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Company reviews

Annuity Company Reviews

Plain-English reviews of the insurance companies behind today's annuities: who owns them, how strong they are, what they sell and who each one fits.

Allianz LifeA+ rated, globally backed, and the leading name in fixed index annuities.AM Best A+American EquityA major FIA specialist now owned by Brookfield.AM Best AAmerican FidelityA+ rated, but sold only through employer 403(b)/457(b) plans.AM Best A+American GulfA new, rate-focused MYGA brand rated B++ by AM Best.AM Best B++American NationalA 120-year Texas carrier now owned by Brookfield.AM Best AAmericoA privately held, A-rated MYGA and FIA carrier.AM Best AAspidaA- rated, Ares-backed, and rate-competitive in MYGAs and FIAs.AM Best A-AtheneApollo-owned, A+ rated, and the top seller of fixed annuities in the U.S.AM Best A+Atlantic Coast LifeA near-century-old carrier downgraded to C+ (Marginal) amid a state rehabilitation petition.AM Best C+AuguStar FinancialA 115-year-old carrier under a new name, backed by Canadian pension money.AM Best AAxonic InsuranceA 2024 MYGA brand riding on a 25-plus year Oklahoma carrier.AM Best A-Baltimore LifeA 140-plus-year-old mutual insurer newer to the annuity business than to life insurance.AM Best B++Bankers LifeA career-agent insurer built for face-to-face service, not rate shopping.AM Best ABerkshire HathawayTop-tier ratings, but a narrow retail lineup built for structured settlements.AM Best A++Brighthouse FinancialMetLife's old retail annuity business, now a standalone RILA leader awaiting a buyer.AM Best ACeres LifeA four-year-old MYGA specialist with rate-competitive terms and a B++ rating.AM Best B++Charles SchwabA brokerage, not an insurer. Offers one income annuity, built by Protective Life.CL LifeA Crestline-backed Texas MYGA carrier with a rare bailout feature on one product.AM Best B++Clear SpringAn A-rated MYGA specialist that prices near the top of its rating tier.AM Best A-CMFG LifeA mutual carrier sold mostly through credit unions, A rated with an A+ from S&P.AM Best ACorebridgeThe former AIG annuity business, A rated, now merging with Equitable.AM Best ADelaware LifeA- rated, annuity-only carrier built from Sun Life's old U.S. block, now on negative outlook.AM Best A-ELCO MutualA small Illinois mutual, B++ rated, known for a flexible premium annuity you can add to over time.AM Best B++EquitableThe company that invented the RILA, A rated, now merging with Corebridge.AM Best AEquiTrustA Midwest carrier with a middling AM Best grade and consistently competitive rates.AM Best B++F&GA fast-growing, A-rated MYGA and FIA carrier owned by a title insurance giant.AM Best AFarmers LifeA Tennessee carrier below the A- tier, priced to compete with higher-rated names.AM Best B++FidelityA brokerage giant, not an insurance carrier. No MYGAs or fixed index annuities here.Fidelity Security LifeAn independent, A-rated Kansas City carrier, often confused with Fidelity Investments.AM Best AGainbridgeA direct-to-consumer MYGA platform with the lowest minimum premium in the market.AM Best A-GBU LifeA 130-year-old fraternal society with A- strength and no-teaser-rate MYGAs.AM Best A-GenworthNot selling new annuities. A guide for people who already own one.AM Best B-GILICOA century-old Louisiana carrier with a straightforward fixed annuity lineup.AM Best A-Global AtlanticA fast-growing, KKR-owned carrier with an A rating and a broad annuity shelf.AM Best AGuardianA mutual-owned A++ carrier with a broad shelf, but MYGA rates that trail the pack.AM Best A++Guggenheim Life and AnnuityAn A- MYGA and FIA carrier rebuilt on Group 1001's capital after a 2021 acquisition.AM Best A-HartfordHartford no longer sells annuities. Talcott Resolution now services every existing contract.AM Best A-IbexisA newer, rate-focused MYGA specialist rated A- by AM Best.AM Best A-Integrity LifeA rare combination: A+ institutional backing behind a competitively priced MYGA.AM Best A+Jackson National LifeThe country's dominant variable annuity seller, now standing on its own after a 2021 spinoff.AM Best AJohn HancockA+ rated by AM Best, but closed to new annuity buyers since 2013.AM Best A+Kansas City LifeA- rated, family-controlled, and sold mainly through its own career agents.AM Best A-Knighthead LifeA newer brand on a 1957 carrier. Rate-focused MYGAs with simple interest.AM Best A-Liberty Bankers LifeA- rated MYGA carrier with free built-in health waivers on its flagship product.AM Best A-Lincoln FinancialA rated after a 2022 downgrade, with one of the broadest annuity lineups around.AM Best ALoyal American LifeA Cigna-owned supplemental carrier with limited fixed annuity availability.AM Best AManhattan Life175 years of history, a B++ rating, and the market's most generous free withdrawal.AM Best B++Massachusetts Mutual (MassMutual)The A++ mutual parent behind the MassMutual brand. Strength first, rate second.AM Best A++MassMutual AscendMassMutual's independent channel subsidiary. A++ rated, deep MYGA menu.AM Best A++MetLifeA+ rated and instantly recognizable, but retail annuities moved to Brighthouse in 2017.AM Best A+Midland NationalA+ rated, employee-owned parent, deep MYGA and FIA shelf.AM Best A+Mountain LifeA Utah MYGA carrier downgraded to B- (Fair) in early 2026.AM Best B-Mutual of OmahaA household name backed by an A+ rated subsidiary and a brand-new FIA.AM Best A+Nassau Life and AnnuityA rate-competitive MYGA seller with a B++ rating, one notch below A-.AM Best B++National Integrity LifeA New York specialist with an A+ rating borrowed from a much larger parent.AM Best A+National Life GroupA 175-year-old mutual with A+ ratings and a leading spot in 403(b) plans.AM Best A+NationwideA large mutual insurer with a broad annuity shelf and A+ ratings.AM Best A+New York LifeThe largest U.S. mutual insurer, with the industry's top ratings and a captive sales force.AM Best A++North AmericanA Sammons Financial carrier known for wide MYGA terms and a strong income FIA.AM Best A+Northwestern MutualA top-rated mutual insurer sold only through its own financial advisors.AM Best A++OceanviewA rate-focused, MYGA-only carrier out of Kansas with an A rating.AM Best AOneAmerica FinancialA 149-year mutual carrier with an unusually long A+ streak and a deferred income annuity most peers skip.AM Best A+Oxford LifeA 60-year-old, senior-market carrier owned by AMERCO, the parent of U-Haul.AM Best APacific LifeA 155-year-old mutual carrier with a deep FIA lineup and a famous first customer.AM Best A+Penn MutualA 179-year-old mutual carrier with elite multi-agency ratings and a rare inflation-adjusted SPIA.AM Best A+PrincipalA major 401(k) recordkeeper with a narrower, retirement-plan-focused annuity shelf.AM Best A+Protective LifeA 117-year-old Alabama carrier backed by one of Japan's largest insurers.AM Best A+PrudentialA+ rated, best known for FlexGuard RILA and PruSecure FIA.AM Best A+Reliance StandardA++ rated, Tokio Marine backed, MYGA and index annuity specialist.AM Best A++ReliaStar LifeA Voya Financial subsidiary, mostly relevant to existing policyholders now.AM Best ARevol OneA B++ rated, Michigan MYGA specialist built around rate.AM Best B++SagicorA rated with an unusually low complaint record and a age-90 issue limit.AM Best ASammons Financial GroupEmployee-owned parent of two A+ rated MYGA and FIA carriers.AM Best A+Securian FinancialMutual carrier since 1880, A+ rated, strongest in advisor-sold variable annuities.AM Best A+Security Benefit130-year Kansas carrier, not-for-share, A- rated MYGAs and a bonus FIA.AM Best A-Sentinel Security LifeUtah MYGA carrier downgraded to C+ (Marginal) by AM Best in September 2026.AM Best C+SILACA rate-competitive carrier with a B (Fair) rating under review.AM Best BState Farm LifeTop-tier financial strength, but you can only buy it through a State Farm agent.AM Best A+SymetraAn A-rated MYGA competitor backed by a major Japanese insurer.AM Best AThe StandardA group-benefits giant with a smaller, steady fixed annuity shelf.AM Best AThrivent FinancialTop-rated fraternal insurer, sold only through its own advisors.AM Best A++TIAATop-rated annuities, open only to nonprofit and education employees.AM Best A++TransamericaA recognizable brand, A rated, one notch below the strongest carriers.AM Best AUnited of OmahaA+ rated, mutual owned, backed by a household insurance name.AM Best A+Unum GroupA large, A-rated insurer, but not an individual annuity carrier.AM Best AUpstream LifeA Louisiana MYGA carrier now effectively unrated by AM Best.USAAAM Best's top rating, but you have to qualify for USAA membership first.AM Best A++VenerableA closed-block administrator, not a company you buy a new annuity from.Voya FinancialA workplace retirement giant that stopped selling individual annuities years ago.Western & SouthernA 137-year mutual company that sells competitive MYGAs through Integrity Life.AM Best A+Wichita NationalA small Oklahoma MYGA carrier that competes on rate, not size.AM Best B+Wilton ReA reinsurer backed by a pension giant, not a company you buy an annuity from.AM Best A+

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