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Fixed annuities are a way to invest money for retirement. They are policies sold by banks or insurance companies that guarantee a steady stream of income over a certain period of time. They are not appropriate for all households and often have complex terms that can be confusing. Most fixed annuities are not intended to be the only form of retirement savings. Anyone considering investing in a fixed annuity as an investment should understand some of the advantages and disadvantages of this financial option.

Fixed annuities guarantee set payments for the term of the policy. This frequently means the life of the policyholder. The payments can be made in monthly installments or as annual lump sums. This is helpful for people who might run out of savings from other retirement accounts. Fixed annuities are also a good choice to fill short-term gaps. Some annuities will pay out a certain value for a limited period such as five or ten years.

Annuities are a very safe investment. The money is guaranteed to be paid back to the policyholder. If the insurer becomes unable to make payments or the company falls into bankruptcy, then the government will repay the value of the policy. The set amount of the payments also means that the annuities are not affected by market fluctuations or changing interest rates.

A disadvantage is that fixed annuities tend to be much more costly than many other types of investments. Some require a large upfront lump sum payment and others could require decades of investment before the policy activates. The cost is sometimes not justified because the amount of money the investment earns is very small compared to other options even though it is guaranteed.

Fixed annuity contracts are complex and cannot be modified. This means that the value of the payments and the policy cannot be increased without penalties. The complexity of the contracts could also result in an overwhelming amount of fees and unforeseen deductions that reduce the overall amount of money received. A financial professional should review a fixed annuity before a policy is purchased.

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