Watty56 writes,

Generally any annuity other than a low cost single premium immediate annuity (which is like buying a pension) are poor to terrible choices because of all the restrictions and fees and commissions that the insurance companies load these with. In addition a major factor in determining how much an annuity pays is the current interest rates. Just like the low rate make it a generally favorable time to get a mortgage; it also makes it a generally unfavorable time to lock your money in an annuity.

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Even a "low-cost" single premium annuity is a bad deal for most people. For someone of average mortality, about 30% of the purchase price of the annuity is lost to the insurance company's various fees and costs.

http://www.retireearlyhomepage.com/annuity_costs.html

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