ANNUITIES

While the increased flexibility in terms of pension income options announced in the March 2014 Budget may mean annuities will be less attractive for some, many will still have the requirement for a guaranteed lifetime income.

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The pension fund is exchanged for a pension income. Once the annuity has been bought, the contract cannot currently be reversed - the pension fund becomes the permanent property of the annuity provider. Although this may change as the Chancellor announced there will be the creation of a second hand annuity market.

The level of income that you will receive from an annuity depends upon several main factors including the size of the investment, age, health and the prevailing annuity rates at the point of annuity purchase.

In general, the older an annuitant the higher the income which can be secured.

How they work...

 

Annuities in the main are supplied by Life Assurance Companies. The underlying 'annuity fund' is usually invested in fixed interest investments, such as long term government gilts in order to maintain the guaranteed income and ensure regular income payments are made to annuitants. Hence when interest rates are low, annuity rates tend to be lower too.

 

Annuities can be set up to provide different benefits & options -

• Spouses pension (to protect a spouse by providing an income following the death of the annuitant)

• Guaranteed payment periods; 5 years is typical but longer guarantees are also possible.

• Escalation of benefits; income can be protected from inflation - RPI linked escalation, alternatively a fixed % annual increase in income can be secured at outset e.g. 5%.

• Annuity income can be linked to investment performance for example by a 'With Profit Annuity' or 'Unit Linked Annuity'.

 

From April 2015 there is much greater freedom to choose how you use your pension fund. Whist an annuity purchase will still be the best option for many people in retirement you should understand the choices available to you before you commit to an annuity.