Indexed Annuities
An indexed annuity is a type of annuity contract between you and an insurance company. It generally promises to provide interest linked, in part, to the performance of a market index at the end of a specified term. Not all indexed annuities are regulated by the SEC. For example, the SEC does not regulate fixed indexed annuities, which guarantee your interest rate will never be less than zero. The SEC regulates only indexed annuities that are securities. These indexed annuities can expose investors to investment losses. For example, the SEC regulates registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) in which you can lose money – often subject to limits – if the index performs poorly or if amounts are removed prematurely from the contract or the contract’s investment options. If an indexed annuity is a security, a prospectus will be delivered to you.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
An indexed annuity is a type of annuity contract between you and an insurance company. It generally promises to provide interest linked, in part, to the performance of a market index at the end of a specified term. Not all indexed annuities are regulated by the SEC. For example, the SEC does not regulate fixed indexed annuities, which guarantee your interest rate will never be less than zero. The SEC regulates only indexed annuities that are securities. These indexed annuities can expose investors to investment losses. For example, the SEC regulates registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) in which you can lose money – often subject to limits – if the index performs poorly or if amounts are removed prematurely from the contract or the contract’s investment options. If an indexed annuity is a security, a prospectus will be delivered to you. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does Indexed Annuities mean in the cited reference?
An indexed annuity is a type of annuity contract between you and an insurance company. It generally promises to provide interest linked, in part, to the performance of a market index at the end of a specified term. Not all indexed annuities are regulated by the SEC. For example, the SEC does not regulate fixed indexed annuities, which guarantee your interest rate will never be less than zero. The SEC regulates only indexed annuities that are securities. These indexed annuities can expose investors to investment losses. For example, the SEC regulates registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) in which you can lose money – often subject to limits – if the index performs poorly or if amounts are removed prematurely from the contract or the contract’s investment options. If an indexed annuity is a security, a prospectus will be delivered to you. [1]
Indexed Annuities connection map
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Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.