Annuities

What are annuities? Annuities are financial products that create a pension for your retirement. You make one or more payments now, and in return, you get an income stream in the future. The standard annuity pays a lifetime pension.

Life insurance companies sell annuities; however, the reason to buy an annuity is quite the opposite of the reason for life insurance: whereas life insurance protects your finances in case of dying too soon, annuities protect your finances in case of living too long. Annuities are used to turn present income into future income, a popular means of providing for retirement.