There are two common myths concerning these investments. The first is that consumers have little access to their annuity money during their maturity term. The second is that the insurance company keeps your money at your passing. These myths are simply not true. The facts are these: unless you choose to annuitize your contract, you have access to your funds just like you would a C.D. and your beneficiaries receive your account value at your passing.

These investment accounts are all around you. Many state retirement plans like Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System use these accounts for their employees. In fact, every year billions of dollars from individuals and employers alike flow into these investment vehicles for many of the above-mentioned reasons.