Chances are you have mixed feelings about retirement. You’re looking forward to a more rewarding and relaxed lifestyle, but you’re concerned about building a retirement nest egg. Social Security and company sponsored pension plans will supply some of the income you need after you stop working. But you know personal savings and investments will also be needed to build a solid foundation for retirement.
A popular choice in retirement planning, an annuity is an insurance contract issued to you by an insurance company. You purchase an annuity with one initial payment or a series of payments, and the issuing insurance company agrees to pay you an amount of money in the future. Payment options include lump sum, income for life, or income for a certain period of time.
Annuities are popular because earnings are tax-deferred, annuities offer several different contribution and distribution options; and there’s no limit to the amount of money you can invest in an annuity.