Learn what annuities are, how fixed, variable, indexed, immediate, and deferred annuities work, and how they can help provide steady retirement income.

Laurie Sepulveda is a MarketWatch Guides team senior writer who specializes in writing about insurance, investing, personal loans, home equity loans, mortgages and banking. She lives in North Carolina ...

Annuities are commonly used to provide retirement income and may offer guaranteed payments or tax-deferred growth. However, ...

Immediate annuities and deferred annuities are two types of financial products that allow individuals to save or begin retirement or other long-term goals. In return, the insurance company agrees to ...

An annuity is an insurance product. It provides a long-term stream of income in exchange for an upfront premium. There are many types, including immediate, deferred, fixed, variable and indexed.

First determine what type of annuity you have ...

Cassidy Horton is a finance writer with over five years of experience contributing to top finance brands like Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet and ConsumerAffairs. She’s also the founder of Money Hungry ...

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When planning for retirement, annuities often enter the conversation as a way to secure a steady income stream. Look under the hood of an annuity, though, and you’ll find many moving parts, often with ...