An investment vehicle that provides tax-deferred accumulation at a specified interest rate for an initial guarantee period (typically one year).

Each period thereafter, a rate is declared (which must exceed a stated minimum rate).

An income distribution vehicle that takes your lump sum investment and provides a specific stream of payments in return.

The length of the payment stream may be guaranteed for a specified period, a lifetime or a joint lifetime.

The payment amount may be a fixed amount or an amount tied to the underlying performance of portfolios (investment subaccounts).

An investment vehicle that provides for tax-deferred accumulation at a specific interest rate for a specified period of time.

If liquidity is needed prior to the end of the specified period, a market-value-adjusted annuity functions like a bond, in that there can be a premium or discount applied at the time of the early sale.

Interest rate guarantee periods range from one year to 10 years.

An investment vehicle that allows you to invest in a wide-range of portfolios (investment subaccounts) from a selection of asset managers on a tax-deferred basis.

In addition to tax-deferred investment management, variable annuities can provide various guarantees (riders) on the amount that will be available as a death benefit or as retirement income.

Northbrook/Allstate,

AXA-Equitable Financial,

Hartford ,

Travelers,

Nationwide,

AIG/SunAmerica,

MFS/SunLife and

ING/Golden America.