What are Immediate annuities? Simply stated, they are a contract between you and an insurance company. The insurance company guarantees periodic payments for a specified period of time, the period of time could be anywhere from 5 years to a lifetime option. Any term that is not a lifetime option is call a period certain, however, one may have a lifetime income option with a period certain.
If an investors chooses a period certain term for an immediate annuity they are guaranteed to receive payments for that period of time. Typically the period certain time frame is 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. This means that if you choose the 10 year period certain then you will no longer receive payments after 10 years. If you pass away before the 10 year period certain then your heirs may receive payments for whatever time is left. At the end of the period certain you will have received both your principal back plus the interest. Since each payment is return of principal plus interest a portion of your payments will not be taxable.
If the owner choose a lifetime immediate annuity then they are guaranteed a stream of income for as long as they live. Unlike a period certain immedaite annuity a lifetime option involves more risk for the insurance carrier, since a person technically could live forever. Since the owner chose the lifetime option they will not have to fear that the payments will stop. Beause of the excess risk the payments are not as attractive as most period certain annuity options. If the owner does passaway with the lifetime option then their heirs will not receive any of the payments, unless it was a lifetim annuity with period certain.
A lifetime immedaite annuity with period certain means that the owner will receive payments for as long as they live, but if they pass away during the period certain then the heirs will receive payments for whatever time is left in the period certain phase. To determine with lifetime option is best for your situation you will need to speak to a financial advisor who will examine your individual situation and make the appropriate recommendation.
Many immedaite annuity contracts now offer more flexible terms like an inflation protection rider or chase refund to the owner or the beneficiary. An inflation rider will automatically excalate your annual income by a specific percentage, usually 3 to 5% per year. A cash refund option may allow the owner or beneficiary to receive a large one time lumps sum from the immedaite annuity contract. Older immedaite annuities do not allow such optional riders. There are pros and cons to these optional riders and you need to examine the options before making a decision.
Take 2 minutes and fill out the immediate annuity quote form to find out more options. |