What typically happens to the surrender value of an annuity during a market downturn?

The surrender value of an annuity reflects the amount the policyholder would receive if the annuity is cashed out before it matures. This value can be influenced by the performance of underlying investments, especially in variable annuities where funds are linked to financial markets. During a market downturn, the performance of these investments may decline, leading to a corresponding decrease in the surrender value. Thus, it's anticipated that in challenging economic conditions, the surrender value may decrease based on how the investment component of the annuity has performed, confirming that this option accurately reflects market dynamics impacting annuities. Understanding this relationship helps in evaluating the risk associated with annuities during times of economic instability.