Can you give me some idea of annuity rates?

Annuity rates vary a great deal. As people have started to live longer annuity rates have fallen sharply. If you want a survivor's pension the rate will depend not just on your age, but your partner's too. Newspapers often have tables that give up-to-date annuity rates in their personal finance section.

Having given all those health warnings these figures (taken from the downloadable FSA guide to annuities and income withdrawal) give a rough idea of how much pension you get for a £25,000 pensions pot.

• For £25,000 a man aged 65 wanting a level annuity (the same each year) with no guarantee period and no survivor's benefits will get a pension of £139 a month.
• For £25,000 a couple (65-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman) wanting a pension that goes up 3 per cent a year, will not be reduced when the first person dies and has no guarantee period will get a pension of £64 a month.

This should give you a sense of how much rates can vary depending on how you structure your annuity. They also show once again that to get even a very modest pension on top of your state pension you need a big pensions pot.