The Annuity Atlas blog

Income Planning · June 5, 2026

A $500,000 annuity pays a 65-year-old roughly $3,000–$3,300 per month for life as of 2026. See how payouts change by age, single vs. joint, and immediate vs. deferred.

Buyer's Guide · May 23, 2026

You can buy an annuity through an independent agent, a bank or brokerage, the insurer directly, or an online marketplace — and where you buy can change the price.

Annuity Basics · May 6, 2026

Annuities aren't an investment — they're insurance against outliving your money. An honest breakdown of when an annuity is a good idea, when it's a bad one, and how to tell which camp you're in.

Rates · April 25, 2026

A competitive MYGA rate runs about 5.4%–6.5% for 3–10 year terms in early 2026, with strong FIA caps near 9%–11%. See benchmark annuity rates by term and type, and how to tell if your quote is below market.

Working With an Advisor · April 6, 2026

A good annuity advisor shows you multiple carriers, discloses how they're paid, and puts it in writing. Learn the green flags, red flags, and questions that expose a bad one.

Annuity Basics · March 23, 2026

An honest, no-sales-pitch breakdown of annuity pros and cons — the core liquidity-and-growth-for-guarantees trade, a side-by-side table, a type-by-type matrix (MYGA/FIA/income/variable), and who annuities are NOT for.

Comparisons · March 11, 2026

A MYGA fixed annuity usually pays more than a CD and defers taxes, but a CD is FDIC-insured and fully liquid. Compare rates, taxes, safety, and liquidity to see which fits your goal.

Buyer's Guide · February 21, 2026

A no-sales-pitch checklist of 11 questions to ask before buying an annuity — covering fees, surrender charges, commissions, guarantees, and liquidity. Get the answers in writing.

Annuity Basics · February 6, 2026

Most annuity hate traces to three real problems — high fees, hard sales, and complexity — but they don't apply to every annuity. Here's what's fair and what's myth.

Income Planning · January 27, 2026

Annuity income comes down to your premium, age, interest rates, and payout option. See real worked examples for immediate annuities and income riders, plus single vs. joint life.

Working With an Advisor · January 7, 2026

Most annuities pay the agent a one-time 1–7% commission from the insurer — not your account. See commission ranges by product type, how fee-only differs, and how pay shapes advice.

Retirement Planning · December 22, 2025

Just retired with a lump sum? Don't ask annuity or not — ask how much to convert into guaranteed income. The income-floor approach, with a real numeric walk-through.

Annuity Basics · December 9, 2025

A 5-question self-test to decide if you need an annuity. You likely do if you lack guaranteed income, fear outliving your savings, and value certainty over growth.

Buyer's Guide · November 22, 2025

The costliest annuity mistakes — wrong product type, ignoring the surrender schedule, overpaying for riders, and not shopping carriers — each can quietly cost a retiree thousands. Here's how to avoid them.

Refinancing · November 11, 2025

Signs you're in a bad annuity — high fees, low returns, past surrender, or a poor fit — plus your real exit options: a tax-free 1035 exchange, a partial withdrawal, or holding to surrender.