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

A deferred annuity is a long-term investment that grows tax-deferred and provides income in retirement. Interest earnings accumulate without immediate taxes, allowing savings to grow. Taxes are paid ...

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 ...

A fixed annuity provides a guaranteed income stream. Payouts can be immediate or deferred. Drawbacks include limited upside. Annuities can help ensure your retirement savings last your entire life.

A fixed annuity is a long-term investment that provides a predictable income stream. Offered by insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, it guarantees a fixed interest rate and ...

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.

An annuity offers guaranteed income for a set period. There are several types of annuities to choose from, with fixed annuities and indexed annuities being two of the most popular options. While both ...

Retirement and uncertainty go together about as well as mustard and chocolate. Which is to say, when you have the chance to reduce the variability of your income streams in retirement, it’s worth ...