Annuities: How They Work, Types, Fees and Best Rates
Annuities can turn a lump sum into income you cannot outlive, but only if you choose carefully. Learn how annuities work before you commit.
Understand Annuities Before You Buy
Our complete annuity guide explains fixed, variable and indexed annuities, immediate versus deferred payouts, surrender charges and fees. It also covers how annuity income is taxed, why guarantees depend on the insurer’s strength and what state protections exist.
Compare Annuity Rates and Options
Our current annuity comparison lists each option side by side, with annuity rates, terms, fees and payout features. Quickly see whether a fixed annuity fits your plan.
Six Retirees, Six Annuity Decisions
Some wanted guaranteed income, others wanted safe growth. Meet six real retirees. Each has a dedicated page explaining their situation, their problems and why they chose an annuity.
Annuities are long-term commitments. Browse all annuity articles below.
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Annuity for Business Owners: Norman’s Plan for Building His Own Pension
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 No employer pension? An annuity for business owners, funded through a Solo 401(k) or SEP-IRA, can create the guaranteed retirement income your business sale alone can’t promise. Norman has spent years building his business instead of accumulating the kind of structured retirement benefits a traditional employee might…
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Annuity and Social Security: Ruth’s No-Pressure Look at Where It Could Fit
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Wondering how an annuity and Social Security could work alongside your 401(k)? You don’t have to decide today — a rough income gap analysis is all you need for now. Ruth is focused on her family’s needs today — mortgage payments, kids’ expenses — but she also…
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Inheritance Annuity: Gerald’s Unhurried Look at Turning a Lump Sum Into Lifetime Income
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Received a large inheritance and worried free-stock-screener-and-financial-insights spending it too fast? An inheritance annuity can turn a lump sum into lifetime income, as long as you decide at your own pace. Gerald, after a large inheritance, is cautious free-stock-screener-and-financial-insights spending it too fast, and he’s looking at…