A Woman's Guide to Annuities. Retirement tends to be a bigger challenge for women: lower lifetime earnings equal lower retirement income. Women also live longer than men and must make income last for a longer period of time. Annuities may help women overcome retirement obstacles. The Individual Annuity: A Resource In Your Retirement. This guide has been prepared to help retirees understand what an individual annuity contract is, what options are available, and how the right choice might enhance retirement security. Individual Annuities: Tips for Seniors. An annuity is a long-term financial contract. You should enter into an the annuity arrangement only after a thorough review of your personal finances and retirement goals. To help you better understand what to consider before purchasing, review these tips. Managing Money for Life: How Annuitization Works. (PDF). You've saved and invested wisely for retirement. The challenge is to not just to fund the lifestyle you want, but to sustain it for as long as you live. A way to do this is to annuitize at least a portion of your savings. Making Income Last in Retirement. For assets that last as long as you live, experts advise annuitizing part of your savings. Consumer Tips for Buying a Variable Annuity. Variable annuities can be a key part of any comprehensive retirement plan. If you are thinking about purchasing a variable annuity, review ACLI's consumer tips.