How to ensure you get the best annuity rates from your pension pot

Author: stelfoxs.kevin

Your retirement has finally come around and on the one hand you are quite excited but on the other you are a like a scared rabbit in the headlights.You only retire once so it is very important to ensure that you get the best annuity rates from your pension pot.

You have saved in your pension all your life and now you have to exchange it for an annuity.Annuities have many options and you have to choose which are the most important to you.These are the options:
>> Frequency of income
>> Income paid in advance or in arrears
>> Increase in Payment (Escalation)
>> Partner's Pension
>> Tax Free Cash
>> Guarantee periods

Each of these options reduces your starting income with your annuity,but they could be important.If you have a spouse and he/she has no income of their own, how they will,manage financially if you die.You may need to consider this and purchase a continuing pension for them.

As well as considering these options you will need to consider if you might be entitled to Impaired Life/Enhanced Annuities-If you have medical problems,or have had medical problems in the past,then you could qualify for a better annuity as your life expectancy may be affected.Annuity providers do consider the life expectancy when they calculate annuity rates.

If you're a smoker then some providers are prepared to offer you more income than non-smokers.

Guaranteed annuities will pay your annuity for the rest of your life but there is no opportunity to profit any further from the pension pot you give to the annuity provider.Investment Linked Annuities offer many of the options of a conventional guaranteed annuity,but with the addition of an investment linking. This could mean that the level of income actually increases over time if the investment grows well,although you do run the risk that the income could actually reduce if the underlying performance is poor.

With any financial product if you are not sure about everything then you should seek independent financial advice from an adviser that specialises in annuities.

Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/how-to-ensure-you-get-the-best-annuity-rates-from-your-pension-pot-3134433.html

About the Author
Based in the UK, Retirement Solutions are Independent Financial Advisers (IFA) who can find you the best annuity rates using their unique Annuity Calculator and provide whole of market independent Annuity Advice on the best purchased life annuity rates.

How To Choose A Mutual Fund To Invest In Now

Author: Peter Gitundu

A mutual fund is a collective investment that uses money from different investors and invests it on their behalf. The investment could be in form of stocks, bonds or other securities. In choosing a fund, the first thing that you need to consider is the expense involved in running that fund. You need to look for something that is within your budget and also one that meets your requirements. You should also decide on the number of funds that you wish to invest in. Another thing you need to do is to look at the history of the fund manager. This includes the previous funds he has managed and how they performed. You need to consider how his previous predictions and stock options have paid off.

You also need to check if the portfolio you are investing in is balanced. This means that it should have a combination of shares that are doing well and those that do not do so well. This is because all the investments in the portfolio are likely to do well but at different times. In addition, you need to take into consideration if the fund is a no-load. This is because this kind of funds will save you from losing your money through commissions. You should also confirm if the fund allows you to switch to another fund easily.  

Although the past performance of a mutual fund is not a clear indicator of how it is going to perform in future, you need to check the history of the fund to see how it has fared in recent years. You should also have a look at the funds prospectus. This is because, it contains vital information which will help you in reaching a decision. This includes, the goals and strategies of reaching them, the risks involved, the fees and other expenses required and even the past performance of the fund.  

You may also need to consider a fund that does not constantly sell its investments. This is because it increases the funds turnover. An ideal mutual fund would be one with a very low turnover percentage. In addition, if you want the fund to benefit you in old age, then you need to take into consideration your current age. This is because you need a fund that is going to give you maximum benefits and this might not be possible with some funds when given a shorter time frame.

Article Source: 

http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/how-to-choose-a-mutual-fund-to-invest-in-now-3139929.html

About the Author

Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Mutual Funds. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here MUTUAL FUND If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You Read My Most Recent Posts Here MUTUAL FUNDS

Gold Investment Advice

Author: Farrukh Baig

I try to keep gold investment advice very simple. Gold investment advice for beginning investors should cover a few different areas. Gold coins investment is one option, and others are gold bars, gold accounts, gold futures, and gold mining. If you are just starting out in gold investing, the expert's advice to start out with either gold coins investment or gold bars investment. You can invest in gold bars as well as in gold coins. The only fee you pay is a dealer premium when you buy. This is the straight forward and sure fire way. You don't have to pay any fees. We cannot predict with any certainty what gold or any other commodity or currency will do over short, medium or long periods of time. Because of this we tend to avoid giving any definite advice or strong opinion.

These two investing methods are simpler and easier to understand, and are perfect for beginner investors in the gold market. When you have a gold coins investment or gold bars investment, you actually take delivery of the gold you invest in. You can buy one bar or coin or 20 in a time. 1 ounce gold bars are the most popular and the smallest size we would recommend, but a 10 ounce bar carries the least premium and the most economical way to invest in gold. Coins are widely available in fractional sizes but once again, you should buy 1 ounce gold coins.

The best gold investment advice for beginners is simple. Buy when gold prices are low, but do not try to wait until the price hits rock bottom. Buy at low prices makes sense to buy gold when its price is low rather than high. Many people are tempted to buy gold when they hear that the price has risen. Although this can be the right action if the price continues to rise, it is often better to buy after the price has fallen. This is a common mistake made by many investors, both experienced and new at investing. By waiting too long, you may miss the perfect opportunity to grab gold before it starts to rise again. Gold accounts are another way to invest in gold, but you must be a large investor to get in on gold accounts. Many private banks may offer the chances to invest in a gold account, but only if you are willing to invest a substantial sum, such as a couple of million dollars. Since most beginners do not invest anywhere near this amount, gold accounts are only for experienced investors who are very well to do and can afford to invest millions.

Gold futures are another option for gold investors, but gold investment advice does not usually recommend gold futures for beginners. This is the gold investment for professionals. Take my advice and stay away from futures market. This market deals more in speculation than in actual investing, and can be complex. There is always a risk of the commodity price moving drastically against you, so you can incur significant losses. Gold mining shares are another way to invest in gold, without having to take actual physical delivery of it. This type of investment carries significant risks, and there is no guarantee that mining shares will go up simply because the price of gold does.

Article Source:

http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/gold-investment-advice-3060723.html

About the Author

Golden Leprechaun! - Fast easy secure get Cash For Gold or Sell Gold Jewelry. We also host Gold Parties where you attend to make money.