Before we delve into the history, some of the types of annuities and what makes them unique let's first examine some of the basics about why people in today's society purchase an annuity. First and foremost an annuity will provide you, your spouse or someone else a periodic payment for the rest of your life or a specific period. Some annuities provide a certain degree of death benefits to your named beneficiary as well. And one of the most widely used reasons is your money will grow tax-deferred until you withdrawal the funds at which time you will pay ordinary income taxes on the difference between what you invested and the growth of the value of the annuity. In the United States, there are three different types of annuities sold, although there are several variations of each type depending on what guarantees or riders you purchase in conjunction with your annuity. The three main types are a fixed annuity, a variable annuity, or an indexed annuity. In this booklet, A Brief Overview of Annuities, the more common annuities are examined in general terms. If you need an overview of annuities, buy this booklet today.