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snowbirdtobe...What you have cited 10 year certain, etc are annuities. Determining life expectancy is one factor. Each annuity type will give you some help. for instance if you select single life then the annuity will pay you $XX amount until you die then the annuity ends. If you select 50% then you will receive $xx amount until you then then your annuity amount will be reduced by 50% and paid to your beneficiary, ususally your spouse. 10 year certain means you will get a higher amount for 10 years and if you are still alive paid at a reduced amount. Choosing the type of annuity is most important.

I based my life expectancy in part by genetics using the age of my longest living parent to be conservative. For my *****on I selected 50% because I based my decision on the fact that I would die before my wife and she would need additional money. In turn I asked her to take a single life annuity again because I believed I would die before her.. In essence look at the annuity has a whole pie and the type annuity how you would divide it. do you want a big piece in the beginning. do you want even slices throughout your life. do you want a smaller pience for you and some pie left over for your spouse?Find a mortlity table and answer each question being conservative. what I mean is overstate how long you believe you will live and will need money...Good luck