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

Lindsey Crossmier has been a financial writer since 2022, and has been regularly quoted as an expert in outlets such as U.S. News, GOBanking Rates and Yahoo! Finance. She leverages her Yale financial ...

A deferred annuity is a long-term investment that grows tax-deferred and provides income in retirement. Interest earnings accumulate without immediate taxes, allowing savings to grow. Taxes are paid ...

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

An annuity is an insurance product. It provides a long-term stream of income in exchange for an upfront premium. There are many types, including immediate, deferred, fixed, variable and indexed.

Annuities are a tool that can create reliable retirement income that can last as long as you do. Each annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company: You provide the company money now, and ...

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Take 401(k) plans and annuities, for example. A 401(k), which is a ...

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. These rules act as practical guidelines, and understanding them before ...

An annuity can provide you with a steady stream of income, ensuring that you have money when you need it. That’s why many people turn to annuities during retirement, to be sure that they have cash ...

A deferred annuity is a long-term contract with an insurance company that provides future income–often for life–in exchange for premium payments, with options like fixed, variable, and indexed types ...