The contract defines the guarantees, the charges and access to your funds.
Annuities
An insurance contract for your retirement years.
An annuity is an insurance contract. Certain annuities can be used for accumulation or retirement income goals, depending on the contract, the liquidity you need and your time horizon.
- An insurance contract
- Accumulation or retirement income
- Licensed insurance agent
How we review it
Five questions before a contract.
An annuity is understood through its contract. We go through it with you before any decision.
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An annuity is an insurance contract, not a guaranteed investment.
Understand
What is an annuity?
A contract with an insurer. Depending on the type of contract, it can be used to accumulate over a period of time or to receive income in retirement.
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Your time horizon and your liquidity matter as much as the goal.
Define
What goal it should meet.
First we clarify what you need it for and over what time frame:
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Accumulation
A period during which the contract grows according to its terms.
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Retirement income
Periodic payments under the contract's options.
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Liquidity
How much you need available, and when.
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Guarantees depend on the claims-paying ability of the insurer.
Review the contract
What the contract defines.
Guarantees, surrender periods, charges, access to funds and income options depend on the contract and the insurer. We review them one by one:
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Guarantees
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Surrender period
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Charges
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Access to your funds
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No promises of returns: the contract is what counts.
Decide
With clear information.
You decide whether an annuity contract makes sense for you, knowing what it guarantees, what an early withdrawal costs and how you would receive payments.
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An informed decision
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Application and contract
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Support throughout the process
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What you build today should be able to carry on tomorrow.
Review
As each stage approaches.
Before a surrender period ends, or when it is time to receive income, we review with you the options the contract gives you.
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Contract dates
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Income options
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Follow-up
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Annuities
What do you need your money to do in retirement?
Let's review your goal, your time horizon and the liquidity you need before talking about any contract.
The goal first. Then the contract.
The information on this page is general and educational. An annuity is an insurance contract; it is not a bank account or a guaranteed investment. Guarantees, surrender periods, charges, access to funds and income options depend on the contract and the insurer, and guarantees depend on the insurer's claims-paying ability. The tax treatment of distributions depends on the type of plan, the cost basis and the form of distribution; consult your tax professional.