subject: When Picking Between Mutual Funds and Annuities, You Need to Think Well [print this page] When Picking Between Mutual Funds and Annuities, You Need to Think Well
When people plan their retirement, they have to choose if they like mutual funds or annuities to build up their retirement fund. More often, individuals are putting off their retirement because their pension funds won't be enough to support them without taking in even a part-time job. It's become something of a problem for working folks that still put part of their salary right into a retirement fund.
That has led to the controversy between investing in mutual funds and in annuities. It will be up to the individual, actually, since these are both good choices. Mutual funds were first called investment trusts. Since the period they were invented, not one mutual fund has gone bankrupt, a fact appreciated by lots of conservative investors. It's a long-term investment, something that might be a drawback to investors. It's only regular investments and plenty of time necessary to augment the fund properly. It's a good selection for younger persons who are just out to build a retirement fund and not someone who is set to retire in less than five years.
Another option will be an annuity, which you get from an insurance company which buys into stocks as investments which will present you with payments in the future or at once. These normally tie in some features of the life insurance plan like a death benefit and provides you tax-deferred growth earnings. The types available are variable or fixed annuities; you would get different payments of these variable annuities due to the performance of those stock investments . Guaranteed annuities are only that: a steady rate and quantity of income received every month. These earn aggressively and can be good choices for those who left their pension funds to the last minute. They earn well, providing the market would be a bull market, and provides a fixed income for those next twenty years or so. You could be capable to withdraw your initial investment if you select that option. The only negative point about this product is the high fees, something normal for the product that earns so rapidly.