Learn what annuities are, how fixed, variable, indexed, immediate, and deferred annuities work, and how they can help provide steady retirement income.

A deferred annuity is a long-term contract with an insurance company that provides future income–often for life–in exchange for premium payments, with options like fixed, variable, and indexed types ...

An annuity is an insurance product. It provides a long-term stream of income in exchange for an upfront premium. There are many types, including immediate, deferred, fixed, variable and indexed.

As you approach retirement, one of the most important considerations is securing reliable income streams that will support you through the remainder of your life. Alongside Social Security, pensions, ...

A deferred annuity is a long-term investment that grows tax-deferred and provides income in retirement. Interest earnings accumulate without immediate taxes, allowing savings to grow. Taxes are paid ...

Annuities are a financial product commonly associated with retirement planning due to their ability to provide reliable payments over time. But lately, thanks in large part to their potentially higher ...

Immediate annuities and deferred annuities are two types of financial products that allow individuals to save or begin retirement or other long-term goals. In return, the insurance company agrees to ...

In the world of small businesses, annuities often fly under the radar. That’s right, those are the things you might associate with your grandparents’ retirement plans. As a business owner, however, ...

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Annuities have a bad reputation due to their complexity, lack of transparency, and limited flexibility. However, for retirees focused on maximizing their spending in retirement, the simplest annuities ...

Laurie Sepulveda is a MarketWatch Guides team senior writer who specializes in writing about personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages and banking. She lives in North Carolina and has taught and ...