Should I hold an annuity within my IRA?
- What is an annuity?
- What are the different types of annuities?
- Are there tax benefits to annuities?
- What are the advantages of annuities?
- What are the disadvantages?
- Do all annuities have high fees?
- What investment options do annuities have?
- What payout options do I have?
- What if I decide to withdraw the money?
- How do I know if buying an annuity is right for me?
- Should I hold an annuity within my IRA?
- What happens to my annuity after I die?
- How do I know the company will honor my future payments?
- Should I exchange my existing annuity for a new one?
- What if I bought an annuity I no longer want?
Probably not a good idea. Since one of the main advantages of an annuity is that your money grows tax-deferred, it makes little sense to hold one in an account like an IRA, which is already tax-deferred. It's a little like wearing a raincoat indoors.
There are a few exceptions. If you're retired or very close to retiring and you feel you need more guaranteed income than social security will provide, it can make sense to use a portion of your 401(k) or IRA money to buy an immediate annuity that will pay income for life.
