Should I Purchase an Annuity for Regular Income?

Annuities for Regular Income?

Do you sometimes have trouble with money management? Do you often worry that your regular income isn’t enough to support yourself?

If so, an annuity might help you out.

If you aren’t great with money, an annuity seems very confusing. There are a lot of misconceptions or simply lapses in knowledge that can make understanding annuities very difficult.

Because if this, it can be very hard to figure out whether or not you should purchase an annuity, and whether something like that is the right step for you to take in your financial plan.

Have you had these doubts? If so, you aren’t alone. It’s been found that while 84% of retirees want annuities, only 14% actually buy them.

A lot of this hesitation probably stems from a lack of knowledge, which is understandable. You don’t want to pick something that you don’t understand, especially when it comes to your finances.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know about annuities, and whether or not you should consider them for your regular income.

How Do Annuities Work?

Basically, annuities are for people who are worried about outliving their income.

It works fairly simply. With a DIA (Deferred Immediate Annuity), you buy payments, which are then converted into payments that last for the rest of your life.

There are some annuities that are variable. These can pay out more but are also at a higher chance of risk because you’re investing in mutual funds.

Then there are fixed annuities, which are much less risky but also may not see as much profit.

Annuities are often very personal and specific. We’re here to advise and educate you, based on your unique needs and goals, which annuity will help you reach your ideal financial future.

Things that you should consider when looking to purchase an annuity are your income needs, risk tolerance, and investment objectives. These are all factors that will go into deciding whether or not you wind up using a fixed index or a variable annuity. But some people have more questions when it comes to annuities. Even after learning how they work, some doubts linger.

Is an annuity right for me? What’s the catch?

It’s easy to worry that you aren’t understanding the true risks and rewards of an annuity. That’s why we’re breaking it down a bit further.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of An Annuity?

Like any investment option, annuities come with both pros and cons.

Here are some of the benefits of annuities:

  • You never have to worry about running out of money after you retire.
  • Many annuities keep pace with inflation.
  • It’s less work at an age where you probably don’t want to be doing that sort of thing.

But, of course, there are some cons when it comes to annuities, as well. Here are some things you should watch out for when purchasing annuities:

  • Not all annuities are created equal. You have to make sure that you’re getting yours from a reputable source.
  • If you pass away before you get your money’s worth, money that could have gone to your heirs will stay with the annuity company. This is only true if you annuitize your annuity. If you purchase an income rider, your beneficiary will get the account value that’s left in your annuity at the time of your passing.

Like any financial plan, there are some risks involved when it comes to annuities. Knowledge is power and there are a lot of professionals who will keep you from learning so that the sale is easier for them. Ask us. We offer free consultations, so if you have any worries about the risks, we would love to talk with you about them and set your mind at ease.

How Do I Know If An Annuity Is Right For Me?

There are a few things you should consider if you’re thinking about getting an annuity. The first step is to ask why you want an annuity. You should only get it if you think you can really benefit from it. Are you struggling? Worried? Unsure about running out of money during retirement?

These are great reasons to invest in an annuity. Outside of that, though, there are some other factors to take into account. Annuities aren’t for everyone, after all. Financial plans should be unique to your situation. There’s a specific situation that annuities work for, so you need to think carefully.

For example, just how much are you able to dedicate to an annuity? Once you pay for it, there’s no getting that money back, so you have to be very careful. Put too much of your regular income into it, and you’ll wind up struggling. Your age and health are also things to consider. You want to make sure that you’ll live long enough to get the benefit of the annuity. But if you have the money to put away and are in relatively good health, a Fixed Index Annuity might be the perfect step for you to take.

How Do I Get An Annuity For Regular Income?

Now that you’ve carefully considered annuities, their risks and rewards, and whether or not they’re right for your regular income, it’s time to take the next step.

Earlier, we said we’d give a free consultation. And if you’re ready to take that step, we’d be more than happy to help you. We know that each financial situation is unique, so we promise to give you the attention that you deserve when it comes to your financial plan.

Or maybe you’re still unsure about whether or not an annuity is for you.

That’s okay! There’s a reason that so few people have these, despite wanting them. They’re confusing, and if there’s one thing you don’t want to make a misinformed decision on, it’s your finances.

That’s why we are full of tips and tricks when it comes to understanding annuities. If you’re looking to become an expert, look no further than our expert advice!

We want you to be comfortable and confident in your financial future. So if you’re looking for more information on annuities, look no further than our site. We’re glad to help you learn more in any way that we can!

Understanding Annuities for My Financial Future

Understanding Annuities

There has never been a better time to invest in your financial future. There is a wide variety of strategies to generate income, protect your assets, and secure your retirement income stream. The cost of living is rising and life expectancy is simultaneously increasing for many adults. You may be wondering how to best create an investment strategy in order to not run out of money during retirement.

People want to make the most of their money but without the chance of losing it all.

That’s where annuity products come in.

What Is An Annuity?

An annuity is a contractual financial product sold by insurance companies. Annuities do two things:

  1. To help people limit their risk and give them a better return than a CD,
  2. Or they’re available to help you create a personal pension

Annuities then pay out a stream of payments to the individual at a later point in time.

There are a variety of different annuity products and benefits to each type. As investors seek options to shed risk and guarantee returns, annuities have grown in popularity. With deferred annuities, as well as various subsets, they offer a great balance of protection and reward.

The right annuity products are safe and will help secure your financial future.

How Does An Annuity Help Your Financial Future?

Annuities have changed over the years. While there used to be very limited products to choose from, all that is different now. Annuities can be tied to the performance of stock indexes and offer a wide variety of payout and tax benefits. Most annuities are tied to the S&P 500 but in recent years we have seen a lot of managed volatility indexes used in annuities.

Annuities are recommended as one of the best ways to boost your income when it comes to retirement planning. It is difficult to know how global politics, changing interest rates, real estate transactions and unemployment will affect investment returns. And most of us remember the major impact of the last financial crisis.The financial crisis is estimated to have had a total household wealth impact of over $19 trillion.

With that type of volatility in the market, an annuity is a safer alternative. You can have the benefit of your money growing without the risk of losing any principal. An annuity often guarantees a payout amount that is fixed. This amount can grow based on the performance of the index or stock fund it is tied to. In addition, there are tax benefits that will ease any uncertainty of the total income you can enjoy from your annuity products.

Are There Tax Benefits?

One of the best parts of an annuity is the tax protection it provides. The income payments that you receive can be taxed two ways:

  1. Exclusion Ratio: If you annuitize the contract, you’ll have an exclusion ratio which will tell you how much is the return of principal and how much is interest on your money (the taxable amount). As an example, $1000 payments may have $900 of return of principle and $100 of interest.
  2. LIFO (Last In First Out): Think of pouring rocks in a bucket. The last ones you put in are the first ones to come out. This is the same with an annuity with an income rider. You will pay tax on the income that you’ve earned first and then you will go into return of principle, paying nothing in tax for years until the account goes to zero. Once you get into the insurance companies pockets, it becomes 100% taxable again.

When you do begin to make withdrawals, the income will be taxed. The benefit in terms of retirement planning is that you can sleep better at night knowing that your basic needs will be met with annuity payments.

Annuities & Taxation

There are many different ways annuity payouts are taxed. You will want to understand your personal strategy and match that to the type of annuity you invest in.

For instance, you may want a lump sum or deferred payout. How these monies interact with your other investments and social security income will impact your tax liability down the road.

Like all investment strategies, there are winning ways to leverage annuity products in terms of your individual tax situation. A winning strategy can often include using after-tax dollars to fund your annuity. Understanding your tax and income goals will help you pick the right annuity or annuities for you.

There Are Different Types of Annuities

There are many different types of annuities from which to choose.

The two major types of annuities are deferred and immediate.

Deferred Annuities offer major growth opportunities

The upside to deferred annuities is that they help you set your money aside and let it grow. With a specific timeline when payoffs start your money will be growing as interest accrues.

Immediate Annuities start paying out in no more than 1 year

After you start paying your premium, Immediate Annuities go to work right away at generating payouts. They are often the perfect product for individuals who are close to retirement.

Annuity subsets offer variety

In addition, there are subsets of annuities that include Fixed and Fixed Index Annuities. With fair returns and minimal risk, Fixed Index Annuities are one of the most popular investment products.

There Are Two Distinct Phases of An Annuity

Just as there are different types of annuities, there are also different phases of annuities.

When it comes to building your financial future, you need to know the phase you are in personally, as well as the place your annuity can take you.

There is both the accumulation and the distribution phase in any annuity. Making sure you match your financial plans to the performance and structure of a particular annuity will remove any surprises.

Get The Best For Your Financial Future

Tired of low rates? Thinking it might be time to invest in an annuity?

Tennessee Annuity Rates can help.

We offer simple solutions for your situation.

We know that market risk isn’t for everyone. And we also know that everyone’s financial situation is unique.

We will help you find the best products and services for your unique situation. Don’t wait.

Contact Tennessee Annuity Rates now to receive a free consultation and makes the most of your financial future starting today.