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Steelhead Insurance Services Corp.
405 North Hayden Bay Drive
Portland, OR 97217
Phone: (877) 235-9299
E-mail: Dave@SteelheadInsurance.com

Fixed Annuities

An annuity is basically a savings plan, but with an insurance company.  It is a contract sold by an insurance company designed to provide payments to the holder at specified intervals, usually after retirement.  The holder is taxed only when they start taking distributions or if they withdraw funds from the account.  All annuities are tax-deferred, meaning that the earnings from investments in these accounts grow tax-deferred until withdrawal and cannot be withdrawn without penalty until a certain specified age.  Fixed annuities guarantee a certain payment amount while variable annuities do not, but do have the potential for greater returns.  An annuity has a death benefit equivalent to the higher of the current value of the annuity or the amount the buyer has paid into it.  If the owner dies during the accumulation phase, his or her heirs will receive the accumulated amount in the annuity.  This money is subject to ordinary income taxes in addition to estate taxes.

Fixed annuities are very low risk, have more liquidity than CDs, are tax-deferred, and typically offer higher yields than bonds, CDs, treasuries, or money market accounts.

A fixed annuity uses one of two distribution models: immediate or deferred.  Immediate fixed annuities start issuing monthly payments right away, until the initial premium plus interest gets paid out.  Deferred annuities don't pay out until the end of their term, compounding interest like a typical retirement savings account.

Most fixed annuities also feature a lifetime income option, allowing you to convert accumulated savings into a guaranteed monthly income for the rest of your life.  This feature is highly desirable to many retirees and sets annuities apart from other types of retirement investments.

You can expect solid, guaranteed growth from an investment in a fixed annuity as long as you don't terminate prematurely.  In the case of deferred fixed annuities, tax-deferral is going to add up and compound, earning substantially more than a CD, money market account, or even a mutual fund.

To learn more or get a quote, fill out the form "Request an annuity quote" and someone will be in contact with you.

Disclaimer:

The information contained in this article is not intended to constitute legal, accounting, tax, investment, consulting or other professional advice or services.  For specific information that applies to your circumstances you should consult a qualified tax advisor. In accordance with IRS Circular 230 Disclosure, and to ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that any tax advice contained in this article was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of:

  1. Avoiding tax-related penalties under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
  2. Promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed herein.

You should seek professional advice before implementing any of the strategies discussed herein, since:

  1. The strategies are general in nature and will not apply to every situation.
  2. Other opportunities may be better suited to your particular needs.
  3. The rules and regulations are constantly changing.

     

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