My 401(k) plan is emailing me about annuities, but I’m only in my 50s. Is this something I should do?
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My 401(k) plan is emailing me about annuities, but I’m only in my 50s. Is this something I should do?Listen(8 min)Listen(8 min)I got a letter from my 401(k) plan saying “Great news!” and that there’s “a new plan benefit offering steady income in retirement.” It went on to suggest converting part of my 401(k) savings into a guaranteed income annuity. What is this about? Is this something I should do now even though I’m only 54 and not thinking about retirement? Curious employeeAbout the AuthorBeth Pinsker is a financial-planning columnist at MarketWatch. She has been a certified financial planner (CFP®) since 2018. Previously, she worked at Reuters, Fidelity and Walletpop.com. Prior to covering personal finance, she was a film critic and entertainment business reporter, writing for Entertainment Weekly, The Dallas Morning News and many other publications. Her book, "My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving," is out in November 2025 from Crown Currency. You can follow heron BlueSky (@bethpinsker.bsky.social) or LinkedIn (@bpinsker).Copyright © 2025 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.