There Are Good Reasons to Avoid Annuities, but You Might Want to Buy One Anyway.

Annuities can deliver regular income for a period of time -- or for the rest of your life.

Annuities can deliver regular, dependable income for part of our retirement -- or for the rest of our lives. They can even provide income for all our spouses' lives. Still, there are some pros and cons to consider before buying one.

First, understand that an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company or bank, which promises to deliver regular income to you (or, possibly, a future lump sum amount) in exchange for your paying them a significant chunk of change.

Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »

What you can get from an annuity is often tied to prevailing interest rates. The table will give you an idea of what you might expect these days for $100,000 or $200,000 with a fixed annuity that starts immediately.

In many cases, by paying more or receiving less, you may be able to add features such as annual inflation adjustments. Note that women will generally receive less -- because they're expected to live a little longer.

Annuities are not for everyone, and some are better for some people than others. If you're intrigued, do some research. You may end up wanting to allocate some portion of your nest egg to one or more annuities to increase your dependable income.

If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.