Buying an annuity? Six steps protect you — from checking the insurer’s AM Best rating to the 10–30 day free-look window that lets you cancel free.

Inherit an annuity and only the earnings are taxable—but a lump sum can trigger the 3.8% net investment income tax. See how payout choice changes the bill.

Qualified vs non-qualified annuity taxes hinge on one detail—whether your principal was already taxed—and it changes how much you keep.

How annuities are taxed comes down to funding and payout. Only earnings are taxed as ordinary income — see the exclusion ratio behind each payment.

Annuity vs. life insurance isn’t either/or — U.S. annuity sales hit a record $464.1B in 2025, while ~100 million adults remain underinsured.

Fixed vs. variable annuity: one locks in your rate with almost no fees, the other adds 2–4% yearly costs and puts market risk on you.

Annuity vs. CD: a MYGA can pay 1–2 points more than a CD, but it locks up your money and isn’t FDIC-insured. Here’s how to weigh the higher yield.

The annuity vs. IRA gap starts with one number — $7,500, the 2026 IRA cap. Annuities carry no IRS limit, and the two are taxed on very different rules.

An annuity vs. 401(k) isn’t a fair fight — one builds savings, the other pays income for life. See how taxes, the 10% penalty, and fees really compare.

Average annuity returns aren’t one number. An income annuity’s ‘payout’ includes your own principal back, so the real return is far lower than it looks.