Annuity Mythology

This document discusses myths and realities surrounding annuities. It aims to dispel common misconceptions about annuities by providing factual information. Some myths addressed include that annuities are prohibitively expensive, their gains are taxed at higher rates than other investments, tax deferral is lost if an annuity is owned by a trust, and they are treated the same as other assets when inherited. The document explains that variable annuities can offer valuable benefits that justify their costs, their effective tax rates are often lower than assumed, tax deferral may be retained if the trust beneficiary is a person, and beneficiaries have tax deductions to alleviate double taxation upon inheritance.