The majority of Canadians work hard to accumulate a retirement fund and many are averse to exposing savings to unnecessary market risk after they retire.

In today’s prolonged low interest rate environment, immediate annuities are often dismissed or overlooked as a viable vehicle for providing retirement income. Perhaps they shouldn’t be.

An annuity is an investment that provides a guaranteed income stream for a set period of time or for the lifetime of the annuitant. While annuities may not be for everyone, for those trying to find a way to guarantee income in retirement Immediate Annuities may be the answer.

3 Retirement Risks to Avoid

Outliving Your Savings
No one wants to outlive their retirement fund or leave their surviving spouse without resources. An immediate life annuity either on a single life or a joint life basis could be the answer for those looking to ensure that their monthly living expenses are taken care of for the rest of their lives.

If your retirement savings are in the form of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, you have the option of converting your RRSP into a RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) or purchasing an immediate life annuity. This must be done no later than age 71.

Market Risk and Volatility
While you are drawing income from your RRIF you remain invested for the undrawn balance. Seeking higher yields involves a measure of risk. A downturn in the market, such as what happened in 2008, could prove disastrous to a retirement plan. An immediate annuity is not subject to this market risk.

High Rates of Income Tax
Income received from GIC’s and bonds are fully taxable, likewise the income you receive from a registered source (i.e. RRIF’s, pension, or registered immediate annuities) is all taxable.

However, you can use your non-registered savings to purchase a prescribed immediate annuity which will be taxed at a much lower rate than traditional income producing investments.

There are a number of conditions to be met for an annuity to be prescribed, the main ones being:
• The owner of the annuity must be the annuitant;
• The owner is an individual, testamentary trust or spouse, alter ego or joint partner trust;
• The purchase of the annuity is made with non-registered funds.

Annuity income from a prescribed annuity is a blending of interest and return of capital. This results in less tax payable.

Changes are coming
Unfortunately, the advantage of prescribed annuities will be greatly reduced after January 1, 2017 as the government is changing the factors in determining the taxable portion of prescribed annuity income.

Existing arrangements will be grandfathered meaning only new annuity purchases will be affected after this date.

Retirement Scenario A

Protecting Against Market Risk – Certainty of Income
Consider the circumstances of John and Mary who are aged 73 and 72 respectively. They have done well for themselves in accumulating wealth for retirement but, after living through a number of bear markets, they realize that they must stay conservative in their investment approach in order to protect their future income.

They have determined that they require a guaranteed monthly income of $1,800 pre-tax in order to meet their day to day living expenses. To give them peace of mind, they purchase an immediate joint life annuity that will pay them $1,800 per month for as long as they live.

John and Mary transfer $344,947 * from their RRIF to pay for a registered immediate annuity. This will provide them with a predictable and sustainable income for the rest of their lives.

Retirement Scenario B

Protecting Against Market Risk – Certainty of Income & Reducing Taxable Income with Prescribed Annuities
Roger is a 74 year old widower who has non-registered funds invested to produce income. He has GIC’s and bonds totaling $250,000 which provide him with an average return of 3%. This results in $7,500 per year annual income which after tax gives him $ 4,875 spendable income (assuming a tax rate of 35%).

If he were to use the $250,000 to purchase a prescribed immediate life annuity he would receive an annual income of $19,915.* Of this, only $1,255 per year would be taxable.

His after tax spendable income would be $ 18,660 per year.

The income from the annuity would be paid for the rest of his life but should he die within 10 years his beneficiary would receive the balance of 120 guaranteed payments.

By providing lower reportable income, prescribed annuities can also be effective in reducing the chances of a clawback of OAS and Guaranteed Supplement Income payments from the federal government.

8 Key Facts to Know About Immediate Annuities
1. An annuity can be an important component of a balanced financial plan;
2. It can provide predictable and sustainable income for the life of the annuitant(s), regardless of market conditions or interest rate fluctuations;
3. The rate of income provided by an annuity is generally higher than other guaranteed income vehicles;
4. Annuitants can chose the frequency of their payments and also include indexing to help keep pace with inflation;
5. Annuities are backed with assets to match the duration of the payments. This means that when interest rates are low, it is possible to lock in higher long-term interest rates with an annuity;
6. Choosing a guarantee payment for the annuity income means that if the annuitant dies prior to the balance of the guarantee period, the beneficiaries will receive the balance. Otherwise the annuitant receives the income for life;
7. For those over the age of 65, taxable income from an annuity will generally qualify for the pension income credit;
8. For prescribed annuities, after January 1, 2017 the government changes in how the non-taxable portion is calculated come into effect and after that date will not provide the significant advantage that they do now.
*annuity rates shown are those of BMO Life current as of August 14, 2015;
** For prescribed annuities purchased prior to January 1, 2017.