What Are the Risks of Annuities in a Recession?

Annuities come in several forms, the two most common being fixed annuities and variable annuities. During a recession, variable annuities pose much more risk than fixed annuities because their performance is tied to market indexes, which recessions tend to pummel.

Variable annuities are securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and sales of variable insurance products are regulated by the SEC and FINRA. Fixed annuities, by contrast, offer guaranteed rates of return.

Though fixed annuities provide peace of mind during recessions, they tend to underperform, at least compared with their variable counterparts, when the economy is doing well. During good times variable annuities reward investors willing to shoulder higher risk by providing, on average, more aggressive returns.

How Annuities Work

Annuities are niche investment products often used for retirement planning. Unlike most investment vehicles, annuities do not come from traditional wirehouses or brokerage houses. They are managed by life insurance companies, and the person most likely to sell you an annuity is not a stockbroker but an insurance agent.

When the annuitant reaches age 59½, some annuities begin paying out their cash value through a series of fixed payments. Depending on how the annuity is set up, the payments might occur every month for five years, 10 years, or the remainder of the annuitant’s life.

Annuities are popular because they provide a sort of salary during retirement. Once you start taking distributions, you receive a regular check, always for the same amount.

Fixed vs. Variable Annuities

The defining characteristic of a fixed annuity is that during its interest-accumulating phase, the rate of interest you earn is guaranteed. In this regard, a fixed annuity is more similar to a certificate of deposit (CD) than it is to a stock or mutual fund.

Also, because of this feature, fixed annuities are not classified as securities. Therefore, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) does not regulate them, and a person who sells them is not required to maintain a Series 7 or Series 63 license. Life insurance agents, most of whom are not licensed to sell securities, love to sell fixed annuities, in no small part because their commissions can be considerable.

A variable annuity is so named because its rate of return varies based on the investment tool to which it is tied. Most variable annuities are invested in subaccounts that are like mutual funds, which are bundles of stocks, bonds, and money market instruments.

Because these investment vehicles, in particular stocks, vacillate based on economic conditions, variable annuities expose you to risk during recessions. Because variable annuities are invested in subaccounts you will be exposed to market risk.

During a variable annuity’s accumulation phase, if all goes well, your balance will increase due to investment growth. However, when a recession hits, your balance may decline if the investment vehicle in which it is parked contracts in value. While fixed annuities do not pose this risk, they also do not grow your balance as much during good economic times.

Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs)

A qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) is a way for retirees to generate an income stream that's stable and predictable. A QLAC is a type of deferred annuity, which is funded by transferring money from an individual retirement account (IRA) or a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k).

A QLAC annuity provides consistent monthly payments until the owner's death and helps to provide protection from economic and market downturns. The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 allows individuals to transfer $200,000 of their retirement savings account or IRA to a QLAC.

Another benefit of a QLAC is that it isn't subject to the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules set by the IRS, which mandates IRA withdrawals beyond the age of 73 (previously 72, and increasing to age 75 in 2033.) Also, the QLAC payouts can begin sometime in the future, i.e. when the retiree turns 80 years old.

Although no financial product is completely recession-proof, annuities might be able to help you create a steady stream of income in times of uncertainty. However, it's important to consult a financial advisor to be sure that annuities are right for your financial situation.