Learn what annuities are, how fixed, variable, indexed, immediate, and deferred annuities work, and how they can help provide steady retirement income.

A fixed annuity provides a guaranteed income stream. Payouts can be immediate or deferred. Drawbacks include limited upside. Annuities can help ensure your retirement savings last your entire life.

Fixed annuities and certificates of deposit (CDs) are both low-risk savings vehicles that provide guaranteed returns, but they work in different ways. A CD locks in funds for a set period at a fixed ...

Immediate fixed annuities and deferred fixed annuities are finding a growing market in the wake of the financial market meltdown. It’s no wonder. Their guaranteed payout rates are more than 8 percent ...

Adam B. Frankel is a personal finance writer and financial adviser with over 30 years of experience. When he’s not managing money in the stock market, he teaches financial topics and other core ...

LIMRA data shows 2025 annuity sales hitting $461.3 billion as RILAs, FIAs, and fixed-rate deferred products drive growth.

A fixed annuity is a long-term investment that provides a predictable income stream. Offered by insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, it guarantees a fixed interest rate and ...

Annuities are a way to secure a steady income stream in retirement. But like many investments — including bonds, savings accounts and certificates of deposit — certain types of annuities are impacted ...

The prospect of more interest rate cuts has investors wondering how to enhance the bond portion of their portfolio. A fixed indexed annuity could be the answer.

Building a Ladder to Financial Security. By Randy Myers. The situation: You want to use cash in your retirement savings to buy a fixed annuity. Your worry: interest rates are low ...

Laurie Sepulveda is a MarketWatch Guides team senior writer who specializes in writing about insurance, investing, personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages and banking. She lives in North Carolina ...