3 Reasons Why a Deferred Annuity May Make Sense for You

If you’re currently planning for your upcoming retirement, you’re probably aware of some of the financial challenges you may face. Many retirees are concerned about whether they’ll have enough income to live comfortably in retirement and whether that income will last their entire life.

Investment volatility is another common concern. If the market takes a steep downturn, your savings could see a big drop in value. If you’re reliant on your savings and investments for income, you could find yourself in a difficult situation.

Taxes can also be a challenge in retirement. Even though you won’t be working, you could still face taxes on everything from investment gains to Social Security benefits.

Fortunately, you have tools and options available to help you confront these challenges. One such tool is a deferred annuity. Deferred annuities are popular retirement income products allowing you to contribute premiums and potentially grow those contributions for future use.

Deferred annuities are fixed or fixed indexed annuities.  Fixed annuities have an interest rate set for a predetermined period of time” then that would fix the problem and we could use the article without further change. Fixed indexed annuities, have an interest rate tied to the performance of an underlying index, such as the S&P 500. If the index performs well, you earn more interest. If the index performs poorly, you may earn little or no interest.

It’s possible a deferred annuity could make sense as part of your retirement savings mix. Here are a few reasons why a deferred annuity could be right for you:

Tax-deferral

You may already be familiar with tax deferral from experience with your IRA and 401(k). Tax deferral is a feature that allows you to grow your assets, but not pay taxes on the growth until a later date.

In the case of a deferred annuity, your premiums can earn interest without any tax obligation as long as the funds stay inside the annuity contract. No taxes are due until you take a withdrawal from the annuity.

If you have money that is currently taxable, you could reduce your tax bill by moving some of those assets into a deferred annuity. You would still have an opportunity for growth, but without the annual tax obligation.

Downside protection

Growth is important in retirement. You need growth to fund your withdrawals, support your lifestyle and combat inflation. However, you also may not be able to afford a substantial loss in the markets.

A deferred annuity could be one way to get growth without risking loss. As mentioned, a fixed annuity usually pays a predetermined interest rate over a set period of time. In a fixed indexed annuity, the interest rate could change from year-to-year based on the performance of an index.

In either case, you will likely have a guaranteed* minimum interest rate, which is the least amount of interest you can earn in any given year. This number is often set between 0 and 3 percent. That means there is no risk of losing money due to market performance in either a fixed annuity or a fixed indexed annuity.

Income

Deferred annuities can also be an effective source of retirement income. In a fixed annuity, you can simply withdraw the interest from your contract as it is credited. Since the interest rate is set in advance, you know what your income will be each year. You can withdraw the interest without affecting your principal at all.

In a fixed indexed annuity, you don’t know what your interest rate will be each year because that rate is dependent on the index performance. However, you can select an optional feature known as a guaranteed* minimum income benefit.

This optional feature allows you to withdraw a certain percentage of your contract, such as 5 percent, on an annual basis. As long as you stay within the feature’s guidelines, your withdrawal is guaranteed for the rest of your life, regardless of how the index performs.

Looking for a strategy to combat taxes, market volatility and income concerns? A deferred annuity could be the answer. However, annuities aren’t right for everyone. It depends on your unique needs and goals.

At Carstens Financial Group, we can help you review your situation to determine which tools and products are right for you. We welcome the opportunity to help you plan for a comfortable and enjoyable retirement. Contact us today for more information.


*Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values.

This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice.
​
15616 – 2016/4/28