Annuity Information

Who buys annuities? What is the average value of an annuity contact? How much incomes does the typical annuity investor earn? The Gallup polling organization conducts periodic surveys of non-qualified annuity owners across the country to identify these questions. Matching their findings with your particular situtation can serve as a good rule of thumb, helping … Read more

Annuity Company Ratings

There are over 2000 insurance providers in the United States. Of these, a couple hundred offer annuities and life insurance. The following is a list of the top 35 annuity companies and their security ratings. AM Best, Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch are the world’s leading financial rating institutions. Company: A.M. Best: Moody’s: S&P: … Read more

Types of Annuities

Definition of an Annuity An annuity is a contract between one or more individuals and an insurance company. In exchange for payment, the insurance company agrees to provide regular, periodic income to the individual(s). An annuity can provide a stream of income that the holder cannot outlive. This unique attribute makes it especially attractive as … Read more

Annuity Glossary

1035 Exchange: A tax-free transfer of an annuity contract from one insurer to another. A good reason to switch insurance companies is to lock in a higher return rate. Although a 1035 transfer is tax-free, it might be accompanied by a surrender charge if surrender fees have yet to lapse. 401(k) plan: A plan offered … Read more

Life Annuity Guide

The Life annuity hearkens back to the days before annuities were investment vehicles, when the word annuity simply meant a stream of income payments whose duration matched the lifetime of the recipient. In traditional financial theory, an annuity is a level stream of payments extending indefinitely into the future. In the 19th century, insurance companies … Read more