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 ...

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 ...

An individual who transfers a nonqualified deferred annuity contract issued after April 22, 1987, for less than full and adequate consideration is treated as having received “an amount not received as ...

Insurance companies generally prefer that annuity contract holders do not surrender their contracts. While a surrender charge penalty would apply, and some of those who surrender an annuity are doing ...

When planning for retirement, annuities often enter the conversation as a way to secure a steady income stream. Look under the hood of an annuity, though, and you’ll find many moving parts, often with ...

A fixed annuity provides a guaranteed income stream. Payouts can be immediate or deferred. Drawbacks include limited upside. Annuities can help ensure your retirement savings last your entire life.

For starters, you will pay fees and may sacrifice higher returns for an annuity’s stability and guarantees. Here's what else you need to know in order to make an informed decision.

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

A deferred annuity is a popular way to structure an annuity for those seeking retirement income. An annuity pays out money over a period of time, typically during retirement, helping ensure that ...