What is the main risk associated with variable annuities?

The main risk associated with variable annuities is market risk affecting investment values. Variable annuities allow policyholders to invest in various sub-accounts, which can include stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles. Since the value of these sub-accounts fluctuates based on market performance, the amount accumulated in the variable annuity can rise or fall significantly, depending on market conditions. This variability in investment returns directly impacts the policyholder's account balance and future income payouts, making market risk a critical consideration for anyone investing in a variable annuity.

While other risks like inflation risk, default risk, and surrender risk are relevant to the overall discussion of annuities, they do not represent the primary concern for variable annuities specifically. Inflation risk pertains to the erosion of purchasing power over time, default risk relates to the potential failure of the insurance provider, and surrender risk involves penalties for early withdrawal but do not inherently affect the core investment values in the same manner that market risk does.