Indexed Annuities
Indexed annuities are a type of fixed annuity which is regulated and distributed in the same manner as fixed annuities. By contrast, indexed annuities provide a downside guarantee of 1% or less, but receive potentially higher upside interest crediting, based on the performance of an outside stock index (such as the Standard and Poor’s 500, a.k.a. S&P 500). Indexed annuities have a floor of zero, so a consumer's money is always protected from downturns in the market. However, indexed annuities have upside interest crediting potential of 10% or more (although still limited). Indexed annuities are a moderately conservative safe money place for retirement dollars.