As retirement gets closer, many people start shifting focus from growth to income reliability. Fixed annuities are often dismissed early in that discussion, but I think they are worth a more balanced look.They offer predictable returns, protection against loss of principal, and the ability to defer taxes while money grows. Some products can be purchased online with published rates and clear terms, which lowers the barrier to understanding how they actually work. I ended up comparing options on Gainbridge while researching alternatives to bonds and CDs.Interested to hear how others weigh certainty versus flexibility when planning retirement income.