By a financial services industry contributor.

A fixed annuity can sound like the perfect solution for a volatile market. It offers a predictable, guaranteed interest rate and a stable income stream for retirement. This promise of safety has made them incredibly popular. In 2023 alone, sales of fixed indexed annuities, a related product, reached $95.6 billion, a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the research organization LIMRA.

This surge in interest is understandable. People want to protect their principal and create a reliable source of funds for their later years. However, the “guarantee” in an annuity is not without its own set of trade-offs. The security you gain on one side can introduce limitations on another. Understanding the complete picture of fixed annuity risks is essential before you commit funds, as some of these products involve long-term contracts that can be expensive to exit. The most common issues arise not from product failure, but from a mismatch between the product’s structure and the buyer’s financial needs.

Quick answer: The primary risks of a fixed annuity are not that you will lose your principal, but that your money will be inaccessible without penalty for years (liquidity risk), that your fixed return will not keep pace with inflation (purchasing power risk), and that you will miss out on better market returns (opportunity cost). The safety of your funds also depends entirely on the financial strength of the insurance company that issues the contract.

What’s inside

•       How Does Inflation Erode a ‘Guaranteed’ Return?
•       How Can You Verify an Insurer’s Financial Stability?
•       What Key Questions Should You Ask Before Signing a Contract?
•       Frequently Asked Questions About Annuity Risks
•       The Bottom Line: Balancing Guarantees with Due Diligence

How Does Inflation Erode a ‘Guaranteed’ Return?

A fixed annuity’s rate can fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living, causing your money to lose real purchasing power over time.

This is the most subtle but significant risk for any long-term, fixed-income product. A guaranteed interest rate of 4% feels secure, but its true value depends entirely on the rate of inflation. If the cost of goods and services increases by 5% in a year, your 4% return means you have actually lost 1% of your purchasing power. Your account balance grows, but it buys you less than it did the year before. This is particularly critical for retirees on a fixed income, as healthcare and housing costs often rise faster than the general inflation rate.

The second major risk is illiquidity, which is enforced by surrender charges. Most fixed annuities have a surrender period, a set number of years during which you cannot withdraw more than a specified amount without paying a steep penalty. This period often lasts from five to ten years. The penalty, or surrender charge, is a percentage of the amount withdrawn and typically declines each year until it reaches zero. For example, a 7-year surrender schedule might start with a 7% penalty in year one, 6% in year two, and so on. These charges exist so the insurance company can recoup its costs, including the commission paid to the agent who sold you the contract.

❝ Before signing any contract, find the “Schedule of Surrender Charges” table. This is non-negotiable information. Ask the agent to confirm the exact penalty percentage for each year of the surrender period. If you anticipate needing access to a large portion of your principal for any reason, a product with a long surrender period may be an inappropriate fit.

Finally, there is the opportunity cost. By locking your money into a fixed rate, you give up the potential for higher returns from other investments, like stocks or mutual funds. While an annuity protects your principal from market downturns, it also shields you from market upswings. This trade-off between safety and growth is a core financial decision. When you consider that fixed indexed annuity sales alone were $95.6 billion in 2023, as reported by LIMRA, it’s clear that many people are choosing safety. The key is to ensure you are making that choice with a full understanding of the potential gains you are leaving on the table.

How Can You Verify an Insurer’s Financial Stability?

You can verify an insurer’s stability by checking its financial strength ratings from independent agencies and understanding the role of state guaranty associations.

An annuity is a contract, not a bank account. Its “guarantee” is backed solely by the financial health of the insurance company that issues it. This means the most important due diligence you can perform is on the insurer itself. Your primary tool for this is the set of financial strength ratings published by independent credit rating agencies. These firms analyze an insurer’s balance sheet, investments, and ability to meet its long-term obligations to policyholders.

Look for ratings from at least two of the major agencies:

•       A.M. Best: Specializes in the insurance industry. Ratings range from A++ (Superior) down to D (Poor).
•       Standard & Poor’s (S&P): A broad credit rating agency. Insurer financial strength ratings range from AAA (Extremely Strong) to R (Regulatory Action).
•       Moody’s Investors Service: Another major credit agency. Its ratings for insurers go from Aaa (Exceptional) to C (Extremely Poor).

Most financial professionals recommend sticking with insurers that have high ratings, typically in the “A” range or better, from at least two of these agencies. An agent should be able to provide you with the insurer’s current ratings upon request.

❝ When you speak with an agent, ask a specific question: “Besides the A.M. Best rating, what are the insurer’s current S&P and Moody’s ratings, and have any of those ratings been downgraded in the past three years?” A downgrade can be an early warning sign, even if the current rating is still high. An agent’s hesitation or inability to answer this question is a red flag.

As a secondary layer of protection, every state has a guaranty association that acts as a safety net if an insurance company fails. These associations, funded by assessments on other member insurance companies, provide a certain level of coverage for policyholders of an insolvent insurer. However, these protections have limits that vary by state and by product. They should be considered a backstop, not a reason to choose a financially weak company. You can find resources to check an insurer’s license status and financial information through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which provides tools for consumers. Relying on the guaranty association is a worst-case scenario; selecting a highly-rated insurer from the start is the best practice.

What Key Questions Should You Ask Before Signing a Contract?

The most critical questions probe the contract’s fine print, focusing on surrender charges, agent commissions, how interest rates are calculated after the initial term, and the exact costs of any optional features.

An annuity contract is a complex legal document, and the sales brochure is not the contract. Before you commit funds, it is essential to get precise answers to several questions. Vague responses or redirection from an agent should be considered a major warning sign. Start with the agent’s compensation. While you may not pay a direct fee, the agent is paid a commission by the insurance company. This commission is often a percentage of your initial premium and is a key reason for the existence of surrender charges. A longer surrender period typically allows the insurer to recoup a larger commission.

Next, clarify the interest rate mechanics. For a Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA), the rate is typically locked in for the entire surrender period. But for other fixed annuities, the initial attractive rate may only be guaranteed for the first year. You must ask what happens after that. What is the guaranteed minimum interest rate for the life of the contract? How are renewal rates determined? Is there a cap on how high the rate can go or a floor on how low it can fall? The answers to these questions determine the long-term performance of your investment.

Finally, inquire about any optional add-ons, known as riders. These can provide valuable benefits, such as a guaranteed lifetime income stream or an enhanced death benefit. However, they are not free. Riders come with annual fees, usually expressed as a percentage of the account value, which directly reduce your net return. You need to understand the exact cost and decide if the benefit is worth the price.

❝ One of the most revealing questions you can ask an agent is: “Can you show me the renewal rate history for this specific annuity for contracts that came out of their initial guarantee period three to five years ago?” While past performance is not a guarantee of future results, an insurer’s history of offering fair renewal rates is a strong indicator of how they treat their existing policyholders.

Your goal is to uncover the total cost of ownership and all potential limitations. This includes surrender penalties, rider fees, and the opportunity cost of having your money locked in. A reputable professional will be able to provide clear, documented answers to these questions directly from the contract illustration and disclosure documents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Annuity Risks

What does Warren Buffett say about fixed annuities? Warren Buffett has criticized high-cost, complex annuities sold by aggressive agents. However, he has also acknowledged that a low-cost, straightforward annuity can be a sensible choice for individuals who need a guaranteed stream of income and lack financial sophistication. His primary critique centers on the high fees and restrictive terms that often erode the value proposition for the buyer, contrasting them with low-cost index funds for wealth accumulation.

What does Dave Ramsey say about fixed annuities? Dave Ramsey generally advises against all types of annuities, including fixed ones. His position is that the returns are too low, the fees are too high, and the surrender charges create an unacceptable lack of liquidity. He argues that you can achieve better long-term results and maintain control over your money by investing in a diversified portfolio of growth stock mutual funds.

What does Suze Orman say about fixed annuities? Suze Orman’s view is more nuanced; she is not categorically against them but is highly selective. She has recommended certain types, particularly immediate or deferred income annuities, for creating a pension-like income floor to cover essential living expenses in retirement. Her approval is conditional on the product being low-cost, simple to understand, and from a top-rated insurance company.

Has a fixed annuity ever failed? Yes, insurance companies can and have failed, though it is rare among highly-rated carriers. When an insurer becomes insolvent, the state guaranty association steps in to provide protection to policyholders up to certain limits, which vary by state. This is why relying on the guaranty association is a last resort; your primary defense is to select an insurer with consistently high financial strength ratings from agencies like A.M. Best and S&P from the outset.

Are the commissions paid on a fixed annuity tax-deductible? No, you cannot deduct the commission. The commission is not a fee you pay directly but is paid by the insurance company to the agent from its profits. This cost is indirectly factored into the annuity’s terms, such as the interest rate offered and the length and severity of the surrender charge schedule.

The Bottom Line: Balancing Guarantees with Due Diligence

A fixed annuity offers a straightforward promise: protection of your principal and a predictable return. Yet, the most significant risks are not found in market charts but within the contract’s fine print. The primary challenges are not about losing your investment to volatility, but about losing access to it through surrender charges, forgoing potential growth available elsewhere, and ensuring the company making the guarantee is financially sound for decades to come. These factors, not just the advertised interest rate, define the true nature of the commitment you are making.

Your most effective tool for managing these risks is diligent questioning. Vetting the insurer’s financial strength ratings from multiple independent agencies is non-negotiable. It is the foundation upon which all other guarantees are built. Beyond that, a thorough review of the contract’s surrender schedule, renewal rate history, and the costs of any optional riders is essential. A product’s suitability is ultimately determined by its alignment with your specific financial timeline and liquidity needs.

Ultimately, a fixed annuity should solve a specific problem, such as creating a reliable income floor in retirement. It is a long-term commitment that trades flexibility for certainty. By approaching the decision with a critical eye and demanding complete transparency from any professional you work with, you can ensure that the security you are buying today does not become a restriction you regret tomorrow.

About the author

This article was contributed by the team at Annuity Advantage. As an independent agency, the firm provides educational resources and comparison tools for fixed, fixed-indexed, and immediate annuities. It focuses on helping individuals research and understand how different annuity products can fit into a retirement income strategy. The company’s online platform offers information and comparison data on products from a variety of insurance carriers to assist with financial planning for retirement.