An annuity is a long-term investment contract guaranteed by the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company that provides you with an option to annuitize at retirement. An annuitized contract provides you with a regular stream of income, for as long as you live or for a designated period of time after your retirement. Annuities also include a death benefit, which means that you can designate a beneficiary to receive the full amount of money you invested if you die before you start receiving annuity payments.

Assets in an annuity grow tax deferred until payout under the terms of your contract, and there are no contribution limits. As with other retirement-oriented investment vehicles, you're subject to penalties if you withdraw money from an annuity before age 59½.

Generally variable annuities carry an annual mortality and expense risk charge; administration charge and a contingent deferred sales charge. In addition, annuities usually offer optional enhanced death and living benefit riders, which may have fees associated with them.

Types of Annuities - Annuities
Annuities can be categorized into a few different types:

• A fixed annuity is a contract where principal, interest, and the amount of benefits paid are fully guaranteed by the insurance company.
• A variable annuity does not offer guaranteed returns. Instead, variable annuities offer the potential to realize higher rates of return by giving you the opportunity to choose the variable investment options in which your money will be invested. Please keep in mind that your rate of return is not guaranteed and your principle is subject to fluctuations. Most variable annuities also offer a fixed interest rate account in addition to the variable investment options.
• An immediate annuity is purchased with a single premium payment and you set the starting date for the payout to begin sometime within the next 12 months-generally sooner rather than later.
• A deferred annuity is an annuity for which payments are made to the annuitant only after a specified period of time, known as the accumulation period, has passed. You can build your deferred annuity with a lump sum, a series of payments over time, or both. The ability to combine one-time and periodic contributions gives you added flexibility in building a larger retirement resource.

Annuitization

An annuity's most unique feature is its annuitization option. This feature cannot be found in any other investment or accumulation vehicle. When you annuitize, usually at retirement, you have the option to receive a stream of income that you cannot outlive. If the annuity benefits are to be paid over your lifetime, the monthly or annual payment amount is guaranteed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing company regardless of how long you live, even if the total payments exceed the accumulated account value of the annuity.

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Guardian Annuities are issued by:
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC), a Delaware corporation. Guardian variable annuities are distributed by Guardian Investor Services LLC (GIS). GIAC and GIS are wholly owned subsidiaries of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY and are located at 7 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004.

GIS is a member: FINRA, SIPC.

Investments in Guardian annuities or any of their investment options are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by any bank or depository institution; further, neither the contracts nor such investments are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Association (NCUA), the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency. Investment in any of the variable annuities and variable investment options involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Guardian Annuities are sold by prospectus only. The prospectus contains important information. Investors should consider the investment company's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses which are explained in detail in the prospectus. Be sure to read it carefully before investing or sending money. To obtain a prospectus, please call contact your financial professional or call 800-221-3253, option 2,3.