Glossary Terms

Estate Planning Definitions & Glossary

Below is a helpful list of terms and words found on this site or related to estate and trust planning.
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Variable Annuity
An annuity/life insurance product where the annuity premium (usually a fixed amount of dollars paid at the inception of the policy) is immediately turned over into units of a portfolio of stocks. Upon retirement, the policyholder is paid according to the accumulated units, the dollar value of which varies according to the performance of the stock portfolio. Its objective is to preserve, through stock investment, the purchasing value of the annuity which otherwise is subject to erosion through inflation.
Variable Life Insurance Policy
A life insurance policy where premium payments are invested in the stock market. The value of this policy may be extremely volatile.