A comfortable retirement is a dream for Americans, but many fail to achieve it due to a lack of good planning. Did you know that, on average, Americans live twenty years after retirement as of today? That means you must have a robust and well-designed retirement plan to enjoy your best life during your golden years.
Statistics show that the median retirement savings for American households in 2022 was $87,000. While that may seem like some money, it is hardly enough to cover an average person’s expenses for several years. Not to mention, unforeseen emergencies may aggravate your financial woes. Choosing the right investments can give you the best results.
Smart retirees think beyond conventional options like IRA plans and pensions and add annuities to their investment portfolios. In this article, we will highlight the benefits of 7-year annuities and explain how they build a solid foundation for a secure financial future after retirement.
Before digging deep into the benefits of 7-year annuities, you must understand what they are and how they work. Annuities are a secure and stable investment option, providing a steady and reliable income source during retirement. In 2022, the total fixed annuity sales in the US were a whopping $209.9 billion, indicating the popularity and trust for this financial product.
Annuities are available in different forms, such as immediate (provides lifetime guaranteed income), fixed (minimizes risk), and deferred (offers tax benefits) annuities. Another option is a non-qualified annuity, which is drawn on post-tax income.
Besides lifetime annuities, there are duration-specific options such as 7-year annuities. With this product, you get regular payments for a predetermined term of seven years from the start of the contract. The payments are based on a fixed rate of interest decided at the time of purchase, ensuring that annuitants know what they get from the start.
According to 1891 Financial Life, investors must optimize the potential of annuity investments to make the most of their retirement strategy. The best way to do it is by picking multiple annuities at varying rates. A 7-year annuity can be a valuable addition to your portfolio because of its diverse benefits.
Annuities provide a steady cash flow for retirees and alleviate the apprehension of outliving their assets in the long run. A 7-year annuity has unique benefits in this context. Here are the ones that make it worth investing in:
The annual retirement costs for Americans aged over 65 include food, shelter, health care, transportation, and utility costs. An extra cash buffer of 20% is essential to ensure a comfortable lifestyle. The averages vary by state, from around $55,000 in Mississippi to $121,228 in Hawaii. You can imagine the kind of money required to survive.
A 7-year annuity sets you up for regular payments for a seven-year term, so you can rest assured about covering the costs of living. With a fixed and dependable source of funds, you feel financially secure even after retirement. Stability brings peace of mind regarding unexpected needs, no matter how taxing they are.
As a retiree, a high-risk investment is the last thing you should pick. The low risk of 7-year annuities makes them appropriate for conservative investors seeking stable returns for the long haul. Unlike other investment vehicles, they are not subject to market fluctuations. You don’t have to stress about economic volatility and disruptions.
Additionally, the predictable and guaranteed returns offer the stability retirees often crave. Knowing what you expect to come into your account enables you to plan your finances month after month. As long as you live frugally, you don’t need to worry about falling short of financial resources.
Taxes are a concern for retirees because you don’t want to pay them when you are not earning. Surprisingly, the tax expenditures for retirement savings in the US are massive. Estimates show that they will likely exceed a staggering $1.5 trillion over the period of 2019 to 2023. Even if you pay a small part of this figure, the impact on your finances may be far-reaching.
Choosing the right investment can help you save big on taxes, and annuities are one of the options that work in this context. In many jurisdictions, the interest on annuities is tax-deferred until one withdraws the funds.
With this tax-deferral feature, you can maximize your earnings by reinvesting the accrued interest. It leads to compounded growth over the annuity term. Further, you may fall into a lower tax bracket during retirement, leading to a lower overall tax liability on the annuity payments received.
The income potential, predictability, and tax savings offered by 7-year annuities make them a compelling choice for people planning a sound retirement strategy. They keep you from outliving your savings and enable you to enjoy a comfortable retired life. Integrating them into your retirement plan is a wise move, ensuring a stable and stress-free retirement.
