Asset allocation is an investment strategy that aims to balance risk and reward by apportioning a portfolio’s assets according to an individual’s goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. The three main asset classes—equities, fixed-income, and cash and equivalents—have different levels of risk and return, so each will behave differently over time.
Key Takeaways
Asset allocation is an investment strategy that aims to balance risk and reward by apportioning a portfolio’s assets according to an individual’s goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.
The three main asset classes—equities, fixed-income, and cash and equivalents—have different levels of risk and return, so each will behave differently over time.
There is no simple formula that can find the right asset allocation for every individual.
Why Asset Allocation Is Important
There is no simple formula that can find the right asset allocation for every individual. However, the consensus among most financial professionals is that asset allocation is one of the most important decisions that investors make. In other words, the selection of individual securities is secondary to the way that assets are allocated in stocks, bonds, and cash and equivalents, which will be the principal determinants of your investment results.
Strategic Asset Allocation to Rebalance Portfolios
Investors may use different asset allocations for different objectives. Someone who is saving for a new car in the next year, for example, might invest their car savings fund in a very conservative mix of cash, certificates of deposit (CDs), and short-term bonds. An individual who is saving for retirement that may be decades away typically invests the majority of their individual retirement account (IRA) in stocks, since they have a lot of time to ride out the market’s short-term fluctuations. Risk tolerance plays a key factor as well. Someone who is uncomfortable investing in stocks may put their money in a more conservative allocation despite a long-term investment horizon.
Age-Based Asset Allocation
In general, stocks are recommended for holding periods of five years or longer. Cash and money market accounts are appropriate for objectives less than a year away. Bonds fall somewhere in between. In the past, financial advisors have recommended subtracting an investor’s age from 100 to determine what percentage should be invested in stocks. For example, a 40-year-old would be 60% invested in stocks. Variations of the rule recommend subtracting age from 110 or 120, given that the average life expectancy continues to grow. As individuals approach retirement age, portfolios should generally move to a more conservative asset allocation to help protect assets.
Achieving Asset Allocation Through Life-Cycle Funds
Asset-allocation mutual funds, also known as life-cycle, or target-date, funds, are an attempt to provide investors with portfolio structures that address an investor’s age, risk appetite, and investment objectives with an appropriate apportionment of asset classes. However, critics of this approach point out that arriving at a standardized solution for allocating portfolio assets is problematic because individual investors require individual solutions.
The Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund would be an example of a target-date fund. These funds gradually reduce the risk in their portfolios as they near the target date, cutting riskier stocks and adding safer bonds in order to preserve the nest egg. The Vanguard 2030 fund, set up for people expecting to retire between 2028 and 2032, had a 65% stock/35% bond allocation as of Jan. 31, 2022. As 2030 approaches, the fund will gradually shift to a more conservative mix, reflecting the individual’s need for more capital preservation and less risk.
In a Nutshell, What Is Asset Allocation?
Asset allocation is the process of deciding where to put money to work in the market. It aims to balance risk and reward by apportioning a portfolio’s assets according to an individual’s goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. The three main asset classes—equities, fixed-income, and cash and equivalents—have different levels of risk and return, so each will behave differently over time.
Why Is Asset Allocation Important?
Asset allocation is a very important part of creating and balancing your investment portfolio. After all, it is one of the main factors that leads to your overall returns—even more than choosing individual stocks. Establishing an appropriate asset mix of stocks, bonds, cash, and real estate in your portfolio is a dynamic process. As such, the asset mix should reflect your goals at any point in time.
What Is an Asset Allocation Fund?
An asset allocation fund is a fund that provides investors with a diversified portfolio of investments across various asset classes. The asset allocation of the fund can be fixed or variable among a mix of asset classes, meaning that it may be held to fixed percentages of asset classes or allowed to go overweight on some depending on market conditions.
Bottom Line
Most financial professionals will tell you that asset allocation is one of the most important decisions that investors make. In other words, the selection of individual securities is secondary to the way that assets are allocated in stocks, bonds, and cash and equivalents, which will be the principal determinants of your investment results.
The accounting rate of return (ARR) is a formula that reflects the percentage rate of return expected on an investment or asset, compared to the initial investment’s cost. The ARR formula divides an asset’s average revenue by the company’s initial investment to derive the ratio or return that one may expect over the lifetime of an asset or project. ARR does not consider the time value of money or cash flows, which can be an integral part of maintaining a business.
Key Takeaways
The accounting rate of return (ARR) formula is helpful in determining the annual percentage rate of return of a project.
ARR is calculated as average annual profit / initial investment.
ARR is commonly used when considering multiple projects, as it provides the expected rate of return from each project.
One of the limitations of ARR is that it does not differentiate between investments that yield different cash flows over the lifetime of the project.
ARR is different than the required rate of return (RRR), which is the minimum return an investor would accept for an investment or project that compensates them for a given level of risk.
Understanding the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
The accounting rate of return is a capital budgeting metric that’s useful if you want to calculate an investment’s profitability quickly. Businesses use ARR primarily to compare multiple projects to determine the expected rate of return of each project, or to help decide on an investment or an acquisition.
ARR factors in any possible annual expenses, including depreciation, associated with the project. Depreciation is a helpful accounting convention whereby the cost of a fixed asset is spread out, or expensed, annually during the useful life of the asset. This lets the company earn a profit from the asset right away, even in its first year of service.
The Formula for ARR
The formula for the accounting rate of return is as follows:
ARR=InitialInvestmentAverageAnnualProfit
How to Calculate the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
Calculate the annual net profit from the investment, which could include revenue minus any annual costs or expenses of implementing the project or investment.
If the investment is a fixed asset such as property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), subtract any depreciation expense from the annual revenue to achieve the annual net profit.
Divide the annual net profit by the initial cost of the asset or investment. The result of the calculation will yield a decimal. Multiply the result by 100 to show the percentage return as a whole number.
Example of the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
As an example, a business is considering a project that has an initial investment of $250,000 and forecasts that it would generate revenue for the next five years. Here’s how the company could calculate the ARR:
Accounting Rate of Return vs. Required Rate of Return
The ARR is the annual percentage return from an investment based on its initial outlay of cash. Another accounting tool, the required rate of return (RRR), also known as the hurdle rate, is the minimum return an investor would accept for an investment or project that compensates them for a given level of risk.
The required rate of return (RRR) can be calculated by using either the dividend discount model or the capital asset pricing model.
The RRR can vary between investors as they each have a different tolerance for risk. For example, a risk-averse investor likely would require a higher rate of return to compensate for any risk from the investment. It’s important to utilize multiple financial metrics including ARR and RRR to determine if an investment would be worthwhile based on your level of risk tolerance.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
Advantages
The accounting rate of return is a simple calculation that does not require complex math and is helpful in determining a project’s annual percentage rate of return. Through this, it allows managers to easily compare ARR to the minimum required return. For example, if the minimum required return of a project is 12% and ARR is 9%, a manager will know not to proceed with the project.
ARR comes in handy when investors or managers need to quickly compare the return of a project without needing to consider the time frame or payment schedule but rather just the profitability or lack thereof.
Disadvantages
Despite its advantages, ARR has its limitations. It doesn’t consider the time value of money. The time value of money is the concept that money available at the present time is worth more than an identical sum in the future because of its potential earning capacity.
In other words, two investments might yield uneven annual revenue streams. If one project returns more revenue in the early years and the other project returns revenue in the later years, ARR does not assign a higher value to the project that returns profits sooner, which could be reinvested to earn more money.
The time value of money is the main concept of the discounted cash flow model, which better determines the value of an investment as it seeks to determine the present value of future cash flows.
The accounting rate of return does not consider the increased risk of long-term projects and the increased uncertainty associated with long periods.
Also, ARR does not take into account the impact of cash flow timing. Let’s say an investor is considering a five-year investment with an initial cash outlay of $50,000, but the investment doesn’t yield any revenue until the fourth and fifth years.
In this case, the ARR calculation would not factor in the lack of cash flow in the first three years, while in reality, the investor would need to be able to withstand the first three years without any positive cash flow from the project.
Pros
Determines a project’s annual rate of return
Simple comparison to minimum rate of return
Ease of use/Simple Calculation
Provides clear profitability
Cons
Does not consider the time value of money
Does not factor in long-term risk
Does not account for cash flow timing
How Does Depreciation Affect the Accounting Rate of Return?
Depreciation will reduce the accounting rate of return. Depreciation is a direct cost and reduces the value of an asset or profit of a company. As such, it will reduce the return of an investment or project like any other cost.
What Are the Decision Rules for Accounting Rate of Return?
When a company is presented with the option of multiple projects to invest in, the decision rule states that a company should accept the project with the highest accounting rate of return as long as the return is at least equal to the cost of capital.
What Is the Difference Between ARR and IRR?
The main difference between ARR and IRR is that IRR is a discounted cash flow formula while ARR is a non-discounted cash flow formula. A non-discounted cash flow formula does not take into consideration the present value of future cash flows that will be generated by an asset or project. In this regard, ARR does not include the time value of money whereby the value of a dollar is worth more today than tomorrow because it can be invested.
The Bottom Line
The accounting rate of return (ARR) is a simple formula that allows investors and managers to determine the profitability of an asset or project. Because of its ease of use and determination of profitability, it is a handy tool in making decisions. However, the formula does not take into consideration the cash flows of an investment or project, the overall timeline of return, and other costs, which help determine the true value of an investment or project.
The annual percentage yield (APY) is the real rate of return earned on an investment, taking into account the effect of compounding interest. Unlike simple interest, compounding interest is calculated periodically and the amount is immediately added to the balance. With each period going forward, the account balance gets a little bigger, so the interest paid on the balance gets bigger as well.
Key Takeaways
APY is the actual rate of return that will be earned in one year if the interest is compounded.
Compound interest is added periodically to the total invested, increasing the balance. That means each interest payment will be larger, based on the higher balance.
The more often interest is compounded, the higher the APY will be.
APY has a similar concept as annual percentage rate (APR), but APR is used for loans.
The APY on checking, savings, or certificate of deposit holdings will vary across product and may have a variable or fixed rate.
APR vs. APY: What’s the Difference?
Formula and Calculation of APY
APY standardizes the rate of return. It does this by stating the real percentage of growth that will be earned in compound interest assuming that the money is deposited for one year. The formula for calculating APY is:
Where:
r = period rate
n = number of compounding periods
What Annual APY Can Tell You
Any investment is ultimately judged by its rate of return, whether it’s a certificate of deposit (CD), a share of stock, or a government bond. The rate of return is simply the percentage of growth in an investment over a specific period of time, usually one year. But rates of return can be difficult to compare across different investments if they have different compounding periods. One may compound daily, while another compounds quarterly or biannually.
Comparing rates of return by simply stating the percentage value of each over one year gives an inaccurate result, as it ignores the effects of compounding interest. It is critical to know how often that compounding occurs, since the more often a deposit compounds, the faster the investment grows. This is due to the fact that every time it compounds the interest earned over that period is added to the principal balance and future interest payments are calculated on that larger principal amount.
Comparing the APY on 2 Investments
Suppose you are considering whether to invest in a one-year zero-coupon bond that pays 6% upon maturity or a high-yield money market account that pays 0.5% per month with monthly compounding.
At first glance, the yields appear equal because 12 months multiplied by 0.5% equals 6%. However, when the effects of compounding are included by calculating the APY, the money market investment actually yields (1 + .005)^12 – 1 = 0.06168 = 6.17%.
Comparing two investments by their simple interest rates doesn’t work as it ignores the effects of compounding interest and how often that compounding occurs.
APY vs. APR
APY is similar to the annual percentage rate (APR) used for loans. The APR reflects the effective percentage that the borrower will pay over a year in interest and fees for the loan. APY and APR are both standardized measures of interest rates expressed as an annualized percentage rate.
However, APY takes into account compound interest while APR does not. Furthermore, the equation for APY does not incorporate account fees, only compounding periods. That’s an important consideration for an investor, who must consider any fees that will be subtracted from an investment’s overall return.
Example of APY
If you deposited $100 for one year at 5% interest and your deposit was compounded quarterly, at the end of the year you would have $105.09. If you had been paid simple interest, you would have had $105.
The APY would be (1 + .05/4) * 4 – 1 = .05095 = 5.095%.
It pays 5% a year interest compounded quarterly, and that adds up to 5.095%. That’s not too dramatic. However, if you left that $100 for four years and it was being compounded quarterly then the amount your initial deposit would have grown to $121.99. Without compounding it would have been $120.
X = D(1 + r/n)n*y
= $100(1 + .05/4)4*4
= $100(1.21989)
= $121.99
where:
X = Final amount
D = Initial Deposit
r = period rate
n = number of compounding periods per year
y = number of years
Special Considerations
Compound Interest
The premise of APY is rooted in the concept of compounding or compound interest. Compound interest is the financial mechanism that allows investment returns to earn returns of their own.
Imagine investing $1,000 at 6% compounded monthly. At the start of your investment, you have $1,000.
After one month, your investment will have earned one month worth of interest at 6%. Your investment will now be worth $1,005 ($1,000 * (1 + .06/12)). At this point, we have not yet seen compounding interest.
After the second month, your investment will have earned a second month of interest at 6%. However, this interest is earned on both your initial investment as well as your $5 interest earned last month. Therefore, your return this month will be greater than last month because your investment basis will be higher. Your investment will now be worth $1,010.03 ($1,005 * (1 + .06/12)). Notice that the interest earned this second month is $5.03, different from the $5.00 from last month.
After the third month, your investment will earn interest on the $1,000, the $5.00 earned from the first month, and the $5.03 earned from the second month. This demonstrates the concept of compound interest: the monthly amount earned will continually increase as long as the APY doesn’t decrease and the investment principal is not reduced.
Banks in the U.S. are required to include the APY when they advertise their interest-bearing accounts. That tells potential customers exactly how much money a deposit will earn if it is deposited for 12 months.
Variable APY vs. Fixed APY
Savings or checking accounts may have either a variable APY or fixed APY. A variable APY is one that fluctuates and changes with macroeconomic conditions, while a fixed APY does not change (or changes much less frequently). One type of APY isn’t necessarily better than the other. While locking into a fixed APY sounds appealing, consider periods when the Federal Reserve is raising rates and APYs increase each month.
Most checking, savings, and money market accounts have variable APYs, though some promotional bank accounts or bank account bonuses may have a higher fixed APY up to a specific level of deposits. For example. a bank may reward 5% APY on the first $500 deposited, then pay 1% APY on all other deposits.
APY and Risk
In general, investors are usually awarded higher yields when they take on greater risk or agree to make sacrifices. The same can be said regarding the APY of checking, saving, and certificate of deposits.
When a consumer holds money in a checking account, the consumer is asking to have their money on demand to pay for expenses. At a given notice, the consumer may need to pull out their debit card, buy groceries, and draw down their checking account. For this reason, checking accounts often have the lowest APY because there is no risk or sacrifice for the consumer.
When a consumer holds money in a savings account, the consumer may not have immediate need. The consumer may need to transfer funds to their checking account before it can be used. Alternatively, you cannot write checks from normal savings accounts. For this reason, savings accounts usually have higher APYs than checking accounts because consumers face greater limits with savings accounts.
Last, when consumers hold a certificate of deposit, the consumer is agreeing to sacrifice liquidity and access to funds in return for a higher APY. The consumer can’t use or spend the money in a CD (or they can after paying a penalty to break the CD). For this reason, the APY on a CD is highest of three as the consumer is being rewarded for sacrificing immediate access to their funds.
What Is APY and How Does It Work?
APY is the annual percent yield that reflects compounding on interest. It reflects the actual interest rate you earn on an investment because it considers the interest you make on your interest.
Consider the example above where the $100 investment yields 5% compounded quarterly. During the first quarter, you earn interest on the $100. However, during the second quarter, you earn interest on the $100 as well as the interest earned in the first quarter.
What Is a Good APY Rate?
APY rates fluctuate often, and a good rate at one time may no longer be a good rate due to shifts in macroeconomic conditions. In general, when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, the APY on savings accounts tends to increase. Therefore, APY rates on savings accounts are usually better when monetary policy is tight or tightening. In addition, there are often low-cost, high-yield savings accounts that consistently deliver competitive APYs.
How Is APY Calculated?
APY standardizes the rate of return. It does this by stating the real percentage of growth that will be earned in compound interest assuming that the money is deposited for one year. The formula for calculating APY is: (1+r/n)n – 1, where r = period rate and n = number of compounding periods.
How Can APY Assist an Investor?
Any investment is ultimately judged by its rate of return, whether it’s a certificate of deposit, a share of stock, or a government bond. APY allows an investor to compare different returns for different investments on an apples-to-apples basis, allowing them to make a more informed decision.
What Is the Difference Between APY and APR?
APY calculates that rate earned in one year if the interest is compounded and is a more accurate representation of the actual rate of return. APR includes any fees or additional costs associated with the transaction, but it does not take into account the compounding of interest within a specific year. Rather, it is a simple interest rate.
The Bottom Line
APY in banking is the actual rate of return you will earn on your checking or savings account. As opposed to simple interest calculations, APY considers the compounding effect of prior interest earned generating future returns. For this reason, APY will often be higher than simple interest, especially if the account compounds often.
The term “annuity” refers to an insurance contract issued and distributed by financial institutions with the intention of paying out invested funds in a fixed income stream in the future. Investors invest in or purchase annuities with monthly premiums or lump-sum payments. The holding institution issues a stream of payments in the future for a specified period of time or for the remainder of the annuitant’s life. Annuities are mainly used for retirement purposes and help individuals address the risk of outliving their savings.
Key Takeaways
Annuities are financial products that offer a guaranteed income stream, usually for retirees.
The accumulation phase is the first stage of an annuity, whereby investors fund the product with either a lump sum or periodic payments.
The annuitant begins receiving payments after the annuitization period for a fixed period or for the rest of their life.
Annuities can be structured into different kinds of instruments, which gives investors flexibility.
These products can be categorized into immediate and deferred annuities and may be structured as fixed or variable.
How an Annuity Works
Annuities are designed to provide a steady cash flow for people during their retirement years and to alleviate the fears of outliving their assets. Since these assets may not be enough to sustain their standard of living, some investors may turn to an insurance company or other financial institution to purchase an annuity contract.
As such, these financial products are appropriate for investors, who are referred to as annuitants, who want stable, guaranteed retirement income. Because invested cash is illiquid and subject to withdrawal penalties, it is not recommended for younger individuals or for those with liquidity needs to use this financial product.
An annuity goes through several different phases and periods. These are called:
The accumulation phase, the period of time when an annuity is being funded and before payouts begin. Any money invested in the annuity grows on a tax-deferred basis during this stage.
The annuitization phase, which kicks in once payments commence.
These financial products can be immediate or deferred. Immediate annuities are often purchased by people of any age who have received a large lump sum of money, such as a settlement or lottery win, and who prefer to exchange it for cash flows into the future. Deferred annuities are structured to grow on a tax-deferred basis and provide annuitants with guaranteed income that begins on a date they specify.
Annuities often come with complicated tax considerations, so it’s important to understand how they work. As with any other financial product, be sure to consult with a professional before you purchase an annuity contract.
Annuity products are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Agents or brokers selling annuities need to hold a state-issued life insurance license, and also a securities license in the case of variable annuities. These agents or brokers typically earn a commission based on the notional value of the annuity contract.
Special Considerations
Annuities usually have a surrender period. Annuitants cannot make withdrawals during this time, which may span several years, without paying a surrender charge or fee. Investors must consider their financial requirements during this time period. For example, if a major event requires significant amounts of cash, such as a wedding, then it might be a good idea to evaluate whether the investor can afford to make requisite annuity payments.
Contracts also have an income rider that ensures a fixed income after the annuity kicks in. There are two questions that investors should ask when they consider income riders:
At what age do they need the income? Depending on the duration of the annuity, the payment terms and interest rates may vary.
What are the fees associated with the income rider? While there are some organizations that offer the income rider free of charge, most have fees associated with this service.
Many insurance companies will allow recipients to withdraw up to 10% of their account value without paying a surrender fee. However, if you withdraw more than that, you may end up paying a penalty, even if the surrender period has already lapsed. There are also tax implications for withdrawals before age 59 and a half.
Because of the potentially high cost of withdrawals, some hard-up annuitants may opt to sell their annuity payments instead. This is similar to borrowing against any other income stream: the annuitant receives a lump sum, and in exchange gives up their right to some (or all) of their future annuity payments.
Individuals who invest in annuities cannot outlive their income stream, which hedges longevity risk. So long as the purchaser understands that they are trading a liquid lump sum for a guaranteed series of cash flows, the product is appropriate. Some purchasers hope to cash out an annuity in the future at a profit, however, this is not the intended use of the product.
Types of Annuities
Annuities can be structured according to a wide array of details and factors, such as the duration of time that payments from the annuity can be guaranteed to continue. As mentioned above, annuities can be created so that payments continue so long as either the annuitant or their spouse (if survivorship benefit is elected) is alive. Alternatively, annuities can be structured to pay out funds for a fixed amount of time, such as 20 years, regardless of how long the annuitant lives.
Immediate and Deferred Annuities
Annuities can begin immediately upon deposit of a lump sum, or they can be structured as deferred benefits. The immediate payment annuity begins paying immediately after the annuitant deposits a lump sum. Deferred income annuities, on the other hand, don’t begin paying out after the initial investment. Instead, the client specifies an age at which they would like to begin receiving payments from the insurance company.
Depending on the type of annuity you choose, the annuity may or may not be able to recover some of the principal invested in the account. In the case of a straight, lifetime payout, there is no refund of the principal–the payments simply continue until the beneficiary dies. If the annuity is set for a fixed period of time, the recipient may be entitled to a refund of any remaining principal–or their heirs, if the annuitant has deceased.
Fixed and Variable Annuities
Annuities can be structured generally as either fixed or variable:
Fixed annuities provide regular periodic payments to the annuitant.
Variable annuities allow the owner to receive larger future payments if investments of the annuity fund do well and smaller payments if its investments do poorly, which provides for less stable cash flow than a fixed annuity but allows the annuitant to reap the benefits of strong returns from their fund’s investments.
While variable annuities carry some market risk and the potential to lose principal, riders and features can be added to annuity contracts—usually for an extra cost. This allows them to function as hybrid fixed-variable annuities. Contract owners can benefit from upside portfolio potential while enjoying the protection of a guaranteed lifetime minimum withdrawal benefit if the portfolio drops in value.
Other riders may be purchased to add a death benefit to the agreement or to accelerate payouts if the annuity holder is diagnosed with a terminal illness. The cost of living rider is another common rider that will adjust the annual base cash flows for inflation based on changes in the consumer price index (CPI).
Criticism of Annuities
One criticism of annuities is that they are illiquid. Deposits into annuity contracts are typically locked up for a period of time, known as the surrender period, where the annuitant would incur a penalty if all or part of that money were touched.
These periods can last anywhere from two to more than 10 years, depending on the particular product. Surrender fees can start out at 10% or more and the penalty typically declines annually over the surrender period.
Annuities vs. Life Insurance
Life insurance companies and investment companies are the two primary types of financial institutions offering annuity products. For life insurance companies, annuities are a natural hedge for their insurance products. Life insurance is bought to deal with mortality risk, which is the risk of dying prematurely. Policyholders pay an annual premium to the insurance company that will pay out a lump sum upon their death.
If the policyholder dies prematurely, the insurer pays out the death benefit at a net loss to the company. Actuarial science and claims experience allow these insurance companies to price their policies so that on average insurance purchasers will live long enough so that the insurer earns a profit. In many cases, the cash value inside of permanent life insurance policies can be exchanged via a 1035 exchange for an annuity product without any tax implications.
Annuities, on the other hand, deal with longevity risk, or the risk of outliving one’s assets. The risk to the issuer of the annuity is that annuity holders will survive to outlive their initial investment. Annuity issuers may hedge longevity risk by selling annuities to customers with a higher risk of premature death.
Example of an Annuity
A life insurance policy is an example of a fixed annuity in which an individual pays a fixed amount each month for a pre-determined time period (typically 59.5 years) and receives a fixed income stream during their retirement years.
An example of an immediate annuity is when an individual pays a single premium, say $200,000, to an insurance company and receives monthly payments, say $5,000, for a fixed time period afterward. The payout amount for immediate annuities depends on market conditions and interest rates.
Annuities can be a beneficial part of a retirement plan, but annuities are complex financial vehicles. Because of their complexity, many employers don’t offer them as part of an employee’s retirement portfolio.
However, the passage of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in late December 2019, loosens the rules on how employers can select annuity providers and includes annuity options within 401(k) or 403(b) investment plans. The easement of these rules may trigger more annuity options open to qualified employees in the near future.
Who Buys Annuities?
Annuities are appropriate financial products for individuals seeking stable, guaranteed retirement income. Because the lump sum put into the annuity is illiquid and subject to withdrawal penalties, it is not recommended for younger individuals or for those with liquidity needs to use this financial product. Annuity holders cannot outlive their income stream, which hedges longevity risk.
What Is a Non-Qualified Annuity?
Annuities can be purchased with either pre-tax or after-tax dollars. A non-qualified annuity is one that has been purchased with after-tax dollars. A qualified annuity is one that has been purchased with pre-tax dollars. Qualified plans include 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans. Only the earnings of a non-qualified annuity are taxed at the time of withdrawal, not the contributions, as they are after-tax money.
What Is an Annuity Fund?
An annuity fund is the investment portfolio in which an annuity holder’s funds are invested. The annuity fund earns returns, which correlate to the payout that an annuity holder receives. When an individual buys an annuity from an insurance company, they pay a premium. The premium is invested by the insurance company into an investment vehicle that contains stocks, bonds, and other securities, which is the annuity fund.
What Is the Surrender Period?
The surrender period is the amount of time an investor must wait before they can withdraw funds from an annuity without facing a penalty. Withdrawals made before the end of the surrender period can result in a surrender charge, which is essentially a deferred sales fee. This period generally spans several years. Investors can incur a significant penalty if they withdraw the invested amount before the surrender period is over.
What Are Common Types of Annuities?
Annuities are generally structured as either fixed or variable instruments. Fixed annuities provide regular periodic payments to the annuitant and are often used in retirement planning. Variable annuities allow the owner to receive larger future payments if investments of the annuity fund do well and smaller payments if its investments do poorly. This provides for less stable cash flow than a fixed annuity but allows the annuitant to reap the benefits of strong returns from their fund’s investments.
