"Their sales have surged lately -- up 47% this year's first quarter over the same period last year, according to LIMRA... and are projected to grow steadily over the next few years. But immediate annuities still account for less than 10% of annuity sales overall.... [O]ther, high-fee versions of annuities are sold more aggressively.... [M]any people may not understand how immediate annuities work. The concept behind them is actually quite simple."  MORE >>