Depending on the type of annuity you have you may have some investment options.  A fixed rate annuity is a structure where the investments are chosen for you because the company knows how they will pay out over time and as such will be able to guarantee payment amounts.  After all if the insurance company is going to agree to pay a certain amount they need to make sure they can fund the investment and this can only be done if the insurance company is confident in the investments.

When you choose a variable annuity you determine how to invest the money in the sub-accounts which are essentially the same as mutual funds offered with the annuity.  The overall value of the account is determined by the performance of the account over time.  The problem with variable annuities is two fold; one you are responsible for the performance which means if you are not an experienced investor you may not see gains, you may see losses.  Second, because the fund requires constant care and attention you will incur large maintenance fees as well as management fees.  These fees can get so high that they make the annuity a poor investment.

As you invest so too shall you get paid.  You are the one deciding the investment amount as well as the final payment structure.  Your options may be one of the following;

Guaranteed income stream for a period of time is also called a Income for guaranteed period or period certain annuity.  For a predetermined period of time you can structure a set payment.  This set payment is referred to as the ‘guarantee.’  It has no bearing on the lifeblood of the actual annuity, it ONLY refers to the amount to be paid out.  You can set these payments at intervals from 5 to 30 years.

Income for Life with Guaranteed Period Certain Benefit

This refers to the frequency and a contingency available to you.  Income for life refers to the interval payments at the predetermined time period, every month for twenty years for example.  The contingency comes in if you were to pass within the twenty years.  If this were to happen you could specify a beneficiary to receive those remaining payments after you have passed on for the fulfillment of the annuity.

Joint and Survivor Annuities are just as they sound.  If you or your spouse where to pass away you could assign a beneficiary to receive the remaining payments often this is popular for married couples.  This may be your best bet to purchase structured settlements online so that you or any beneficiary will receive payments.