Equity Indexed Annuity for Seniors

The equity indexed annuity provides growth with a guarantee. Here's a look at the basics.
If you are looking for an investment that will keep you safe from market variability but will still give you your gains during market ups, then you should consider getting an equity indexed annuity. It is very rare to know of an investment opportunity like this but it's not impossible to avail of one.

Those who are serious with their investments have to choose between taking risks and assuring security. Those who take risks want to expand their potential growth while those who want to have security are satisfied with little growth each year. But getting the much needed growth while staying safe is possible through the offer of insurance companies through an index annuity.

Having the security in an unpredictable market can be obtained from this investment product. When market prices rise, you get to keep your gains. In the event that it falls, you remain protected because you won't lose anything. An index annuity has a minimum return of at least 3% and this fact is what attracts seniors or those approaching retirement to this product. An index annuity is a long term investment with a preset agreement between you and the insurance company.

In order to benefit from this investment vehicle, you need to invest your money for a set period of time. If you don't keep your money invested within this time, you will be charged with some fees and might end up with a lesser money than that you have invested. This investment opportunity is good is you have no plans of using your money for a long time.

With an index annuity, you just can't have all the good things. Your investments will earn during market ups but a limit is given to the amount that will be paid out to you. This is done to protect the insurance company during the times when market prices are down. This limit is determined by the indexing method used by the company and is usually called as the participation rate.

The annual reset method is one other method used to calculate the index interest. With this method, you are assured that you will stably gain through market ups. When the market prices fall, you still won't lose because it will lock you at a lower index level. As the index level is reset at a much lower level, a door for more opportunities open as there are resets that are placed at ideal levels.

Nowadays, an increasing annuity can be difficult to bring down. This is the fact which attracts a good number of seniors and prods them to go to the stock market to lock in their gains and buy equity index annuities. These seniors are now waiting for a rise in the market for more gains to be credited to their account. Definitely, this investment gives a sense of comfort especially when the market reverses its trend.

Before buying an equity indexed annuity, consult your financial adviser for proper advice. The industry can be a complex one to tackle so you have to know everything about it. Once you know all the necessary things, you can know decide if it will be right for your financial plan for the future.

By Frank Rodriguez
Published: 7/8/2009
 
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