Although there may be some rare occasions where certain types of low-cost, no load annuities may make sense, the study's results amount to a big, fat, buyer-beware regarding annuities and those who sell them. So when you get that free-lunch invitation, beware. And, ideally, sit down with a fee-only financial adviser, who doesn't earn sales commissions, to get an objective second opinion before seriously considering turning over your hard earned dollars.

Did you ever wonder how a financial advisor makes their investment recommendations?  There are thousands of mutual funds on the market today.  How does he/she pick one over the other?  If your advisor works for a big brokerage firm like Morgan Stanley or Merrill Lynch, some of the decision-making is taken out of his/her hands.