Buying an Annuity: How to Buy & Other Considerations
Annuities offer a fixed income stream popular with people nearing retirement. Buying an annuity involves selecting a trustworthy insurance company, completing a step-by-step process and signing a contract.
- Written by Rachel Christian
Rachel Christian
Financial Writer and Certified Educator in Personal Finance
Rachel Christian is a writer and researcher for RetireGuide. She covers annuities, Medicare, life insurance and other important retirement topics. Rachel is a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education.
Read More- Edited By
Matt Mauney
Matt Mauney
Financial Editor
Matt Mauney is an award-winning journalist, editor, writer and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience working for nationally recognized newspapers and digital brands. He has contributed content for ChicagoTribune.com, LATimes.com, The Hill and the American Cancer Society, and he was part of the Orlando Sentinel digital staff that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017.
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Toby Walters, CFA®
Toby Walters, CFA®
Chartered Financial Analyst and Paraplanner
Toby Walters, CFA®, has over 25 years of financial research experience. With a knowledge and understanding of researching and analyzing financial data, he has developed a unique and experienced viewpoint on money matters. He has been a chartered financial analyst since 2003, and most recently a portfolio analyst and paraplanner.
Read More- Published: August 28, 2020
- Updated: July 5, 2023
- 5 min read time
- This page features 8 Cited Research Articles
How to Buy an Annuity
Annuities can be purchased from insurance companies, banks, independent brokers and financial advisors.
Purchasing an annuity is an important decision. To buy one, you must follow a step-by-step process.
Steps for Purchasing an Annuity- Assess your current and future financial needs. Consider how much money you’ll need in retirement. Do you also want to leave money to beneficiaries after you die? Make sure you understand your own goals before signing a contract.
- Pick the right type of annuity. Annuity contracts can be highly customized to meet your specific needs — and there’s many options to choose from. Research what’s available, explore your options and ask questions along the way.
- Pick a provider. Annuities are backed by insurance companies, so it’s important to select a reputable insurer with a stable financial history.
- Review the terms of your contract. Before you sign on the dotted line, the insurance company will give you important documents outlining the risks, rewards and other details about your annuity. Carefully review this paperwork.
- Complete your application. Ensure everything is correct and ask the insurance company any final questions.
- Transfer funds. You can purchase an annuity with a lump sum or series of payments using cash, retirement account money or brokerage account assets.
Why Buy an Annuity?
People often purchase annuities to safeguard money for retirement.
Annuities can appeal to those seeking long-term financial stability, portfolio diversification, principal protection and retirement income.
An annuity is not a short-term investment. Rather, it’s an insurance contract that provides an income stream for the rest of your life or for a specified period.
You purchase an annuity from a private company using a lump sum or series of payments. Your money then earns interest or grows at a modest rate over time.
You determine when you want to start receiving payouts from the insurer — now or in the future — and how long you want the money to last — for a few years or the rest of your life.
For people approaching retirement, Social Security and savings may not be enough to meet their needs. Annuities help hedge against longevity risk by earmarking money for your future.
Reasons People Buy Annuities- Help guarantee financial security in retirement
- Tax-deferred growth
- Principal protection
- Money for heirs
- Long-term care expenses
STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3How soon are you retiring?
STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3What is your goal for purchasing an annuity?
Select all that apply
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STEP 1STEP 2STEP 3When to Buy an Annuity
The best age to buy an annuity is different for everyone.
Monthly payouts can be higher if you wait to purchase an annuity until you’re older.
Annuities are designed to payout the full principal plus interest by a certain time. If you want lifelong payments, purchasing an annuity later makes sense. That’s because the size of your payouts is based on the number of months between your current age and your life expectancy.
John Clark, licensed insurance advisor and owner of Senior Solutions Insurance Agency, explains the best time to buy an annuity.For example, if you’re 65 with a life expectancy of 85, your payouts are based on 240 months. The payments will be smaller than if you wait until age 70 because the insurance company must spread out money for a longer period.
However, even if you live past your life expectancy, your monthly payments are guaranteed to continue.
Age isn’t the only factor to consider.
Waiting to purchase an annuity until you’re older assumes other sources of income can suffice in the meantime, such as money from a 401(k) plan or Social Security.
That’s why you should take a holistic approach when determining the best time to buy an annuity.
Consider your personal goals, current investments, risk tolerance and the financial needs of you and your family.
Learn More About Your Annuity Options
Talk to one of Annuity.org's expert agents to see if an annuity is right for your retirement savings plans.
*Ad: Clicking will take you to our partner Annuity.org.What to Consider Before Purchasing an Annuity
Are Annuities a Good Investment?Protected fixed income for life makes annuities attractive to many people. But these often-complex financial products have drawbacks.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Annuity- You Need a Large Sum of Money
- You usually need at least $10,000 to fund a small annuity. If you want monthly lifelong payments of $500 starting at age 65, you’ll need to sign over roughly $100,000 to get started. And once you commit this money, it’s difficult to access it quickly or ahead of schedule.
- Other Investment Options
- A major perk with annuities is protection against unstable markets. Unlike stocks, your money is generally shielded from volatility. In exchange, annuities limit your potential growth and gains. You may be comfortable with this trade-off if your risk tolerance is low, but you should understand the opportunity cost you’re giving up regardless.
- Inflation Can Diminish Payout Value Over Time
- Fixed payments can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. While your monthly payments won’t decrease, they may not increase either. Even if they do, it may not be enough to keep up with inflation.
- Fees Can Be High
- Annuities can include hidden or complicated fees that may fluctuate over time. A variable annuity tends to have the highest fees, with average ongoing costs ranging from 2.2 percent to more than 4 percent a year. In contrast, annual fees on an actively managed mutual fund averaged 0.66 percent in 2019.
Last Modified: July 5, 2023Share This Page
Rachel Christian Financial Writer and Certified Educator in Personal FinanceRachel Christian is a writer and researcher for RetireGuide. She covers annuities, Medicare, life insurance and other important retirement topics for RetireGuide. Rachel’s clear and concise writing style breaks down complex retirement topics and provides relevant information to our readers.- Member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education
- Certified educator in personal finance
- Former member of the American Finance Association
Edited By
Matt Mauney Financial EditorFinancially Reviewed By
Toby Walters, CFA® Chartered Financial Analyst and Paraplanner8 Cited Research Articles
- Morning Star. (2020, June). 2019 U.S. Fund Fee Study. Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/content/dam/marketing/shared/pdfs/Research/US_FeeStudy_060120.pdf
- Chen, C. (2019, July 26). Should You Buy an Annuity? Retrieved from https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/t003-c032-s014-should-you-buy-an-annuity.html
- Korn, D.J. (2018, May 16). How clients can use annuities to pay for long-term care. Retrieved from https://www.financial-planning.com/news/as-ltc-insurance-prices-rise-long-term-care-annuities-gain-popularity
- CNN Money. (n.d.). How do I know if buying an annuity is right for me? Retrieved from https://money.cnn.com/retirement/guide/annuities_basics.moneymag/index10.htm#:~:text=Typically%20you%20should%20consider%20an,high%2Dincome%20tax%20bracket%20today.
- Fitzgerald, D. (n.d.). At What Age Should You Purchase an Indexed Annuity? Retrieved from https://fiainsights.org/age-purchase-indexed-annuity/
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (n.d.). Annuities. Retrieved from https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/investment-products/insurance-products/annuities
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (n.d.). Variable Annuities: What You Should Know. Retrieved from https://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/sec-guide-to-variable-annuities.pdf
- Wall Street Journal. (n.d.). How to Select and Shop for An Annuity. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-HOWTOPFB-8
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