What is an annuity? The short answer is that it's a contract that provides a periodic payment for a fixed period or for the duration of one's life. Annuity contracts can be complex, from both design and income tax perspectives.

As the personal financial planner, you must be educated in the numerous applications and products available, and their tax consequences, to offer a reasoned opinion to clients regarding annuities in their overall financial plan.

In this audiovisual CPE course, Tom Tillery will cover several types of annuities, including traditional, private placement variable, private, and charitable annuities. Additionally, you will learn how an annuity contract may be structured, based on the following factors:
* Commencement of benefit payments—immediate or deferred
* Method of premium payment—single or periodic payment
* Number of lives insured by the contract—single or joint
* Payment type—fixed or variable payment
* Plan of payment—settlement options or distributions