This article “Cheaper Annuities With ‘Benefits’ ” from the Wall Street Journal describes the mass of conflicting information that the buyer must face.
If you can, you should buy a fixed income annuity with a guaranteed income. And that means that your investment is not tied to the stock market but rather to your age.
It is well nigh impossible for an expert to sort out what is best for any particular client from this mess of options available. All decisions have to be based on one assumption which leads to yet another. And once one assumption breaks down,the whole house of cards will collapse, perhaps leaving the retiree penniless.
Proceed with caution.