Carrier Comparison
Athene vs F&G Annuities: 2026 Comparison
Compare AM Best ratings, Comdex scores, product lineups, and current annuity rates side-by-side. Independent analysis from a licensed producer who places business with both carriers.
F&G and Athene compete head-to-head for the same fixed and indexed annuity buyer: someone shopping rates through an independent producer. Both are publicly affiliated carriers with private-equity-related ownership stories, both publish competitive MYGA and FIA rates most weeks, and both rank among the top 10 indexed-annuity issuers in the U.S. by sales. The differences are real, though. Athene operates at roughly six times F&G's scale, holds higher third-party financial strength ratings, and offers a deeper product lineup including SPIAs and RILAs. F&G punches above its weight on yield, frequently topping public MYGA rate tables.
Should I buy Athene or F&G annuities?
Whether Athene or F&G is the right fit comes down to your age, state of residence, and what role the annuity plays in your retirement plan. We graded both carriers head-to-head on financial strength, product lineup, current MYGA rates, and customer service. Here’s how they stack up.
Carrier background
An annuity’s guarantees are only as strong as the insurance company backing them. Because annuities are long-term contracts (sometimes lasting decades), assessing a provider’s background ensures they have the reserves and longevity to pay out your future income. (Source: California Department of Insurance.)
What annuity products do Athene and F&G offer?
Athene Winner
Athene offers the full annuity spectrum: MYGAs (Athene MaxRate, MaxRate Premier), fixed indexed annuities (Athene Performance Elite, Ascent Pro, Velocity), single-premium immediate annuities, and registered index-linked annuities. The depth gives a producer room to tailor structure to a client. Most Athene production is FIA-driven, where it is consistently among the top issuers nationally by sales.
F&G
F&G offers MYGAs (the F&G Guarantee Platinum series) and fixed indexed annuities (F&G FIA Express, Power Accumulator, Pathsetter). The lineup is narrower than Athene's. No SPIA. No RILA. For buyers who only want a MYGA or a single FIA, the narrowness is not a problem, but producers building combined fixed-plus-income solutions sometimes pair F&G with a different carrier for the income-annuity sleeve.
| Athene | F&G | |
|---|---|---|
| Annuity types offered | Multi-Year Guaranteed (MYGA), Fixed Indexed (FIA), Immediate (SPIA), Registered Index-Linked (RILA) | Multi-Year Guaranteed (MYGA), Fixed Indexed (FIA) |
| Flagship product | Athene Performance Elite 7 | — |
| Known for | MYGA rate leadership and high-volume FIA distribution | — |
What are Athene and F&G's current MYGA rates?
Live rates pulled from our carrier feed. State availability varies; rates change without notice.
Athene
Product reviews
In-depth, independent reviews of individual annuity products from each carrier.
Athene
- Athene Agility 10 Annuity Review (2026)
- Athene Ascent Pro 10 Annuity Review
- Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus Annuity Review (2026): $16,500 Guaranteed Income on $100K
- Athene Ascent Pro 10 vs North American Income Pay Pro 10 (2026): Income FIA Head-to-Head
- Athene Aviator 5 Review: Strong Participation Rates, New in 2026
- Athene Performance Elite 7 Annuity Review (2026)
- Athene Performance Elite 7 vs EquiTrust MarketPower Bonus Index (2026): FIA Head-to-Head
How do Athene and F&G rates compare to the market? (updated 05/29/2026)
Athene Winner
Athene's MYGA rates are typically in the top quartile but rarely the single highest rate in any term. The carrier prices with brand and rating room above the cheapest specialty issuers. Where Athene wins on rate is FIA cap rates and participation rates, where its scale and the Apollo asset-sourcing arrangement support more aggressive credit math than smaller carriers can sustain.
F&G
F&G regularly tops or near-tops public MYGA rate tables, particularly in 5-year and 7-year terms. The carrier earns much of its new business through yield. Buyers shopping a single fixed annuity primarily on rate find F&G in the consideration set almost every week.
How do Athene and F&G handle customer service and complaints?
Athene
Athene's customer service operations are headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, with a dedicated producer and policyholder support line. Industry NAIC complaint-index data for Athene varies year to year, and we don't cite a single current ratio here without a fresh pull.
F&G
F&G's customer service is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Independent producers report response-time performance broadly comparable to Athene. F&G has invested heavily in its policyholder portal in the past three years, and the digital experience is among the better interfaces in the indexed-annuity industry.
Should you choose Athene or F&G?
Choose Athene if
You want the highest available third-party ratings in the private-equity-backed FIA carrier set, a deep product lineup that includes SPIAs and RILAs, and the comfort of dealing with one of the largest U.S. annuity balance sheets. Athene fits when scale and rating depth matter more than maximum yield.
Choose F&G if
You are shopping a single MYGA or FIA primarily on rate, you are comfortable with an A (Excellent) AM Best rating, and you value FNF's publicly traded parent backing. F&G fits when a quarter-point of yield on a 5- or 7-year MYGA matters more than ratings depth.
Look elsewhere if
You want an A++ (Superior) AM Best carrier, a mutual ownership structure, or a SPIA backed by one of the largest balance sheets in the industry. In that case, look at New York Life, MassMutual, or Northwestern Mutual, or compare current rates across 90+ top annuity companies through MyAnnuityStore.
Which is better: Athene or F&G?
F&G and Athene are both legitimate, well-rated, frequently competitive options for buyers shopping fixed and indexed annuities through an independent producer. Athene wins on scale, ratings, and product breadth.
F&G wins on yield often enough that ignoring it can cost real basis points over a 5- to 7-year term. Most buyers should solicit quotes from both, decide whether the higher-rated carrier is worth a rate concession in their specific contract, and choose accordingly. Both carriers are available through MyAnnuityStore.
Get a real quote from both carriersFrequently asked questions
Is Athene safer than F&G?
By third-party financial strength ratings, yes. Athene holds A+ (Superior) from AM Best versus F&G's A (Excellent), and A+ from S&P versus F&G's BBB+. Both are above the threshold most licensed producers use to recommend a carrier, but Athene's ratings are higher and its $300+ billion balance sheet is roughly six times the size of F&G's.
Who has better MYGA rates, F&G or Athene?
F&G is more often at the top of public MYGA rate tables, particularly on 5-year and 7-year terms. Athene's MYGA rates tend to be top quartile but rarely chart-topping. Exact rankings change weekly, so check current rates before locking in a contract.
Are F&G and Athene related?
No. F&G is a subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF), a Fortune 500 title insurance company. Athene Holding is a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO). Both carriers serve the independent annuity producer channel but they are separate companies with different parents and balance sheets.
Does F&G or Athene offer income annuities (SPIAs)?
Athene offers single premium immediate annuities. F&G does not currently issue SPIAs. Buyers who want to combine a MYGA or FIA with a guaranteed lifetime income annuity from the same carrier should look at Athene, or pair F&G with a separate income annuity carrier.
How do I buy an annuity from F&G or Athene?
Both carriers sell through licensed independent insurance producers. MyAnnuityStore can place business with either carrier. Request a quote and we'll provide current rate sheets, suitability analysis, and electronic application support.
More carrier comparisons
Considering a different pair? Compare AM Best ratings, product lineup, and live MYGA rates side-by-side.
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Reviewed by Jason Caudill, MBA · Founder, MyAnnuityStore.com. Editorial last updated 05/29/2026. We may earn commissions from carriers we recommend; this does not influence which products we cover. Editorial policy.
