Variable Annuities: Lifelong Income, High Cost
December 1st, 2011 by
Administrator
The variable investment products have created controversies all over the world, the most controversial being the variable annuity. Even with its tremendous popularity, it has experienced a neglect that is equally relative. Some of the privileges that come with these type of annuities is the tax deferral factor where, more attention is focused on the higher growth attained when investment gains accumulate free from the yearly taxation. These kind of annuities allow the customer to manage their investments to a certain degree. However, they come with very high expenses as well as several liquidity limitations where they have surrender charges in the first two years of purchase and a certain percentage in the succeeding years. The number of annual transactions are also limited.
People who are worried of losing their retirement savings in the stock market, are now looking for safety in the variable annuities, that come with the promises of lifelong income. With these kind of annuities, customers are able to save for their retirement with several investments such as bond funds and stock. The cash grows tax-deferred until the owners withdraw it. These protection is not free it comes with some costs as well as contracts from the insurer that gives the customers the terms, conditions and limitations. The customers income is based on the highest value the account gets to increasing at a certain percent annual rate, until the withdrawals begin. A less complicated approach is an immediate annuity. One drawback though is that with immediate annuities buyers are turning their money over to the insurer and have no access to it any longer, as they would, with a variable annuity. However, they are the easiest option, for people who want to get an income that they cannot outlive. After buying them, there is no need to manage anything or come up with decisions at any given time.
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