What Will Be Covered in this Annuity Review
In this annuity review, we will be going over the following details regarding the Standard Focus Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity:- Product type
- Fees
- Current rates
- Realistic long-term expectations
- How the annuity is best used
- How the annuity is most poorly used
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If you are considering the purchase of an annuity because you want assurance that you’ll have a guaranteed stream of income in retirement and that your money will be safe up until that time, then the Standard Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity could be a viable option for you. This is because the Focused Growth Annuity offers a fixed rate of return for a set period of time that you choose – and when the time comes to convert the annuity over into an income stream, you can also count on incoming cash flow for the remainder of your lifetime (regardless of how long that may be). However, before you run out and make a long-term financial commitment to purchasing this (or any other) annuity, it is essential that you first get a good idea of how it works, and how it may or may not work for you. Throughout the years, annuities have become more popular – especially with retirees and those who are approaching retirement. One reason for this is because they provide a guaranteed income stream, and they (deferred annuities) offer tax-deferred growth of your principal. With a fixed deferred annuity, you also have the added bonus of assurance that your money will be safe – no matter what occurs in the stock market. This can help to alleviate the worry of a market correction impacting your future savings. Prior to signing on the dotted line, though, it’s a good idea to take a close look at an annuity’s fine print. That’s because these products can oftentimes have hidden charges and fees. And, while most insurance and financial companies do a great job of giving you all of the nice, rosy benefits that annuities offer, there can also be a few downfalls. With that in mind, it is much better to know these drawbacks now, as versus after you have already committed a large chunk of your savings to it. That’s where the Annuity Gator comes in.
Annuity and Retirement Income Planning Information You Can Trust
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- Lowest Fees
- Guaranteed income for life
- Top-rated annuity companies
- Get an annuity quote now!
The Standard Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity at a Glance
Product Name | Focused Growth Annuity |
---|---|
Issuer | The Standard |
Type of Product | Fixed Deferred Annuity |
S&P Rating | A+ (Strong) |
Phone Number | (800) 247-6888 |
Website | https://www.standard.com |
Opening Thoughts on the Standard Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity
The Standard has more than 100 years of experience in offering products that can help clients with growing and be enhancing their wealth. The company began with a focus on those who worked in the logging and timber industry, where a serious injury or death could quickly wreck a family’s finances, and in turn, their future. Throughout the years, the company has grown and expanded a great deal, and as of year-end 2016, The Standard held in excess of $22 billion in total assets. The Standard has also earned high ratings from the insurer rating agencies, including a(n):- A+ from Standard & Poor’s
- A2 from Moody’s
- A from A.M. Best
Before we get into the in-depth details, we have some legal disclosures to present…
This is an independent annuity product review. It is not a recommendation to purchase or to sell an annuity. The Standard 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 more details 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 The Standard Describes the Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity
The Standard describes the Focused Growth Annuity as a single premium, deferred annuity offering a robust set of features, plus market value adjustment feature, which optimizes the growth of your savings. With this annuity, you can choose from a five, six, seven, or even a ten-year interest rate guarantee period, which secures the crediting rate for that time period. At the end of the guarantee period that you choose, you will receive competitive renewal rates that are based on the current interest rate environment and current market conditions. There are some additional features on this annuity, including a death benefit, and a waiver of surrender charges if you are diagnosed with a qualifying terminal illness and/or if you are admitted to a nursing home. For a full list of the benefits that can be found on the Standard Focused Growth Annuity, you can go HERE.How an Insurance or Financial Advisor Might “Pitch” this Annuity
Given that life is filled with so many uncertainties, when you have the opportunity to receive a guarantee, it can be a nice benefit – particularly when it has to do with your financial options. With that in mind, when it comes to the Standard Focused Growth Deferred Annuity, it is probable that an insurance or financial advisor who is offering this product to you will key in on the fact that you can get a guaranteed rate of interest for a set period of time (with this annuity, up to ten full years), and that you can also count on a set amount of income for the remainder of your life. However, whenever any type of guarantee is presented to you – particularly when it involves your money – when you look a little more closely, you may find that there are certain “tradeoffs” that you need to accept in order to attain those benefits. This is the case with the Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity from The Standard. For example here, the longer your interest rate guarantee period, the longer you will also be subject to surrender charges on the annuity. So, for instance, a five-year rate guarantee will also have five years of surrender charges. Likewise, seven years of rate guarantee – yep, seven years of surrender charges if you make a withdrawal of more than 10% of the contract’s value. Also, when it comes to the nursing home and terminal illness waiver benefit(s), there are some guidelines that you must first meet in order to qualify for the surrender charge-free withdrawals. So be sure that you know exactly how you can access these benefits just in case.What About Fees on the Standard Focus Growth Annuity Product?
While an advisor who is presenting this annuity to you may focus on the fact that there are no annual fees on this annuity, don’t let that lure you into thinking that there are no fees at all – because that’s just simply not the case here. For example, one of the biggest charges that you could run into here is if you make a withdrawal that exceeds 10% of the contract value during the surrender charge period. And, the longer the interest rate guarantee period that you choose, the longer the duration of the surrender charge will be. Here, for instance, the five-year, six-year, and seven-year interest rate guarantee period will have a concurrent surrender charge period. If you choose the ten-year rate guarantee period, your surrender charge period will run for nine years. The amount of the surrender charge you would incur for a withdrawal are as follows:- 5-Year Surrender Charge Period – 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%)
- 6-Year Surrender Charge Period – 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%)
- 7-Year Surrender Charge Period – 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%)
- 9-Year Surrender Charge Period – 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.9%)
The Annuity Gator’s End Take on the Standard Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity
Where it works best: The Standard Focused Growth Fixed Deferred Annuity may not be right for everyone. However, it could be a viable option if you are seeking the following benefits:- A guaranteed rate of interest for a set period of time – up to ten full years
- Safety of principal, regardless of what happens in the market
- A lifetime income that you can count on
- Want the potential for higher growth
- Need to access your money during the annuity’s surrender period
- Do not plan to use the lifetime income feature