Annuities
An annuity is a contract with an insurance company: you hand over a premium, and the carrier guarantees a rate of return, an income stream for life, or both. This page covers every type we broker, what today’s rates actually are, and how to tell which one fits what you are trying to do.
Live multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) rates across 90+ top annuity companies, updated daily. Every term links to the full rate table for that duration.
| Term | Top rate | Full table |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 5.25% | Best 2-year annuity rates |
| 3 years | 6.50% | Best 3-year annuity rates |
| 5 years | 7.00% | Best 5-year annuity rates |
| 7 years | 7.10% | Best 7-year annuity rates |
| 10 years | 6.30% | Best 10-year annuity rates |
Rates update daily and change often. See how we get our rates, or compare annuity rates available in your state.
There are six main types of annuities, from fixed MYGAs to income annuities. They differ in how your money grows and when the annuity starts paying you.
See all six side by side in our guide to the types of annuities, with a comparison table and a quick goal picker.
The main annuity types, re-cut by what people are actually trying to accomplish. Find the row that sounds like you.
A MYGA pays a guaranteed rate for a fixed term and defers the tax until you withdraw, which a CD does not. The tradeoff is a surrender charge if you break it early.
Look at: a multi-year guaranteed annuity
An income annuity converts a lump sum into guaranteed monthly income for life. A fixed index annuity with an income rider does something similar while keeping access to the account value.
Look at: a SPIA, a DIA, or an FIA with an income rider
A fixed index annuity credits interest based on an index with a floor of zero, so a down year credits nothing rather than losing principal. Caps and participation rates are where carriers differ most.
Look at: a fixed index annuity
A period-certain income annuity can cover the exact number of years between retiring and claiming, which raises your Social Security benefit permanently.
Look at: a period-certain income annuity
Contracts written years ago are often stuck at rates far below what is available now. A 1035 exchange moves the money to a new contract without triggering tax.
Look at: a free policy review
The same four steps whichever product you land on. Nothing is signed until you have seen the contract.
Grow safely, or pay income. That single answer eliminates half the market before you compare a single rate.
A quarter point of extra yield is not worth a weak balance sheet. We show the AM Best rating next to every rate.
Know exactly what leaving early costs and how much you can withdraw each year without penalty. See how surrender charges work.
We handle the paperwork with the carrier. Most contracts are issued within two to three weeks. See our process start to finish.
No contact details required. Every calculator runs in your browser.
An annuity guarantee is only as good as the company behind it. We show the AM Best rating next to every rate we publish, and we place business with carriers we would use ourselves.
Fixed and fixed index annuities do not lose principal to market declines. The guarantee is backed by the issuing insurance company rather than the FDIC, and every state runs a guaranty association that covers contracts up to a statutory limit if a carrier fails. Read more on annuity safety.
Roughly $500 to $700 a month for a 65-year-old buying lifetime income today, depending on age, state, and whether the income is single or joint life. See the full $100,000 annuity payout breakdown.
Growth inside an annuity is tax-deferred until you withdraw it. In a non-qualified contract, withdrawals come out earnings-first and are taxed as ordinary income; inside an IRA, the usual IRA rules apply instead. Here is how annuity taxes work.
It depends on the payout option and the beneficiary designation. Most deferred annuities pay the remaining account value to your named beneficiary outside probate. Read about annuity death benefits.
Fixed and fixed index annuities generally carry no annual fee. The carrier makes its margin on the spread, and the commission is paid by the insurance company rather than deducted from your premium. Optional riders and variable annuities do carry explicit annual charges. See annuity fees and commissions explained.
Most contracts allow penalty-free withdrawals of up to 10% a year after the first year. Taking more than that during the surrender period triggers a surrender charge that declines each year. See how surrender charges work.
All 110 annuity pages on this site, grouped by what they answer.
No pages match that. Try a broader term, or ask us directly.
We named it My Annuity Store on purpose. We wanted a marketplace where people could buy an annuity, not be sold one.
See our editorial policy and rate methodology.
Honest reviews of what Suze, Dave, and Ken say about annuities, and where their advice breaks down for retirees.
See real monthly payout figures by deposit size, based on April 2026 rates from top annuity companies.
Plain-English explanations of the terms and rules that matter when you buy an annuity.
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