Years Certain Annuity

You've paid in money for a bunch of years as a kind of insurancy-investment product. (See Annuity if you're lost.) You pay in for x years. Time passes. Then you get paid out a certain y amount for at least a minimum certain period. That's where that 'certain' part comes in.

Like...you live 12 years, collecting 7 grand a month in payout...then you die...and your beloved nephew Nelson collects after your death for, say, a certain period of 10 years.

Each annuity contract is different so, uh...reading the fine print is a Thing. (Three double espressos may be needed first.)

Anyway, that's what this term is all about: the number of years that, for suresies, you'll be paid out from your hard work in saving your dough.