Annuities

Annuities--which are part insurance policy and part investment product--often seem like some of the most complicated and intimidating financial instruments around. Sometimes, they resemble IRAs or other savings accounts, and other times they resemble pensions that generate income streams. In this article, we'll try to reduce the intimidation factor by reviewing the basic kinds of annuities and discuss when they do--and don't--make sense as part of your investment plan.