Saturday, May 2, 2009

Annuities Offer Security in Wake of Financial Meltdown

By Jones Taylor

Considering the shakiness of the stock market these days, many people who had relied on stock options for their retirement are realizing the secure advantages that are offered through annuities.

People may have invested their savings for years only to see it washed away with the latest economic tide. Annuities, on the other hand, guarantee a continual flow of income that's less subjected to market changes. Annuities are contracts with insurance companies that usually provide guaranteed income streams. They offer safer options for investors who are worried about the stock market or getting low returns on bonds.

Two types of annuities commonly exist, including an immediate annuity that pays similar to a pension, and a deferred annuity that allows users to invest money that's tax deferred. Although deferred annuities are dependent on market conditions, they usually have insurance to protect the investor from taking a loss. When you buy annuity, you take a considerably lower risk than investing directly into the stock market.

Although rules and markets have changed recently, you were once faced with being stuck with the deal when you chose to buy annuity. You'd face high taxes and stiff penalties if you ever choose to try to sell the annuity early. However, over the last several years, selling annuity has enjoyed a strong market that's been made even stronger due to the turmoil in the marketplace.

Many consider selling annuity just because they don't need the payments anymore, or they'd like to take the money in a lump sum and invest it. Being able to put the annuity on the market makes annuities more appealing assets, as they are as good as cash but also a tax-free investment.

Any annuity is up for grabs, except for those held in 401K and IRA accounts. It's also possible to sell only part of the annuity, if it turns out you don't need all of it. If you really only need a portion of those payments, you can sell part, take the cash and invest in life insurance, providing your family security that's still tax-free.

It's important to understand how gains will be calculated with the annuity. You should also check for any hidden penalties for early withdrawals. Older people should pay attention to rules that may prevent the money from being accessed for several years.

Annuity is a sound investment in the wake of the economic melt down. They enjoy strong demand, yet can easily be sold as a valuable commodity if you need the money in a lump sum for other investments.

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