We wouldn't buy an annuity for ourselves, say financial advisers Around 16pc of advisers said they would delay making a decision in the current conditions, while 21pc said they would use a mix of other ways of taking an income from their pension savings, such as "income drawdown," fixed-term annuities and investments that include capital guarantees. The survey, conducted by MetLife, the insurer, also found that 42pc of advisers" clients were asking about alternatives to annuities. One in 10 advisers said more than 80pc of their clients were asking about other means of taking a retirement income. Fixed-term annuities pay a set income for a number of years, often five or 10, after which the investor is given a sum of money back if he or she is still alive. This sum can be used to buy another annuity. The hope is that rates will have improved in the meantime, although a deterioration in health could also mean that the investor could get a better income by buying an "enhanced" annuity - one for those with reduced life expectancy. Hopes that annuity rates would continue recent modest rises received a setback earlier this month when the Bank of England indicated that interest rates would remain low. Annuity rates tend to reflect investment returns more broadly, especially those on government bonds or gilts. Dominic Grinstead, managing director of MetLife UK, said: "Conventional and enhanced annuities will remain the most popular retirement income solution for the majority of pension savers for the foreseeable future. However, it is striking that just one in 10 advisers themselves would rely on a conventional or enhanced annuity for their own retirement income in current market conditions. There is strong demand and growing interest in alternatives to conventional annuities and innovation is crucial in driving expansion in the retirement income solutions market. Research conducted online between March 25 and April 2 2013 among a representative sample of 287 financial advisers For more annuity news sign up to our weekly newsletter