An insured annuity provides retirement income with tax and estate-planning advantages. With an insured annuity, you receive a steady stream of payments in return for a lump sum deposit. By insuring your annuity, an amount equal to your original deposit is issued to a named beneficiary or beneficiaries when you die.

Tax advantages

• Because only the interest portion of each income payment is taxable every year, you can maximize after-tax retirement income without increasing investment risk.

• You can earn a pre-tax equivalent rate of return likely unattainable with today's fixed income investments.

• Because you have a lower amount of payable taxes, you increase your chances of securing government benefits.

• If you're a small business owner, by depositing a lump sum into an insured annuity with little or no cash value, you can reduce the overall value of your business and limit the capital gains liability.

Estate planning advantages

• An amount equal to your original deposit is returned to your estate's beneficiaries.

• These proceeds avoid probate and can be issued directly to a beneficiary without cost or delay.