Can you lose money in an indexed annuity?

From the NAIC Buyer’s Guide

Index interest formulas may use features such as participation rates, cap rates, and spread/margin rates, so credited interest may reflect only part of an index change. If the index goes down over the period, zero interest is added for that feature and annuity value will not go down from that index change as long as you do not withdraw the money.

Fixed indexed annuities are a type of fixed annuity that earn interest based on changes in a market index; the interest rate is guaranteed never to be less than zero, even if the market goes down. When you buy an indexed annuity, you are not investing directly in the market or the index.

You usually have to pay a surrender or withdrawal charge if you take some or all of your money out of a deferred annuity during a stated period. Some contracts allow a limited free withdrawal each year (for example, 10% or less of account value).

Source: NAIC Buyer’s Guide for Deferred Annuities (2022). The guide does not endorse any company or policy. For your state insurance department, see www.naic.org.