Annuities For Dummies

Why look into annuities? If you're a Baby Boomer with little
or no pension and most of your money in low-interest savings
accounts, an annuity may be the key to a secure and comfortable
retirement. How can you find out whether an annuity is right for
you? Read Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition.

This completely revised and updated, plain-English guide is
packed with the latest information on choosing the best annuity for
your retirement needs. You'll find out exactly what annuities
are, whether they're the right financial vehicle for you, and
which of the many annuity options might have your name on it.
You'll learn the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your
retirement years, figure out whether to stress investments with
insurance or insurance with investments, and find out how the right
combination of annuities can help you squeeze more income out of
your savings that any other financial tool. Discover how to:

• Identify the main types of annuities

• Weigh the pros and cons of annuities for yourself

• Minimize the complexity and cost of your annuity
  investment

• Figure out how much money to commit

• Avoid common annuity pitfalls

• Create an income you can't outlive

The time to start securing your financial future is now.
Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition, gives you
knowledge, insider tips, and expert advice you need to make your
money do its best for you.

Autorentext

Kerry Pechter is the senior editor of Annuity Market
News. As a reporter who writes about annuities and the annuity
industry full-time and as a former marketing writer who specialized
in annuities at The Vanguard Group, he brings both an
outsider's and an insider's perspective to the writing
of this book.

A financial journalist for many years, Kerry has written for the
New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los
Angeles Times, and many other national and regional
publications. His previous books include two career guides, A
Big Splash in a Small Pond: How to Get a Job in a Small Company
(Fireside) and An Engineer's Guide to Lifelong
Employability (IEEE). He is a graduate of Kenyon College.

Zusammenfassung
Why look into annuities? If you're a Baby Boomer with little or no pension and most of your money in low-interest savings accounts, an annuity may be the key to a secure and comfortable retirement. How can you find out whether an annuity is right for you? Read Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition. This completely revised and updated, plain-English guide is packed with the latest information on choosing the best annuity for your retirement needs. You'll find out exactly what annuities are, whether they're the right financial vehicle for you, and which of the many annuity options might have your name on it. You'll learn the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your retirement years, figure out whether to stress investments with insurance or insurance with investments, and find out how the right combination of annuities can help you squeeze more income out of your savings that any other financial tool. Discover how to:

• Identify the main types of annuities
• Weigh the pros and cons of annuities for yourself
• Minimize the complexity and cost of your annuity investment
• Figure out how much money to commit
• Avoid common annuity pitfalls
• Create an income you can't outlive
  The time to start securing your financial future is now. Annuities For Dummies, 3rd Edition, gives you knowledge, insider tips, and expert advice you need to make your money do its best for you.

Inhalt

Introduction 1

Part I: Annuities: A Blend of Insurance and Investment 7

Chapter 1: Making Sense of Annuities 9

Chapter 2: Using Annuities to Meet Retirement Challenges 19

Chapter 3: Dissecting an Annuity 29

Chapter 4: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Annuities 41

Chapter 5: Deciding Whether an Annuity Is Right for You 55

Part II: Identifying the Main Types of Annuities 67

Chapter 6: Saving with Fixed Annuities 69

Chapter 7: Experimenting with Index Annuities 87

Chapter 8: Meeting the New Generationof Variable Annuities (VAs) 103

Chapter 9: Financing Your Retirement with an Income Annuity 115

Chapter 10: Aging Gracefully with an ALDA 131

Part III: Making the Most of Your Annuity 145

Chapter 11: Structuring Your Annuity Correctly 147

Chapter 12: Optimizing Your Variable Annuity (VA) Investments 155

Chapter 13: Accessing, Escaping from, or Converting Your Annuity 169

Chapter 14: The Taxing Side of Annuities 179

Part IV: Navigating the Annuity Superstore 191

Chapter 15: Getting Creative with Annuities 193

Chapter 16: Going to Meet the (Sales) Representative 209

Chapter 17: Avoiding Annuity Pitfalls 223

Part V: The Part of Tens 237

Chapter 18: Ten Essential Annuity Expressions 239

Chapter 19: Ten Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Contract 249

Chapter 20: Ten Factors that Determine Longevity 257

Chapter 21: Ten Web Sources for More Annuity Information 267

Appendix A: Key Research Sources 277

Appendix B: Protection from Insurer Default 299

Appendix C: General Rule for Pensions and Annuities 303

Glossary 319

Index 327