Visit Financial Professionals site Log In Help Center Home Products Education About Us Home / Products / Annuities An annuity can help you protect or grow your retirement savings, giving you confidence that you'll have the income you need to do more of what you love in retirement. What are annuities? Annuities are a type of financial product with many different options and features. Generally, annuities can help you save for retirement, offer protection against market downturns, and provide you with a steady stream of guaranteed income payments. An annuity is a contract with an insurance company and can only be purchased through a financial professional. What are the types of annuities? Finding the right annuity for your financial goals starts by understanding the four main types, each of which has specific characteristics and offers some protection, either for the investments or even the income being paid, that can vary by the insurance company offering them: Income annuities provide an immediate or future guaranteed stream of income payments. Fixed annuities provide growth at a guaranteed interest rate with no risk of market loss. Index-linked annuities allow you to select and participate in growth opportunities by tracking the performance of a market index like the S&P 500®,2 up to a certain percentage or cap rate, while offering a level of protection for a portion of your portfolio. Variable annuities provide investment options you may choose from to potentially grow your retirement savings, depending on market performance. It may also offer other features (typically, for an additional fee) that can provide living benefits like guaranteed income for life. Learn More About Annuities Your Guide to Guaranteed Income 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Annuities Why should I consider an annuity? Annuities can help address common concerns that today’s retirees face, such as: Living longer - “Will I run out of money?” Some annuities may provide guaranteed income payments that you can’t outlive. Unpredictable markets - “What will happen to my savings if there’s volatility?” Certain types of annuities can offer an element of protection for a portion of your portfolio. Changes to traditional retirement income planning - “Without a pension, how else can I create a steady stream of income?” Some annuities can supplement other income sources such as Social Security to help cover everyday expenses in retirement. Rising healthcare expenses - “Do I have enough to cover the cost of care for myself and my family in retirement? While your specific healthcare costs may be unpredictable, certain annuities can provide monthly income payments that may help with expenses not otherwise covered by insurance and Medicare. Did You Know? Other than Social Security and pensions, annuities are one of the only types of financial products that can provide guaranteed lifetime income payments. Retirees who have an annuity feel more confident about their retirement than those who don’t.1 Will You Have Enough Income in Retirement? Try the Annuity Income Calculator BHFSM Offers Brighthouse Financial offers a variety of annuities, two of which are: INDEX-LINKED Shield® Level Annuities Shield annuities provide the opportunity to participate in market growth opportunities by tracking the performance, up to a Cap or Step Rate, of one or more market indices you choose while offering a level of downside protection – all with no annual fees. Learn about Shield Annuities VARIABLE ANNUITY Variable Annuities with FlexChoice Access A Brighthouse Financial variable annuity with the optional FlexChoice Access living benefit rider lets you turn a portion of retirement savings into guaranteed income that lasts for life – with withdrawal rate options up to 6% and benefits for married couples. Learn about FlexChoice Access How to Buy a Brighthouse Financial Annuity Our annuity products can only be purchased through a financial professional. Some questions that can help you begin a conversation with your financial professionals are:3 Do I have a diverse balance of income sources that’s right for the retirement I want? Will my essential expenses be covered with my current income sources, or could there be a gap I need to address? If an annuity is recommended for me, which type would complement my portfolio? Don’t have a financial professional? Access our resources on working with a financial professional Brighthouse Financial® is on a mission to help people achieve financial security. Trusted by over 2 million customers and with 2.5 million annuity contracts and life insurance policies in force, Brighthouse Financial® is proud to be a FORTUNE® 500 company and one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S.4 See Our Story 1 Annuity Owners Recommend Annuities. Annuity.org, September 16, 2020. 2 The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by Brighthouse Financial. Standard & Poor’s®, S&P®, and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Brighthouse Financial. Brighthouse Financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates; and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s), nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500 Index. 3 This material is for general informational purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. It is not, and should not be regarded as, investment advice or as a recommendation regarding a course of action. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries did not consider any individual’s circumstances in preparing this information. Clients should seek advice from their tax, legal, and accounting advisors in addition to consulting with a financial professional. 4 From FORTUNE© 2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. FORTUNE and FORTUNE 500 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. FORTUNE and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Brighthouse Financial. Ranked by 2020 admitted assets. Best’s Review®: Top 200 U.S. Life/Health Insurers. A.M. Best, 2021. Need Help? Visit our Support Center About Us Investor Relations Newsroom Careers Supplier Program Connect with Us Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Accessibility Manage Your Preferences Unclaimed Policy Finder Privacy Statement Terms of Use For Victims of Domestic Violence Fraud Reporting © 2021 Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Brighthouse Financial® and its design are registered trademarks of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Brighthouse Financial is the brand name for Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, and New England Life Insurance Company. Annuities and life insurance are issued by, and product guarantees are solely the responsibility of, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Charlotte, NC 28277 and, in New York only, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, New York, NY 10017 (“Brighthouse Financial”). Variable products are distributed by Brighthouse Securities, LLC (member FINRA). All are Brighthouse Financial affiliated companies. In this material, the terms “advisor” and “financial advisor” are used as general references to licensed insurance professionals and are not intended to indicate whether the licensed insurance professional is a Registered Investment Advisor or is otherwise authorized under the law to provide financial advice.