We created this website to help potential annuity buyers understand what an annuity is, how it can be used, the pros and cons of annuities, and who should or should not purchase one.
We give you a 30,000-foot overview of annuities, and we go into more detail on the categories that matter most when you're actually deciding whether one fits:
My name is Paul Stocker, and I'm hoping that my years of experience can translate annuity terms and terminology into understandable facts that help you determine if an annuity is right for you.
We're here to answer any questions you might have, and we even compare your current illustrations to what we know are the best in the industry, if you choose to do so.
Paul previously held five professional designations. He no longer practices under them — but the training and knowledge behind them still shape how he reads an annuity.
A former Certified Public Accountant's perspective on the decisions that move dollars in retirement.
Most annuity producers were never accountants. Paul was a CPA — and while he no longer holds the active credential, the training behind it doesn't expire. The tax-side questions that quietly drive retirement outcomes get the attention they deserve — not as an afterthought, but as part of how the recommendation is built.
Annuity Academy doesn't file tax returns, and Paul no longer practices as a CPA. His background as a former CPA informs the planning conversation — for actual tax preparation, we'll point you to a return preparer.
Send it over and we'll compare it side-by-side against what we know are the best in the industry — plus a former CPA's read on the tax implications. No obligation.
The landscape includes single premium immediate annuities, lifetime annuities, period certain annuities, fixed annuities, deferred annuities, flexible premium annuities, multi-year guaranteed annuities, indexed annuities, equity index annuities, ratchet annuities, and hybrid income annuities.
Most of the marketplace is concentrated in three categories. The primary emphasis on this site is the third — deferred income annuities — because that's where the majority of buyers actually land, and where most retirement-planning conversations end up.
SPIAs are funded with a single lump-sum payment and typically begin paying out within 30 days to one year, making regular monthly payments to the annuitant either for lifetime or for a set period.
SPIAs work best in a high-interest marketplace, so they probably aren't the best choice for a 2026 investment.
Variable annuities allocate premium dollars into different investments or sub-accounts. The value rises and falls with market conditions and the performance of the underlying investments.
They work best when the stock market is at a low point and future increases are probable — a 2009-style entry, paired with a Guaranteed Lifetime Income Benefit, would have performed very well. The downside: variable annuities are subject to market fluctuation just like stocks. So why pay higher fees to take the same risk you'd take by staying in stocks directly?
With an average annuity purchase price of $156,000, more than 2 million people purchased a deferred fixed or deferred indexed annuity in 2024. This is where our focus is concentrated, because these products are best suited for the majority of the population.
The stock market is the best investment vehicle over a long period of time. It will give you the best returns. If you're under 50, you should be in stocks — not annuities. This is called the accumulation stage of retirement.
Once you get within ten years of retirement, your thinking needs to shift. You have to start thinking about the distribution stage. This is where certified financial planners and stock brokers differ from retirement planning professionals.
Up until retirement, the accumulation phase is all about how much money do I have? Once you start retirement — and the planning that leads up to it — the distribution phase is about how much income can my money produce?
“How much money do I have?”
Stocks, index funds, 401(k), Roth
“How much income can my money produce?”
Annuities, bond ladders, withdrawal strategies, Social Security timing
On this site you'll see examples of how the Sequence of Returns can leave you with very little income in your golden years — even if you've accumulated a good sum of wealth.
Annuity Academy is not owned by any insurance carrier. Content is written based on publicly available contract data, AM Best ratings, and direct product analysis.
We never recommend a product because it pays a higher commission. When carriers are compared, we disclose the criteria and let you draw your own conclusions.
If an annuity isn't the right tool for your situation, we'll tell you. The job is to help you make a good decision — even if that decision is to do nothing.
Annuity rates and product features change. Content is reviewed and updated so what you're reading reflects what's actually available today.
Send a note and we'll get back to you. No pressure, no pitch.