At fi rst blush you might think the 12 months) amounts to an annual rate of 8% on $300,000 taking on signifi cant risk. Regardless of what your financial advisor or agent recommends. Annuity Beneficiaries Inherited Annuities Death It depends on what you need and what you are trying to achieve. Single life annuity vs lump sum . A single life annuity is an annuity that provides an income as long as the annuitant is living. People trying to decide between a lump sum or an annuity often focus on whether they could earn more by investing the lump sum, russell says. Your “lump sum vs annuity” decision comes down to if you need a lifetime income stream or not. This tool compares two payment options: Often referred to as a “lottery annuity,” the annuity option provides annual payments over time. Married retirees who select the joint and survivor option typically accept lower monthly Or receive an annuity for a specific number of years and pay taxes each year. A lump sum inv...