Buying an Annuity? Talk to Your CPA First

As a CPA I often have the opportunity to review the financial position of many new clients. One of the items that constantly gives me a lot of grief is finding annuities held by new clients in situations that are not appropriate.  I always think, had they just given me a call to discuss the pros and cons they would not have gotten themselves locked into the contract that does not fit their current goals or will not be flexible when their circumstances change.

The Situation

I have had many clients explain to me the benefits they desired when purchasing the annuity. They usually tell me that guaranteed income free from market volatility is the reason they purchased the annuity. They usually cannot explain any of the restrictions that accompany these benefits. I have had many clients cite certain tax free benefits of holding an annuity in their pension. They usually forget that their pension income is already tax free. Tax free inside a fax free vehicle rarely makes sense.

Many times, locking your hard-earned money into an annuity can cost you a lot of money. It is better to know the full picture before you buy than after you are locked in to the annuity contract. The cost to exit can be significant.

Understand

You should have a good understanding of the following items when evaluating an annuity purchase:

1. The different types of annuities;
2. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of annuity; both during the accumulation phase as well as the distribution phase;
3. Income tax considerations during the life of the annuity;
4. Surrender charges during each year of the contract;
5. Inflation risk;
6. Market volatility risk;
7. Fees;
8. Estate tax considerations;
9. The strength of the company issuing the annuity; and
10. Alternative investment that may provide the benefits you are seeking.
    
    

Types of Annuities

There are many types of annuities with many different provisions. The majority of annuities are complicated insurance policies that end up causing unintended consequences. If an annuity is the right investment for your circumstances your CPA can help you decide which annuity is right for you.

A Large Commission

An important item to note is that annuities usually pay large commissions to the annuity salesmen. In our experience, any product that has a large commission has created an incentive for a salesperson not to clearly detail the true costs and benefits. Annuities have some of the largest commissions for salespeople.

Investing in an annuity, investing in the wrong annuity, or staying in the wrong annuity could cost you thousands of dollars. Call us or your CPA before you buy an annuity or to analyze an existing annuity that you previously purchased. 

In the end, it’s a lot cheaper to talk to your CPA prior to acting than after you have made the purchase. If you have any questions, comment below or contact us.