A fixed annuity provides a guaranteed income stream. Payouts can be immediate or deferred. Drawbacks include limited upside. Annuities can help ensure your retirement savings last your entire life.

Fixed indexed annuities tie their performance to a stock market index. They offer principal protection and steady income in retirement. Fixed indexed annuities typically limit the returns you can earn ...

If you’ve been wondering what is a deferred annuity, it’s essentially a retirement savings product that lets your money grow tax-deferred until you decide to withdraw it. You can invest either a lump ...

An annuity is an insurance contract you purchase to receive payments for a specific period, such as 30 years, or for the rest of your life. By applying a mathematical formula consisting of variables ...

A fixed annuity is a long-term investment that provides a predictable income stream. Offered by insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, it guarantees a fixed interest rate and ...

David Rodeck is a financial journalist based in New York City specializing in banking, investing and financial planning. Before writing full-time, David was a financial adviser and passed the Series 6 ...

Laurie Sepulveda is a MarketWatch Guides team senior writer who specializes in writing about insurance, investing, personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages and banking. She lives in North Carolina ...

Are you employed by an educational institution, church, or nonprofit? If so, there’s a retirement savings program authorized by section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code that allows eligible ...

Annuities are often marketed as a secure way to earn a retirement income. But do they live up to their hype? One major concern for investors is the frequently hidden costs associated with these ...

In an uncertain economy fueled by high interest rates, annuities are more popular than ever. Last year, annuity sales soared to a record-high $385.4 billion in the U.S., a whopping 23% increase over ...

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Annuities can play a key role in retirement planning by offering ...