When it comes to financial and investment products, there is no single answer to the question – which is the best product available? If there were a single product that worked well for everyone, other products simply would not exist. The fact that there are various kinds of annuities out there goes to show that which Annuity scheme will work best for you depends on your individual circumstances and what is most important to you.

The fact is that there are various annuities out there, each different from the other in some aspect or the other. The two main types of annuities are variable income annuities and fixed income annuities. As the title suggests, a fixed income annuity scheme pays a level, fixed income throughout the term of the annuity. A variable annuity, on the other hand, pays a variable income that is based on different factors depending on the type of the variable annuity.

If having a steady source of fixed income is important to you, a conventional level annuity scheme may work better for you than an annuity that is linked to an investment product such as stocks or shares. If you wish to protect your spending power and prevent your income from being eroded by future inflation levels, then an escalating or inflation linked annuity scheme might work well for you. On the other hand, if you require the maximum possible income from an annuity scheme right from the outset, then an escalating annuity scheme may not work well for you, since these type of annuities usually pay less than a conventional annuity would in the initial stages.

There are different bells and whistles that can be added to an annuity scheme, depending on the particular product and provider. For instance, you could add an extra feature that allows you to delay the annuity, or a feature that would allow your income payments to be made to your partner or beneficiaries for a certain period of time, even after you are gone.

So, when it comes to an annuity scheme, there is no single option that will work best for everyone. Everyone needs to find an annuity that will suit their specific needs. You can find the most suitable annuity by exploring the entire open market, and by comparing different products. If needed, you can also consult an independent financial advisor who can give you objective advice and help you make the right choice.