When does a deferred life annuity begin to pay out?

A deferred life annuity is designed to start making payments to the annuitant at a future date, specified at the time of the purchase. This structure allows individuals to accumulate savings or investment growth during the deferral period before receiving periodic income. The chosen future date can align with the policyholder's retirement plans or other financial strategies, making this option flexible and accommodating to different financial needs.

The other alternatives do not accurately describe how a deferred life annuity functions. Starting payments immediately after purchase would categorize the annuity as an immediate life annuity, while tying the payout to a specific retirement age imposes limitations not typical of all deferred annuities. Lastly, payments upon the death of the policyholder would prioritize beneficiaries rather than the annuitant's income stream, which is distinct from the standard operation of deferred life annuities.