MEDFORD, Ore., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Annuities are a complicated topic, and it is no surprise that annuity consumers face an investment marketplace swirling with misconceptions. Unfortunately, rumors and myths about annuity options result in consumers not making the most of their funds, so AnnunityAdvantage.com is tackling three of the most common misconceptions.

“Misinformation about annuities has led some consumers to believe that annuity providers prey on senior citizens’ earnest desire for retirement income security,” said AnnuityAdvantage.com Founder and CEO Ken Nuss. “Others feel that annuities are not an advantageous retirement income strategy but rather a financial windfall for annuity providers. The truth is, principal guaranteed annuity products remain one of the safest bets for retirees and their families.”

Misconception: When annuity holders die, their annuity income cannot stay with their families.

Like most assets, the annuity is part of an investor’s taxable estate. If an annuity holder dies prematurely, the accumulating funds within the annuity may be transferred to named beneficiaries. In fact, the person’s heirs will avoid the expense, delay, frustration and publicity of the probate process. Depending on the annuity product investors choose, their beneficiaries will have the option to receive the proceeds in one lump sum or as monthly income payments.

Misconception: Annuity interest rates are not competitive.
Current market interest rates have created a false sense that annuities terminally underperform, but retirees who fear the volatility of the stock market continue to find a safe alternative in fixed annuities. Interest rates for fixed annuities vary widely, and consumers may find that newer products offer more competitive rates. In certain circumstances, it may even make sense for current annuity holders to consider an upgrade of their existing policies to these products via a 1035 tax-free exchange. If retirees stockpile cash in money market or savings accounts, they are missing out on annuities’ higher guaranteed interest rates and essentially leaving money “sitting on the sidelines.”

Misconception: Annuity providers, rather than retirees, are the main entities that benefit from annuity purchases.

Annuity products vary widely. It is important for the consumer to ask questions about product features and potential fees upfront in order to choose the best value and fit for their objectives. An annuity shopping service such as AnnuityAdvantage.com can help consumers sort through the hundreds of retirement annuity products that are available with no front-end or back-end “loads” or sales charges. AnnuityAdvantage.com, an “A+” rated member of the Better Business Bureau, collects no fees for this assistance.

Consumers who have more questions can visit AnnuityAdvantage.com’s library of retirement strategy articles or contact its specialists online or via telephone. “Our goal is to wade through the avalanche of information on your behalf and help you make the best and most informed decision possible for your individual needs,” said Nuss.

About AnnuityAdvantage.com
Founded in 1999 by veteran financial and retirement planner Ken Nuss, AnnuityAdvantage.com is the leading online provider of fixed-rate, equity-indexed, and immediate income annuities. Consumers planning for retirement have come to rely on AnnuityAdvantage.com for individualized, expert recommendations and guaranteed high-value annuity products that have been thoroughly screened by Nuss and his staff. The company’s client-centered approach allows consumers to find the best mix of annuity products for their unique needs from the hundreds of annuities available through AnnuityAdvantage.com. There are no fees for the service.

Nuss is an active member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA), and the National Ethics Association (NEA). He holds an Oregon insurance consulting license, along with an individual producer license in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Learn more at http://www.annuityadvantage.com or call 800-239-0356.