What are Annuities?

Annuities are unique investment products, sold by insurance companies, that can help you save more for retirement, generate a guaranteed stream of income in retirement, or both. Annuities have helped millions of people prepare for retirement, but because there are different types with different purposes, they can be a bit confusing. Keep in mind, annuities generally fall into two distinct categories: tax-deferred and income.

Tax-Deferred Annuities: let you save more for retirement—even after you have maxed out contributions to 401(k)s and IRAs.

Income Annuities: provide an immediate guaranteed stream of income in retirement in exchange for a lump sum of money.