Who are the Best Fixed Annuity Companies in 2026?
Below are the best fixed annuity companies based on total U.S. individual fixed annuity sales in 2025, per the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute.
| Rank | Company | 2025 Sales | Market Share | AM Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athene Annuity & Life | $17.55 billion | 10.62% | A (Excellent) |
| 2 | New York Life | $16.97 billion | 10.26% | A++ (Superior) |
| 3 | Massachusetts Mutual Life (MassMutual) | $12.21 billion | 7.39% | A++ (Superior) |
| 4 | Corebridge Financial | $10.49 billion | 6.35% | A (Excellent) |
| 5 | USAA Life | $7.63 billion | 4.61% | A++ (Superior) |
| 6 | Nationwide | $7.18 billion | 4.34% | A+ (Superior) |
| 7 | Pacific Life | $5.42 billion | 3.28% | A+ (Superior) |
| 8 | Western & Southern Group | $5.41 billion | 3.27% | A+ (Superior) |
| 9 | American National Insurance (ANICO) | $5.15 billion | 3.12% | A (Excellent) |
| 10 | Symetra Financial | $5.09 billion | 3.08% | A (Excellent) |
Source: LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute full-year 2025 individual annuity sales survey. See our full MYGA sales history 2015 to 2025 for complete rankings and historical data.
Fixed annuity sales hit a record $165.3 billion in 2025, making it the highest year on record according to LIMRA. More than 20 carriers competed for a share of that total, but just ten of them accounted for roughly 57% of the entire market.
We work with more than 50 top-rated fixed annuity carriers at My Annuity Store. The ranking above is based on 2025 actual sales volume, not marketing budgets or paid placements. If a company ranks #1 in sales, it is because real retirees bought their product at a real price and held on to it.
Use this page to see who sold the most, how they compare on ratings and rates, and which carrier fits your specific situation best.
"Favorable economic conditions, expanded distribution, and growing investor demand for protected lifetime income have propelled the annuity market in recent years."
Which Top 10 Fixed Annuity Carrier Fits You?
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Athene Annuity & Life
Based on your answers, Athene offers the highest guaranteed MYGA rates across most terms.
Best Fixed Annuity Company for Every Need
Sales volume alone does not tell the full story. Not every carrier excels in every area. We analyzed financial strength, rate competitiveness, product flexibility, customer service, and minimum deposits to identify which carrier fits each buyer profile best.
| Best For | Company | AM Best | Why They Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Strength | New York Life | A++ | Largest U.S. mutual insurer. Paying dividends to policyholders since 1854. Unmatched stability for conservative savers with $200K+. |
| Highest MYGA Rates | Athene | A | Apollo-backed spread management delivers top-quartile rates across 3-, 5-, and 7-year terms. Consistently #1 or #2 on rate tables. |
| Overall Value | MassMutual | A++ | Top-tier mutual company with competitive rates via its MassMutual Ascend subsidiary. Strong ratings and strong rates, a rare combination. |
| Customer Service | USAA Life | A++ | Consistently tops J.D. Power satisfaction studies. Military-family heritage drives a service-first culture few carriers match. |
| Product Variety | Nationwide | A+ | Offers MYGAs, traditional fixed, FIAs, and income annuities under one roof. Ideal if you want a single carrier for multiple goals. |
| Low Minimum Deposit | Corebridge Financial | A | Accepts deposits as low as $5,000 with competitive 3 to 7 year rates. Good entry point for first-time annuity buyers. |
| Fastest Rising Legacy Carrier | Pacific Life | A+ | Jumped from #16 in 2024 to #7 in 2025, one of the largest single-year rank gains. Aggressive pricing on 5-year MYGAs. |
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How We Picked These Companies
Rankings on this page are based on verified 2025 sales volume reported to LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute, not survey data or editorial opinion. We then layered in five additional filters:
- Financial strength ratings: Every carrier on the Top 10 holds at least an A rating from AM Best.
- Product availability: The carrier must actively issue new MYGA or fixed annuity contracts (no closed blocks).
- Rate competitiveness: We cross-reference the current fixed annuity rate tables for the last 12 months.
- Consumer complaints: We check the NAIC complaint index for red flags.
- Distribution access: The carrier sells through independent brokers, not just captive agents, so real retirees can actually buy the product.
We do not take paid placements or sponsorship fees for ranking positions. If a carrier pays us a commission on a sold policy, that commission is the same regardless of which carrier the client chooses, which means we have no incentive to push one over another.
Carrier Profiles: The Top 10 in Detail
1. Athene Annuity & Life ($17.55B)
Athene held the #1 spot for the third straight year in 2025, though sales slipped from $21.2B in 2024 as competition intensified. Backed by Apollo Global Management, Athene uses its private-equity parent's investment expertise to offer aggressively competitive MYGA rates. Their flagship MaxRate MYGA is frequently the highest-paying product on our rate board for 3, 5, and 7 year terms.
Best for: Retirees chasing the highest guaranteed rate and comfortable with an A-rated (not A++) carrier. Read the full Athene review.
2. New York Life ($16.97B)
NYL surged back to #2 in 2025 with a 79% year-over-year increase, proving the legacy mutuals are not going quietly. Founded in 1845, New York Life is the largest mutual insurer in the United States and carries every top rating available (A++ from AM Best, AAA from Fitch). Their fixed annuities tend to price below Athene but offer the absolute peace of mind that comes with 180 years of dividend payments.
Best for: Conservative savers with $200,000+ who prioritize strength over rate. Read the full New York Life review.
3. MassMutual ($12.21 billion)
MassMutual has appeared in the Top 6 every single year since 2015, the most consistent record of any carrier on this list. Like NYL, they are a mutual, meaning policyholders (not shareholders) own the company. Their MassMutual Ascend subsidiary, formed from the 2021 Great American acquisition, issues competitively priced MYGAs while the parent company handles whole life and income annuities.
Best for: Buyers who want mutual-company safety without giving up on rate. Read the full MassMutual review.
4. Corebridge Financial ($10.49B)
Formerly known as AIG Life & Retirement, Corebridge spun out as a public company in 2022 and immediately claimed a top-5 ranking. Their American General fixed annuity brand is one of the oldest in the business, and they are known for offering low minimum deposits ($5,000 in many states) that make them a good first-annuity carrier.
Best for: First-time annuity buyers with smaller deposits. Read the full Corebridge review.
5. USAA Life ($7.63B)
USAA jumped from #11 in 2024 all the way to #5 in 2025, one of the biggest rank gains in the data. USAA Life is rated A++ by AM Best and consistently wins the J.D. Power customer satisfaction study. USAA membership is limited to military families, but once you qualify, you get access to some of the most buyer-friendly fixed annuity contracts on the market.
Best for: Military families who value service quality. Read the full USAA review.
6. Nationwide ($7.18B)
Nationwide made a massive jump in 2025, moving from #16 into the Top 10 in a single year. Their strength is product breadth: you can buy a MYGA, a traditional declared-rate fixed annuity, an FIA, or an immediate income annuity from the same carrier. That matters if you want to consolidate retirement assets under one roof.
Best for: Buyers who want one carrier for multiple annuity types. Read the full Nationwide review.
7. Pacific Life ($5.42B)
Pacific Life has been a fixture in the Top 10 for nearly a decade. Their 5-year MYGA is frequently within 10 basis points of the top rate, and their A+ financial strength rating gives them a sweet spot on the rate-to-safety curve. Pacific Life is also one of the few A+ carriers that still accepts premium bonus structures.
Best for: 5-year MYGA buyers who want a premium bonus. Read the full Pacific Life review.
8. Western & Southern Group ($5.41B)
A 137-year-old Cincinnati-based insurer that has quietly appeared in the Top 20 every single year since 2015. Western & Southern operates through several subsidiaries, including Integrity Life and National Integrity, and tends to pay a premium on 3-year MYGAs in particular.
Best for: 3-year MYGA buyers looking for stable regional carriers. Read the full Western & Southern review.
9. American National Insurance / ANICO ($5.15B)
ANICO has been in the Top 20 every year since 2015 but finally broke into the Top 10 in 2024. They are known for industry-leading contract flexibility, including return-of-premium features and free withdrawal provisions larger than the 10% industry standard.
Best for: Buyers who value liquidity and want generous free-withdrawal rights. Read the full ANICO review.
10. Symetra Financial ($5.09B)
Owned by Japan's Sumitomo Life, Symetra has been in the Top 10 for 9 of the last 11 years. Their Symetra Custom 7 is one of the most popular 7-year MYGAs on the market, particularly for buyers who want a longer term lock.
Best for: 7-year MYGA buyers looking for longer-term rate certainty. Read the full Symetra review.
Fixed Annuity Basics
A fixed annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company where you deposit a lump sum and the insurer guarantees a set interest rate for a specific period. The most common type today is the Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA), which locks in a rate for 3 to 10 years, similar to a bank CD but issued by an insurance company and typically paying a higher rate.
Three reasons retirees buy fixed annuities:
- Higher guaranteed yields than CDs. Fixed annuities have averaged 150 to 200 basis points above comparable bank CDs for the last three years.
- Tax deferral. Unlike a CD, you do not owe federal income tax on the interest until you withdraw it, letting the money compound faster.
- No market risk. Your principal and stated rate are guaranteed by the issuing insurer (subject to claims-paying ability).
The tradeoff is liquidity. Fixed annuities carry surrender charges if you pull out early, and most charge a 10% IRS penalty on gains if you withdraw before age 59½. They are designed for money you do not need for 3 to 10 years.
"We are in the middle of Peak65, when more than 4 million Americans turn 65 each year, often with fewer protected lifetime income sources available. Our research suggests the demand for solutions that offer security, and peace of mind, has never been greater."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the #1 fixed annuity company in 2026?
By 2025 sales volume, Athene Annuity & Life is the #1 fixed annuity company in the United States, with $17.55 billion in MYGA sales and 10.62% market share. New York Life is a close second at $16.97 billion.
Are fixed annuities safe?
Fixed annuities are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company, not FDIC insurance. Every company on this Top 10 list carries an A rating or higher from AM Best, which is the highest-rated third-party credit agency for insurance. Additionally, all 50 states operate guaranty associations that provide coverage (typically $250,000 to $500,000 per contract) if a carrier becomes insolvent.
Is Athene a good annuity company?
Athene holds an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best, $360+ billion in assets, and has led MYGA sales for three years running. Their private-equity backing from Apollo Global Management lets them offer some of the highest rates in the market, though they do not carry the A++ ratings of mutuals like New York Life or MassMutual.
Which fixed annuity pays the highest interest rate?
The highest-paying fixed annuity changes almost weekly as carriers adjust their rates. As of this writing, Athene, Corebridge, and Americo typically lead the 3 to 5 year MYGA rate tables. You can see live rates updated daily on our fixed annuity rate comparison tool.
Should I buy from the biggest annuity company?
Not necessarily. Sales volume is one signal, but it is not the only one. A carrier with $2 billion in sales and an A++ rating may be a better fit than a $17 billion A-rated carrier if you value financial strength above rate. What matters most is matching the carrier to your specific situation: rate, rating, product features, and term length.
What to Do Next
Every fixed annuity contract is different, even from the same carrier. Rates change weekly, and the "best" company for your situation depends on your age, state, deposit amount, and term preference. Three ways to move forward:
- Compare today's fixed annuity rates from all Top 10 carriers side by side.
- Request a personalized quote tailored to your state, age, and deposit.
- Browse all 50+ carrier reviews for the full picture.
Sources & Citations
- LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute - Full-year 2025 U.S. individual annuity sales survey
- AM Best - Financial strength rating definitions and carrier ratings
- NAIC Consumer Information Source - Carrier complaint index data
- J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Life Insurance Study - Customer satisfaction rankings
- Annuity.org - Fixed Annuity Guide - Consumer education reference
Disclosures: Educational information only. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. State guaranty association coverage is not a solicitation. My Annuity Store, Inc. is a licensed insurance agency and may earn commissions when clients purchase products from carriers mentioned on this page. Rankings are based on publicly reported LIMRA data and are not influenced by commission structures.
