Annuities
News, insights and expert analysis on annuities from the team at Kiplinger.
An annuity is an insurance contract where you, the purchaser, pay an insurance company to invest your money, allowing it to grow tax-deferred. In some instances, the annuity later provides a stream of income, which could cover a set length of time or be for life. Annuities can be complicated and they’re not for everyone. Before considering an annuity, there are some basics you should know, including what annuities are, what options they provide and how safe your money will be. Start with our beginner's guide: everything you should know about annuities then work your way through our other features and guides.
Latest
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10 Ways to Generate Retirement IncomeEach of these retirement income strategies has pros and cons. Here's what to consider to help you decide which ones might work for you.
By Mike Decker, NSSA®
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Inherited Annuity? How to Avoid a Tax Bomb as a Non-SpouseWhen inheriting an annuity, a beneficiary who isn't a spouse can face a big tax bill. Choosing annuitization or the "stretch" option lets you soften the blow.
By Ken Nuss
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Power Pellets for Gen X Portfolios: Defensive Retirement PlaysAs Gen X enters its prime retirement-planning years, members of the "forgotten generation" face extra challenges in securing their future.
By Jeff Lorenzen, CFA®
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Annuities Can Have Tax Side Effects: Here's the AntidoteIf you hold money in a non-qualified annuity, the IRS will eventually come calling for its share of any gains. It pays to explore tax efficiency ahead of time.
By Darrick Priester
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How Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities Stack up vs Bonds and CDsMulti-year guarantee annuities can outperform bonds and bank CDs — but before you buy, here's how they work.
By Ken Nuss
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16 Retirement Mistakes You Will Regret ForeverFrom saving too little to claiming Social Security too early, there are plenty of ways that current and future retirees can sabotage their golden years.
By Bob Niedt
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I (Used to) Hate Annuities: Then I Looked at the MathIf you wrote off annuities in the past, you might be surprised to learn that higher interest rates and major product improvements have made them more effective
By Mike Decker, NSSA®
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Do You Know the Pros and Cons of Annuities? Test Your Knowledge With Our QuizQuiz The financial professionals who contribute to Kiplinger's Adviser Intel regularly write about annuities.
By Joyce Lamb
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The Right and Wrong Questions to Ask About AnnuitiesAnnuities have costs and limitations, but also serve a real purpose for some investors. Before dismissing them as a retirement option, find out how they work.
By Robert D. Blair, CFP®
