How Do Annuities Work In Canada?
An annuity is a contract with a life insurance company. You deposit a lump sum of money, and they agree to pay you a guaranteed income for a set period of time — or for the rest of your life. Annuities are most commonly used to generate retirement income.
Annuity Basics
You can buy an annuity with money from a RRSP, a RRIF or a non-registered account.
The money is returned to you, with interest, in regular payments. You can choose to receive payments for a set number of years or for the rest of your life. You can receive monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments.
How annuity payments work
Your annuity income is calculated when you buy the annuity. It is affected by a number of factors — the most important are interest rates and how long you’re expected to live.
Once you buy an annuity, you can’t make any changes to it. Your regular payment amounts are locked in, and you can’t change them for any reason.
If you’re over age 65 and do not have a company pension plan, you may be able to claim the pension income tax credit. This means you won’t be taxed on the first $2,000 of annuity income each year.
2 types of annuities
1. Term-certain annuity
A term-certain annuity gives you a guaranteed regular income for a set number of years (the term). Term-certain annuities bought with money from an RRSP or RRIF must extend to age 90. If you die before the end of the term, your payments will continue to go to your estate.
2. Life annuity
A life annuity gives you a guaranteed regular income for life. Payments usually stop when you die, and no money will go to your estate. You may choose to add an option that allows your spouse, beneficiary or estate to continue to receive your payments after your death.
GUARANTEED MINIMUM WITHDRAWAL BENEFIT (GMWB)PRODUCTS
GMWB products are a type of annuity that provides guaranteed retirement income that can increase with investment gains in your portfolio and with certain bonus features.
3 ways to buy an annuity
- In person from a licensed insurance agent or broker
- Online or by phone from a broker or insurance company
- A financial advisor who is licensed to sell insurance
Some investment firms may also have a licensed broker on staff who can sell annuities.
COMPARE ANNUITY RATES
Once you buy an annuity, your regular payments are locked in. You can’t change them for any reason. It’s worth shopping around to compare annuity rates.
How your annuity is protected
If your annuity provider goes out of business, your annuity is insured up to certain limits. The first $2,000 per month of your annuity income is insured at 100%. Amounts above this are insured at 85% if the firm is a member of Assuris.
The insurance that covers your annuity is automatic. You don’t have to do anything, and you don’t have to pay anything extra to get it.
KEY POINTS
You can choose to receive annuity income for life, or for a set number of years.
Once you buy an annuity, you can’t get your savings out and you can’t make any changes to it. Your regular payments are locked in.
If think an annuity is right for you or you want to compare annuity rates in Canada, please contact us.