Similar to many different types of financial products, fixed annuities are tightly regulated by a regulating body. Variable annuities are regulated by FINRA and the SEC because they deal with the purchase, selling, and trading of market securities. As such, your financial adviser must be securities licensed to sell this type of variable contract.

Fixed annuities are regulated by state insurance departments and are watched by each individual state. Because commissions are paid to the agent on the sale of the fixed annuity, the agent must also be licensed to sell annuities with the state. The license they hold is different than the license to sell variable annuities, but is a similar/ same license to sell other types of insurance products such as life insurance. Be sure you find a trained and licensed professional before purchasing a fixed annuity contract.