Benefits
What a fixed annuity actually does for you.
Fixed annuities aren't magic — they're a specific tool. Here's what they do well, what you can add on, and what you're giving up in exchange.
Core benefits
Principal protection
Your premium is not exposed to market losses in a fixed annuity.
Guaranteed lifetime income
Contractual income you can't outlive when you elect a lifetime payout.
Tax-deferred growth
Interest compounds tax-deferred until withdrawn.
Predictable retirement paycheck
A monthly amount you can budget against, alongside Social Security.
No annual contribution limits
Unlike IRAs or 401(k)s, there's no IRS cap on non-qualified premium.
Legacy / death benefit options
Remaining value or a chosen death benefit can pass directly to your beneficiary.
Optional riders
- Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB): A guaranteed withdrawal amount for life even if the contract value runs to zero.
- Enhanced income for care needs: Some contracts increase your income if you can no longer perform certain activities of daily living or enter a qualifying care facility.
- Death benefit rider: A guaranteed amount payable to your beneficiary, sometimes stepped up over time.
Honest trade-offs
- Less liquidity: withdrawals above the free amount during the surrender period may trigger a charge.
- More moderate growth than direct market investing: fixed annuities are designed to protect, not to maximize returns.
- Surrender charges: real, disclosed up front, and phase out over the surrender period.
Next Step
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