The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that members of the annuity fan club would probably fit in a Tim Hortons or someone's backyard. The Globe's Rob Carrick writes that annuities are well worth a look if you need secure retirement income for life, but when was the last time you heard someone talk about annuities at a family gathering or party? Investment properties, crypto, dividend stocks, even guaranteed investment certificates have generated significant buzz at times. With annuities, it is radio silence. However, interest rates have a big influence on the level of annuity payouts, which is good news right now, and this has improved annuity payouts. The lifelong payout from a sample registered $100,000 annuity bought for a 65-year-old woman increased to $6,364 annually in November from $6,296 in October. Annuities are suitable for a portion of your retirement savings, not the whole thing. We probably reached peak annuity last year, when interest rates were at a high point. Payouts are still competitive compared with the low-rate era of the 2010s, and they come with zero drama. That is worth noting at a time when the shares of dividend-investing stalwart BCE are being thrashed by disappointed investors.