Introduction to Annuities

Insured investments are an important part of anyAnother use of annuities is after the roll over or
financial plan. An annuity is one such aspect.distribution of a retirement plan. The lump sum can be
An annuity is a legal contract whereby one party paysused to purchase an annuity that continues to pay a
in a lump sum of money to another and receivesset amount of money on a monthly or yearly basis for
regular payments in return over an extended period ofthe remainder of the owner's lifetime. In some cases,
time. There are several various types of annuities, butthe payouts can continue after death to a designated
the basic idea remains the same. Annuities are abeneficiary.
deferred investment contract. They are a financialAn annuity can also be used as an investment tool for
instrument that is sold by the same companies that sellretirement planning. The Internal Revenue Service limits
life insurance policies.the amount of money that can be put into tax
In some ways, the annuity is like a life insurance policydeferred retirement plans like a Roth IRA. If a person
in that the risks and uncertainties are transferred fromhas extra cash or income and is seeking a long term
the insured to the insurer. The insurer reduces his owninvestment beyond the limits of his retirement plans, the
risks by pooling a large number of annuities. One of thepurchase of an annuity can be a very attractive option.
common examples of an annuity is the deferredKnowledge of the types of annuities and how they
payments after winning a lottery. The lottery winningscan be used in formulating a successful personal
can be paid out in a lump sum or spread over afinancial plan can be a valuable asset in making long
number of years with equal guaranteed payments.term financial game plans.
The equal payments are in the form of an annuity.