Who are the Best Fixed Annuity Companies for 2026?
The best fixed annuity companies pair a strong AM Best rating with a competitive guaranteed rate and terms that fit your goal. Athene sold the most fixed annuities in 2025, but the right company for you depends on what you need the money to do. Here is our pick for each common need:- Largest seller: Athene
- Financial strength: MassMutual
- Lifetime income: New York Life
- Customer service: USAA Life
- Liquidity: Symetra
- Product variety: Nationwide
- Low minimum deposit: Guardian
- A $50,000 deposit: Reliance Standard
- Long-term care: Global Atlantic
- Ease of doing business: Knighthead Life
The 10 best fixed annuity companies by need
Each card shows the company's 2025 rank in fixed-rate annuity sales from LIMRA, its AM Best rating and what it does best. Rates come from our live rate feed and update daily.
Athene Annuity & Life
- #1 in 2025 fixed-rate annuity sales at $17.55 billion, per LIMRA[1].
- Also #1 in fixed index annuity sales at $15.01 billion.
- Max Rate MYGA in 3, 5 and 7-year terms, from $10,000.
- Top rate today: 6.15% for 7 years.
Best for: savers who want the market leader with an A+ rating. Watch for: Max Rate allows penalty-free withdrawals of interest only. Athene is owned by Apollo Global Management, which gives some conservative buyers pause.
MassMutual
- A++ (Superior), the highest financial strength rating AM Best gives.
- A mutual company, owned by its policyholders instead of stockholders.
- #3 in 2025 fixed-rate annuity sales at $12.21 billion.
- Top rate today: 5.80% for 7 years.
Best for: conservative savers who put safety first. Premier Voyage offers 2 to 7-year terms from $10,000.
New York Life
- #1 in 2025 income annuity sales at $7.09 billion, more than double #2 MetLife.
- #2 in 2025 fixed-rate annuity sales at $16.97 billion.
- A policyholder-owned mutual that has paid dividends every year since 1854[6].
- Through My Annuity Store, we offer New York Life single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs) only.
Best for: retirees turning savings into guaranteed income for life. See how a single premium immediate annuity works.
USAA Life
- Ranked highest in the J.D. Power U.S. Individual Annuity Study[2] in 2024 and 2025.
- Scored 740 in 2025, well ahead of runner-up Western & Southern at 684.
- #5 in 2025 fixed-rate annuity sales at $7.63 billion.
- Sells only to military members, veterans and their eligible families.
Best for: military families who want top-rated service. Watch for: My Annuity Store cannot offer USAA annuities. We list USAA because its service record earned the spot, and you buy directly from USAA.
Symetra
- Select Pro lets you withdraw up to 15% a year with no surrender charge, starting in year one.
- Most MYGAs allow 10% a year or interest only.
- 3, 5 and 7-year terms from $10,000.
- Top rate today: 6.10% for 7 years.
Best for: savers who may need some of their money before the term ends. Watch for: rates step up at $100,000, so smaller deposits earn a little less.
Nationwide
- Ranked in LIMRA's 2025 top 10 for fixed-rate (#6), fixed index (#7) and income annuities (#10).
- Secure Growth MYGA in 3, 4, 5 and 7-year terms, from $10,000.
- Also sells CareMatters, an annuity with long-term care benefits.
- Top rate today: 6.00% for 5 years.
Best for: buyers who want one A+ rated company for savings, growth and income.
Guardian
- Fixed Target Annuity starts at $5,000, half the $10,000 most companies on this list require.
- A++ (Superior) rated and owned by Guardian Life, a mutual insurer.
- 3 to 6-year terms with 10% free withdrawals a year.
- Top rate today: 5.80% for 6 years.
Best for: first-time buyers starting small who still want A++ safety.
Reliance Standard
- Reliance Guarantee pays the same rate on any deposit from $20,000 to $1 million.
- Many companies pay less below $100,000, so a $50,000 deposit loses nothing here.
- A++ (Superior) rated and owned by Tokio Marine, with 3, 5, 7 and 10-year terms.
- Top rate today on $50,000: 5.90% for 7 years.
Best for: savers with $20,000 to $100,000 who want the full rate and A++ safety.
Global Atlantic
- ForeCare[3] doubles or triples your contract value for qualified long-term care, depending on underwriting.
- Under the Pension Protection Act[5], gains in a non-qualified annuity come out tax-free when used for qualified care. IRA money does not get this break.
- Benefits start after 90 days of care within 270 days, and the care rider has a monthly cost based on your age.
- Also consider OneAmerica Annuity Care II[4], which can pay up to 4x your premium for buyers aged 40 to 69, subject to underwriting.
Best for: people who want their savings to do double duty as care coverage. Learn how an LTC annuity works.
Knighthead Life
- You enter your checking account on the electronic application, and the premium is drafted by ACH.
- In our experience, Knighthead issues the policy within one to two business days.
- Staysail MYGA in 3, 5 and 7-year terms from $10,000, with higher rates at $100,000 and up.
- Top rate today: 7.10% for 7 years (simple interest).
Best for: buyers who want a fast, paperless purchase. Watch for: Knighthead is outside the 2025 top 20 for sales, and its A- rating is the lowest on this list.
Top 20 fixed annuity companies by 2025 sales
LIMRA ranks insurers by fixed-rate deferred annuity sales, which are mostly MYGAs. The top 20 sold $127.7 billion of the $165.3 billion industry total in 2025.| Rank | Company | 2025 sales | AM Best | Through MAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athene | $17.55B | A+ | Get a quote |
| 2 | New York Life | $16.97B | A++ | SPIA only |
| 3 | MassMutual | $12.21B | A++ | Get a quote |
| 4 | Corebridge Financial | $10.49B | A | Get a quote |
| 5 | USAA Life | $7.63B | A++ | Not offered |
| 6 | Nationwide | $7.18B | A+ | Get a quote |
| 7 | Pacific Life | $5.42B | A+ | Not offered |
| 8 | Western & Southern | $5.41B | A+ | Get a quote |
| 9 | American National | $5.15B | A | Get a quote |
| 10 | Symetra | $5.09B | A | Get a quote |
| 11 | Global Atlantic | $5.08B | A | Get a quote |
| 12 | Delaware Life | $4.69B | A- | Get a quote |
| 13 | Protective Life | $4.54B | A+ | Get a quote |
| 14 | F&G | $3.79B | A | Get a quote |
| 15 | Guardian | $3.37B | A++ | Get a quote |
| 16 | TIAA | $3.20B | A++ | Not offered |
| 17 | Prudential | $2.70B | A+ | Not offered |
| 18 | Reliance Standard | $2.45B | A++ | Get a quote |
| 19 | Lincoln Financial | $2.43B | A | Get a quote |
| 20 | Sammons Financial | $2.33B | A+ | Get a quote |
Show ranks 11 to 20Show top 10 only
Sales are 2025 fixed-rate deferred annuity sales from LIMRA. AM Best ratings are for each company's main annuity-issuing insurer. Sammons sells through Midland National and North American.
Biggest isn't always best
Sales rank tells you who sells the most, not who pays the most. Big sellers often win on brand, bank partnerships or a large agent force.- Athene's best MYGA rate today: 6.15% for 7 years.
- The best rate from any A-rated or better company today: 6.20% for 7 years, from Sagicor Life.
- Smaller companies can pay more because they compete on rate instead of name recognition.
How we picked these companies
We started with LIMRA's 2025 top 20 and matched each company to the need it serves best. Every pick had to clear these checks:- Financial strength: an AM Best rating of A- or better. See what a good AM Best rating is.
- Market standing: 2025 sales from LIMRA's fixed annuity rankings.
- Rates and terms: live MYGA rates, minimum deposits and free-withdrawal rules from our rate feed.
- Service: J.D. Power results and our own experience placing business with these companies.
- Availability: we only award a pick to a company we can offer, with USAA as the one marked exception.
How to choose a fixed annuity company
Match the company to your goal first, then compare rates among companies that pass your safety bar.- Set a rating floor. Many buyers stick to A- or better. Compare insurance company ratings before you buy.
- Check your state's guaranty limit. Each state's guaranty association backs annuities up to a set amount per company, often $250,000.
- Read the surrender terms. Know the free-withdrawal amount and how surrender charges work before you lock in.
- Match the deposit. Some companies pay more at $100,000 or $250,000, while others pay one rate on every deposit.
Compare today's rates from top companies
See live MYGA rates from 90+ top annuity companies, or ask us for a free quote.Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the #1 fixed annuity company?
Athene was the #1 fixed annuity company in 2025. It led LIMRA's rankings in fixed-rate deferred annuity sales at $17.55 billion and in fixed index annuity sales at $15.01 billion. New York Life was #2 in fixed-rate sales at $16.97 billion.
What is the safest fixed annuity company?
No single company is safest, but companies rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best hold the top financial strength rating. On this list, MassMutual, New York Life, USAA Life, Guardian, Reliance Standard and TIAA are rated A++. Your state's guaranty association adds a second layer of protection up to its limit.
Are fixed annuities safe?
Fixed annuities are among the safest retirement products because the insurer guarantees your principal and rate. That guarantee depends on the insurer's financial strength, so check its AM Best rating. State guaranty associations also back annuities up to a set limit per company, often $250,000.
Which fixed annuity company pays the highest rate?
The highest rate changes often, and it usually comes from a smaller company rather than the biggest seller. Our fixed annuity rates table ranks current MYGA rates from 90+ top annuity companies and updates daily.
Is Athene a good annuity company?
Athene is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best and sold more fixed annuities than any other insurer in 2025. Its Max Rate MYGA comes in 3, 5 and 7-year terms from $10,000. Athene is owned by Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm, which some conservative buyers weigh before buying.
Can I buy a USAA annuity through My Annuity Store?
No. USAA sells annuities only directly to military members, veterans and their eligible families. We include USAA because it ranked highest in the J.D. Power U.S. Individual Annuity Study in 2024 and 2025.
Sources & References
- LIMRA. “U.S. Individual Fixed Annuity Sales Breakout, 2025 Year-End Rankings.” ↩ Back
- J.D. Power. “2025 U.S. Individual Annuity Study.” ↩ Back
- Global Atlantic. “ForeCare fixed annuity with long-term care benefits.” ↩ Back
- LTCI Partners. “OneAmerica Annuity Care II product update.” ↩ Back
- Congress.gov. “Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280.” ↩ Back
- New York Life. “Life insurance dividend options.” ↩ Back
