Skip to main content
Retirement Planning

Annuity

An insurance contract that pays a stream of income, often for the rest of your life.

An annuity is a product, usually sold by an insurance company, in which you pay a lump sum or series of payments in exchange for guaranteed income later. Annuities can provide certainty in retirement but often carry fees and complexity, so they should be understood carefully.

Examples

  • A retiree might buy an annuity to guarantee a fixed monthly income for life.

Related terms

← Back to the glossary

Start learning today

Ready to take charge of your financial future?

Free, jargon-free education on financial independence and early retirement — no sign-up, no sales pitch. Just clear ideas you can actually use.