This book is designed to provide every investor with invaluable information before investing any money into a mutual fund or annuity. Where mutual funds are far more familiar to investors, annuities are the hidden gems of the insurance industry. They provide insurance companies with huge profit margins and annual sales now exceeding $300 billion per year. The sales efforts behind them are extremely aggressive, and after reading this book, you'll have the fundamental knowledge needed to combat these aggressive, and often times questionable sales pitches. Investing in these products can be one of the most important decisions you'll ever make, and this book can help you reach your goals by preparing you to make the most suitable investment for your needs.