Economist and Nobel Prize winner Richard Thaler famously highlighted something called “The Annuity Puzzle.” Here’s the puzzle: if annuities can provide guaranteed lifetime income — and protect retirees from outliving their money — why do so few people voluntarily buy one?
On paper, annuities solve one of retirement’s biggest problems. They protect against living longer than expected, markets underperforming at the wrong time, and money running out before you do. And yet most people still avoid annuities — even when they say they want safety.
Thaler’s point wasn’t that annuities are bad. It’s that human beings don’t make retirement decisions like spreadsheets. We make them like humans. And when you look closely, the reasons people hesitate are actually very rational.
Why People Don’t Buy Annuities (Even When They Might Benefit)
1. Fear of Loss
Even safe-money buyers carry a hidden fear: “What if I put money in… and regret it?” Not because the annuity is risky — but because commitment feels risky. This is loss aversion in action. People would rather keep flexibility, even if it costs them long-term security.
2. Lack of Control
A lot of people don’t mind investing. They mind feeling trapped. Even if the annuity is objectively strong, the emotional reaction is: “I don’t like the idea of giving up access.” This is why surrender schedules, liquidity rules, and income start dates matter more than most advisors realize.
3. Complexity
Most people can’t explain an annuity. And when people can’t explain something, they assume it’s designed to benefit the seller, not the buyer. That doesn’t mean annuities are shady — it means complexity creates a trust gap. The burden is on the advisor to make it simple.
4. Lack of Trust in the Insurance Company
People trust banks. They trust their 401(k) website. But insurance companies? Even strong, highly-rated ones? A lot of consumers still carry a quiet concern: “What if the company fails?” Even when you explain ratings, reserves, and state protections — the emotional concern still lingers. Because it’s not a logic problem.
5. Fear of Disinheriting Heirs
This is a big one. Many retirees don’t want to “spend” their retirement savings — they want to preserve it. So they resist anything that sounds like: “If I die early, the company keeps my money.” Even though modern annuities often offer period certain options, refund features, joint lifetime income, and beneficiary protections — the fear persists. Because it’s not a math problem. It’s a legacy problem.
6. Underestimating Longevity Risk
This is the quietest and most dangerous part of the puzzle. Most people underestimate how long retirement really is. Retirement isn’t 10–15 years anymore. For many couples, it’s 25–35 years. Which means retirement isn’t just a nest egg problem — it’s an income problem. And a nest egg with no income structure is just a pile of money with a countdown on it.
So What’s the Real Answer to the Annuity Puzzle?
People don’t avoid annuities because they’re bad. People avoid annuities because they don’t want to feel like they’re making an irreversible decision. They want safety, growth, liquidity, control, simplicity, legacy, and tax-efficiency — all at the same time.
And that’s why the annuity conversation has evolved. The right strategy isn’t about pushing a product. It’s about building a structure that makes sense for the specific person in front of you.
The Bottom Line
Richard Thaler was right. The annuity puzzle isn’t a product problem. It’s a behavior problem. People don’t fear annuities — they fear regret.
But when you structure the right strategy, with the right amount of liquidity, with the right income design — annuities stop feeling like a trap. And start feeling like what they were always meant to be: a paycheck you can’t outlive.
Continue reading: In Part 2, I walk through a specific strategy called PIRC — Piecemeal Internal Roth Conversion — that addresses one of the biggest concerns retirees have about annuity income: the tax problem. Read Part 2: A Smarter Way to Create Tax-Free Retirement Income →
Book a Safe Money Review to start the conversation →
— Kurt
Kurt Lytle is the founder of IUL.Solutions, an independent insurance and retirement income planning practice based in Nashville, TN. All recommendations are made only after a full suitability review in accordance with each state’s insurance regulations. IUL.Solutions does not provide tax, legal, or investment advice. NPN #8993693.