Period certain is a guarantee feature in annuity and settlement options that ensures income payments will continue for at least a specified minimum period, such as ten, fifteen, or twenty years, even if the annuitant dies earlier. In a life-with-period-certain option, payments last for the longer of the annuitant's lifetime or the guaranteed period, with remaining payments often going to a beneficiary if death occurs before the end of the term. Stand-alone period-certain options pay for a fixed number of years regardless of whether the annuitant lives or dies. Period certain guarantees trade some income amount for additional assurance that heirs will receive payments if death occurs prematurely.

In everyday planning, advisors use period certain options when clients want predictable income but are concerned about dying shortly after annuitization and leaving nothing behind. They compare pure life-only payouts, which generate the highest income but stop at death, with life-with-period-certain or straight period-certain structures that lower payments slightly in exchange for guaranteed minimum payout windows. Advisors help clients select period lengths that balance income needs with survivor preferences, sometimes coordinating period certain terms with expected retirement phases or debt payoff timelines. They also explain that extending the guaranteed period may reduce flexibility compared to systematic withdrawals from an investment portfolio. By understanding period certain provisions, producers can tailor annuity and settlement recommendations to match client priorities for security, legacy, and lifetime income protection.