Annuity

How an Annuity Works (Step-by-Step)

An annuity provides periodic payments for a specific number of years until reaching maturity.

Unique to annuities, there is no final lump sum payment (i.e. the principal) paid back at the end of the borrowing term, as with zero-coupon bonds.

Unlike a perpetuity, an annuity also comes with a pre-determined maturity date, which marks the date when the final interest payment is received.

Since there is no final principal repayment, each payment is equal in value. However, payments received earlier are more valuable due to the “time value of money.”

Earlier cash flows can be reinvested earlier and for a longer duration, so these cash flows carry the highest value (and vice versa for cash flows received later).

Typically, the most common types of issuers of annuities are the following:

• Insurance Companies (e.g. Retirement Planning)
• Mutual Funds
• Brokerage Firms
• Mortgage and Auto Financing

Present Value of an Annuity Formula (PV)

The formula for calculating the present value (PV) of an annuity is equal to the sum of all future annuity payments – which are divided by one plus the yield to maturity (YTM) and raised to the power of the number of periods.

Where:

• PV = Present Value
• A = Annuity Payment Per Period ($)
• t = Number of Periods
• r = Yield to Maturity (YTM)

Alternatively, a simpler approach consists of two steps:

1. First, the annuity payment is divided by the yield to maturity (YTM), denoted as “r” in the formula.
2. Next, the result from the previous step is multiplied by one minus [one divided by (one + r) raised to the power of the number of periods].

Ordinary Annuity vs. Annuity Due: What is the Difference?

When calculating the present value (PV) of an annuity, one factor to consider is the timing of the payment.

• Ordinary Annuity → Cash Flows Received at End of Period
• Annuity Due → Cash Flows Received at Beginning of Period

The term “annuity due” means receiving the payment at the beginning of each period (e.g. monthly rent).

On the other hand, an “ordinary annuity” is more so for long-term retirement planning, as a fixed (or variable) payment is received at the end of each month (e.g. an annuity contract with an insurance company).

• Fixed Annuity: The insurance company provides interest in the form of periodic payments that must meet the minimum rate of return threshold.
• Variable Annuity: The insurance company allows owners to allocate their annuity payments into certain low-risk investment vehicles, such as mutual funds.

The trade-off with fixed annuities is that an owner could miss out on any changes in market conditions that could have been favorable in terms of returns, but fixed annuities do offer more predictability.

Present Value of an Ordinary Annuity Table (PV)

Present Value of an Annuity Due Table (PV)

Annuity Calculator – Excel Model Template

We’ll now move to a modeling exercise, which you can access by filling out the form below.

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Present Value of Annuity Calculation Example (PV)

In our illustrative example, we’ll calculate an annuity’s present value (PV) under two different scenarios.

1. Ordinary Annuity
2. Annuity Due

The assumptions listed below are to be used for the entirety of the exercise.

• Annuity Payment: $1,000
• Yield (r): 5%
• Periods (t): 20 Years

First, we will calculate the present value (PV) of the annuity given the assumptions regarding the bond.

The “PV” Excel function can be used here, as shown below.

• Present Value (PV) = PV (r, Periods, – Annuity Payment, 0, “0” or “1”)
• Present Value (PV) = PV (5%, 20, –$1,000, 0, IF (Annuity Type Cell =“Ordinary”,0,1))

Note: Since we have two scenarios, we’ll create a toggle to alternate between the two options – which is the “IF(Annuity Type Cell =“Ordinary,” 0,1)”.

The two present value (PV) amounts calculated on the annuity bond are the following:

• Ordinary Annuity: $12,462
• Annuity Due: $13,085

From there, we can also calculate the future value (FV) using the formula below:

• Future Value (FV) = – FV (r, t, Annuity Payment, 0, “0” or “1”)
• Future Value (FV) = – FV (5%, 20, $1,000, 0, IF (E5 = “Ordinary”, 0, 1))

The two future value (FV) amounts calculated on the annuity bond are the following:

• Ordinary Annuity: $33,066
• Annuity Due: $34,719

We’ll calculate the yield to maturity (YTM) using the “RATE” Excel function in the final step.

• Yield to Maturity (YTM) = RATE (t, Annuity Payment, 0, – FV, “0” or “1”)
• Yield to Maturity (YTM) = RATE (20, $1,000, 0, – FV, IF (E5 = “Ordinary”, 0, 1))”

The annuity bond has a yield of 5% under either scenario.

In conclusion, screenshots of the completed models can be found below.

^{Ordinary Annuity}

^{Annuity Due}