Introduction to Fixed Index Annuity
If you ask the people around you about their retirement goals, the most common answer is going to be a satisfying balance between new adventures, favorite pastimes, and stability. Similarly, balance is also essential in financial life growth, rewards, and risks. The future is uncertain, and that’s why retirement savers should consider a Fixed Index Annuity. This helps older adults with peace of mind and stability, irrespective of the financial market conditions.
Insurance companies issue a Fixed Index Annuity. It is like a tax-favored accumulation product for the people that helps to accumulate money and provide guaranteed potential income after retirement. It can also be the right choice if you want the opportunity to earn indexed interest with minimal probability of losing money. The annual growth of an index annuity is bench-marked to a stock market index like S&P 500, NYSE, etc. rather than an interest rate. The FIA’s growth is subject to rate floor and caps, i.e., it will not exceed or fall below the specified return level, no matter how much the stock indices fluctuate. The insurance company bears the risk if there is a sharp stock market decline.
Reasons to consider FIA :
- Flexibility in later life
- Guaranteed Income
- Security for loved ones
- Savings for retirement
Indexing Options Under a Fixed Index Annuity are:
The Fixed Account
Under this option, the person earns fixed interest in the return of the sum of money allocated to the fixed account. The interest rate is fixed for the fixed account for one year and is renewed yearly. Under this option, you will never earn less than the Guaranteed Minimum Interest Rate of 1.00%.
Indexed Account Options
This option helps by crediting interest, based on a particular index’s performance by using a cap or spread.
- Cap: The maximum interest rate that a segment can earn is Cap.
- Spread: This is the difference between the index rate of return and the spread percentage. Here, your money isn’t invested in the indexes.
The interest is credited on your registered yearly date at the end of the segment. If money is withdrawn from an indexed account before the end of a section, it will not earn interest.
There are 3 crediting methods available with the indexed accounts:
- Point-to-point with a cap
- Monthly Average
- Point-to-point with a spread
How these options work
Insurance companies sell these Fixed Index Annuities. They’ll ask for a one-time payment, series, or premium payments. Then at a predetermined date, the annuity pays out a lump sum or a regularly scheduled amount to the holder. In most of the states, the guaranteed minimum return is between 1% to 3%. Then the market-based return is based on the performance of a specific index. Some companies use “Participation Rate,” i.e., how much of the market’s gain is to be passed to the annuity holder. If the participation rate is 50% and the market goes up 10% higher in a given year, the index-related return will still be just 5%. The method for computing market-based returns varies considerably from one insurance company to another, so it’s essential to be aware and understand the details.
