Which annuity feature makes it a suitable source of retirement income for an individual?

Annuities are considered a suitable source of retirement income primarily because they can provideguaranteed income for life, which the annuitant cannot outlive. Pennsylvania Life and Health Insurance study materials emphasize that this lifetime income feature directly addresses longevity risk, one of the greatest concerns during retirement. When an annuity is annuitized, the insurer assumes the risk of the annuitant living longer than expected, ensuring continuous payments for life if a life annuity option is selected.

While annuities do pay out principal and interest and grow on a tax-deferred basis, these features alone do not uniquely qualify them as retirement income solutions. Tax deferral is also available in other retirement vehicles, and principal plus interest payments can be found in many financial products. Deferred annuities do not necessarily provide lump-sum payments at retirement, as they are designed primarily for income distribution rather than liquidation. Therefore, the defining retirement advantage under Pennsylvania insurance standards is the guarantee that income will not be exhausted during the annuitant’s lifetime.