Who assumes all investment risk in a fixed annuity?

In a fixed annuity, the insurance company assumes all investment risk. This means that the insurance company guarantees a certain rate of return on the deposits made by the annuity holder, regardless of how the underlying investments perform. The annuity holder benefits from this arrangement because they are insulated from market fluctuations and potential losses.

The insurance company manages the investments and bears the responsibility for ensuring that they meet the promised returns to the annuity holder, creating a stable income stream for the individual during retirement or at some predetermined time. This responsibility solidifies the insurance company's role as the risk-bearer in this scenario, making it a critical component of how fixed annuities function.

By taking on this risk, insurance companies use their expertise in investment management to meet their obligations to policyholders, which is a fundamental aspect of their operations in offering fixed annuities. The other choices reflect entities that do not bear the investment risk inherent in a fixed annuity arrangement.