ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Fixed And Fixed Indexed Annuities Are Complex
Insurance Policies Not Fund Investments
Do Not Be Rushed Into A Sale
Market volatility and market jitters are often talking points when life insurance agents propose the “safety” of fixed and fixed indexed annuities. Don’t buy it, because that is not the entire story. Fixed annuities promise a fixed rate of return and fixed indexed annuities promise a combination of the upside of market growth with the “safety” of a fixed rate of return should the market take a downturn. If the description sounds complex, it is. Some of these contracts run to 100 pages. Our lawyers recommend avoiding deferred annuities of any kind, including fixed and fixed indexed annuities, especially for seniors, because sales commissions are high, policies are complex, and tie up your money for many years. If you’re over 60 and live in Los Altos or elsewhere in Santa Clara County, San Francisco, or anywhere in California and have suffered a loss due to cancellation, replacement, full or partial surrender, or high fees on any type of annuity, call the annuity attorneys at Evans Law Firm, Inc. today at 415-441-8669 (or toll free at 1-888-50EVANS) for a free review of your policy. A list of major life insurance and annuity carriers in California appears below.
Surrender Penalties
Every deferred annuity, whether fixed or a fixed indexed hybrid, has a surrender period during which penalties (possibly 10% or more) will be imposed on any withdrawals over a certain minimum amount. These surrender periods can last many years and can put any policyholder, particularly a senior, in a bind if they need their money.
Commissions, Fees and Penalties Erode Returns
Even if you leave all your money in your contract, returns may never approach promised returns. Large upfront commissions and administrative fees will erode any real return. If the agent sells you an “income rider” guaranteeing (theoretically) a future rate of income, the annual fee for that rider will further erode your return. You may never live to recoup anywhere near the annual costs. Finally, keep in mind that annuities are not insured investments like bank accounts and the insurance carrier’s promise to pay benefits is only as good as the carrier’s financial ability to do so.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered loss on a fixed annuity or any other annuity in Loa Altos or elsewhere in Santa Clara County, San Francisco or California call Ingrid M. Evans and the other attorneys at Evans Law Firm at (415) 441-8669 (or toll free at 1-888-50EVANS) or by email at <ahref=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our attorneys have experience with complex financial contracts and large insurance companies.
Leading providers and distributors of life insurance and fixed, variable and fixed indexed deferred annuities in California are listed below. We are not in any way suggesting that any of these carriers or distributors has done anything wrong. Rather, the list is provided solely as a reference for our readers.
AIG/American General Life Insurance Company
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company
American General Life Insurance Company/AIG
American International Group, Inc. (AIG)
American National Life Insurance Company
Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Athene Annuity and Life Company
Athene USA
Aviva Life Insurance Company
AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company/AXA US
AXA Advisors, LLC
Brighthouse Financial, Inc./MetLife
EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company
Genworth Financial, Inc.
Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Genworth Life Insurance Company
Guggenheim Partners, LLC
Guggenheim Partners/Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company
Jackson National Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Life Insurance Company
Lincoln Benefit Life Company
Lincoln Financial Group
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Metlife/Metropolitan Life Insurance Company/Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
Minnesota Life Insurance Company
Nationwide Investor Services Corporation (NISC)
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Nationwide Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance Company
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company
Pacific Life & Annuity Company
Pacific Life Insurance Company
PacLife
Security Benefit Corporation
Security Benefit Group, Inc.
Security Benefit Life Insurance Company/Guggenheim Partners
Security Investors, LLC
Security of Denver Life Insurance Company/Voya
Transamerica Life Insurance Company
Voya Financial Advisors
Voya/Reliastar Life Insurance Company
World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.
