Annuities are one of the most popular ways for people to turn their life savings into a regular income during retirement. In fact, the annuities market in the UK is the largest across the globe. There are different types of annuities, but on the whole an annuity works like this: the annuity provider, which is essentially an insurance company, agrees to pay you a regular income, either fixed or variable, for a fixed term, or for as long as you live. As an annuity once purchased cannot be cancelled or returned, buying an annuity is a decision that warrants extremely careful consideration.

The first step in making a correct choice when buying an Annuity is understanding your own needs and priorities. Knowing exactly what you need will help you make the right choice. For instance, is having a fixed, steady source of income throughout your life more important to you than risking a higher income with an investment annuity? If so, a conventional annuity may be more suitable for you. Or, would you prefer to have an annuity that grows with time, at the risk of settling for a smaller pay-out in the initial stages than a fixed life annuity? If so, an escalating annuity might be more suitable for you.

Buying an annuity correctly requires an understanding of the annuity market and how different annuity products work. You can find lots of information about annuities online through advisory websites, or even through different annuity providers. This includes finding out about different bells and whistles that may make an annuity work better for you. Buying an annuity that works best for you is all about looking in the right places, exploring the right resources and using the tools that are readily available to you.

For instance, an annuity calculator can help you determine the maximum income that you could generate through an annuity. Online annuity calculators are now widely available, and are easy to use, quick and convenient. Most calculators require basic information about your age, gender, location, and health and lifestyle habits to work out an accurate quote.

When buying an annuity, knowledge of all the aspects of the process is akin to power. The more you know, and the more knowledgeable you are, the more likely you are to find the right annuity.