Inherited Qualified Annuity
Inherited Qualified Annuity
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA
An inherited qualified annuity is a retirement annuity funded with pre-tax dollars — typically held inside a traditional IRA, rollover IRA, 401(k), SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or another employer-sponsored retirement account — that passes to a beneficiary after the original owner’s death. Because the original contributions were made before federal income tax was paid, the IRS has not yet collected tax on those funds. Every distribution the beneficiary takes is therefore generally taxable as ordinary income in full — there is no return-of-basis exclusion, no capital gains treatment, and no partial-exclusion ratio of the type that applies to non-qualified annuity distributions. The beneficiary inherits both the asset and the deferred tax obligation that has been accumulating since the first contribution was made. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA works with annuity beneficiaries evaluating distribution timing, tax impact, and how inherited qualified annuity proceeds can be positioned to support long-term financial security once the tax obligation is managed. Our resource on annuity beneficiary death benefits covers the complete treatment of annuity assets at death across qualified and non-qualified structures, and our resource on annuities 101 covers the foundational annuity product mechanics that provide context for understanding how qualified annuity distribution rules interact with the underlying contract.
The distinction between a qualified and non-qualified annuity is foundational to understanding the inherited annuity tax picture. A non-qualified annuity is funded with after-tax dollars, and only the earnings portion of distributions — the amount above the cost basis — is taxable when distributions are taken. An inherited qualified annuity has no cost basis in the traditional sense because contributions were made pre-tax — the entire account value is subject to ordinary income tax when distributed. Our resource on inherited non-qualified annuity covers the separate treatment and distribution rules that apply to non-qualified inherited annuities — a useful parallel that clarifies why the qualified/non-qualified distinction matters for both the tax outcome and the distribution strategy.
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Inherited Qualified Annuity — Distribution Rules by Beneficiary Type
The SECURE Act of 2019 and SECURE 2.0 of 2022 created a tiered system of distribution rules that applies differently to different beneficiary categories. Understanding which category applies — and what options that category provides — is the starting point for every inherited qualified annuity planning decision. The table below maps the major beneficiary categories to their distribution requirements and key planning considerations. Individual situations vary significantly; qualified tax and financial planning advice should be obtained before making distribution decisions.
| Beneficiary Type | Distribution Rule | Key Options Available | Annual RMDs During Window | Primary Planning Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving Spouse Most flexible treatment of any beneficiary category |
Option to assume ownership (treat as own IRA) or remain as inherited IRA beneficiary | Roll into own IRA — continues full tax deferral; own RMDs based on spouse’s age. Or stay as beneficiary — RMDs based on deceased’s age or life expectancy rules | Depends on election — own IRA rules if rolled over; inherited IRA RMD rules if remaining beneficiary | Determine whether rollover or beneficiary status produces better long-term outcome based on age, retirement timeline, and penalty considerations |
| Minor Child (original owner’s biological or legally adopted) Special EDB status until age of majority |
Life expectancy method while minor; 10-year rule begins at age of majority (typically 18 or 21 depending on state) | Annual life expectancy RMDs during minority; full depletion within 10 years after reaching majority | Yes — annual RMDs based on child’s life expectancy during minority period | Plan for the transition from life expectancy to 10-year rule at age of majority; the 10-year window closing date is determinable and planning should begin well before it arrives |
| Disabled or Chronically Ill Beneficiary EDB status with documentation requirements |
Life expectancy method — distributions may extend over full life expectancy | Smallest annual distributions of any non-spouse category; maximum tax deferral period available | Yes — annual RMDs based on beneficiary’s life expectancy; slower drawdown than 10-year rule | Documentation of disability or chronic illness status is required; this designation must be established and confirmed at the time of inheritance — not after the fact |
| Eligible Designated Beneficiary — Not More Than 10 Years Younger Sibling close in age; certain other non-spouse relatives |
Life expectancy method — may spread distributions over full life expectancy | Annual life expectancy RMDs; no 10-year hard depletion deadline | Yes — annual RMDs required; more gradual drawdown than 10-year rule | Confirm age differential documentation at time of inheritance; this EDB category is often overlooked by beneficiaries who assume the 10-year rule applies to all non-spouses |
| Non-Eligible Designated Beneficiary Most adult children, non-spousal heirs, other individuals |
10-Year Rule — full balance must be distributed by end of year 10 following owner’s death | Flexible distribution timing within the 10-year window — no requirement for equal annual withdrawals, but balance must reach zero by year 10 | If owner died on or after required beginning date: annual RMDs required in years 1-9; full balance by year 10. If owner died before RBD: no annual RMD requirement, full balance by year 10 | Strategic distribution timing across the 10 years to minimize bracket compression; coordinate with earned income, retirement plan distributions, and other taxable income sources |
| Non-Designated Beneficiary Estate, charity, certain trusts without qualifying individuals |
5-Year Rule (if owner died before RBD) or remaining life expectancy of owner (if owner died after RBD) | Limited flexibility; estate or trust distribution rules apply; charitable beneficiaries receive income tax-free but estate tax may still apply | 5-year full depletion if pre-RBD; remaining owner life expectancy schedule if post-RBD | Trust as beneficiary requires specific qualifying provisions to pass through life expectancy treatment to individual trust beneficiaries; otherwise the trust itself is subject to compressed distribution schedules |
The table’s most practically important insight for most readers is in the non-eligible designated beneficiary row — because that is the category that applies to the majority of adult children, grandchildren, and non-spouse heirs who inherit qualified annuities from parents or grandparents today. The 10-year rule eliminates the “stretch IRA” strategy that was the cornerstone of multi-generational IRA planning before the SECURE Act, and it compresses the tax obligation into a window that requires deliberate planning rather than passive management. Our resource on Required Minimum Distributions covers the complete RMD framework — including the owner’s lifetime distribution requirements that create the starting conditions for the beneficiary’s post-death distribution obligations. Our resource on how does an annuity work after death covers the specific annuity contract mechanics that govern what happens to the contract value, the annuity income stream, and the beneficiary options when the contract owner or annuitant dies.
How the SECURE Act Changed Inherited Qualified Annuity Planning
Before the SECURE Act of 2019, most non-spouse beneficiaries could take distributions from inherited IRAs and qualified annuities over their own life expectancy — a strategy commonly called “stretching” the IRA. A 35-year-old who inherited a $500,000 qualified annuity from a parent could take minimum distributions based on a 47-year life expectancy, spreading the tax obligation over nearly five decades of small annual withdrawals while the account continued to grow tax-deferred. This approach allowed significant intergenerational wealth transfer with modest annual tax impact.
The SECURE Act eliminated this stretch strategy for most non-spouse beneficiaries, replacing it with the 10-year rule: the inherited account must be fully distributed by the end of the tenth year following the original owner’s death. For the same 35-year-old inheriting the same $500,000, the distribution window compressed from nearly 50 years to 10 — compressing the tax obligation proportionally. For a beneficiary in their peak earning years, a $500,000 balance distributed over 10 years at $50,000 per year adds $50,000 of ordinary income annually on top of whatever the beneficiary already earns — potentially pushing significant income into higher tax brackets for a decade. For beneficiaries who receive large inheritances and fail to plan the distribution timing, the tax compression under the 10-year rule can permanently impair the after-tax value of the inheritance compared to what strategic distribution planning would have preserved.
SECURE 2.0 (enacted in late 2022) made additional technical modifications to the distribution framework, including further clarifications about when annual RMDs are required during the 10-year period depending on whether the original owner had begun required minimum distributions before death. The IRS has provided interim guidance during 2021–2024 regarding annual RMD requirements within the 10-year window, and final IRS regulations continue to develop as of the current date. This regulatory evolution is one of the strongest arguments for working with a qualified tax professional alongside an annuity planning specialist when managing an inherited qualified annuity — the rules at the point of distribution decision are the rules that apply, and regulatory changes can affect the optimal strategy.
Surviving Spouse Treatment — The Most Flexible Inherited Annuity Category
Surviving spouses receive significantly more favorable treatment than any other beneficiary category under both the pre-SECURE and post-SECURE frameworks. The most powerful option available to a surviving spouse is treating the inherited qualified annuity as their own — rolling it into their own existing or newly established IRA and continuing the account as if they were the original owner. Under this election, the surviving spouse’s own age governs the Required Minimum Distribution starting date (which under current law is age 73), RMDs are calculated on the spouse’s own life expectancy tables, and the full range of investment and accumulation options available in the spouse’s IRA remain accessible.
The rollover election is generally most advantageous for surviving spouses who are younger than their deceased spouse, who are still working, or whose own retirement savings and income will be sufficient to meet their needs without drawing on the inherited funds immediately. By rolling into their own IRA, the surviving spouse may be able to defer distributions further — potentially for decades — while the account continues to grow tax-deferred. A surviving spouse who is older than the deceased and who was already taking RMDs based on the deceased’s age may find that remaining as a beneficiary provides a more favorable RMD calculation in the near term, depending on the specific age differential.
The decision between rolling into one’s own IRA versus remaining as a beneficiary is one of the most consequential elections available to a surviving spouse, and it is typically irreversible once made. Careful analysis of age, current income, existing retirement accounts, anticipated future income, estate planning objectives, and the specific annuity contract terms should inform this decision before any election is submitted to the carrier or IRA custodian. Our resource on what should I do with my money after I retire covers the broader retirement asset management framework within which inherited annuity decisions exist — particularly relevant for surviving spouses who are coordinating the inherited asset alongside their own retirement income plan.
The 10-Year Rule in Practice — Strategic Distribution Planning
For non-eligible designated beneficiaries — the category that encompasses most adult children and non-spousal heirs — the 10-year rule requires the inherited qualified annuity to be fully distributed by the end of the tenth year following the year of the original owner’s death. The rule does not require equal annual withdrawals and does not mandate a specific distribution schedule within the 10-year window, except when annual RMDs are required (which occurs when the original owner died on or after their Required Beginning Date, generally April 1 of the year following the year they reached age 73). The tactical flexibility within the 10-year window is the primary planning lever available to non-eligible designated beneficiaries.
For beneficiaries in high-income years during the entire 10-year window, the challenge is that large distributions from the inherited annuity compound an already elevated marginal tax rate with additional ordinary income that pushes more dollars into the highest brackets. For beneficiaries who expect income variability over the 10-year window — years of lower earned income due to career transitions, early retirement, reduced work hours, or sabbatical — frontloading distributions into lower-income years can significantly reduce the total tax paid on the full inherited balance compared to equal annual distributions or backloaded distributions that pile up in high-income years. The specific analysis requires projecting annual income from all sources, estimating marginal tax rates across the distribution window, and modeling how different distribution timing strategies affect total after-tax income. A qualified tax advisor should be part of this analysis — but the framework is clear: take more in low-income years and less in high-income years, subject to any annual RMD minimums that apply.
Coordinating inherited qualified annuity distributions with Roth conversion planning is another strategy worth evaluating for some beneficiaries. In years when the beneficiary’s other income is low and their marginal rate is favorable, taking distributions from the inherited annuity and simultaneously converting other traditional IRA assets to Roth may produce a more tax-efficient outcome than treating the distribution timing decisions in isolation. Our resource on tax-deferred annuity strategies covers the broader tax planning framework for annuity distributions — relevant context for beneficiaries integrating the inherited annuity distribution plan with their overall tax and retirement planning strategy. Our resource on qualified charitable distributions covers the QCD mechanism that can allow certain inherited IRA distributions to go directly to qualified charities without being included in gross income — a strategy applicable to surviving spouses who roll the annuity into their own IRA and are 70½ or older.
Annual RMDs During the 10-Year Period — The Post-SECURE Complexity
One of the most important — and most frequently misunderstood — aspects of the post-SECURE distribution framework is whether non-eligible designated beneficiaries must take annual RMDs during the 10-year period or can simply wait until year 10 and take the full balance at that point. The answer depends on whether the original owner died before or after their Required Beginning Date (RBD), which is generally April 1 of the year following the year the owner reached age 73.
If the original owner died before reaching their RBD — meaning they had not yet begun taking RMDs — most interpretations of the SECURE Act allow the non-eligible designated beneficiary to take distributions in any pattern during the 10-year window, including no distributions in years 1 through 9 and a full distribution in year 10. Under this interpretation, the beneficiary has maximum flexibility to manage the distribution timing strategically. If the original owner died on or after their RBD — meaning they had already begun taking annual RMDs — the IRS has interpreted the SECURE Act as requiring beneficiaries to continue taking annual RMDs in years 1 through 9 based on the beneficiary’s life expectancy, with the full remaining balance distributed by the end of year 10. The IRS waived penalties for failure to take these annual RMDs for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, reflecting the regulatory uncertainty while final guidance was developed. Beneficiaries whose inherited accounts became subject to this framework during that period should confirm current IRS guidance with a qualified tax professional before determining their distribution obligations. Our resource on Required Minimum Distributions covers the complete RMD calculation and compliance framework.
The Annuity Contract Itself — What Happens to Specific Contract Features
The distribution rules above govern when income tax is owed on distributions from an inherited qualified annuity. A separate and equally important question is what happens to the annuity contract itself — particularly if the original contract had income riders, surrender charges, guaranteed death benefit provisions, or an active annuity payout stream that was already in payment when the owner died.
If the inherited qualified annuity was in the accumulation phase — not yet annuitized — beneficiaries generally have options that include: continuing the contract as an inherited IRA annuity subject to the applicable distribution rules; surrendering the contract and transferring the proceeds to an inherited IRA or another qualified vehicle; or potentially exchanging the contract for a different annuity that better serves the beneficiary’s planning objectives. Surrender charges may apply if the original contract is within its surrender period, and the timing of contract surrender should account for any surrender charge schedule before finalizing distribution decisions. Our resource on annuity surrender charges explained covers how surrender charge schedules are structured and how they affect the actual proceeds available during the surrender period — a directly relevant consideration for any beneficiary evaluating whether to keep the existing contract or reposition the assets.
If the inherited qualified annuity was already annuitized — in an active payout stream when the owner died — the beneficiary’s options depend heavily on the specific payout option the owner elected. A life-only annuity that was paying only on the owner’s life typically terminates at the owner’s death with no further payments to beneficiaries. A joint-and-survivor annuity continues payments to the surviving annuitant (often the spouse). A period-certain or cash refund annuity continues guaranteed payments to named beneficiaries for the remainder of the guaranteed period or until the total payments equal the original premium. Income riders on deferred annuities have their own continuation provisions that govern whether guaranteed income continues after the owner’s death and on what terms. Understanding the specific contract provisions before the owner’s death — and confirming them at the time of inheritance — prevents the misaligned expectations that create the most common beneficiary disputes with annuity carriers. Our resource on how does an annuity work after death covers these contract-specific mechanics in detail.
Repositioning Inherited Funds — From Tax Management to Income Planning
Once the distribution strategy for the inherited qualified annuity is established and the tax obligations are managed, beneficiaries often face a parallel planning question: how should the after-distribution proceeds be positioned to support the beneficiary’s own long-term financial security? This is where the inherited annuity planning conversation transitions from tax management to income planning — and where the framework for purchasing a new annuity with the distributed funds becomes relevant.
For beneficiaries who want to convert the after-tax proceeds into guaranteed lifetime income, purchasing a new non-qualified income annuity (SPIA or deferred income annuity) with distributed funds creates a private pension-like income stream from assets that were previously locked inside a qualified account with deferred taxes. The after-tax proceeds from the inherited qualified annuity distributions, once the tax obligation has been paid, become the beneficiary’s own after-tax capital — which can be positioned in any way that serves the beneficiary’s planning objectives, including annuity products, investment accounts, real estate, or debt reduction. Our resource on what is the best retirement income annuity covers the income annuity options available with after-tax capital and how to compare them for a specific planning objective. Our resource on how to not run out of money in retirement covers the broader sustainable income planning framework — particularly relevant for beneficiaries who are simultaneously managing the inherited distribution plan and their own retirement income strategy. Our resource on sequence of returns risk covers why guaranteed income sources have structural advantages over portfolio withdrawals during the distribution phase — the planning context that makes annuity income solutions most valuable for beneficiaries who are also managing their own retirement assets alongside the inherited qualified annuity proceeds. Our resource on annuity quotes and our resource on lifetime income annuity quotes provide the market comparison starting point for beneficiaries evaluating income annuity options with distributed proceeds.
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FAQs: Inherited Qualified Annuity
What is an inherited qualified annuity?
An inherited qualified annuity is a retirement annuity funded with pre-tax dollars — typically held inside a traditional IRA, rollover IRA, 401(k), SEP-IRA, or another employer-sponsored retirement account — that passes to a beneficiary after the original owner’s death. Because all contributions were made before federal income tax was paid, every distribution taken by the beneficiary is generally taxable as ordinary income in full. There is no return-of-basis exclusion and no partial-exclusion ratio of the type that applies to non-qualified annuity distributions. The beneficiary inherits both the full account value and the cumulative deferred tax obligation that has been building since the first pre-tax contribution was made. The qualified/non-qualified distinction is fundamental to understanding the inherited annuity tax picture — our resource on inherited non-qualified annuity covers the separate treatment that applies when after-tax contributions funded the original annuity. Individual tax situations vary, and professional tax advice should be obtained before making distribution decisions from an inherited qualified annuity.
How does the 10-year rule apply to inherited qualified annuities?
The 10-year rule, established by the SECURE Act of 2019, requires most non-spouse beneficiaries — specifically, those who do not qualify as Eligible Designated Beneficiaries — to fully distribute the inherited qualified annuity by the end of the tenth year following the year of the original owner’s death. The account must reach a zero balance by the end of year 10, but distributions can be taken in any pattern during the 10-year window rather than in equal annual installments. Whether annual RMDs are required during years 1 through 9 depends on whether the original owner died before or after their Required Beginning Date (RBD). If the owner died before RBD, beneficiaries generally have flexibility to distribute in any pattern. If the owner died on or after RBD, the IRS has interpreted the rules as requiring annual RMDs based on the beneficiary’s life expectancy during years 1 through 9, with the full remaining balance distributed by year 10. The IRS waived penalties for failure to take annual RMDs in 2021–2024 while final regulatory guidance was developed — beneficiaries in this period should confirm current obligations with a qualified tax professional. Our resource on Required Minimum Distributions covers the RMD framework in full.
Are surviving spouses subject to the 10-year rule?
No. Surviving spouses are Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and receive significantly more favorable treatment than other beneficiary categories. A surviving spouse typically has two primary options: rolling the inherited qualified annuity into their own IRA (treating it as if they were the original owner, with RMDs starting at their own age 73 and calculated on their own life expectancy), or remaining as a beneficiary of the inherited account (with RMDs calculated differently depending on whether the deceased spouse had begun RMDs). The rollover option is generally most advantageous for surviving spouses who are younger, who are still working, or whose own retirement income needs do not require drawing on the inherited funds immediately — because rolling into their own IRA can defer distributions and taxes for potentially decades. Remaining as a beneficiary may be more favorable for surviving spouses who are older than the deceased, or who need access to the funds at a penalty-free age below their own RMD starting date. The rollover election is typically irrevocable once made, and the analysis of which option produces the better long-term outcome requires careful consideration of both spouses’ ages, income needs, and retirement planning objectives.
Who qualifies as an Eligible Designated Beneficiary?
The SECURE Act established the Eligible Designated Beneficiary (EDB) category for individuals who are exempt from the 10-year rule and may instead use the life expectancy method for distributions. The EDB categories are: surviving spouses; disabled individuals (meeting the IRS definition of disability); chronically ill individuals (meeting specific IRS criteria); minor children of the original owner (until they reach the age of majority, after which the 10-year rule applies to the remaining balance); and individuals who are not more than 10 years younger than the original owner (often applicable to siblings close in age, or other non-spouse beneficiaries within 10 years of the decedent’s age). Each EDB category requires specific documentation and verification at the time of inheritance — particularly disability and chronic illness status, which must be established and confirmed through appropriate documentation rather than assumed. Beneficiaries who qualify as EDBs can take distributions over their life expectancy under the Single Life Table, which produces significantly smaller annual minimum distributions than the 10-year rule and allows much greater tax deferral. If you believe you may qualify as an EDB, confirming that status with a qualified tax professional before establishing the inherited IRA and selecting distribution method is essential — an incorrect category selection can have permanent tax consequences.
How are inherited qualified annuity withdrawals taxed?
Distributions from an inherited qualified annuity are generally taxed as ordinary income in full at the federal level, regardless of how long the money was invested or how the account grew. There is no long-term capital gains rate, no qualified dividend rate, and no return-of-basis exclusion. Every dollar distributed from the inherited qualified annuity adds to the beneficiary’s gross income for the year in which it is received and is taxed at the beneficiary’s applicable ordinary income marginal rate. This full ordinary income treatment is what makes distribution timing so consequential: a beneficiary who takes large distributions in high-income years faces a much heavier total tax burden on the same inherited balance than a beneficiary who coordinates distributions with lower-income periods across the 10-year window. State income taxes also apply in most states, adding to the effective total rate on each distribution. The interaction between inherited annuity distributions and other income sources — Social Security, pension income, other IRA distributions, earned income, investment income — requires annual tax planning rather than a set-it-and-forget-it approach to distribution timing. A qualified tax advisor should be involved in the annual distribution decision throughout the 10-year window to ensure the best available outcome. Our resource on tax-deferred annuity strategies covers the broader tax planning framework for managing annuity distributions efficiently.
Can I transfer or roll over an inherited qualified annuity?
Non-spouse beneficiaries generally cannot roll an inherited qualified annuity into their own IRA — the IRS prohibits this rollover treatment for non-spouses. Instead, non-spouse beneficiaries must establish a specifically titled inherited IRA (sometimes called a beneficiary IRA) and transfer the inherited annuity assets directly to that inherited IRA. Distributions from the inherited IRA are then subject to the applicable distribution rules (10-year rule for most non-eligible designated beneficiaries). The inherited IRA must be maintained as a separate account from any other IRA the beneficiary owns — it cannot be commingled with the beneficiary’s own traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Surviving spouses have the additional option of treating the inherited account as their own by rolling it into their own existing or newly established IRA, which eliminates the inherited IRA’s separate distribution requirements and subjects the account to the spouse’s own IRA rules. Within the inherited IRA, the beneficiary may exchange the inherited annuity contract for a different annuity or investment vehicle if the specific contract terms and carrier rules permit, subject to any applicable surrender charges and tax-neutral transfer requirements. Our resource on annuity surrender charges explained covers how surrender charge schedules affect the timing of any contract exchange decision.
Can I convert inherited qualified annuity proceeds into lifetime income?
Yes — beneficiaries who receive distributed proceeds from an inherited qualified annuity can use those after-tax funds to purchase a new non-qualified income annuity (SPIA or deferred income annuity) that converts the assets into guaranteed lifetime income. Once the inherited qualified annuity has been distributed and taxes have been paid, the after-tax proceeds belong to the beneficiary as personal capital and can be positioned in any way that serves their planning objectives — including purchasing an income annuity that provides a guaranteed income stream for the remainder of the beneficiary’s life. This strategy is particularly relevant for beneficiaries who want to preserve the income replacement function of the original annuity rather than simply depleting the inherited account over 10 years and absorbing the proceeds into general savings. The income annuity purchased with after-tax proceeds would be a non-qualified contract, meaning only the earnings portion of each distribution would be taxable — a more favorable tax treatment than the fully taxable qualified account that was inherited. Our resource on what is the best retirement income annuity covers the comparison framework for income annuity structures, and the Lifetime Income Calculator above provides preliminary income estimates for different premium levels and ages.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, DIA, CAA and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers (NPN 20471358), is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than 25 years of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, Group Health, Travel Medical and Evacuation Insurance, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, as well as his agency's featured coverage in Kiplinger— highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient. Visitors who want to explore current annuity rates and compare options across multiple insurers can also use this annuity quote and comparison tool.
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