7 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Annuity

What to Ask Before You Buy an Annuity

Many people reaching retirement are looking for ways to improve their financial security.

It is unsurprising that many people are considering buying an annuity.

If chosen well, an annuity can prevent a person from outliving their finances. What’s more, it can provide increased protection against a volatile stock market.

As annuity will convert current wealth into a steady income, it is vital to make an informed decision.

Also, as life insurance and annuity scams are on the rise, an investor should not rush into a plan.

So, it is important to ask yourself the following seven questions when buying an annuity.

1. What is the Annuity Process?

An annuity is a big financial commitment, so you must have a firm grasp of the process.

You will be buying an insurance product, so you will need to pay one lump sum or make a series of payments.

Once you have made the payment(s), your money will start to grow at either a fixed or variable interest rate.

The insurer will then make regular payments to your account for the rest of your life.

The insurance should also entitle your chosen beneficiary to the amount. Your loved one will either receive the annuity value or the guaranteed minimum, whichever is the greater amount.

The annuity contract is a big commitment. You’ll be unable to withdraw the money until you’re 59 1/2 years old.

If you do choose to withdraw the amount, you’ll experience a penalty of 10% on the lump sum. You may also have to pay a surrender fee.

2. What are the Different Types of Annuities?

Not all annuity contracts are the same. Deferred annuities may fall into 1 of 3 brackets: fixed, variable or equity-indexed.

Fixed annuities will provide a guaranteed rate of return for a select period. You may choose between one to ten years.

While the rates might be subject to fluctuation, you are guaranteed to receive the fixed rate.

It’s one way to ensure you will not lose any money, but you will not have any room to grow your finances.

Variable annuities offer a little more flexibility, so they can also be a little riskier.

The contract is not dissimilar to investing in a mutual fund. While there is a potential to enjoy financial growth, it can also result in the plummeting of the pot.

You’ll also, more than likely, pay higher fees. The beneficiary will also owe tax on the amount.

An equity-indexed annuity is a little like a fixed annuity, as you will receive a fixed payment.

The difference is a contract can provide room for financial growth, as it’s attached to an index.

3. How Many Annuities Should I Buy?

The annuity should provide a stable income that provides you with basic living needs.

Identify how much money you’ll spend on housing, utilities, food, and transportation. You should also factor in healthcare costs, too.

You could even opt for deferred Social Security claims, so this covers your basic needs.

The annuity could then provide a supplementary income. So you can buy vacations, gifts, or home improvements.

4. What Age Should I Start Buying an Annuity?

There is nothing wrong with planning for your retirement early.

Most annuities are often aimed at people in their 50s or 60s, as they are close to retirement age.

As well as your age, you should also take a look at the market before you buy an annuity.

Annuities often have a low-interest rate, so it’s best to take out a contract when interest rates jump.

However, don’t wait too long or you could end up with no stable source at all.

5. What is the Surrender Period?

Before you embark with an annuity contract, take a look at the surrender period.

This is the length of time you will have to keep the contract before you can make a withdrawal without surrender charges.

Most contracts provide a distribution level from 5 to 15% of the initial investment sum.

You can access this on an annual basis without a surrender fee.

Should you exceed the designated withdrawal sum, you will receive a 5 to 15% charge. This charge will most likely decrease the longer you have had the contract.

It is not uncommon for investors to become frustrated that they cannot access their cash.

That’s why it is important to remember an annuity is not a cash resource. It aims to provide financial security.

6. Will Annuity Benefit My Partner?

It’s natural for married couples to consider their partner when buying an annuity.

You might be glad to learn you can invest in the protection with your partner in mind.

Most reputable insurers will provide joint-and-survivor coverage. This will allow you to buy protection at a varying rate, which will be payable to a survivor.

You may be able to choose from 50%, 66% or 100%. What’s more, the initial annuity payments might be lower compared to single-life contracts.

The investment may offer peace of mind that a partner will have financial protection.

7. How Does Inflation Work?

The inflation rate will determine the amount of money you will receive.

Many people will often take out inflation protection when buying an annuity. This can increase the payments with the rate of the consumer price index or an annual set percentage.

Inflation protection isn’t cheap, though.

Compare the market expectation of inflation against the inflation protection cost.

If the market projects a 2% inflation rise, receive an SPIA quote that has an annual 2% set up. You can then compare it against the same income with an annuity adjusted for inflation.

You can then identify the protection markup against an unexpected inflation rise.

Conclusion

Buying an annuity should never be undertaken without making an informed choice.

It is a big financial decision that could impact your retirement years.

You must explore all avenues before making such a big commitment, or you may literally pay the price.

So, only contact reputable insurance providers and consider inflation with care.

You must also factor in your beneficiary or spouse to ensure they’re protected when you die.

Have you taken out an annuity contract? Do you have any advice to share? Leave a comment below.

Does Your State Protect Your Annuities From Creditors?

Annuities are like other financial assets. Often times, litigation efforts and creditors are able to gain access to them. As a result, the money you worked hard for is at risk.

Protect Your Annuities

O.J. Simpson & Florida Exemptions For Annuities

Remember O.J. Simpson? I’m not talking about the notorious car chase in the Ford Explorer. According to MarketWatch, O.J made some poor financial decisions in Vegas. Consequently, those decisions led to lawsuits that ordered him to pay back creditors. O.J. put most of his money in annuities in south Florida where he lived at the time. Lucky for him, statutes in the state of Florida shielded his annuities from being touched by creditors. “If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit” may as well be, “If annuities hold your cash, you’ve protected your own a$*”. You get the picture.

Florida is one of the states that many business owners, physicians and wealthy investors choose to invest, as 100% protection is offered by the state’s annuity laws. In fact, Florida state law protects your home once it is paid off in full. This means that if you’re ever sued, or creditors attempt to collect your debt through he seizure of assets, they cannot touch your home or your annuities. Yet, many annuitants don’t know the laws of their state.

Plan For The Worst, Hope For The Best

Why is protecting your annuities important? You can never really plan when you’re going to be sued. However, IRA’s and retirement planning can protect your assets. How? Your retirement plan is protected under federal law even when filing for bankruptcy! Do I have to spell it out for you? Find out if you live in one of the states that protect your annuities!

Which States Offer 100% Annuity Protection?

Some states offer 100% creditor protection. Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Texas and Louisiana offer 100% annuity exemption. Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oklahoma do as well. Kansas exempts annuities that have been maturing for a year or longer. Tennessee allows annuity protection from creditors only if it’s part of your retirement plan.

Some states allow an exemption only if you have beneficiaries such as a spouse and/or children. New York exempts only a decided amount after a “due and proper amount” is paid to the creditor(s). Furthermore, states such as North Carolina, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Maryland and Connecticut offer no annuity protection from creditors at all. Statutes are different from state to state. As a result, you have to know if you are protected.

Your Guide: Which States Protect Your Ass-ets

Finally, you have to consider your beneficiaries. Your spouse and children may depend on your assets in case of medical emergencies, or a college fund. In addition to living in a state that has fair statutes for your annuities, you may also want to learn about the different kinds of annuities. While your bank may offer some insight, it’s better to know for yourself from a source that doesn’t have a vested interest in your investment. Read my blog on fixed indexed annuities for details about the most popular annuity that consequently gives you the highest interest. Use this as a guide to check the statutes in your state.

What Is A Tax Deferred Annuity?

Tax Deferred Annuities

So you’ve decided to stop stuffing money under your mattress (or the bank account equivalent of putting it in a savings account with 0.000001% interest).

Congratulations! Before you lose your motivation, let’s explore why a tax deferred annuity could be an ideal option for those funds.

Although annuities are often associated with retirement income, you do not have to be on your way to your sunset years to purchase these products. Instead, read on to decide what’s the best investment for your needs. We promise this will make cents!

Just the Tax Facts

First up, you may have heard of tax-deferred annuities called by another name: “fixed tax deferred annuity.” For sake of brevity, we’re going to lop off the “fixed.”

One of the first things you need to know about this investment strategy is that it is a contract. You are entering into a commitment to yourself and your insurance company. (So choose wisely!)

Second, this type of annuity may or may not guarantee income.

Wait! Don’t rush off and quit your job just yet.

There are, indeed, benefits:

Annuities are, as their name says, tax-deferred. Other investment strategies such as certificates of deposit are not. This benefit leads to compounding interest!
Income stream, guaranteed for life if you choose this option.
Safety, in that the annuity is backed and sold only by qualified life insurance companies that hold reserves equal to the withdrawal value of your policy.

There are also, oh yes, drawbacks:

The biggest drawback of tax-deferred annuities is for those people who are just commitment-prone. You may think an annuity is the hottest thing on the planet, but what happens when you change your mind?

Fees and surrender chargers. That’s what happens. Penalties can be huge for early withdrawal on annuities, so just don’t do it. Once you commit, do not quit. Please remember NEVER EVER buy a product that is longer then 9 years. Most should be 6-7-8 years in term before it’s out of surrender.

Tax Deferred Annuity for You and Me

OK, maybe you’re not ready to purchase that annuity just yet, but your neighbors, friends, coworkers, and business owners all are.

The Insurance Information Institute studied insurance product purchases from 2006-2015 and saw an upswing in deferred annuity asset purchases. In 2015, the last year of their study, consumers bought:

$1,922 billion in variable annuities
$448 billion in fixed annuities
$334 billion in indexed annuities

Although 2013 was the highest for annuity purchases in the time frame studied, the three most recent years (2013, 2014, and 2015) soared over all of the other years in the timeframe.

So who are these buyers pushing up the numbers?

It’s not who you think.

It may seem like only the rich can afford to purchase insurance products that will make them richer. But really, 70% of annuity buyers have household incomes under $100K.

And if you think tax deferred annuity buyers are only a certain age, think again. Please remember most insurance carriers only allow you to buy income rider annuities after the age of 50. But if you are looking for safety and tax differed growth you can purchase these at any age. Please remember there are IRS penalties if you take the money our before 59.5 but we can show you have to push this back and not be taxes, through a 1035 exchange.

In 2015, USA Today reported that millennials were snapping up annuities. This actually makes sense, because annuities really do benefit you in the long-term. Millennials have a long way to go before they’re able to tap into their retirement plans, so they’re thinking future-forward and putting money away for decades down the line.

It’s Guaranteed: Death and Taxes

Ah yes, the old cliche, that you can only count on two things in life: death and taxes.

Well, interestingly enough, the two commingle pretty well when it comes to tax-deferred annuities.

It sounds a bit like something out of the Marvel universe, but you should ask your annuity pro (your financial advisor) about the Death Benefit Rider.

Not all insurance companies offer this. And of course, the riders vary by company, so you really do need to ask for clarification.

There are two basic kinds of death benefit rider annuities:

Guaranteed payout of the initial amount (lump sum) invested, with – of course – reductions for any withdrawals you may have taken out; or
Guaranteed payout of the highest recorded value of the contract.
Guaranteed payout with rising income.

The Sky (and Your Age) is the Limit

Like other retirement investments, tax-deferred annuities have their own set of rules and regulations.

Contributions come from pre-tax income, when you buy them inside of your IRA’s / qualified accounts.
You can start withdrawing after age 59 and a half but remember taxes come our first on any growth you have had.
You can contribute as much as you want to your tax deferred annuity. Most start at 10,000 or 25,000 and require approval for over 1,000,000

The exceptions and fine print can really make your head spin, such as lifetime limits, income amounts and crediting options (how you make money in the annuity).

Basically, there are options, but do not hesitate to wave your hand and ask for help!

Important note: The government, insurance agency representatives and the Securities Exchange Commission are always coming together to refine these rulings. It is best to talk to your investment professionals to ensure you’ve got the latest and greatest details.

What to Do with an Annuity

Aside from, of course, enjoying the benefits of your good long-term planning investment!

And no, we aren’t advising to withdraw it all and hit the horse races.

You should know that you do have the option to withdraw your entire investment as a lump sum once the investment period expires or most index annuities will allow you to withdrawal 10% per year.

You can also roll the money from the expiring tax deferred annuity over (similar to how you would do if you have a certificate of deposit that is expiring) and pay zero taxes on that transaction. This transaction is called a 1035 exchange. We can help walk you through this process.

Be warned! Shady advisors hide this option from clients to make another commission. Do not fall for this, get a second opinion.

Let’s Talk

We’d love to hear if you fall into the 70% of annuity buyers in the income range studied. Have tax-deferred annuities helped you planning out your future?

Already have an investment strategy? That’s OK. How about a free review and comparison of where you may be better placed with your funds? It’s just too easy to get ripped off these days.

We want you to be informed, make good choices, and be excited about your future. The best way we’ve seen to do this is to educate, educate, educate. Once you purchase the wrong tax deferred annuity or put too much money into an annuity that is not tailored to your needs, it can be hard to come back.

Whether you’re feeling risk-tolerant or risk averse, let’s talk tax annuities together.

Join the conversation below. You can also post a request for more information or click here to receive fast, no-cost, no-commitment information tailored for your investment and future financial needs.