[jmvalcq]

You are right that it is annuity. However, unlike other income annuities you still have access to your money. The funds put into the account have two sides to it, an income side and a cash value side. The income side, called the protected withdrawal value, can grow by 5% or the market performace. You receive 5% of protected withdrawl value when you start taking your income. Once you turn on the income stream, you will receive that amount the rest of your life, unless market performance forces the protected withdrawal value up. Once the new withdrawal value is established it can never go down regardless of the account's value,even it the account goes to zero, unless you withdraw funds from the account.. The other side's value is determined by market performance and what the death benefit based upon. the income can also be set up to pay out as long as either spouse is alive. The account