Annuity Guides: How-To Articles for Buyers and Owners

Step-by-step walkthroughs for the moves you actually have to make – shopping for a new annuity, executing a 1035 exchange, reading the 60-page contract you just got in the mail, taking required minimum distributions, and getting out cleanly when an annuity no longer fits. Every guide on this page is built around a real decision point with the math, paperwork, and timing spelled out.

Buying Your First Annuity

• How to Buy an Annuity Without Getting Ripped Off (2026 Guide) – the canonical buying walkthrough, covering shopping, comparing, and the exact questions to ask an agent
• How to Compare Annuities: A Step-by-Step Guide – the apples-to-apples framework for comparing two contracts
• When Is the Best Time to Buy an Annuity? – rate environment, age, and life-stage triggers
• Reasons to Buy an Annuity: 8 Situations Where It Makes Sense
• Why Do People Say to Avoid Annuities? The Honest Answer
• How to Read an Annuity Contract: The 5 Pages That Matter

Income, Annuitization & Payout Decisions

• How to Annuitize: Converting Your Annuity to Guaranteed Income
• Annuity Payout Options: Which Income Option Is Right for You?
• Joint vs Single Life Annuity Payouts
• What Is an Income Rider (GLWB)? How Annuity Income Riders Work

1035 Exchanges & Replacements

• How to Do a 1035 Exchange: Step-by-Step Guide (2026) – the IRS-compliant way to swap annuities tax-free
• Annuity Surrender Charges Explained: How to Avoid Them
• Market Value Adjustment (MVA) on Annuities Explained
• How to Get Out of an Annuity: Your Options and What They Cost

Rollovers Into Annuities

• How to Roll Over a 401(k) to an Annuity: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
• Can You Roll a 403(b) Into an Annuity? How It Works
• Should You Put an Annuity in an IRA? Pros, Cons, and When It Makes Sense
• Can You Put an Annuity in a Roth IRA? (What Advisors Won’t Tell You)

Strategy: Laddering, Floor & Income Planning

• Annuity Laddering Strategy: How It Works and When to Use It
• Annuity Income Floor Strategy: Building a Guaranteed Retirement Income Base
• Best Annuities for Retirement in 2026

Already Own an Annuity? RMDs, Tax Forms & Beneficiaries

• Annuity RMD Rules: Required Minimum Distributions Guide
• How to Read Your Annuity 1099-R Form: What Every Box Means
• Annuity Beneficiary Rules: Who Gets Your Annuity When You Die
• Annuity Withdrawal Rules: When and How to Access Your Money
• What Is the Free-Look Period?
• Using an Annuity to Protect an Inheritance

Tax Guides

• How Are Annuities Taxed? The Complete 2026 Guide
• Qualified vs Non-Qualified Annuity: Key Tax Differences
• Annuity Exclusion Ratio: How Annuity Payments Are Taxed
• State Annuity Premium Tax: Which States Charge It
• How to Avoid Taxes on Annuity Income (Legally)
• Is Annuity Income Considered Earned Income?

Need help on the product side first? Start with our complete guide to annuities for product types, comparisons, and features. Looking at current rates instead? Browse the best MYGA rates of 2026 or our annuity carrier reviews.