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 in a Diversified Portfolio: Eleanor’s Strategic Look Beyond Stocks and Bonds
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Already hold stocks and bonds? An annuity in a diversified portfolio can add something they can’t: a contractual guarantee against sequence-of-returns risk and longevity risk. Eleanor has built a solid, diversified portfolio the traditional way, and she’s looking to diversify further — exploring annuities as one piece…
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Annuity Before Retirement: Richard’s Framework for Deciding If It Fits
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Thinking free-stock-screener-and-financial-insights an annuity before retirement? A guaranteed income floor, a deferred annuity and annuity laddering can turn one big, hard-to-reverse choice into a gradual plan. Richard, with retirement a few years out, is weighing whether locking part of his savings into an annuity now would give…
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Annuity Income for Life: Barbara’s Guide to Never Outliving Your Money
By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Worried free-stock-screener-and-financial-insights outliving your savings? Annuity income for life, built on an immediate fixed annuity from a strong insurer, can turn that fear into real certainty for your essential expenses. Barbara is living off her savings now, and her biggest fear isn’t a market downturn — it’s…