Annuity Calculator
With the Accurate Annuity Schedule Calculator, you enter a starting amount, rate of return, and the number of withdrawals you would like to receive and the calculator calculates the income amount and creates a schedule.
An annuity is a financial product that can provide a steady income stream for a set period or for the rest of your life in exchange for a lump sum or a series of payments. Annuities can be a valuable tool for retirement planning, but they also come with risks you should consider before purchasing one. This annuity calculator will help you calculate the value of an annuity, create an annuity schedule with dates, and provide charts to visualize the cash flow.
Instructions for using the annuity calculator
Input the four primary inputs: starting amount, regular withdrawal amount, number of periods, and annual interest rate. If any of the primary inputs are unknown, enter 0 in the field.
To Quickly
Pick a Date
- Starting amount: The amount of money you plan to invest in the annuity.
- Regular withdrawal amount: The amount of money you plan to withdraw from the annuity on a regular basis.
- Number of periods: The total number of times you plan to withdraw money from the annuity.
- Annual interest rate: The assumed annual interest rate or return-on-investment that the calculator will apply to the annuity.
Additionally, you must provide these other values to create an accurate annuity schedule.
- Today's date: The current date or the date when you expect to have the "Starting Amount" available.
- First withdrawal date: The date on which you plan to make the first withdrawal from the annuity.
- Withdrawal frequency: The frequency at which you plan to withdraw money from the annuity. For example, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
- Compounding frequency: The frequency at which the interest on the annuity will be compounded. If you are not sure what this is, you may set it equal to the "Withdrawal Frequency"
Click on the "Calc" button to see the annuity schedule with dates. If any of the primary inputs were 0, the calculator will calculate the unknown value.
The annuity schedule will display the starting balance, withdrawal amount, interest earned, and ending balance for each period. The "Net Change" is the change in the balance from the prior period.
The charts will display the cash flow, balance, and interest earned over the life of the annuity.
Risks to consider when purchasing an annuity
- Inflation risk: Annuities provide a fixed income stream, which means that the purchasing power of the payments may decrease over time due to inflation. It is important to factor in inflation when considering an annuity purchase. (see: Inflation Calculator to judge inflation's impact)
- Interest rate risk: Annuities are influenced by interest rates, and changes in interest rates can affect the amount of income received. If interest rates rise, the income received from an annuity may be less attractive compared to other investments.
- Liquidity risk: Annuities are generally illiquid, which means that it can be difficult to access the money invested in an annuity. If unexpected expenses arise, it may be difficult to access the funds from an annuity without incurring penalties.
- Credit risk: Annuities are backed by insurance companies, and there is a risk that the insurance company may go bankrupt, which could result in a loss of income. It is important to research the financial strength of the insurance company before purchasing an annuity.
Comments, suggestions & questions welcomed...