDIC Insured?
Learn why fixed annuities are not FDIC insured, how insurer guarantees work, and how to review protection limits responsibly.
Fixed Annuity Surrender Charges Explained
Understand fixed annuity surrender periods, free-withdrawal rules, MVA impacts, and practical liquidity trade-offs before buying.
What Happens If an Insurance Company Fails?
Learn what may happen to annuity contracts during insurer insolvency and how state guaranty associations and carrier strength reviews fit.
Fixed Annuity Rates: How to Compare Offers
Educational guide to comparing fixed annuity rates, guarantee periods, and contract trade-offs.
How Do Fixed Annuities Work?
Educational overview of fixed annuity crediting, guarantees, and withdrawal structure.
Pros and Cons of Fixed Annuities
Educational summary of fixed annuity benefits, trade-offs, and suitability checkpoints.
Best Age to Buy an Annuity: Planning Considerations
Educational factors for deciding when annuity planning may be worth evaluating.
How to Invest $500K for Monthly Income
Educational retirement income framework for managing a $500K portfolio with monthly cash-flow goals.
What to Do With a $500K Inheritance
Educational checklist for evaluating a $500K inheritance with retirement income and tax awareness.
Helpful calculators
Annuity Payout Calculator
Use this educational calculator to test assumptions and review planning options.
Fixed Annuity vs CD Calculator
Use this educational calculator to test assumptions and review planning options.
Retirement Income Calculator
Use this educational calculator to test assumptions and review planning options.
Popular Annuity Questions
Resource Library
Annuity Questions Checklist
Use this checklist to evaluate annuity contract details and ask better fit-focused questions before committing funds.
Get Annuity Questions ChecklistRetirement Income Starter Guide
Organize retirement income sources, spending priorities, and risk checkpoints with this plain-English guide.
Get Retirement Income Starter GuideHelpful calculators
Annuity Payout Calculator
Estimate educational payout scenarios for annuity income planning and retirement cash-flow discussions.
Use Annuity Payout CalculatorFixed Annuity vs CD Calculator
Compare conservative growth assumptions between fixed annuities and CDs across planning timelines.
Use Fixed Annuity vs CD CalculatorRetirement Income Calculator
Model retirement-income durability with adjustable assumptions for expenses, timing, and withdrawals.
Use Retirement Income Calculator