Key Takeaways
- An indexed annuity provides a rate of return based on the performance of a market index like the S&P 500.
- Indexed annuities guarantee a minimum interest rate and you don’t lose money even if the market underperforms.
- The issuing insurance company can cap your gains to protect itself from losses.
What Is an Indexed Annuity?
An indexed annuity is a financial product whose terms are defined by a contract between you and an insurance company. It features characteristics of both fixed annuities and variable annuities. Indexed annuities are also referred to as index annuities, fixed-index annuities or equity-indexed annuities.
Indexed annuities offer a minimum guaranteed interest rate combined with a rate tied to a broad stock market index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
This unique hybrid design offers protection against stock market losses, as well as the potential to profit from the market’s gains.
If you are thinking about buying an indexed annuity, make sure you understand how growth is credited to your account. You may have a minimum guaranteed return, but your upside will be capped as well.
Brandon Renfro, Ph.D., CFP®, RICP®, EACo-Owner of Belonging Wealth Management
As a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Retired Income Certified Professional®, Brandon Renfro is well-versed in the financial information and strategies needed to meet retirement goals. In addition to co-owning Belonging Wealth Management and assisting clients, Brandon writes regularly for financial publications.
How Does an Indexed Annuity Work?
Indexed annuities work by crediting interest based on the performance of an underlying index. The interest that indexed annuities earn is usually credited at the end of the annuity’s term, which typically ranges from three to 15 years.
You can customize your annuity contract by selecting the index on which to base your annuity’s interest. The most common index options include the S&P 500, the Nasdaq 100 and the Russell 2000.
Calculating Interest on an Indexed Annuity
Different providers calculate interest on an indexed annuity in a variety of ways. According to the Institute of Business & Finance, there are three main methods of calculating indexed annuity interest.
Indexing Methods for Annuities
- Annual reset (ratchet)
- High-water mark
- Point-to-point
As the name suggests, in an annual reset, or ratchet, contract, interest is credited once per year. The interest is calculated by comparing the change in the index from the start of the year to the end of the year, but only in years when the index has a gain.
With both the high-water mark method and the point-to-point method, interest is credited at the end of the contract term. However, gains are determined differently with each method.
In a high-water mark contract, gains are determined by subtracting the beginning index value from its highest anniversary date value over the entire term. In a point-to-point contract, gains are determined by subtracting the beginning index value from the ending index value.
Using Index Averaging in Interest Calculations
In addition to understanding indexing methods, it is also important to know how insurers use index averaging in interest calculations. According to the Institute of Business & Finance, over 75% of indexed annuities include an averaging feature.
Averaging can be used in different ways depending on the structure of the contract. In a point-to-point contract, for example, the insurer might use the average of the last year of the contract to compare to the beginning contract value.
Averaging generally means that indexed annuity customers will never receive interest based on the highest point of the index value, but also that they will never be credited interest based on the lowest point of the term.
Did You KNow?
Three in 4 indexed annuities include an averaging feature.
Indexed Annuity Yields
Besides indexing methods, there are other contract provisions that go into calculating the interest on your indexed annuity. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the computation may typically involve three factors.
- Participation Rate
- This is the percentage of the gain in the stock index you will receive on your annuity. For example, if the participation rate is 80% and the index gains 10%, the annuity would be credited with 80% of the 10% gain, or 8%.
- Spread/Margin/Asset Fee
- Some indexed annuities use this in place of or in addition to a participation rate. This is a percentage that is subtracted from any gain in the index. If the fee is 3% and the index gains 10%, then the annuity would gain 7%.
- Interest Rate Caps
- Some indexed annuities put an upper limit on your return. So if the index gained 10% and your cap was 7%, then your gain would be 7%.
Factors That Can Impact Index Rate
Guaranteed Minimum Return
Indexed annuities guarantee a minimum return that’s credited at the end of the contract’s surrender period. This means that when you buy an indexed annuity, you’re guaranteed to receive at least a certain amount of return on your investment.
The most common guaranteed minimum return for an indexed annuity is 3% of 90% of the amount invested, according to the Institute of Business & Finance.
If your index performs consistently well, you have the potential to earn a higher return than traditional fixed annuities.
On the other hand, if the stock index underperforms, your payments will not fall below a preordained level.
The guaranteed minimum return helps make indexed annuities a more reliable source of income. Many people use indexed annuities to set up an income stream that allows them to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.
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Indexed Annuities in 2024
In 2024, demand for indexed annuities may wane, according to analysis from insurance industry group LIMRA. LIMRA forecasts a decline in interest rates and crediting rates that may make the returns on these products less competitive.
Because insurers allocate indexed annuity premiums towards low-risk investments like Treasury bonds, the interest rates on these investments have a strong influence on an indexed annuity’s credited returns. Treasury bond rates have skyrocketed over the past few years, with the rate on a 10-year bond jumping from 0.70% in 2020 to 4.88% in 2023. This means that insurers were able to offer better yields for indexed annuities, boosting the product’s popularity.
After the last few years of rising interest rates, many experts predict that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in 2024 and 2025. This could make indexed annuities less attractive than more aggressive investment options.
LIMRA does expect indexed annuity sales to remain strong in 2024 and 2025 despite cooling interest rate environments. The organization predicts that indexed annuity sales could total as high as $100 billion in 2025.
What Are the Fees and Commissions Associated With Indexed Annuities?
Like any other type of annuity, indexed annuities come with fees that must be paid on top of the initial premium. The more complex an annuity is, the more expensive the fees tend to be.
The most common fee associated with indexed annuities is the administration fee or annual fee. This is a fixed percentage subtracted from any index increase before it’s credited to the account. The administration fee does not affect the minimum guaranteed rate of the contract.
Some indexed annuities also charge a spread fee, also known as a margin fee or asset fee, to control how much of the index’s returns are credited to the annuity. The spread fee is subtracted from the gains that the index earns.
Spread Fee Example
A 4% spread fee might reduce a 12% index gain to just 8% growth credited to the annuity’s value.
Because indexed annuities are not as simple as fixed annuities or income annuities, they tend to have higher commissions. The commission on an indexed annuity can range from 6% to 8%, compared to the 1% to 3% commission you can expect for a fixed annuity. However, the commissions are typically baked into the cost of the annuity contract.
Who Should Get an Indexed Annuity?
Indexed annuities are best suited for investors who don’t need the money right away. According to licensed financial advisor Chip Stapleton, indexed annuities are most beneficial for investors with 10 to 15 years before they’ll need income because they’ll have time to weather any downturns that might reduce the annuity’s return.
Most indexed annuities have some downside protection, said Stapleton, who is a FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 license holder and CFA Level II candidate.
“It might even be a floor of zero, so you’re never going to lose money,” Stapleton told Annuity.org. “But then your upside is also capped there too, so if you want to limit your bad, you also have to limit your good.”
Case Study: When an Indexed Annuity Is a Good Fit
The hypothetical case study below provides an example of how someone about to retire can benefit from the features of an indexed annuity. It is not intended as financial advice.
Name: Hallie
Age: 65
Looking to Invest: $100,000
- Hallie is looking for a way to generate guaranteed income to supplement her Social Security checks.
- She has considered purchasing bonds, but with low interest rates, a large bond investment won’t keep pace with inflation.
Best Option: Indexed Annuity
Indexed annuities offer a low-risk way to generate predictable income.
Client Profile: Hallie, 65, is nearing retirement and is looking for a way to generate guaranteed income to supplement her Social Security checks.
Background: She wants to add some flexibility to the conservative part of her portfolio. She considered purchasing bonds, but she’s worried a large bond investment won’t keep pace with inflation.
Conclusion: An indexed annuity is a good fit for someone like Hallie because these annuities offer a low-risk way to generate predictable income. She’s guaranteed not to lose money, so it’s a lower-risk investment compared to a variable annuity that would expose her to downturns in the stock market.
Indexed Annuity Pros and Cons
Like any investment, indexed annuities have their benefits and costs. Since they are essentially a hybrid of fixed and variable annuities, they carry a mixture of pros and cons. They have the potential for higher returns without the risk of losing your money. Because these annuities are complicated, they can be difficult to understand.
Pros & Cons of Indexed Annuities
Pros
- Tax-deferred growth
- When your index performs well, your contract value increases
- Principal protection from market downturns
- Minimum guaranteed rate
- May hedge against inflation
- Rates may be better than CDs
Cons
- Gains are capped
- Steep surrender charges
- Spread fees may reduce market gains
- Contracts can be complex
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Frequently Asked Questions About Indexed Annuities
How does an indexed annuity respond to the stock market?
Indexed annuities are not securities and do not earn interest based on specific investments. Rather, indexed annuity rates fluctuate in relation to a specific index, such as the S&P 500. In contrast to variable annuities, indexed annuities are guaranteed not to lose money.
Can you lose money in an indexed annuity?
Indexed annuities guarantee that you won’t lose money. If the index is positive, then you are credited a certain amount of interest based on your participation rate. If the market tanks, you’ll receive a fixed rate of return — or no loss of your original principal instead.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an indexed annuity?
The advantages of indexed annuities include the potential to earn more interest and the premium protection they offer. The disadvantages include complex contracts and caps on gains.
How does an indexed annuity add balance to a retirement portfolio?
A balanced retirement portfolio requires a mix of assets with varying degrees of risk. Because indexed annuities are inherently balanced — having features of both fixed and variable annuities — these products can be included in a portfolio without skewing asset allocation.
Are indexed annuities safe?
Indexed annuities are not as safe as fixed annuities, but they are safer than variable annuities. The guaranteed minimum return ensures that an indexed annuity’s value won’t fall below the amount specified in the contract.
