A fixed annuity is a contract between an insurance company and a customer, typically called the annuitant. The contract obligates the company to make a series of fixed annuity payments to the annuitant for the duration of the contract. Retirees often use a fixed annuity to provide a steady income for life. The annuitant surrenders a lump sum of cash in exchange for monthly payments that are guaranteed by the insurance company.
A fixed annuity can remove market risk from the investment return. However, there are other risks associated with fixed annuities that must be considered.
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1. Spending power risk. Social Security retirement benefits have cost-of-living adjustments. Most fixed annuities do not. Consequently, the spending power provided by the monthly payment may decline significantly over the life of the annuity contract because of inflation. Annuities with inflation protection are available, but they are significantly more expensive. Therefore, depending on how much of a retirement nest egg is used to purchase an annuity, give careful consideration to protecting the spending power of the annuity payout.
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2. Death and survivorship risk. In a conventional fixed annuity, once the annuitant has turned over a lump sum premium to the insurance company, it will not be returned. The annuitant could die after receiving only a few monthly payments, but the insurance company may not be obligated to give the annuitant’s estate any of the money back. A related risk is based on the financial consequences for a surviving spouse. In a standard single-life annuity contract, a survivor receives nothing after the annuitant dies. That may put a severe dent in a spouse’s retirement income. To counteract this risk, consider a joint life annuity.
[See How to Get a Guaranteed Return From Your 401(k).]
3. Company failure risk. Private annuity contracts are not guaranteed by the FDIC, SIPC, or any other federal agency. If the insurance company that issues an annuity contract fails, no one in the federal government is obligated to protect the annuitant from financial loss. Most states have guaranty associations that provide a level of protection to citizens in that state if an insurance company also doing business in that state fails. A typical limit of state protection, if it applies at all, is $100,000. To control this risk, contact the state insurance commissioner to confirm that your state has a guaranty association and to learn the guarantee limits applicable to a fixed annuity contract. Based on that information, consider dividing fixed annuity contracts among multiple insurance companies to obtain the maximum possible protection. Also check the financial stability and credit ratings of the annuity insurance companies being considered. A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's publish ratings information.
Mark Patterson is an engineer, patent attorney, baby boomer, and author of The Failsafe Retirement System. He blogs on matters of personal finance and retirement planning at Tough Money Love and Go To Retirement.
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