THE ANNUITY COMPARISON CHECKLIST
Compare the questions. Not just the numbers.
A document-first framework for researching annuity proposals—without rankings, quotations, or assumed tax results.
| Review area | Question to ask | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Legal issuer | Who owes the payments, and where is that entity based? | Proposed policy, legal entity details, relevant official records. |
| Payment promise | What is contractual, and what is only an illustration? | Benefit provisions, schedules, payment options, assumptions. |
| Currency | Which currency comes in, and which currency goes out? | Contribution, valuation, payment, and conversion terms. |
| Access to funds | What happens if the plan changes? | Withdrawal rules, surrender examples, election conditions. |
| Full cost | What is charged, on what base, and when? | Fee schedule, optional-benefit costs, transfer and conversion terms. |
| Tax & reporting | Which questions apply to this owner in each country? | Qualified advice, relevant official instructions, annual records. |
| Family & claims | Who can act or claim, and what evidence is needed? | Designations, claims procedures, applicable legal advice. |
| Administration | How will the arrangement be managed after a move? | Service contacts, statement samples, change procedures. |
Match the assumptions first.
Align contribution size, dates, currency, payment frequency, and benefit elections before comparing illustrations. Keep contractual figures separate from projections. A different input can explain a different result.
Keep unknowns visible.
Use “not yet verified” when a fee, condition, or tax question lacks evidence. An absent number is not zero. Record the document version and the person responsible for clarifying each item.
Do not force unlike structures into a ranking.
Swiss and offshore are location-related labels. Private describes a different structural question. These labels can overlap; a privately negotiated obligation needs tailored review rather than assumptions borrowed from an insurance policy.
Take the questions to your next discussion.
A print-friendly reference sheet with space for notes and source-document references. Nothing is entered or stored online.
Prepare the same packet for every adviser
Include the policy wording, fee schedule, illustration, ownership information, relevant country facts, and questions not yet answered. Ask each adviser to identify the scope of their review. A contract interpretation, suitability discussion, and tax conclusion are related but distinct tasks.
For more detail, read the cost guide, provider-checking guide, and tax considerations overview. The worksheet is an organizational aid, not an assessment of a product or a substitute for professional advice.