Annuities and bonds are two financial products often used by investors seeking a steady stream of income in retirement. However, tax regulations, interest rates, lending systems, and maturity lengths for these products vary widely. Before you make any investment decisions, it's important to know how they differ.
Key Takeaways
- With an annuity, you invest money and a life insurance company provides you with income stream for a certain period or for life.
- With a bond, you lend money to corporations, municipalities, or governments which pay you regular interest payments for a fixed period, and then your principal investment is returned when the bond reaches maturity.
- Annuities vary in payment schedule and payment calculation methods, while bonds vary in maturity length and interest rates.
- Annuities have longer durations, but bonds can be reinvested as they mature, so both financial products can be used for the long-term.
- In general, bonds pay a higher yield than annuities—but not always.
Annuities and bonds are popular ways for investors to generate an income stream. Both are considered members of the "fixed income" asset class. Bonds are more commonly used since they trade like stocks on the markets. Still, many financial experts argue that annuities are a better way to generate income in retirement because the payments last for life.
Annuities
Annuities are financial products that provide monthly payments over a certain period, often as a guaranteed income for life. They are also:
- Primarily used as income for retirees
- Created and sold by life insurance companies
Annuities are long-term contracts with an insurance company. You invest money, either as a lump-sum or over time. In exchange, you get income in the form of regular payments. There are several types of annuities, and they can be broken down based on when the payments start:
Immediate Annuity
You make a lump-sum, one-time payment to the insurance company, and it promises to pay you for the rest of your life, or for some other set period. As the name implies, an immediate annuity starts to pay as soon as you fund it. Generally, you buy this type of annuity if you're at or near retirement and you want a consistent income.
Deferred Annuity
These are similar to immediate annuities, except the income stream doesn't start until a later date chosen by the "annuitant" (that's the investor). In general, investors buy this type of annuity if they want to save money on a tax-deferred basis.
Annuities also vary in the ways that payments are calculated:
- Fixed annuity: These provide regular periodic payments.
- Variable annuity: The payments vary depending upon how well the investments in the fund are doing.
- Fixed index: The payments vary based on the changes of a specific index, such as the S&P 500.
With any type of annuity, you decide when to withdraw the income. Typically, that's during retirement. The monthly annuity payment is based on several factors, including:
- Interest rates when you buy the annuity
- The amount of money you deposit
- Your age
- Your gender
- The length of time the payments are guaranteed
While traditional life insurance provides protection if you pass sooner than expected, an annuity protects you if you live longer than expected. A retiree with an annuity can elect a joint-life option that continues payments to a surviving spouse. The retiree's monthly benefit amount will be lower to compensate.
Annuities: Pros and Cons
As with any investment, annuities have pros and cons that should be considered before making any decisions.
Pros
Income for life, no matter how long you live.
Tax-deferred. You don't pay taxes until you withdraw the funds.
Guaranteed rates with fixed annuities. The payout from variable annuities depends on how the investments perform.
Cons
High fees. Upfront sales charges and annual expenses can add up.
Lack of liquidity. If you take an early withdrawal, you may owe a steep surrender fee.
Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
Advantages of Annuities
Annuities offer several distinct advantages. Chief among them is guaranteed income for life, even if you live past 100.
The period of time between when you buy the annuity and when you receive payments is called the accumulation phase. You can add to an annuity before taking distributions. Any growth in the annuity during this phase is tax-deferred. Even better, that growth is not taxed until you withdraw the money as income.
Disadvantages of Annuities
Annuities often come with high sales charges and high annual expenses. Fees can be even higher if you have an actively managed fund, or if you take out any special riders to increase your coverage. Adding to the high costs is the surrender fee if you withdraw funds from your annuity during the first few years after buying it.
Taxes on annuities may also be considered a downside. Rather than being taxed as long-term capital gains as is most investment income earned over a long period, annuity payments are taxed as ordinary income.
For investors in lower tax brackets, the difference might not be very significant. For wealthy investors, it is a big consideration. The top tax bracket for ordinary income is 37% as of 2023; long-term capital gains are taxed at 20%.
Bonds
Bonds are investments in debt that provide regular interest payments for a fixed period, and then the principal investment is returned. They are also:
- Used by all types of investors, including retirees
- Issued by corporations, municipalities, and governments
Think of a bond as an I.O.U. between you and a company, municipality, or government. You act as the lender, and the borrower (e.g., the company) pays you interest for the life of the bond. When the bond matures, you get your initial investment back.
High-quality bonds have long been a mainstay for conservative investors. They offer a steady, if relatively low, return along with a very low risk to the principal investment. In retirement, those payments of interest are often used as a supplement to income.
That's the biggest difference between annuities and bonds. When you buy a bond, you get interest payments for a set period of time, and then you get your money back. Annuities often pay for the rest of your life, no matter how many years that is.
Bonds: Pros and Cons
Like annuities and other investments, bonds have perks and drawbacks.
Pros
Predictable income for a certain amount of time.
Generally earn higher yields than annuities.
Easy to buy. You can buy bonds through your broker or on the TreasuryDirect website.
Cons
Unlike annuities, the income is for a finite amount of time.
Default risk. The company or municipality could stop making payments.
Fewer options than annuities for how and when to receive interest earnings.
Advantages of Bonds
For the investor, buying a bond is not a permanent decision, or even necessarily a long-term one. Bonds are issued for terms as short as three months or as long as 30 years (and sometimes even longer). An investor who thinks bond rates may go up soon can buy a short-term bond and then reinvest the principal later, when rates may be better.
Bonds generally earn higher yields than annuities. The exception is that lucky person who lives to 100 or more. The lifetime guarantee of an annuity means an outstanding return on investment for the long-lived.
Bonds are easy to buy and cost less in fees and commissions than annuities.
Disadvantages of Bonds
Bonds provide income for a finite amount of time—not for life, like an annuity. You have to reinvest your money if you want to continue generating interest.
And while there is little risk of loss of principal in bonds, that risk exists. If a company goes bankrupt or a government defaults, the investor's principal can be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Annuities Better Than Bonds For Retirement?
Annuities are popular with retired investors because they provide guaranteed income for long periods of time or for the rest of your life, so they are very worthwhile if you live longer than expected. Even though bonds generally have lower fees and higher yields than annuities, they are shorter-term investments, so they require more upkeep. Annuities and bonds can be used separately or together to support retirement, and the decision to use each financial product should be driven by your personal financial needs.
Are Bonds and Annuities Safe?
Both annuities and bonds are insured by their issuing bodies and are often considered to be safe, stable investments—they are both part of the "fixed income" asset class for a reason. In terms of relative safety, bonds are issued by corporations, municipalities, and federal governments, while annuities are sold by life insurance companies. Therefore, because companies are generally a bit more volatile than governments or insurance companies, corporate bonds are considered to be slightly more risky than government bonds or annuities.
Are Annuities Worth It?
Annuities often come with high sales charges and high annual expenses, so it is sometimes difficult to feel like they are worthwhile investments. However, annuities' long-term lifespans protect you if you live longer than expected and can be a smart decision for investors with long time horizons . Therefore, when considering annuities, make sure to account for current interest rates, your age, your risk tolerance, and your time horizon, in order to decide if an annuity is a suitable product to support your retirement.
The Bottom Line
Annuities and bonds both offer a steady source of income. With annuities, that income can last for the rest of your life. Bonds, however, provide income for a specific amount of time—anywhere from three months to 30 years, or more. Of course, once one bond matures, it's possible to reinvest your money in another bond so you can keep that income coming in.
There are many different types of bonds and annuities. Finding the right one for your retirement portfolio can be a challenge. When in doubt, consult with a qualified financial advisor who can make recommendations based on current interest rates, your age, your risk tolerance, and your time horizon.
