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Annuities

An annuity is a financial vehicle that is designed to help you prepare for retirement. Simply put, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company: You pay the insurance company premium or purchase payments, and in exchange you get benefits only an annuity can provide.

Learn the ABCs of annuities.

Why consider an annuity?

Annuities can be a valuable addition to your overall retirement strategy because they offer tax-deferred growth while you're saving for retirement, and dependable income after you retire - in some cases, for as long as you live.

Many annuities provide principal protection, and some can be customized to provide inflation protection, lifetime income, an enhanced death benefit, and other options either built-in or optional and available for an additional cost. Plus, annuities can help you transfer wealth to your beneficiaries.

Heard the myths? Get the facts.

Which annuity may meet your needs?

Because no two people have the same needs or goals, Allianz offers several types of annuities. Ask your financial professional which annuity may make sense for your individual situation.

  • Fixed annuities provide steady, or "fixed," interest for a specified period of time.
  • Fixed index annuities offer potential interest based on positive changes in an external index, but without actually participating in the market.
  • Variable annuities give you the possibility of greater potential returns based on the variable investment options you choose, but they will experience market ups and downs – so you could lose money, including principal.
  • Index variable annuities allow you to participate in market gains – with a level of protection against market drops.

Annuities are complex products that include many features and factors. It is important to understand the balance between all features available with any annuity. You should consult with a financial professional to determine if an annuity is appropriate for your needs.

Purchasing an annuity within a retirement plan that provides tax deferral under sections of the Internal Revenue Code results in no additional tax benefit. An annuity should be used to fund a qualified plan based upon the annuity’s features other than tax deferral. All annuity features, risks, limitations, and costs should be considered prior to purchasing an annuity within a tax-qualified retirement plan.

Withdrawals will reduce the contract value and the value of any protection benefits. Additional withdrawals taken within the contract withdrawal charge schedule will be subject to a withdrawal charge. All withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal additional tax.

Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Variable annuity guarantees do not apply to the performance of the variable subaccounts, which will fluctuate with market conditions.

• Not FDIC insured • May lose value • No bank or credit union guarantee • Not a deposit • Not insured by any federal government agency or NCUA/NCUSIF

Products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, 5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1297. In New York, products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 38th Floor, New York, NY 10005-1423. Variable products are distributed by their affiliate, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, member FINRA, 5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1297.

In the state of New York, only Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York is authorized to offer annuities and life insurance.

Product and feature availability may vary by state and broker/dealer.

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