This profile of variable annuities is one in a series created to increase awareness of annuities by providing market color, friendly tips, and interesting stats at a glance.
A deferred annuity is a long-term, tax-deferred investment issued by an insurance company and purchased through a qualified professional.
There are four main types:
Variable annuities
Variable annuities offer tax-efficient growth potential with a choice of investment funds.
Did you know?
With a variable annuity, investors can move between a more aggressive approach to a more conservative one, depending on their outlook of the market and current needs, without incurring capital gains each year. A single variable annuity contract typically offers more than 100 investment funds to choose from and the flexibility to reallocate money from one fund to another within the contract, rather than sell one to buy another.
This tax efficiency is why variable annuities can be useful in adjusting portfolio exposure to equities over time.
Variable annuities allow investors to consider their investment decisions independently from immediate tax concerns.
Reminder
If a variable annuity is held in a tax-advantaged retirement plan, the investor will get no additional tax advantage from the variable annuity. Given the retirement plan itself is tax- deferred, the variable annuity is taxed like any other asset within that retirement account.
Friendly tip
Investors can also buy a variable annuity with enhanced death benefits, such as one that includes an annual percentage increase in the death benefit value or one that automatically locks in a death benefit value equal to the highest account value upon any policy anniversary date.
Interesting fact
During the years following the tech crash of 2000–02, and then again after the financial crises of 2007–09, variable annuity companies paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in guaranteed death benefit claims.1
Know that variable annuities:
- Are complex and subject to risk, including the potential for significant losses.
- Can be expensive relative to other investments.
- Are not FDIC insured and any guarantees under a variable annuity contract are backed by the issuing insurance company and subject to its claims paying ability.
- Are considered a long-term investment, typically carrying penalties (such as a surrender charge) if money is withdrawn during the stated surrender period.
- Come with an additional 10% federal tax penalty for withdrawals prior to age 591⁄2.
Key feature
Most variable annuities include or offer a death benefit for a fee, which guarantees the value of the investor’s original investment (adjusted for any withdrawals) to listed beneficiary(ies) upon the investor’s death, regardless of the account value.
Variable annuities can provide a death benefit and, if $100,000 of premium is invested in a variable annuity and then the market falls, reducing the account value to $80,000 at the time of the policy holder’s death, the insurance company will pay the beneficiary the full $100,000 that was invested.
Enhanced death benefit options always incur additional costs and should be thoroughly evaluated before adding to a contract.
Securities products and services may be offered by iCapital Markets LLC, a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA and SIPC, and an affiliate of iCapital. Annuities and insurance services provided by iCapital Annuities and Insurance Services LLC, an affiliate of iCapital, Inc. iCapital and iCapital Network are registered trademarks of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. Please see the disclaimer at the end of this document for more information.
Please contact your financial professional to learn more.
ENDNOTES
1. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, How Much Risk Do Variable Annuity Guarantees Pose to Life Insurers?, Chicago Fed Letter, 2017.
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ANNUITIES ARE CONSIDERED COMPLEX PRODUCTS AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. The information is not intended as investment advice and is not a recommendation about managing or investing retirement savings. Actual annuity contracts may differ materially from the general overview provided. Prior to making any decision with respect to an annuity contract, purchasers must review, as applicable, the offering document, the disclosure document, and the buyer’s guide which contain detailed and additional information about the annuity. Any annuity contract is subject in its entirety is to the terms and conditions imposed by the carrier under the contract. Withdrawals or surrenders may be subject to surrender charges, and/or market value adjustments, which can reduce the owner’s contract value or the actual withdrawal amount received. Withdrawals and distributions of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 591⁄2, may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty. Annuities are not FDIC-insured. All references to guarantees arising under an annuity contract are subject to the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the carrier.
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