Annuities Language Glossary
The Alliance for Lifetime Income is a non-profit organization committed to educating consumers about the value and importance of protected lifetime income through annuities. Part of our commitment includes making the language of annuities simpler and more transparent.
We realize that annuities, like most other financial products, can be difficult to understand, which is why we’ve created a Language Glossary to help demystify some of the language used when describing annuities. We believe reducing this complexity will help you make better decisions about annuities, which can lead to better outcomes in your retirement planning.
This glossary is intended to provide a general summary, in non-technical terms, of certain concepts relating to annuities. It is not intended to provide investment, legal or tax guidance, and should not be relied upon as such. You should consult with a financial professional prior to making any investment decisions.
This glossary and any documents transmitted with it contain confidential, proprietary or otherwise protected information and is being distributed solely by member firms of the Alliance for Lifetime Income (the “Alliance”), their duly authorized employees and agents and financial advisors and other professionals who work with member firms of the Alliance (collectively, the “Authorized Distributors”).
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A
Account value
The amount of money in the annuity.
Simpler term: Account balance
Accumulation phase
The period that you are allowing your money the potential to grow. (Some annuities allow you to add more money over time.)
Simpler term: Growth stage
Advisor
A qualified person who can help you understand your options and make financial decisions to work toward your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial professional
Annual lock (when referencing fixed indexed annuities)
An opportunity to lock in, or protect, interest earned up to the annuity’s caps each year, protecting those gains from any future index decreases.
Annuity
A financial product that can offer protected lifetime income and even potentially grow your money.
Annuity owner
A person who owns the annuity and has the authority to make any changes.
Appetite for risk
The level of market risk you’re comfortable with.
Simpler term: Risk comfort level
B
Beneficiary
The person you designate to receive any remaining account balance or income payments should you pass away.
Benefit
A feature that can provide benefits or protection to you or your beneficiaries at an additional cost.
Simpler term: Optional benefit
Benefit to your heirs
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Bonus
The ability to permanently adjust your income based on a pre-set guaranteed growth rate. This guaranteed growth rate is periodically applied to your benefit base (which is your income base plus any additional guaranteed growth increases), which permanently increases the benefit amount you receive.
Simpler term: Guaranteed growth
C
Cap
The maximum amount your annuity may be able to earn at the end of a selected time period. You choose the time period that’s best for you from a set of available options.
Charge
The amounts associated with owning an annuity, which may include setting up the annuity, adding optional benefits, etc.
Simpler terms: Fee or Cost
Commission
Similar to other financial products, commissions are compensation paid by an insurance company to a financial advisor who sells an annuity to a client.
Simpler terms: Fee or Cost
Contract value
The amount of money in the annuity.
Simpler term: Account balance
Cost
The amounts associated with owning an annuity, which may include setting up the annuity, adding optional benefits, etc.
Simpler terms: Cost or Fee
Cost basis
Your original investment amount.
Covered person(s)
The person who lifetime income payments are based on and whose age determines the guaranteed withdrawal rate.
Simpler term: Protected person(s)
Covering your [essentials, basic needs, non-negotiables]
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
Crediting strategy
The method used to determine how interest is credited to certain annuities, when applicable.
D
Death benefit
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Decumulation phase
The point you start receiving income from your annuity.
Simpler term: Income stage
Deferral bonus
A bonus amount that could potentially be credited to your income base annually during the growth stage for each year you wait to take income, up to a certain age.
Deferred income annuity (Longevity annuity)
A type of income annuity that allows you to contribute a lump sum, choose the frequency and amount you’d like to set for your annuity income payments, and then delay those payments until a pre-determined point in time.
Degree of certainty
The level of market risk you’re comfortable with.
Simpler term: Risk comfort level
Discretionary expenses vs. Non-discretionary expenses
Two main types of retirement expenses: essential expenses cover everyday needs, such as housing and meals, and non-essential expenses cover your lifestyle, such as travel and entertainment.
Simpler term: Essential expenses vs. non-essential expenses
Distribution phase
The point you start receiving income from your annuity.
Simpler term: Income stage
Diversification
Strategically spreading your money among different types of investments to help reduce the impact of market downturns. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protection against a loss.
Dollar cost average
A strategy to invest specified amounts spread out over a period of time, instead of one larger amount, to reduce the risk of investing all at once when prices are high.
F
Family protection
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Fee
The amounts associated with owning an annuity, which may include setting up the annuity, adding optional benefits, etc.
Simpler term: Cost
Fee-based annuity
An annuity that allows financial professionals to receive an annual advisory fee, rather than a commission.
Financial advisor
A qualified person who can help you understand your options and make financial decisions to work toward your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial professional
Financial consultant
A qualified person who can help you understand your options and make financial decisions to work toward your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial professional
Financial empowerment
The ability to cover your financial needs and reach your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial security
Financial future
The ability to cover your financial needs and reach your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial security
Financial independence
The ability to cover your financial needs and reach your financial goals.
Simpler term: Financial security
Financial priorities
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
Fixed account
An account that earns a guaranteed interest rate and is not invested in or tied to the market.
Simpler term: Fixed rate account
Fixed annuity
An annuity that guarantees the buyer a fixed interest rate on the amounted invested for a specific period of time.
Fixed indexed annuity
An annuity that guarantees principal protection from market downturns with the potential for growth tied to a market index.
Free amount
The maximum amount the annuity owner can withdraw without being charged any fees.
Simpler term: Free withdrawal amount
G
Growth period
The period that you are allowing your money the potential to grow. (Some annuities allow you to add more money over time.)
Simpler term: Growth stage
Guaranteed income
Income that can last your whole life — and potentially go to your beneficiaries.
Simpler term: Protected lifetime income
Guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit
An optional benefit which guarantees that you’ll receive a minimum periodic income for the rest of your life, regardless of market losses.
Guaranteed minimum crediting rate
The lowest amount of annual interest the insurance company is permitted to credit to a fixed annuity contract.
I
Immediate income annuity
A type of income annuity that allows you to contribute a lump sum, choose the frequency and amount you’d like to set for your annuity income payments, and then start receiving those payments immediately or delay receiving them for up to 12 months.
Income base
The amount that the annuity owner can withdraw money against.
Income stage
The point you start receiving income from your annuity.
Index
A benchmark used to represent a specific portion of a market in order to evaluate the performance of investments.
Index participation rate
The percentage increase of the underlying index’s value that will be credited to the annuity at the end of a selected time period.
Interest rate floor (when referencing fixed indexed annuities)
Your guaranteed minimum interest rate for a specified period of time, even during market downturns.
Investment divisions
The different investment options a variable annuity owner can choose to allocate their money to.
Simpler term: Variable annuity investment options
Investor confidence
The level of market risk you’re comfortable with.
Simpler term: Risk comfort level
J
Joint life
An added protected person, usually a spouse, who can lengthen the benefit of guaranteed income for life if they outlive the primary protected person.
Simpler term: Joint protected person
L
Legacy
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Legacy benefit
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Legacy protection benefit
A benefit that pays your beneficiary the remaining account balance or income should you pass away.
Simpler term: Beneficiary benefit
Life changes
Where you are in terms of your financial priorities and needs; for instance, growing your money or drawing from your money later in life.
Simpler term: Life stage
Life priorities
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
Life transition
Where you are in terms of your financial priorities and needs; for instance, growing your money or drawing from your money later in life.
Simpler term: Life stage
Liquidity risk
The risk that your money will need to be accessed sooner than anticipated, which could result in penalties or impact performance.
Simpler term: The risk you won’t be able to access your money when you need it
Living benefits
Optional benefits available for an additional cost that can offer you guarantees, like a minimum level of income for life.
Simpler term: Protected income benefits
Longevity risk
The chance that you may live longer than your income will last.
Simpler term: The risk you won’t have enough money to last
M
Market risk
As with most investments, there is the chance you could lose money because of market downturns.
Market value adjustment
A positive or negative adjustment during the holding period to the amount you’re able to withdraw from a fixed annuity above the free withdrawal amount. The adjustment is dependent on how the interest rate environment has changed since opening your account.
Market volatility
The way stocks, bonds and other market investments change in value, sometimes very quickly. This market movement may affect the value of your annuity or other investments. Some annuities can protect your income even when the markets go down.
Simpler term: Market ups and downs
Minimum guaranteed surrender value
The minimum amount the annuity owner is guaranteed to receive when withdrawing money from their account, after applying early withdrawal costs.
Simpler term: Minimum guaranteed annuity value
N
Needs and wants
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
O
Option
A feature that can provide benefits or protection to you or your beneficiaries at an additional cost.
Simpler term: Optional benefit
P
Participation rate
The percentage increase of the underlying index’s value that will be credited to the annuity at the end of a selected time period.
Simpler term: Index performance crediting rate
Penalty-free withdrawal amount
The maximum amount the annuity owner can withdraw without being charged any fees.
Simpler term: Free withdrawal amount
Performance trigger
A pre-set amount credited to your account if the annuity’s underlying index change is positive or flat at the end of the term.
Simpler term: Performance credit
Period certain
A payout option that allows the annuity owner to choose when and how long to receive payments, which beneficiaries may also be able to receive.
Premium
For most annuity types, this is the money you put into the annuity.
Simpler term: Annuity contribution
Price
The amounts associated with owning an annuity, which may include setting up the annuity, adding optional benefits, etc.
Simpler terms: Fee or Cost
Product
What you use to pursue your specific financial goal.
Simpler terms: Product or Strategy
Purchase payments
For most annuity types, this is the money you put into the annuity.
Simpler term: Annuity contribution
Q
Qualified dollars (when referencing annuities)
Money that hasn’t been taxed yet can be used to fund annuities connected to tax-qualified retirement plans, such as 401(k)s.
Simpler term: Pre-tax dollars
Qualified money (when referencing annuities)
Money that hasn’t been taxed yet can be used to fund annuities connected to tax-qualified retirement plans, such as 401(k)s.
Simpler term: Pre-tax dollars
R
Required minimum distribution
The amount you are required to withdraw annually from a qualified retirement account, such as an IRA, starting at age 72.
Retirement
Where you are in terms of your financial priorities and needs; for instance, growing your money or drawing from your money later in life.
Simpler term: Life stage
Retirement goals
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
Rider
A feature that can provide benefits or protection to you or your beneficiaries at an additional cost.
Simpler term: Optional benefit
Risk adjusted return
A calculation of the returns or potential returns from an investment within the annuity, that considers the degree of risk that must be accepted in order to achieve it.
Simpler term: Estimated performance
Risk appropriateness
The level of market risk you’re comfortable with.
Simpler term: Risk comfort level
Risk tolerance
The level of market risk you’re comfortable with.
Simpler term: Risk comfort level
Roll-up
The ability to permanently adjust your income based on a pre-set guaranteed growth rate. This guaranteed growth rate is periodically applied to your benefit base (which is your income base plus any additional guaranteed growth increases), which permanently increases the benefit amount you receive.
Simpler term: Guaranteed growth
S
Saving for retirement
Financial priorities that impact the objectives you set for how to save or spend your money during important life stages.
Simpler term: Financial needs and goals
Sequence of returns risk
The potential for a market downturn early in retirement, which can have a disproportionately negative impact on your long-term account balance if withdrawals are already being taken.
Solution
What you use to pursue your specific financial goal.
Simpler terms: Strategy or Product
Spending phase
The point you start receiving income from your annuity.
Simpler term: Income stage
Spousal continuation
An option to transfer ownership or continuation of your guaranteed income to your spouse in the event you pass away.
Spread
An index crediting method where a pre-determined rate is subtracted from any percentage increase in the underlying index and the annuity is credited the difference.
Strategy
What you use to pursue your specific financial goal.
Simpler terms: Strategy or Product
Subaccounts
The different investment options a variable annuity owner can choose to allocate their money to.
Simpler term: Variable annuity investment options
Sustainable withdrawal rate
The estimated maximum percentage that you can withdraw each period without running out of money during your lifetime.
V
Variable annuity
A financial product that offers the potential to grow your money through various market investment options, but with the potential for market loss — with the option of receiving protected lifetime income.
Variable portfolios
The different investment options a variable annuity owner can choose to allocate their money to.
Simpler term: Variable annuity investment options
Vehicle
What you use to pursue your specific financial goal.
Simpler terms: Strategy or Product
W
Waiver
An option that waives the early withdrawal fee when difficult life events occur, such as hospitalization, confinement in a nursing home or unemployment.
Simpler term: Optional benefit
Withdrawal base
The amount that the annuity owner can withdraw money against.
Simpler term: Income base