HOW DOES AN ANNUITY WORK? HOW ANNUITIES WORK?

HOW DO I KNOW IF A FIXED DEFERRED ANNUITY IS RIGHT FOR ME?

The questions listed below may help you decide which type of annuity, if any, meets your retirement planning and financial needs.  You should think about what your goals are for the money you may put into the annuity.  You need to think about how much risk you're willing to take with the money.  Ask yourself:

• How much retirement income will I need in addition to what I will get from Social Security and my pension?
• Will I need that additional income money for myself or for myself and someone else?
• How long can I leave my money in the annuity?
• When will I need income payments?
• Does the annuity let me get money when I need it?
• Do I want a fixed annuity with a guaranteed interest rate and little or no risk of losing the principal?
• Do I want a variable annuity with the potential for higher earnings that aren't guaranteed and the possibility that I may risk losing principal?
• Or, am I somewhere in between and willing to take some risks with an equity-indexed annuity?