8 Common Mistakes Annuity Buyers Don't Know They're Making
The right annuity can bring you financial security and peace of mind. This is why it pains me to speak with people who have made hasty or badly-advised annuity purchase decisions.
By working with the right agent – one who is truly invested in helping you make the very best choice for your future – you can avoid these 8 common pitfalls:
1. Buying an annuity you don't fully understand.
If you don’t understand it, don’t buy it. It's just that simple. Believe it or not, I speak to people every day who try to explain to me what they think a particular annuity will do for them -- based on what an agent or friend told them. Yet, they're often just plain wrong.
The annuity they have in mind does not accomplish what they think it does. So my Number #1 suggestion is: Find someone who is willing to spend the time to make sure you completely know what your annuity will and will not do!
Some types of annuities are simple and straightforward, others are very complex, with many bells and whistles. Please be sure you know what you are buying.
2. Not understanding the differences between the various types of annuities.
Annuities come in all shapes and sizes. Some can be cashed in, others cannot. Some pay you income immediately, others are designed to grow for years before withdrawals are taken out.
So before you rush into a decision, be sure you understand the type you are buying and whether it is right for you.
While this may seem overwhelming, the good news is that knowing what's available ensures that you will get the benefits you seek. Find someone who will take the time to match the right annuity to your needs.
3. Not understanding the terms of your annuity contract.
Every annuity comes with brochures and disclosure statements that explain the terms. Be sure you understand them before you buy. If some of the terminology is confusing or foreign: ask.
This is an important decision, and you should take the time to be sure you fully understand what you are buying.
4. Not asking the right questions.
This tip is related to the previous suggestions. I always try to reassure potential clients that there are no “stupid” questions when it comes to annuities. Whether you have worked in finance all your life or whether it sounds like mumbo-jumbo to you, ask every “what if?” you can imagine.
This is how your annuity will help you sleep well at night. What does your annuity promise? Can that change? What happens when events change in your life? Is there any flexibility? How do you get at your money? And at what cost?
What other mistakes should I be looking out for?
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Comments (8)
Anthony Christensen .
2014-11-19 16:28:52
I currently have an annuity that will pay me 5% of a withdrawal value of $174,000. The current cash value of the annuity is $162,000. The withdrawal value currently grows at 6% annually. I am 62 years old. Am I better off pulling my money out of the annuity and rolling it into a Traditional IRA?
Hersh Stern (ImmediateAnnuities.com)
2014-11-20 08:51:29
Hi Anthony,
Based upon your question, I did a few calculations for you.
First, 5% of $174,000 is $8,700 (or $725 per month). Next, using your cash value of $162,000, I ran a set of immediate annuity quotes. Based on a "single life with cash refund" option, the immediate annuity guarantees more income than your current annuity.
For example, United of Omaha (A+ rated by A.M. Best) is quoting $799 per month, compared to the $725 per month your existing annuity will pay.
I hope that you find this information helpful. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. I'm very happy to help however I can. You can call me at 800-872-6684, or leaving another comment below.
-Hersh
Dave
2015-02-25 12:47:55
I am interested in an immediate annuity to bolster my income. I am in need of an extra $99 a month. Is there a minimum premium required by the insurance companies?
Hersh Stern (ImmediateAnnuities.com)
2015-02-25 13:30:00
Hi Dave-
Yes, every company has a minimum premium it will accept in order to issue an annuity. Additionally, many companies will not sell an immediate annuity if the monthly income is below $100. In a separate email I've sent you quotes from the companies we represent based on $100/month. Please contact me again if you have any other questions.
Hersh
Blair
2015-06-08 14:28:21
We are a couple, in good health, in our late seventies and early eighties. We are thinking about applying for a reverse mortgage on our full time Florida home and using the proceeds to buy a fixed annuity for the income stream. This would enable us to conserve other cash assets for other purposes and give us peace-of-mind. Is this a reasonable and viable strategy? Are we overlooking something?
Hersh Stern (ImmediateAnnuities.com)
2015-06-08 14:30:04
Hi Blair-
The general rule in the insurance industry is that it would be unsuitable to borrow money in order to purchase an annuity. If you need to take out a loan to be able to pay for an annuity - and a reverse mortgage is a loan - then you're probably not a good candidate for one.
Now, I certainly understand your reasoning. At this stage in your life you feel it's more important to be able to create a guaranteed income stream from your assets. And it wouldn't make much sense to put your money in a CD or MM account since those won't accomplish your goals.
However, it also wouldn't make sense to buy an annuity that earned you 2.00% to 3.00% with money from a reverse mortgage that costs you 4.00%.
In recent years, insurance regulators in 29 states have filed suits against agents who recommended to their clients that they use proceeds from a reverse mortgage to purchase life insurance, a long-term care policy, or an annuity.
Should this be a hard and fast rule?
I can think of situations where some flexibility by the regulators would be in order. For example, imagine we're back in 2007 right before the catastrophic collapse in home prices. You called me to say you wanted to take out a $100,000 loan from the $150,000 equity in your home and you wanted invest the money in an income annuity. I would have to tell you I'm sorry but I'm unable to help you. A year later, you call me to say the value of your home was cut in half and you noticed that annuity rates also had dropped to 2%. Should you have been discouraged from buying your annuity when interest rates were 6%?
I wish I could help. Whether a reverse mortgage is a good deal in your situation depends on many factors which you should review with a competent financial planner. Best of luck!
Hersh
John
2016-03-09 11:47:05
The $65,000 I entered is an estimated rollover amount. I won't know the exact amount until time for the rollover.
Hersh Stern (ImmediateAnnuities.com)
2016-03-09 11:47:39
Hi John-
That's quite common and it's not a problem. When the insurance company receives your transferred premium, it will adjust the monthly income amount in your application to be proportional with the ratio of income to premium you see in our online quotes.
Hersh