When you cash out an annuity, the insurance company only pays you the cash surrender value of the annuity. You forfeit any surrender charge. Cashing out your annuity also makes you subject to taxes and penalties. But a 1035 exchange may allow you to transfer the money from your current annuity to another one.
The accumulation phase comes first when you can build your retirement savings and take advantage of the opportunity to grow your money income tax deferred. The second phase is called distribution or the income phase. [On-screen disclosure] Distributions are subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, a 10% federal additional Bond funds invest in many individual securities, providing diversification for a relatively small investment minimum. Credit risk. Higher-rated bonds historically have a lower risk of default. Dependent on the quality of the underlying securities in which the fund invests (varies by fund type and objective) .