How Long Does an Annuity Last?

Are you wondering how long an annuity actually lasts and if it is possible to outlive your payments? The answer depends entirely on the specific payout structure you select and whether you are referring to the income phase or the deferral period. In this unfiltered video, Shawn from The Annuity Expert breaks down the exact timelines for annuity payouts and accumulation terms. For retirement income, Shawn explains the difference between a Period Certain annuity (which pays for a fixed term like 10 or 20 years and then permanently stops) and a Lifetime annuity (which guarantees paychecks until the day you or your spouse dies). However, he issues a strong warning against "Life Only" annuitization, a structure that leaves zero death benefit for your family. Instead, Shawn recommends adding a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) rider to a fixed or fixed index annuity, ensuring you receive income for life while guaranteeing any remaining cash value passes smoothly to your beneficiaries. Shawn also covers how long your money is locked up during the deferral phase, outlining the standard surrender terms for Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (2 to 10 years), Fixed Index Annuities (3 to 10 years), and Variable Annuities (4 to 10 years). Finally, he exposes the little-known "Maturity Date" fine print—a contractual deadline in your late 80s or 90s that forces you to either exit the contract or irrevocably annuitize your money. 👉 Read our full guide on how long annuities last and if you can outlive them here: https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/can-you-outlive-an-annuity/ 📞 Call our team for free, no-obligation advice to safely evaluate your lifetime income options at: 770-755-1565 ⏱️ Video Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: How long does an annuity last? 0:31 - Period Certain Annuities (Fixed-term payouts that eventually stop) 1:04 - Single Life Payouts (And why you should avoid "Life Only" contracts) 1:46 - The GLWB Alternative: Securing lifetime income and your death benefit 2:12 - Joint Life / Joint Survivor Payouts for married couples 2:40 - How long do annuity terms last? (MYGA, FIA, and Variable deferral periods) 3:54 - What is an Annuity Maturity Date? (Forced annuitization in your 80s/90s) 4:28 - Final Verdict: How to get objective, pressure-free advice