Convert accumulated retirement capital into a stream of scheduled payments, often for life or for a fixed period.
To annuitize is to convert accumulated capital into a stream of recurring payments.
In retirement finance, the term usually describes the point at which a savings pool or annuity balance stops being mainly an asset balance and starts functioning as income.
Annuitization matters because it changes the retirement problem from accumulation to payout design.
the retiree trades some liquidity for income certainty
payment structure determines who gets paid and for how long
option choice affects survivor protection, inflation exposure, and estate flexibility
That makes annuitization one of the key transition decisions in retirement-income planning.
Annuity: The broader product and cash-flow concept behind annuitization.
Joint and Survivor Annuity: Common annuitization option for couples.
Retirement Income: The cash-flow goal annuitization is meant to support.
Automatic Withdrawal: A different way to draw income from retirement assets.