Annuities are financial products typically used by retirees looking for guaranteed income streams.

Annuities can help protect investors from outliving their retirement savings

While an annuity is also a contract between an individual and an insurance company, a life insurance policy differs in that it protects the beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder’s death.

Life insurance policies and annuities are both contracts between individuals and insurance companies

But while life insurance policies are paid out only after an individual dies, annuities are intended to provide a steady income while the investor is still alive. Also, life insurance protects an investor's family in the event of their death, but an annuity helps protect an investor from outliving their retirement savings.

Annuities differ from life insurance policies in a few key ways, such as when they're paid out and who they benefit

Annuities are intended to benefit the plan owner, and benefits are paid out during the owner's life. The person who buys life insurance rarely sees those benefits—they're intended instead for heirs and dependents.

While annuities can guarantee an income for risk-averse investors, they may play it too safe for others

Whether or not an annuity is the right investment option depends on the buyer’s unique needs. People who plan to retire soon are more likely to opt for the lower-risk investment, but there may be opportunity costs for people seeking higher returns.

Annuity owners are mainly middle-class people looking to supplement their savings

Gallup surveyed people who own annuities and found that annuity owners skew older and that the overwhelming majority bought the contracts to guarantee income during their retirement years. The annuity owners also said the contracts provide them with peace of mind.

People with annuities (annuitants) tend to skew older, with most approaching retirement age

However, others also invest in an annuity contract when they come into a large sum of money, like an inheritance. There are lots of myths surrounding annuities, such as the idea that they're only for the wealthy.

Those over the age of 55 can buy an annuity with their pension savings

Annuity rates have risen in recent years, making them a more popular financial product, especially as people live longer. But buying an annuity isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Some argue that annuities are particularly good options for women

Women live longer than men, meaning they'll likely be retired for longer. Annuities can provide them with a guaranteed income stream during their retirement years, even if the rest of their retirement plan doesn't last.

Annuity sales have climbed, topping $430B in 2024, as retirees look to pad their income

Retirees are seeking guaranteed income that will last for as long as they live, weather market downturns, and preserve wealth.

If someone buys a $100K annuity, they may receive $525 to $1K monthly payments

In general, how much an annuity will pay out depends on a variety of factors, including how old an annuitant was when they bought it and what type of annuity they bought. Regardless, annuities can provide a guaranteed extra income for retirees.

Annuities have two core phases: the accumulation phase and the annuitization phase

During the accumulation phase, individuals invest in their annuity with financial contributions. The annuitization phase is when the annuity is paid out.

Investments into an annuity are typically locked up during the accumulation period

For one year, most annuitants won’t be able to withdraw any funds. After that, most contracts allow them to take out up to 10% of their accumulated total annually before fees—called surrender charges—are applied to their withdrawals.

Annuities come in different types, such as immediate annuities and deferred annuities

Immediate annuities have no accumulation phase and go straight to the annuitization phase, whereas deferred annuities are set up to begin paying out at an agreed-upon date in the future. Annuities can also differ in how they accumulate value (fixed and variable annuities).

Annuities are regulated at the state level

However, certain types of annuities, like indexed annuities, are also nationally regulated by the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to protect investors.

Annuitants have to pay income taxes on the annuity payments they receive, unless their annuities are folded into a Roth IRA

In most other cases, annuities grow tax-deferred until annuitants start to receive payments. Those payments are then taxed as regular income. Nonqualified annuities, which are bought with after-tax dollars, have different rules.

Use this annuity income calculator to estimate how much money someone can expect in their annuity payouts, depending on factors such as how much they invest and how long they expect to be paid.

About 30% of financial advisors opted for fixed and indexed annuities in 2023

An infographic that shows the most common types of investments used by financial advisors with their clients in 2023 also found that nine in 10 advisors used ETFs, and three-quarters invested in cash and cash equivalents.

Cash balance pension plans provide the option of a lifetime annuity

Specifically, these defined-benefit plans are retirement plans that differ from traditional pensions in that they can come in one lump sum rather than in monthly payments. These plans are most popular among small business owners and their employees. Learn more about them in this article.

Life insurance offers peace of mind, ensuring that loved ones are financially supported after one's passing

People typically apply for life insurance policies through specific companies or online marketplaces. This video offers more information that's important to know when considering buying life insurance.

Lottery winners have two choices: lump sums or annuities

Lottery winners can receive either a lump sum or a yearly payout for 30 years. If they take the lump sum, they can receive only about 60% of the winnings—and that 60% is then taxed. If they choose to receive the annual payout as an annuity, there are tax strategies they can use to minimize how much they owe.

Permanent life insurance policies can sometimes help you cover expenses, access cash, and more

If you’re planning on purchasing permanent life insurance, your policy will come with a cash value (which acts like a savings account). To make the most of this account, you could pay your life insurance premium, apply it towards a loan, or put it towards long-term or terminal care.

Permanent life insurance offers access to a cash value account, which is like a savings account

It's a huge perk of purchasing permanent life insurance. Policyholders often use these accounts as another investment tool. In this podcast episode, NerdWallet experts break down how you can use your cash value account to invest, plus the pros and cons of this tactic.

Life insurance policies are often recommended for people with financial dependents

If you’re a parent, spouse, business owner, homeowner, or if you hold a lot of debt, you might want to consider life insurance. It can replace a loss of income or pay off debt.

Expert says 90% of lottery winners take a lump sum vs. an annuity

However, a lawyer specializing in lotteries told CNBC that lottery winners should opt for an annuity instead. Lump sums are immediately slashed in half, and while both options are taxed, there are ways to minimize the taxes owed on annuity payouts.

A 'death benefit' can replace lost income, pay for a funeral, or leave a legacy

Those beneficiaries are usually family members. In exchange, the policyholder pays a monthly fee for coverage. It’s normally used to cover the life of a financial provider.

Life insurance can can cover funeral expenses, loss of income, and more

Life insurance can act as a financial safety net if your main financial provider dies. Among other things, it can cover any debts that were left behind. In this video, a Yahoo Finance contributor dives into why life insurance could be the key financial protection your family needs.

Final life insurance is most common for people over the age of 50

Final expense life insurance is a type of life insurance where, instead of paying a sum of money to your beneficiaries after death, the insurance covers the expenses for your funeral, burial, and any end-of-life care.

Pension plans investing over 60% in stocks had the highest real returns in 2024

In order to ensure that retirees received all the retirement funds a company or other institution may have promised them, pensions were often limited to investing in run-of-the-mill assets like government securities, investment-grade bonds, and blue-chip stocks. But as market conditions have evolved, pensions are increasingly being invested in a wider range of assets, including alternative investments.

Should you give up a car in retirement?

Did you know that drivers over the age of 74 tend to pay higher car insurance rates than most other age groups? That small fortune in auto insurance payments is just one reason some people give up a car when they retire. If you're curious about the pros of getting rid of your car when you retire, read this article.

If you decide to buy term life insurance, coverage will eventually expire

If you decide to buy term life insurance, you’ll no longer have coverage once the agreed-upon timeframe is over. You can always plan ahead to pay off major expenses before your coverage ends, but if this doesn’t happen, you may need to renew or replace your policy.

An individual retirement account is a type of tax-advantaged investment account

An IRA lets individuals at most income levels invest either pre- or post-tax money for retirement. IRAs are often good solutions for people who don’t have the option to invest in a 401(k) plan—or for those who want to put even more money aside for retirement.

Whole and universal life insurance are two types of permanent life insurance

While they both stick with you for your whole life, they vary when it comes to added benefits, overall cost, and changes you can make to an active policy. The biggest difference between the two is that universal insurance lets you make changes to an active policy, whereas whole insurance is fixed.

Retirement expectations versus reality

There's a big gap between what many Americans expect to happen during retirement and what actually happens—at least according to one financial planner. In this article, the financial planner in question explores how retirement expectations can differ from reality, exploring financial considerations such as how long people expect to work part-time during retirement, and more. Read the article here.

The two main types of life insurance are term and permanent

The biggest difference between the two is how long they cover the life of the insured person and how much they cost. This guide can help you learn more about term and permanent life insurance, plus their different variations, to choose the right policy for you.

People can customize their life insurance policies by adding on extra benefits

While most life insurance policies have similar coverage, adding on these extra benefits (called riders) can help make these policies more bespoke. Some common added benefits include coverage for your children, a high-risk lifestyle, or a critical or terminal illness.

The prevalence of 401(k) plans and IRAs over pensions shifted investment risk from employers to employees.

Some people don't like talking about life insurance—perhaps because they fear death

But CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger makes a case for why life insurance is worth discussing anyway on this "CBS Mornings" segment. She also reviews the different types of life insurance, who can be a beneficiary, and other basics.

Before Social Security, elderly Americans relied on family support, limited state pensions, or company-sponsored pensions

Before Social Security benefits were available to American retirees, they had to find other ways to get by. Pensions were only available to roughly 15% of workers, and most elderly Americans went without meaningful economic security.