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You should re-evaluate your asset allocation strategy at least once a year to make sure that your annuity fund choices are still meeting your needs.
An annuity is an insurance contract, issued by an insurance company, that lets you accumulate assets until retirement and then receive a steady stream of income at or during retirement. An annuity can be fixed or variable. A fixed annuity pays a fixed rate of interest, which is adjusted periodically, while a variable annuity pays an amount depending on the performance of the underlying investment accounts you choose for the annuity.
Tax-deferred annuities can be a smart way for long-term (five or more years) investors to save for retirement. They enable tax-deferred growth of your assets while reducing your current taxes. Much like a personal "pension" plan, tax-deferred annuities can also be used to create an income stream for as long as you live. Unlike individual retirement accounts, a tax-deferred annuity allows for unlimited annual contributions. Tax-deferred annuities can be fixed or variable.
An income annuity is a financial product that you buy with a single lump sum of your savings. Like Social Security and company pensions, it provides you with a regular stream of retirement income for the rest of your life, or if you prefer, for a specific period of time. Since your income represents a combination of both interest and principal, you can expect a higher level of income from an income annuity than another investment paying only interest income. Once payments begin, no withdrawals or surrenders are allowed. Income annuities can be fixed or variable.
When the assets in a tax-deferred annuity are converted into a guaranteed lifetime income, also referred to as "annuitized," an annuity contract becomes a payout annuity. Variable annuity values will fluctuate and you may have a gain or loss when money is withdrawn. Amounts withdrawn prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% IRS penalty in addition to income tax.
Fidelity.com offers extensive information about annuities. Access this material at Products > Annuities.
Also known as the right to return contract period, the free look period enables you to return your contract for a refund within 10 days (or longer where required by applicable state insurance law) after you receive the contract. When replacing an existing insurance product with the contract, the free look period is extended to 20 days (or longer where required by applicable state insurance law).
No, all money is held in the VIP Money Market Portfolio during the free look period. (New York residents' money may be allocated to the variable annuity funds during the free look period). After the free look period, the contract value in the VIP Money Market Portfolio is transferred to the investment options you chose on your application.
No. You must either send a check ($250 minimum), or transfer assets from your Fidelity Account® or Fidelity mutual fund to your annuity, either by phone (800-544-4702) or by mail. You can also add to your annuity regularly with the Fidelity Automatic Account Builder® service. You can download the Annuity Account form [[xref]], then complete and return it to Fidelity.
The minimum amount you can allocate to an investment option is 10%. When you exchange to more than one investment option by percentage, the total must equal 100%. When you exchange to more than one investment option by dollars, the exchange-to total must equal the exchange-from quantity. Investments in VIP sector funds which are transferred or withdrawn in less than 60 days are assessed a 1% fee, which is retained by the fund.
You can place annuity exchange orders via Fidelity.com and phone for up to 18 days per calendar year. However, there is no limit to the number of days on which you can place exchanges when you do so by mail. As a courtesy, Fidelity sends a letter after you have placed orders during nine days in a calendar year.
No. You can view your fixed income account with the other annuities and accounts in your portfolio. However, you can't exchange or reallocate in a fixed income account.
You can't make exchanges during the free look period, or if you are an annuity administrator or assignee (as opposed to an annuity owner, joint owner, trustee, custodian, or someone with limited or full power of attorney for the annuity). If you're participating in a special annuity program (e.g., Systematic Withdrawal), on days on which automatically generated special program transactions occur, you may not be able to place an exchange order using Fidelity.com.
Annuity exchange orders received by Fidelity during business hours will be processed after and are effective as of the market close for the current business day. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, excluding weekends and holidays.
If the market closes early due to market volatility, exchange orders will continue to be accepted. If the market reopens before the regular closing time, the orders will be effective as of the current business day. If the market does not reopen and remains closed for the day, the order will be effective as of the next business day.
Your exchange will not be executed if you leave the Verification page before you click Place Order, or if you click Void.
When you make an exchange online, you always see a Verification page. Review the Verification page carefully before placing your exchange. Once you place your exchange, you see a Confirmation page displaying your confirmation number and exchange details. You can print this confirmation for your records. Once the order has been executed, Fidelity mails you a paper confirmation.
You can view pending exchanges on the Orders page for the annuity account. To cancel or modify (cancel and replace) an order, call an annuity representative before market close (usually 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday). Annuity representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, at 800-634-9361.
Attempts to cancel or modify (cancel and replace) orders are performed on a best efforts basis. There is no guarantee that an open order can be canceled or canceled and replaced, in whole or in part.
Annuity fund exchanges are tax-free.