We help you understand how annuities work and whether you should buy one. There may not be an easy way out. We look at how payouts are calculated. If you become seriously disabled or need to go to a nursing home before you retire, your annuity may contain a waiver that triggers payments that are not subject to the usual surrender fees. We look at how an index's gain or loss affects your "participation rate." Some subaccounts are aggressive growth funds and may produce either robust or shrunken returns. Immediate variable annuities offer you the chance to earn money in the stock market and get a steady check, but it comes with a price. How to judge what you may hear. |