What guarantees a level payment for the life of an annuity?

A life annuity guarantees a level payment for the duration of the annuitant's life, providing financial security through a steady stream of income. This arrangement ensures that the annuitant receives regular payments until death, which is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking to budget their expenses during retirement or for those who prefer predictable income.

In a life annuity, the payments remain constant and do not fluctuate with market changes or inflation. This stability helps annuitants to manage their financial planning more effectively since they can reliably forecast their income over time.

Other types of annuities, such as indexed annuities or market-linked annuities, might adjust payments based on market performance or a specific index, thereby introducing variability that can lead to fluctuating income amounts. A payout annuity typically refers to any annuity that makes payments, but it does not specifically guarantee level payments like a life annuity does, as it might also include variable payment structures.