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One way of providing yourself with an income after you retire is to purchase an annuity. Read on to find out if this is the right option for you, and what type of Annuity to go for.
During your working life you will probably have saved money into one or several pensions. As you approach your retirement you have a range of options to use your pension funds to generate an income.
The most common way to do this is by buying an annuity. This is a financial product bought with your pension that converts your pension fund into a regular income for the rest of your life.
Choosing the right annuity is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. The right choice can make a significant difference to the money you will have available at retirement.
You do not have to buy your annuity from the company which you saved with for your pension. You have the right to take your pension fund at retirement and shop around for the best annuity deal. This is known as the 'Open Market Option' and may increase your retirement income for the rest of your life.
The amount you receive from the annuity provider will depend on a combination of the following:
Conventional Annuity
The most commonly used route to a predictable, secure retirement income is known as a conventional annuity. This type of annuity provides an income guaranteed to be paid for the rest of your life regardless of the performance of financial markets.
Enhanced/Impaired Annuity
Enhanced annuities provide an income guaranteed to be paid for the rest of your life. They come with the same range of options to protect and guarantee your income as a conventional annuity. The only difference is that they take your health and lifestyle into account when determining the income you will receive.
A broad range of lifestyle and medical conditions can qualify for an Enhanced Annuity. This ranges from fairly minor factors such as smoking, having high cholesterol or being overweight, up to more serious or life-threatening conditions such as cancers and heart disease.
Investment-linked Annuity
This type of annuity takes your pension fund and converts it into an income. Unlike a conventional annuity, the amount paid can vary as there is potential to receive more or less income, depending on how investment funds perform.
The investment is typically made into a With Profits fund which pools its customers pension funds together. In times of growth it sets aside some of the fund to offset times where the fund may otherwise decrease.
When considering this type of annuity you should ensure you have made provision in case the investment and your income were to fall; you should budget for such a situation, potentially over a long period of time.
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More money in your pocket booklet A guide to claiming benefits for people over pension age. (PDF 164KB)
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