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.

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. When it comes to retirement planning, annuities are one of the financial ...

With an annuity, you don't have the same kind of flexibility as with a 401(k) or IRA held at a brokerage firm. Liquidity is limited and early withdrawals can trigger surrender charges. Other ...

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 ...

The retirement planning landscape has shifted dramatically over the past decade. With traditional pensions becoming increasingly rare and Social Security facing long-term funding challenges, Americans ...

Many baby boomers are reaching the age when it’s time to retire, if they haven’t retired already. This means that they’ll need a plan for where their retirement income will come from.  There are many ...

Planning for retirement has perhaps never been more complicated — or more important. With Americans living longer and navigating volatile markets, the question isn't just if you've saved enough to ...

When retirement planning with a client, the transition from the accumulation phase (where the focus is on building wealth) to the decumulation phase (where the focus shifts to using that wealth to ...

While annuities may not be right for everyone, there are definite scenarios where they can work out well. An annuity can also be a great stopgap between retirement and Social Security benefits. Follow ...

Choosing how to ensure financial stability and security in your later years is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning for retirement. An annuity, however, can be essential in ...

Annuities are a tool that can create reliable retirement income that can last as long as you do. Each annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company: You provide the company money now, and ...

Nick Gallo has been a financial content marketer and journalist for over six years. He has deep expertise in credit-related topics, including credit reports and scores, loans and credit cards, and ...