Retirement Income Policy

Form of deferred annuity; a life insurance policy that usually guarantees from 120 to 180 monthly income payments to the annuitant at retirement. If the annuitant dies during the deferral (or guaranteed) period, a beneficiary receives a death payment of the face amount or the cash value, whichever is larger. During the deferred period, the policyowner can withdraw part or all of the annuity's cash value (the latter terminating the annuity).