You probably don’t lie awake at night worrying that you’ll live too long. But maybe you should. The biggest financial risk retirees face isn’t volatile investment returns — it’s longevity. Will your money last as long as you do?

In a world of increasing life spans, disappearing pensions, and crashing markets, an immediate annuity is an insurance policy against a man-made disaster…you running out of cash. You give the insurer a chunk of change, and, in exchange, you receive a contracted amount every month for the rest of your life, like a pension. The longer you live, the better this becomes.

Something to remember though is that when you purchase an annuity you are doing so on the faith that the insurer will be financially sound enough to make the payouts for decades. And once you purchase you generally can’t change your mind…without paying a hefty penalty.

Another tip is to not invest more than $100,000 with any single annuity company. Since a $100,000 annuity will only provide about $9,000 a year for a 70-year-old, it may be in your best interest to purchase annuities from assorted companies.

Wondering how to choose the best annuity companies?

Eliminate insurers that don’t offer immediate annuities in most states.

Take out of the equation any that have ratings below A for financial safety from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and A.M. Best.

You also want them to have a rating from TheStreet.com of at least a B-.

MoneyWatch did a rigorous analysis of more than 100 insurers to find the seven sturdiest ones paying the most.

Prefer to stick with the very safest company on the list? Drop down to Number 5, USAA, which gets the highest financial-soundness grades from all the raters and also offers the most generous 5-year payments.

1. Minnesota Life
   Lifetime monthly payment: $744
   5-year payment: $1,709
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A+; S&P, AA-; Moody’s, Aa2; TheStreet.com, B2. American National Life Insurance
   Lifetime monthly payment: $736
   5-year payment: $1,663
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A; S&P, AA-; TheStreet.com, B

   3. North American Co. for Life and Health
   Lifetime monthly payment: $735
   5-year monthly payment: $1,717
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A+; S&P, A+; TheStreet.com, B

   4. Midland National
   Lifetime monthly payments: $728
   5-year monthly payments: $1,743
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A+; S&P, A+; TheStreet.com, B+

   5. USAA
   Lifetime monthly payments: $720
   5-year monthly payments: $1,771
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A++; S&P, AAA; Moody’s, Aa1; TheStreet.com, A

   6. PennMutual
   Lifetime monthly payments: $714
   5-year monthly payments: $1,713

   Ratings: A.M. Best, A+; S&P, AA-; Moody’s, Aa3; TheStreet.com, B+

   7. MetLife
   Lifetime monthly payments: $710
   5-year monthly payments: $1,680
   Ratings: A.M. Best, A+; S&P, AA-; Moody’s, Aa2; TheStreet.com, B-

   If you are interested in learning more about how to purchase any of these annuities please contact me to set up a time to talk!

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John Bulbrook, Bulbrook Drislane – IN-FORCE ™ Secondary Market, Finance and Investments, Secondary Market, Annuities, Fixed Term Annuities, Life Insurance, Structured Settlements, Previously Owned Annuities, Pre Owned Annuities, Immediate Annuities, Factored Structured, Settlement Secondary Market Annuity, Aftermarket annuity, Inforce fixed term annuities, Inforce fixed term annuity, Inforce annuity, Deferred Variable Annuity, Inherited Annuity, Equity Annuities, Straight Life Annuity, Non Qualified Annuity, Mutual Fund Settlement, 20 Year Annuity, 10 Year Annuity, 5 Year Annuity – Click here for his Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus