A rider is an optional add-on you attach to an annuity to give it an extra feature, such as guaranteed lifetime income or an enhanced death benefit. Most riders come with an annual fee charged against your account value in exchange for the added protection.
In plain terms: An optional upgrade you add to an annuity, usually for a yearly fee.
A rider is like adding roadside assistance or gap coverage to a car insurance policy. The base annuity does its core job; the rider bolts on a specific protection you choose. The most common is a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit, which turns the annuity into a lifetime paycheck. Riders typically cost a yearly fee (often a fraction of a percent to around 1%+ of your value), so you weigh the feature against the drag on growth.
Riders can solve a real problem like outliving your savings, but each one costs money and not everyone needs them. Buy the rider that matches a specific goal, and skip riders that only add cost.
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