Best Annuities: Guaranteed Income With Some Flexibility, Liquidity and Growth Potential

Annuity contracts with income riders are designed to pay monthly income for life, covering either a single person's or couple's joint lifetime. Assets in these contracts are more liquid and accessible to investors than in SPIAs and DIAs. Minimum guaranteed payouts can be higher based on growth of underyling investments.

Fixed-Indexed Annuity Income Guarantees
These riders are purchased on S&P 500-linked fixed-indexed annuity contracts. These have the highest guaranteed minimum income among FIAs with either a seven-year surrender period and sold through agents and brokers, or no surrender periods and sold through fee-only advisors. Income quotes assume a $200,000 investment at age 60, with income beginning at age 70. Joint life assumes a married man and woman are ages 60 and 55. Minimum income is paid for life regardless of the value of the underlying investments in these contracts, as long as investors do not take excess withdrawals.