Annuities

THE VALUE OF PENSIONS AND THE INCOME THEY PRODUCE CAN FALL AS WELL AS RISE. YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU INVESTED.

TAX TREATMENT VARIES ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

100 percent guarenteeAnnuities can be used to provide an income and in the case of pensions this income is guaranteed for life. The pension fund is exchanged for a pension income. Once the annuity has been bought, the income is fixed, the contract cannot be reversed - the pension fund becomes the permanent property of the annuity provider. Although this may change next year as the Chancellor announced the creation of a second hand annuity market from April 2016.

The level of income that you will receive from an annuity depends upon several main factors including the size of the investment, age, health and the prevailing annuity rates at the point of annuity purchase.

In general, the older an annuitant the higher the income which can be secured.

How they work...

Annuities in the main are supplied by Life Assurance Companies. The underlying 'annuity fund' is usually invested in fixed interest investments, such as long term government gilts in order to maintain the guaranteed income and ensure regular income payments are made to annuitants. Hence when interest rates are low, annuity rates tend to be lower too.

Annuities can be set up to provide different benefits & options -

  • Spouses pension (to protect a spouse by providing an income following the death of the annuitant)
  • Guaranteed payment periods; 5 years is typical but 10 year guarantees are also possible.
  • Escalation of benefits; income can be protected from inflation - RPI linked escalation, alternatively a fixed % annual increase in income can be secured at outset e.g. 5%.
  • Annuity income can be linked to investment performance for example by a 'With Profit Annuity' or 'Unit Linked Annuity'.

From April 2015 there has been much greater freedom to choose how you use your pension fund. Whist an annuity purchase will still be the best option for many people in retirement you should understand the choices available to you before you commit to an annuity.

See New Rules About Pensions

Also See

Annuities - The Options


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