Q&A

What are the rights of an annuity owner?

What are the rights of an annuity owner?

The owner controls the contract. The owner can add and withdraw money, change parties to the annuity, and terminate the contract. The annuitant is similar to the insured in a life insurance policy. Unless they are the contract owner, the annuitant has no say in or control of the annuity contract.

Who owns an annuity?

The owner of the annuity is the person who pays the initial premium to the insurance company and has the authority to make withdrawals, change the beneficiaries named in the contract and terminate the annuity. The annuitant is the person whose life determines the annuity payouts.

Can I change the owner of an annuity?

Contact your annuity company and let your account manager know you want to change the owner of your contract. The annuity company will send you a change of ownership form. Fill out the change of ownership form for your annuity.

How many Americans have an annuity?

84 percent of the respondents claim that receiving a monthly paycheck during retirement is important to them; yet only 14 percent of Americans have purchased an annuity.

How can I get out of an annuity?

There are several ways to get out of an annuity. If it is an IRA, you can roll it over, or transfer it. If it is not an IRA, you can use a 1035 exchange, or surrender it. If it is an income annuity, you have to find someone to buy you out.

Who is the owner of an annuity contract?

The owner is the person who buys an annuity. An annuitant is the individual whose life is used as the yardstick for determining when benefits payments will start and cease. In most cases, though not all, the owner and annuitant are the same person.

Can a nominal owner of an annuity be a natural person?

However, this special exception will not apply in the case of an employer who is the nominal owner of an annuity contract under a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for its employees. Immediate annuities are also excepted from the non-natural owner rule. Why is it important to know if the owner is a natural person?

Who is considered the owner of a deferred annuity?

But corporations, trusts, and other “non-natural persons” don’t die as human beings do, so Congress created IRC Section 72 (s) (6) (A), which states that when a deferred annuity is owned by a non-natural person, the primary annuitant will be deemed to be the owner.

What happens to the money in an annuity when the owner dies?

What happens to the money in an annuity after the owner dies depends on the type of annuity and its specific provisions. Some annuities stop payments when the owner dies, while others continue to pay out to a spouse or other beneficiary. The annuitant decides on the provisions at the time the contract is drawn.

Can a business be the owner of an annuity?

Annuities may be owned by either an adult or a legal entity, qualifying an individual, couple, partnership, trust or business to be the owner. The owner controls the investment and may give all or parts of the contract to individuals or entities. As such, small business owners may purchase their own annuity or an annuity for their business.

What happens to the money in an annuity after the owner dies depends on the type of annuity and its specific provisions. Some annuities stop payments when the owner dies, while others continue to pay out to a spouse or other beneficiary. The annuitant decides on the provisions at the time the contract is drawn.

Can a beneficiary of an annuity be a surviving spouse?

If an annuity contract has a death-benefit provision, the owner can designate a beneficiary to inherit the remaining annuity payments after death. Earnings on inherited annuities are taxable. How they’re taxed depends on the annuity’s payout structure and whether the beneficiary is the surviving spouse or someone other than the spouse.

Is there an exception to the non natural owner rule for annuities?

However, this special exception will not apply in the case of an employer who is the nominal owner of an annuity contract under a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for its employees. Immediate annuities are also excepted from the non-natural owner rule.