Planning the financial preparation for retirement is more often than a maze of the different economic instruments and steps. Of these, variable life annuities need special mention as one of the vehicles that allow for the creation and receipt of pensions simultaneously, when coupled with investment, insurance, and income that can be flexible as well as unimaginable. Throughout this blog post, you will learn what variable life annuity is, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these financial products, and how they can be utilized when developing a successful retirement strategy.
1. Annuities – what are they?
An annuity is a financial agreement between you and an insurance company. In return for your payments to the insurance company, the insurer promises to give you a series of payments often during your retirement. Annuities are not like life insurance, which means you purchase the policy and the benefits go directly to your beneficiaries after you die; instead, while you’re alive. There is a vast array which are distinct in terms of what they offer and how they can be exploited depending with the financial objectives and risk profiles of those who invest.
2. Variable Annuities Explained
Annuities can be broadly categorized as fixed and variable, option and deferred: out of these, variable annuity is one of the varieties. Such sub-accounts may also consist of stocks and bonds, and money market instruments. This type of annuity is not fixed because the value of your annuity depends on the performance of these investments hence variable. This ingredient of investment separates variable annuities from its fixed counterpart where the guaranteed interest rate comes hand in hand with relatively lower market growth.
3. Investment and prospects for growth
As one of the key benefits of variable annuities the higher returns compared to those of fixed annuities remain an important point. Variable annuities being able to link you to a wide variety of securities means that they afford the chance to partake in market gains. This can be quite attractive especially to those eagerly waiting for inflation busting rates and overall growth of their retirement portfolio. However, what should be noted is that higher rewards are generally associated with higher risks – this is the case because the value of an annuity can be lower should the linked investments provide poor results.
4. Guaranteed Income Features
In spite of the volatility of the underlying assets these perpetual annuities are usually accompanied by income guarantees. Most variable annuities have accidental costly riders that can give the holder guaranteed minimum income or guaranteed minimum withdrawal. Such features may help to produce a sense of security as the investors are granted minimum income to receive even if all the investments fail badly. On one hand, offering an opportunity for growth, and on the other – guaranteeing fixed income necessary for retirement, variable annuities are a perfect match for those, who aims to achieve both.
5. Tax-Deferred Growth Benefits
It is also important to note that variable annuities have tax benefits that can be large depending on the quantity of investment time. The earnings within your annuity are tax sheltered, so you are not taxed on the money until you start using it. This means, your money earns interest on the interest and remains locked in without having to pay annual taxes. This amount to be able to deferred will be more for the high earners or those in the high marginal tax brackets and thus result in greater compounded growth of the retirement kitty.
6. Customization and Flexibility
Variable annuities are versatile in some ways, which is one of the product’s advantages. There are usually many options to invest at so you can construct a portfolio that works with your acceptability for risk and what you would like to achieve financially. Also, principals of many variable annuities are flexible and enable you to change asset allocation mix at some instance in the future depending on conditions within the markets or personal circumstances. This selection also applies to payouts where the decision can be made between lifetime income or fixed period payments.
7. Awareness of all incidental charges
Variable annuities are associated with high costs to the investor despite the many advantages that they have over other similar products. Such may comprise of mortality and expense risk, surrender charges, administration fees, investment fees and other fees for selective riders or options. These costs should therefore be well scrutinized to clearly understand how they are likely to affect your returns. But, to many investors, the returns and assurances which come along with such costs are affordable particularly when used within a strategic retirement plan.
8. Bearing in Mind and Suitability
The fact about variable annuities is that they are not a universal fit or a one stop shop solution. They are however most appropriate for investors with long term time horizon who can afford to have some of his money getting lost in the market. They can prove to be useful where an individual has reached the contribution limits in other favorable tax-sheltered retirement schemes or where one requires enhanced certainty in their plan for retirement income. However, due to the sophistication of these products it is crucial to analyze the qualities, drawbacks and advantages of these products.
Conclusion
Variable life annuities have the potential of providing growth, guaranteed income for life and tax benefits, which are some of the many reasons why it may prove to taken as part of retirement planning solutions. Through giving their stakeholders an opportunity to benefit from market appreciation while at the same time offering the principle of income certainty that aims to meet peoples’ retirement needs, they meet the opportunity and security challenges of retirement. However, their complexity, as well as the costs involved, make them unsuitable for use by everyone. Before anyone rushes into buying a variable annuity, a sound financial planning advice should be sought, and he/she should be advised to look at the suitability of this product in regard to his/her retirement planning needs and general investment planning.
