Synopses & Reviews
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.
Synopsis
< i=""> Annuities<> < i=""> For Dummies<> helps readers receive a clear and thorough introduction to annuities. It provides readers with information on what annuities are and how they work; how to buy annuities and who to buy them from; how to (and how not to) use deferred annuities to save for retirement; how to incorporate income annuities into retirement income strategies; how to understand interest and taxes on interest; the best/worst way to purchase and choose annuities, and how to diversify among your annuity holdings. & #160;
Synopsis
Use annuities to build your own pensionWill annuities work for you? Get the nitty-gritty on these financial tools
Are you a baby boomer who's about to retire? Are you concerned about your financial future? Relax. This plain-English guide will walk you through the ins and outs of using annuities to fund your retirement years. Find out what annuities are, whether they're the right financial vehicle for you, and which of the many options might have your name on it.
Discover how to:
Make sense of annuities
Weigh all the pros and cons
Figure out how much money to commit
Create an income you can't outlive
Avoid common annuity pitfalls
About the Author
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.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: Annuities: A Blend of Insurance and Investment.
Chapter 1: Making Sense of Annuities.
Chapter 2: Using Annuities to Meet Retirement Challenges.
Chapter 3: Dissecting an Annuity.
Chapter 4: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Annuities.
Chapter 5: Deciding Whether an Annuity Is Right for You.
Part II: Identifying the Main Types of Annuities.
Chapter 6: Saving with Fixed Annuities.
Chapter 7: Experimenting with Index Annuities.
Chapter 8: Meeting the New Generationof Variable Annuities (VAs).
Chapter 9: Financing Your Retirement with an Income Annuity.
Chapter 10: Aging Gracefully with an ALDA.
Part III: Making the Most of Your Annuity.
Chapter 11: Structuring Your Annuity Correctly.
Chapter 12: Optimizing Your Variable Annuity (VA) Investments.
Chapter 13: Accessing, Escaping from, or Converting Your Annuity.
Chapter 14: The Taxing Side of Annuities.
Part IV: Navigating the Annuity Superstore.
Chapter 15: Getting Creative with Annuities.
Chapter 16: Going to Meet the (Sales) Representative.
Chapter 17: Avoiding Annuity Pitfalls.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 18: Ten Essential Annuity Expressions.
Chapter 19: Ten Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Contract.
Chapter 20: Ten Factors that Determine Longevity.
Chapter 21: Ten Web Sources for More Annuity Information.
Appendix A: Key Research Sources.
Appendix B: Protection from Insurer Default.
Appendix C: General Rule for Pensions and Annuities.
Glossary.
Index.