Some savers go into retirement with a fixed or variable annuity in their retirement savings plans, particularly teachers who have 403(b) plans. Because many school districts are reluctant to negotiate with financial services firms to manage their retirement plans, they turn the job over the sales agents, who promote annuity products because they deliver large commissions. Unlike immediate annuities, which are fairly straightforward—you give an insurance company a lump sum in exchange for guaranteed monthly payments—these types of annuities can be quite complex. For example, with variable annuities, your money is invested in mutual-fund-like accounts, and the value of […]
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