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Independent Review of the Allianz Life Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity

What’s Covered In This Review

In this review, we’ll cover the following information on the Allianz Endurance Plus fixed index annuity:
  • Product Type
  • FeesAllianz Life Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity
  • Current Rates
  • Realistic long term return expectations
  • How it is used
  • How it is most poorly used

Annuities can be complex. That’s where having an Annuity Investigator who loves math comes in. We make the complex, simple.

If you’ve been considering making a purchase of a financial product that can provide you with principal protection, the opportunity for increased growth (as versus CDs or other fixed investments), and also the ability to obtain a guaranteed, ongoing stream of income in retirement, then the Allianz Endurance Plus fixed indexed annuity could very well be a good option for you. But, before you move forward and commit to this particular annuity product, it is important for you to have an in-depth understanding of how this financial vehicle works, as well as how it may (or may not) actually for you in terms of your short- and long-term financial goals. Over the past few years, fixed indexed annuities have become extremely popular, in large part because they can offer you a guaranteed stream of income during retirement, which can, in turn, provide you with peace of mind in knowing that you won’t run out of income, regardless of how long you may live. Due to the increased popularity of these types of annuities, the number of insurance and financial services reps who are offering them has expanded a great deal. However, this may not be a positive thing. One reason for this is because even those these professionals will typically work to provide the best information for their clients because fixed indexed annuities are highly complex, even the advisors who sell them may not be overly familiar with all of the intricate details about them. But, because a fixed indexed annuity – or for that matter, any type of annuity product – will likely entail a large chunk of your retirement savings, as well as a large surrender change to get out of, you really need to know how the product will work, and how specifically it will work for you.

Annuity and Retirement Income Planning Advice that You Can Trust

If this is the first time you have been to our website, we would like to personally say welcome to AnnuityGator.com. We at Annuity Gator are a team of experienced financial pros who are dedicated to providing nonbiased and in-depth reviews of annuity products. We’ve been at this for a number of years now – far longer than most of our competitors – and because of this, we have come to be known as a highly trusted source of annuity information. If you’ve been seeking information about annuities online, it is likely that you have come across many conflicting details about these financial vehicles. This isn’t really surprising, though, because there are a lot of opinions (both positive and otherwise) about these products floating around the Internet. You may also have recently attended a seminar about annuity products. During the workshop, the presenter may have touted information about the Allianz Endurance Plus annuity (or some other similar annuity) and why the product may be right for you. This could have even been the catalyst that led you here to our website, in search of additional product details. Although there are a number of very good websites on the Internet that are focused on offering their annuity products, there are some that will attempt to lure you in with some pretty bold claims like:
  • Lowest fees
  • Highest income payouts
  • Guaranteed lifetime income
  • Top-rated companies
Sound familiar at all? Yet, while these claims may sound appealing, it is all the more important to know whether or not these claims are true. This is where our website can help. In fact, if you have come here in search of more in-depth details on the Allianz Endurance Plus fixed indexed annuity, you are certainly in the right place. We dare say that the website you are on right now is the only place where you can find out all of the information – the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly. Knowing the whole picture, though, can help you in determining whether this product will be right for you. Often, insurance agents who sell fixed indexed annuities will tend to tout all of the product’s benefits, such as the opportunity for index-linked growth and protection of principal during volatile market times. But, they may end up leaving out the details that pertain to the drawbacks of the annuity. So, prior to moving a sizeable chunk of your hard earned retirement savings into one of these products, wouldn’t you like to know the whole story? Just to be perfectly clear, here, a fixed indexed annuity can provide you with some nice benefits. This, however, is really only the case if the product fits in with your specific financial plans. With that in mind, you should also know why you’re going with the annuity – and why you are choosing it over a long list of other potential annuities that may be available to you. The annuity review you are reading right now was created with the intent of helping you to better understand all of the Allianz Endurance Plus annuity’s “fine print.” That is because knowing this will assist you with making either a yes or a no decision regarding this vehicle. So, if you’re ready to begin, let’s go ahead and dive in! [desktoponly]

Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity

Product NameEndurance Plus Annuity
IssuerAllianz Life
Type of ProductFixed Indexed Annuity
Standard & Poor's RatingAA
Phone Number(800) 950-5872
Websitewww.allianzlife.com
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Opening Thoughts Regarding the Allianz Endurance Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity

Allianz Life Insurance Company is a well-regarded entity in the insurance and financial services arena. This company was initially established back in 1890, and since that time, it has grown into a large conglomerate with more than 82 million customers in roughly 70 countries around the globe. This company has maintained a very positive reputation, with an A+ Better Business Bureau grade, as well as high ratings from the insurer rating agencies, including:
  • A+ from A.M. Best
  • AA from Standard & Poor’s
  • A2 from Moody’s
Due to the constant volatility of the stock market over the past several years, the demand for fixed indexed annuity products has increased exponentially. One of the key reasons for this is because these financial vehicles can help individuals to potentially earn a higher return, while also keeping their principal safe from losses. However, while this may sound like a “can’t lose” scenario, when something sounds like it’s too good to be true, it typically is. So, it is always beneficial to know exactly what it is that you’re getting into, as it could be quite costly to get out if you change your mind shortly after you get in.

Before we get into the gritty details, there are some required legal disclosures here…..

This is an independent annuity product review. It is not a recommendation to purchase or to sell an annuity. Allianz Life Insurance Company has not endorsed this review in any way, nor do we receive any type of compensation for providing this review. This annuity review is meant solely to be an independent review at the request of our readers so that they may see our perspective when breaking down the positives and the negatives of this particular annuity. Prior to committing to the purchase of any type of insurance and/or investment vehicle, it is critical that you do your own due diligence, and that you also talk with a properly licensed professional if you have any questions that relate to your specific situation. All of the names, materials, and marks that have been used in compiling this annuity review are the property of their respective owners. For additional information on how to compare fixed annuities so that you can decide which may be the best one for you, click here in order to obtain our free annuity report.

How Allianz Life Insurance Company Describes the Endurance Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity

According to the Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity Product Profile, this is a fixed indexed deferred annuity that offers a bonus and enhanced interest that is added to the product’s Enhanced Withdrawal Benefit (EWB) value. For additional flexibility, this product also offers three different crediting methods, four index options, and a fixed interest option. A minimum initial premium deposit of $10,000 is required, and additional premiums are accepted through the first three contract years. A 20 percent bonus is credited to the EWB value. And, any fixed and/or indexed interest that is credited to the EWV value will be calculated by a factor of 105% of the rate credited to the accumulation value.

How a Financial Advisor Might Pitch This Annuity

The Allianz Endurance Plus annuity is a fixed indexed annuity that can provide you with the opportunity to get an index-linked return, as well as protection of your principal. Just like with other types of annuities, you will also be able to accumulate funds inside of the account tax-deferred and receive a set income in retirement, including the option for a guaranteed lifetime income stream. If you have been approached by an insurance or financial advisor about the Allianz Endurance Plus annuity, then the advisor likely focused on the many benefits that this annuity can offer you, such as its guaranteed income, as well as the ability to receive an enhanced return. In fact, even simply by reading the above information about what this product can offer, you may have felt that it is the ideal annuity for you. But, if you have been offered this – or any – annuity by a commissioned sales representative, then it is likely that he or she presented it to you by highlighting its positive features while glossing over some items that are considered to be drawbacks. When you take a closer look at the “fine print” about the Endurance Plus annuity, though, you may find that this annuity isn’t as perfect as it initially sounded. As an example, in order for you to receive the 20% Enhanced Withdrawal Benefit (EWB), it is required that you hold the annuity in deferral for a minimum of 10 contract years and that you also select one of two EWB income options that require payments for at least an additional 10 years. Also, you will not receive the bonus if this annuity contract is surrendered for a lump sum, or if traditional annuitization payments are taken. On top of that, the rates on this annuity are guaranteed for only one year. And, the return on this annuity will be “capped”, which means that if the underlying index has a stellar performance in a given time period, the return that your annuity receives will only be a portion of that amount. [desktoponly] In addition, you cannot obtain your EWB value for a minimum of ten years. In this case, after ten years have elapsed, you can only access this benefit value by choosing one of the payout options that are listed below:
AgeSingle Life PaymentJoint Life Payment
60-695%4.5%
70-795.5%5%
80-906%5.5%
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What About the Fees on the Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity?

In addition to knowing how your money may perform within a fixed indexed annuity, you should also have a good understanding of the fees that you could be charged. This is because the fees that you are assessed could end up having a major impact on how much you are able to accumulate in the annuity and, in turn, the amount of lifetime income that you will receive. In the case of the Allianz Endurance Plus product, there is no up-front sales charge. However, you may be still hit with various administrative charges, and/or charges for the management of the contract each year. You will also be subject to a surrender charge if you withdraw more than 10% of your contract’s value in a given year if you are still within the annuity’s surrender period. The Endurance Plus Annuity has one of the longer surrender periods in the industry. In this case, there are ten years of surrender charges – meaning that you won’t be able to withdraw all (or even a large portion) of your money without penalty for a minimum of ten full years. [desktoponly]The surrender charges for this annuity are as follows:
Contract Year12345678910Thereafter
% Charge10%10%10%8.5%7.5%6.25%5%3.75%2.5%1.25%0%
[/desktoponly] Allianz Life Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity

The Annuity Gator’s End Take on the Allianz Endurance Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity

Where it works best: This particular annuity will usually work the best for those who are looking for:
  • Safety of principal
  • The opportunity for index-linked growth
  • Guaranteed lifetime income in retirement
Where it works the worst: The Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity may not be an ideal fit for you if you:
  • Need access to most or all of your money within the first ten contract years
  • Do not intend to use the lifetime income feature of the annuity
In order to truly get an idea of whether or not a fixed indexed annuity such as the Allianz Endurance Plus or similar product is right for you, click here so that you can access our free annuity buyer’s report.

In Summary

There are many factors that should ideally be considered when you are thinking about purchasing an annuity. In any case, an annuity should always be considered as a long-term financial decision – and because of that, it is truly important that you are confident about how the product may or may not fit in with your specific financial goals. When you are considering a fixed indexed annuity, you can be comfortable in that your principal will be safe from market fluctuations, as well as in that you can set it up to provide you with an ongoing retirement income in the future. Given that, you can also attain the security that you won’t run out of income during retirement. With regard to the Allianz Endurance Plus fixed indexed annuity product, there certainly can be some advantages available. However, this annuity may still also fall somewhat short, and quite frankly, there may be some better options that are out there for you – primarily if you are in search of guaranteed lifetime income, along with the opportunity for growth. If you still have any unanswered questions about the Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity and whether or not it is the right annuity for you – or even if you would just like to get some additional assistance in guiding you in the right direction, please feel free to contact us directly via our secure contact form here.

Any Additional Questions on the Allianz Endurance Plus Fixed Indexed Annuity?

We realize that this annuity review went a bit long, so we appreciate you sticking with us. However, in this regard, we would much rather that you have too much information on this product than to not have enough. So, if you found this annuity review to be beneficial, please feel free to pass it on and to share it with other people who could also find value in it. We also understand that, just like with most other financial vehicles, the information on annuities can change frequently. Therefore, if you did happen to notice information in this annuity review that may need to be updated or revised, then please let us know and we will happily make the necessary updates. And, if this annuity review had caused you to be more confused about how fixed indexed annuities work – or, if by reading this review, you were prompted with any additional questions – then please click here and let us know that, too. Is there any other annuity that you would like to see reviewed? If so, great! Just provide us with the name of the annuity (or annuities), and our team of highly trained annuity experts will get to it as quickly as we possibly can. Best, The Annuity Gator Allianz Life Allianz Endurance Plus Annuity
3 Comments
  • PARSOTTAM PANARA
    3:42 PM, 18 August 2018

    I HAVE ALLIANZ’S ENDURANCE PLUS ANNUITY AND COMPLETE MY 10 YEARS IN 2019. NOW IF I START INCOME FROM 2020 AND HOLD THE ACCOUNT FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS,DO I LOSE ANY EWB VALUE IN MY ACCOUNT? DO I HAVE TO SELECT THE OPTION” INCOME FOR LIFE” TO RECEIVE FULL EWB.

    THANKS

  • Annuity Gator
    4:04 PM, 27 August 2018

    Hi Parsottam – Thank you for your message. We would be happy to help answer your questions. We’d first need some additional information from you, though, regarding your Allianz annuity. Rather than passing sensitive information back and forth via email, a brief phone call would likely be best. Please feel free to contact us directly, toll-free, at (888) 440-2468. Or you can set up a convenient time to chat by going to our secure web contact form at http://annuitygator.com/contact/. Thanks, we look forward to talking with you. Best! Annuity Gator

  • Joe
    3:48 PM, 18 January 2024

    Ugh. We knew we could only withdraw 10%/year during the 10 year term, but my wife and I both thought we got the full value (including the 20% enhancement) after the 10 years so we could roll it over into whatever we wanted. e.g., we thought it was a 10 year investment with an overall 20% guaranteed increase. Now we find out it is at least 20 years. You can’t just withdraw the money… you can either do a 10 tear annuity or lifetime annuity… but we need more income than 10% per year now that I am retiring. Ugh.

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