An annuity is an insurance contract you purchase to receive payments for a specific period, such as 30 years, or for the rest of your life. By applying a mathematical formula consisting of variables ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Dr. Melody Bell is a personal finance expert, entrepreneur, educator, and researcher. Melody ...

These estimates are based on a single-life immediate fixed annuity, which begins paying out right after purchase and continues for the rest of your life. Generally, the older you are when you buy the ...

A lot of retirees use annuities to simplify their income stream in retirement but that doesn’t mean annuities are simple. Beyond choosing what kind of annuity to purchase – immediate vs. deferred and ...

Annuities provide periodic payments for an agreed-upon period of time, either now or in the future, for the annuitant or beneficiary. You can annuitize the annuity by making monthly, semiannual, or ...

Investing without risk often seems like a financial fantasy. Yet, an annuity promises just that — turning a lump sum into a steady income stream, typically for retirement. An annuity is essentially a ...

We recently wrote a piece showing how much income you can expect to receive every month from different types of annuities, including fixed, immediate income annuities and deferred income annuities.

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. So, what could your payments look like if you're investing $500,000 in ...

Choosing the right type of annuity payout depends on when you want payments to start, how long you want them to last and if you want a survivor’s benefit. Single-life annuities provide higher income ...