QuickenInsurance (www.QuickenInsurance.com), the leading online insurance marketplace, provides consumers with some of the necessary tools and materials needed to better educate themselves on how annuities can bolster financial security. The QuickenInsurance Web site addresses consumer's frequently asked questions regarding annuities, such as:

• What is an annuity? An annuity is a tax-deferred investment vehicle packaged as an insurance product.
• Is an annuity right for me? Whether or not you should purchase an annuity depends on your individual situation. Are you already contributing the maximum amount to your tax-deferred qualified retirement plan? Are you looking for additional tax-deferred opportunities? QuickenInsurance poses these and other questions that will help consumers determine if buying an annuity is right for them.
• What are the different types of annuities? There generally are two ways to classify annuities based on their key features: the timing of the benefit payments, and how the annuity earnings accumulate. The QuickenInsurance Web site provides individuals with various benefit payment and annuity earning options.
• What pay out options are available? When you begin to receive regular payments from your annuity, the amount of the payment will generally be determined by the value of the account, your age and the pay out option you select. QuickenInsurance highlights the variety of pay out options consumers can choose.

"Insurance is not just protection, it is also peace of mind," said Steven Aldrich, President and General Manager for QuickenInsurance. "By bringing annuities products to our wide spectrum of insurance offerings on QuickenInsurance, consumers may now have added peace of mind knowing that they are financially prepared for their future."

Completing a short questionnaire enables consumers to determine if annuities are right for them and the types of products would be the most effective. If consumers decide that additional retirement security is needed, QuickenInsurance can instantly provide fixed and variable annuities choices through reputable companies such as the Principal Financial Group, GE Capital Assurance (GECA), Allmerica Financial Life, Wester-Southern Life, and TransAmerica.