Annuities

A popular choice in retirement planning, an annuity refers to any type of periodic (generally monthly) payments made to an individual (called the annuitant). Payment options include lump sum, income for life, or income for a certain period of time.

Variable Annuities

A variable annuity offers a range of investment portfolio options, with the annuity value and annuity payments varying depending on the performance of the portfolios chosen. The investment return of the portfolios in a variable annuity are subject to market fluctuations because the net premiums are invested in securities. The annuity contract owner assumes all investment risk with this product, including possible loss of principal amount invested. One of the many characteristics of an annuity is a death benefit payable to a named
beneficiary, however, the death benefit guarantee is based on the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company and does not extend to the separate account.

Fixed Annuities

An annuity contract in which the premiums paid are invested in the general assets of the life Insurance company, with the company guaranteeing a stream of fixed payments over the life of the annuity. The insurer, not the insured, takes the investment risk.

A special offer for Federal Employees retiring under the FERS System:
We are starting to have Federal Employees under the FERS retirement system retire. Some of these employees will want to supplement their retirement income by annuitizing their TSP plan. The question is, will they get the most income from the TSP Single Life Annuity or is there a better deal? There is a better deal! Take a look at the comparison below:

All Annuity Payouts below are based on a TSP Value of $250,000 and the Federal Employee being age 65. The American National Palladium Immediate Annuity (SPIA) would require that the $250,000 be rolled over from the TSP plan as Qualified Money. Payouts in all plans below would be fully taxable.

$1,701 Monthly Payments (Illustration ran May 2009)
As you can see from the examples above, both sexes are much better off purchasing a Palladium
Immediate Annuity from American National then they are taking the Single Life Annuity payout offered..... through the Thrift Savings Plan.