An annuity is an insurance contract you purchase to receive payments for a specific period, such as 30 years, or for the rest of your life. By applying a mathematical formula consisting of variables ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Dr. Melody Bell is a personal finance expert, entrepreneur, educator, and researcher. Melody ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Investopedia / Hilary Allison The present ...

Recurring or ongoing payments are technically annuities. Whether making a series of fixed payments over a period, such as rent or car loan, or receiving periodic income from a bond or certificate of ...

Regarding retirement planning, an annuity can feel like a comforting safety net. You trade a chunk of your savings – say $250,000 – for a steady income stream, often for the rest of your life. But how ...