Benefits of Owning Annuities

by Insurance Guru on February 17, 2011

Annuities 101

annuities

Annuities

There are many benefits to owning annuities and using them as a wealth building tool. Most of the benefits of annuities will be achieved by using deferred annuities as a mechanism to save for retirement.  A company such as Mass Mutual retirement could help guide you in amassing a safe retirement portfolio.

A major benefit to annuity ownership that many people do not think of is that deferred annuities can be a relatively hassle free investment.

Unlike stocks a person does not have to constantly monitor annuities. If a person chooses a fixed annuity he or she does not have to have to worry about the value of his or her investments every time the stock market shifts.

This means that annuities, particularly fixed annuities can be a good backup to other investments. A person who has a lot of money in something like stocks or real estate should definitely consider putting a portion of her funds in a fixed annuity. Such an investment could ensure a comfortable income if the value of stocks or real estate collapses.

Tax Benefits of Annuities

It goes without saying that one of the biggest benefits to annuities is that they are tax deferred. As long as funds remain in an annuity they are not subject to the income tax. This can give a person an additional source of tax sheltered income. It is also a good way for the self employed to create a source of tax deferred income.

The moneys in deferred annuities can be subject to normal income tax plus a 15% penalty if they are taken out before the annuity holder is 59 and one half years old. Cash from an annuity can also be subject to state income tax as well.

Since the interest from an annuity is reinvested in the annuity until it pays out this can give a person a tax deferred investment that literally grows. If regular payments are made into the annuity a large amount of retirement funds is available.

Purchasing an immediate annuity is a good way to shelter large amounts of money from income taxes. It is also a good way set large amounts of money for retirement while avoiding excessive taxation.

Regular Income

Perhaps the biggest benefit from annuities is that they can provide a regular stream of income for retirement. An annuity can give a person a regular payment that comes in on a monthly or quarterly basis. This can provide funds to augment pensions, other investment income and social security.

An annuity payment can ensure that a person has enough money to pay bills and cover expenses when they get older. Since an annuity payment can be automatically deposited into a bank account it can be a good to make sure enough funds to cover checks are available.

Annuities can also help take care of those who become disabled and are unable to look after their finances. An annuity payment can be electronically deposited into a checking account. The checking account’s automatic bill pay feature could be set to pay bills with the funds from the annuity payment. This means that annuity is a good way to ensure that the bills and expenses of a person who is suffering from a disability like Alzheimer’s disease are paid.

An advantage to annuities is that they are good means of ensuring that funds will be available during retirement. Annuities are less vulnerable to criminal activity and mismanagement than other investments. It is highly unlikely that annuity income will be stolen or wasted by a financial adviser the way other investment income can be.

Annuities Have Limitations

Something to remember is that there are limitations to annuities just like any other investment. The only way a person can get the most benefits out of annuities is to carefully research these investment tools before taking advantage of them.  If you decide to go with  fixed annuities, be sure to lock up your fixed annuity rates before they go up.

Check online with at reputable sources like Mass Mutual annuities where you can easily see exactly all the costs involved.

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