Understand Annuities & Find the HIGHEST Fixed Annuity Rates Now!
Annuities, sometimes referred to as annuity contracts or annuity policies, may be classified in several different categories. Here are some examples:
Single Premium or Flexible Premium Annuities
A single premium annuity is structured to allow only one contribution to the annuity contract. Subsequent contributions are not allowed with these types of annuities. If investor (annuity policy owner or contract owner) envisions making additional contributions into an annuity contract, the annuity policy owner should consider purchasing a flexible premium annuity.
A flexible premium annuity allows additional contributions at any time from the policy owner. Immediate annuities by very nature will be considered single premium annuities.
Immediate or Deferred Annuities
An immediate annuity is a contract with an immediate payment or one with payments that begin within one year of the contract by the insurance companies.
A deferred annuity is a future pay contract with payments by the insurance company to begin at some later date beyond the first annuity contract year.
Qualified or Nonqualified Annuities
The annuity may be funded with monies accumulated within employer-provided qualified retirement plans like 401(k), 403 (b), SEP, SIMPLE, Profit Sharing Plan, Defined Benefit Plan and IRAs. Because each of these plans is designed to meet regulatory qualifications in order to allow pre-tax investments and tax deferral on earnings, the plans are referred to as qualified plans.
If the money placed in the annuity has already been subject to income tax, like your personal money, the annuity is classified as a nonqualified annuity. The benefit of tax deferral in nonqualified annuities can be a great value for nonqualified money that does not enjoy tax deferral in the vehicle in which it is currently invested.
Fixed Annuity, Indexed Annuity, or Variable Annuity
Deferred annuities are classified by the method the insurance company uses to determine how interest in credited to the annuity contract. A fixed annuity is the simplest of deferred annuity. It generally offers the annuity owner a guaranteed interest rate for a certain period of time. Once the initial period ends, a new interest rate is established. The fact that fixed annuities have guaranteed principal and interest make them much like the Certificates of Deposit (CD) that banks sell.
Indexed annuities which became popular after 1990, are relatively new to the life insurance industry. An indexed annuity ties the earnings in the annuity contract to an outside security index. The most popular type of indexed annuity is one tied to the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) 500 index. This type of annuity is meant to assist clients who want more growth potential than a fixed annuity can offer but who may not be ready for the full risk of a variable annuity. But, this kind annuity is quite difficult to understand and tricky.
A variable annuity is a deferred annuity that allows the annuity buyer to participate in investment funds, such as stock and bond mutual funds. This kind of annuity carries all the risks of stock market volatility.
The primary objective of an annuity contract is to pay the persons who receives the annuity payments during their lifetime, not to offer a death benefit after they pass away.
One of the most prevalent reasons individuals purchase annuity contracts is to accumulate funds for retirement and then, once retired, to manage distribution of those funds. The older a person gets, the greater the probability that he or she will need annuities as a financial vehicle either to accumulate tax-deferred dollars for the future or as a source of guaranteed income that provides unique financial security features during retirement.
The fixed deferred annuities that are inherently tax deferred are ideal to help accomplish this financial goal, because fixed deferred annuities offer flexibility in making contributions into them, and offer guaranteed interest rate without any stock market risk. Annuity rates are usually better than bank CDs and interest income from fixed annuity are tax deferred. Because fixed annuities are tax-deferred by law, investors or annuity holders can choose when to pay taxes on the interest earned inside the annuity. By waiting until the annuity reaches maturity, taxes are paid at the income tax rate that corresponds to an investor’s current income, which may be much lower than during the investor’s working years. Deferred fixed annuity is a long term, retirement savings vehicle and withdrawals made before an investor or account holders reaches age 59 ½ may require, in addition to taxes, a 10% penalty.
Wondering if a fixed annuity is the tool you need to create an income stream that will last for the rest of your life? Call (877) 972-3262 to speak with a retirement specialist who can help you find the best annuity rates for you. Or, simply complete this short form for your fixed annuity proposal. BeamaLife is appointed broker with top 100 life insurance companies and develop a technology and system to find a best possible annuity rates for our clients.
