While there's no federal law setting specific age restrictions for annuity purchases, many annuity companies impose their own age limitations. Typically, these range from a minimum age of 50 to a maximum age between 75 and 95. It's essential to consider these restrictions when exploring your options.
Most financial advisors will tell you that the best age for starting an income annuity is between 70 and 75, which allows for the maximum payout. However, only you can decide when it's time for a guaranteed stream of income.
For a $50,000 immediate annuity (where you start getting payments immediately), you're looking at around $300 to $320 per month if you're about 65 years old. For example, a 65-year-old man might get about $317 per month, while a 65-year-old woman might receive closer to $302.
The five-year rule requires that the entire balance of the annuity be distributed within five years of the date of the owner's death.
As long as you do not withdraw your investment gains and keep them in the annuity, they are not taxed. A variable annuity is linked to market performance. If you do not withdraw your earnings from the investments in the annuity, they are tax-deferred until you withdraw them.
One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.
The type of annuity you choose can significantly impact your monthly income. With a $300,000 fixed immediate annuity, a 65-year-old man could receive around $1,450 to $1,950 per month for life, while a 65-year-old woman may get $1,800 to $2,200 per month.
There are a variety of options that are better than an annuity for retirement, depending on your financial situation and goals. These include deferred compensation plans, such as a 401(k), IRAs, dividend-paying stocks, variable life insurance, and retirement income funds.
Annuities are taxed based on whether they are qualified or nonqualified funds, with qualified annuities subject to income tax on withdrawals and nonqualified annuities taxed on earnings first, followed by a return of original contributions.
Don't have sufficient savings to cover premiums: Buying an annuity could mean laying out $50,000 or more to cover the premium. If purchasing an annuity would drain your liquid savings and put you at risk of having to borrow to pay for unexpected expenses, it may not be worth it.
The annuity death benefit applies to beneficiaries independently of the will. This means the annuity benefit goes to the most recently designated primary beneficiary (or the secondary, if the primary beneficiary has died or is incapable of collecting).
As a comparison, the cost of a single premium immediate annuity that would pay you $1,000 per month for as long as you live is approximately $185,000. Not only that, but if you live longer than your life expectancy, your annuity continues at no additional cost to you. It lasts your entire lifetime.
Closing or cashing out an annuity altogether is an option if you need all the funds. However, this may also result in surrender charges, tax implications and the 10% federal tax penalty.
Here's a look at how much cash you can expect each month from a $100,000 annuity: Immediate Income Annuity: For someone 65, you might get around $614 each month with an immediate income annuity. If you're a 65-year-old woman opting for a lifetime annuity, it might be closer to $608 a month.
If taxes are a concern, a fixed deferred annuity may be a better option. Earnings on CDs are taxable in the year the interest is earned. With fixed deferred annuities, earnings accumulate tax deferred and are not treated as taxable income until they are withdrawn. This could help come tax-return time.
Fixed annuities
If you're risk-averse, a fixed annuity is a good option. However, the rate of growth you receive may not be enough to keep up with inflation. If this happens, you'll actually lose money by using a fixed annuity compared to other investment options.
As of May 2024, starting payments at age 60 could result in an annual income of $43,200, which breaks down to approximately $3,600 per month. Starting at age 65 could increase this to $47,580 annually, or about $3,965 per month. By delaying until age 70, the payout rises to $51,300 per year or around $4,275 monthly.
Once you've begun receiving income payments through annuitization, you generally can't cancel the contract and access the remaining principal. This applies to immediate annuities and deferred income annuities that have entered into the payout phase.
Beneficiaries of qualified annuities are subject to distribution requirements after the death of the owner. For distribution purposes, there are three categories of beneficiaries (designated, eligible designated, and non-designated.) Designated beneficiary's must take the full account value out by the tenth year.
If the sector of the market that an annuity is linked to suffers in a recession, the annuity can perform poorly and even lose money. Stocks typically have more market risk, and so they are more likely to decline during a recession.
Annuities May not Protect Your Investment
According to the SEC, investors purchasing an annuity connected with a 401(k) plan or IRA receive no tax advantage. The SEC notes that those who withdraw funds from a variable annuity before the age of 59 1/2 may be charged a 10 percent federal tax.