Re: Annuities...are they a crap shoot?

"Douglas Johnson" <post@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote
> The fact remains that the purchaser is paying for it, 
> directly or indirectly.
> What you are saying is that annuities bury the cost deeper 
> in the fine print
> than mutual funds.
>
> Almost any (all that I know of) investment products that 
> are sold by a
> commissioned sales force are high cost products.  Someone 
> is paying for those
> fancy suits and ****ny shoes.  Guess who.


But is it fair to call an annuity just an investment 
product? Or is it more of an insurance product? The 
insurance provided being (in general) predictable income for 
the rest of one's life.

I draw the distinction because one could make the same 
argument about, say, life insurance. Life insurance could be 
said to be high cost, with a potentially low bang for one's 
buck, too, if one forgets that the main product being 
purchased is peace of mind.

I do protest fine print and preying on the less educated 
with such products. But for some, annuities are a good 
choice.

Elle
Disclaimer: I am an individual investor in and owner of 
stocks, bonds, CDs etc. (but no annuities) of over two 
decades. I own some insurance company stock but otherwise do 
not sell annuities. I urge caution in the purchase of 
annuities in particular. 

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