Is Athene a Good Annuity Company?
Yes. Athene is one of the strongest annuity companies in the United States. It was the #1 seller of individual annuities in both 2023 and 2024, with roughly $36 billion in 2024 sales according to LIMRA, and the top seller of fixed annuities for three straight years.
Athene holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, plus A+ ratings from S&P and Fitch, and has more than $300 billion in assets. That mix of size, financial strength and competitive rates puts Athene on almost any fixed or fixed index annuity shortlist.
Athene is highly competitive, but it is not always the single highest rate on a given day. If the maximum rate is your only priority, compare every carrier in our live fixed annuity rate table.
Athene Annuity Products
Athene sells multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs), fixed index annuities (FIAs) and single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs). Here is the lineup we quote, with live MYGA rates and contract terms.
Athene MYGAs
The Max Rate series locks your rate for 3, 5 or 7 years, with no market exposure. Larger deposits earn a higher rate tier.
- Terms: 3 years to 7 years
- Minimum premium: $10,000
- Free withdrawals: interest earned only, starting in year one
- Max issue age: 83 to 85
- Market value adjustment: on every MYGA
- Not sold in: NY (New York has its own versions, see below)
| Product | Term | Top rate | Min. premium | Surrender charges by year | MVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athene Max Rate 3 | 3 yrs | 5.75% | $10,000 | 9.3-8.4-7.5% | Yes |
| Athene Max Rate 5 | 5 yrs | 6.05% | $10,000 | 10-10-10-10-10% | Yes |
| Athene Max Rate 7 | 7 yrs | 6.15% | $10,000 | 10-10-10-10-10-10-10% | Yes |
Top rate is the highest premium tier for each product, effective October 14, 2026, from AnnuityRateWatch. Smaller deposits can earn less, and rates vary by state and change without notice. New York residents buy Athene Max Rate 3, Athene Max Rate 5, Athene Max Rate 7 through Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company of New York.
Download the Athene Max Rate brochure (PDF).
Get notified when these rates change
Annuity rates move weekly and the top carrier rarely stays on top for long. We will email you when the rates on this page change. No sales calls, unsubscribe anytime.
Athene Fixed Index Annuities
Athene’s FIAs credit interest from market indexes with a 0% floor, so index losses never reduce your account. Several offer an optional guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) rider for lifetime income.
- Athene Agility 10: a 10-year FIA with S&P 500, multi-index and volatility-controlled strategies. Read our Athene Agility 10 review or download the Agility 10 brochure (PDF).
- Athene Ascent Pro 10: a 10-year FIA with a premium bonus of up to 10% and an optional GLWB rider for lifetime income. Read our Athene Ascent Pro 10 review or download the Ascent Pro 10 brochure (PDF).
- Athene Performance Elite 7 and 10: accumulation FIAs with high participation rates and no income rider. The 10 adds a premium bonus, and both come in Plus versions with a 0.95% liquidity rider. Read our reviews of the Performance Elite 7, Performance Elite 7 Plus, Performance Elite 10 and Performance Elite 10 Plus.
Athene Product Reviews
Athene AccuMax (an FIA) and Athene Amplify (a registered index-linked annuity) are no longer in the lineup we quote. Existing owners can download the AccuMax brochure (PDF) or the Amplify brochure (PDF).
Athene Pros and Cons
What we like
- Strong financial strength: AM Best A+ (Superior), plus A+ from S&P and Fitch
- Market leader: the #1 seller of individual annuities in 2023 and 2024, according to LIMRA
- Deep-pocketed parent: owned by Apollo Global Management, with more than $300 billion in assets
- Competitive MYGA rates: Max Rate terms of 3, 5 and 7 years, with higher rates for larger deposits
- Lifetime income options: Ascent Pro 10 and Agility 10 offer an optional income rider
What to watch for
- Long index annuity commitments: FIA surrender periods run up to 10 years
- Not always the top rate: competitive, but rarely the single highest rate in every term
- Complex index products: FIA crediting strategies and riders need a careful comparison
- Separate New York products: New York residents buy through Athene's New York company
- Younger brand: Athene was founded in 2009, though it absorbed older insurers such as Aviva USA
Athene Financial Strength and Ratings
Athene holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, the second-highest of its 15 levels. S&P and Fitch also rate Athene A+, and its Comdex score, a composite of the major rating agencies, is 88 out of 100.
Its parent, Apollo Global Management, is one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, with more than $700 billion under management. Apollo completed its merger with Athene in January 2022, according to the Apollo merger announcement.
Ratings are current as of the snapshot date above and can change; verify current standing at ambest.com before purchasing.
Who Owns Athene?
Athene is owned by Apollo Global Management. It is younger than nearly every carrier it now outsells: it was founded in 2009, after the financial crisis, by insurance executive Jim Belardi with backing from Apollo.
Instead of building a book of business one policy at a time, Athene grew by acquiring and consolidating annuity blocks from established insurers:
- 2011, Liberty Life Insurance Company: Athene’s first major U.S. acquisition, which gave it a working life and annuity platform.
- 2011, Investors Insurance Corporation: added in-force annuity business early in Athene’s growth.
- 2013, Aviva USA (about $1.8 billion): the deal that moved Athene into the top tier of U.S. fixed annuity writers and consolidated its headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa.
- 2022, full merger with Apollo Global Management: completed in January 2022.
That asset-management backing is a big part of why Athene can keep its MYGA and fixed index rates competitive. See where it ranks among the top fixed index annuity sellers from 2015 to 2025.
Athene Customer Service and Login
Existing Athene contract owners can log in at MyAthene to see contract values, statements and forms.
- Customer service: 888-266-8489, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT
- Fax: 866-709-3922
- Mail for forms: Athene Annuity, P.O. Box 1555, Des Moines, IA 50306-1555
- Headquarters: 7700 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Financial professionals: Athene producer login
How to Buy an Athene Annuity
Athene annuities are sold through independent licensed agents. My Annuity Store is an independent annuity marketplace, not affiliated with Athene, and we can compare Athene’s products with 90+ top annuity companies.
Athene accepts IRA rollovers, 1035 exchanges and non-qualified money, and its qualified minimum premiums start at $10,000. If you are weighing Athene against Allianz Life, our Athene vs Allianz comparison puts the two side by side.
Request a free Athene annuity quote to see today’s Athene rates beside 90+ top annuity companies, with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athene a good annuity company?
Yes. Athene holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, a Comdex score of 88 out of 100 and more than $300 billion in assets. It was the #1 seller of individual annuities in the U.S. in 2023 and 2024, according to LIMRA.
What MYGA rates does Athene offer?
Athene offers the Max Rate MYGA in 3, 5 and 7-year terms. Rates vary by term and premium, and deposits of $100,000 or more usually earn a higher rate tier. The live table on this page shows today's rates.
What is Athene's AM Best rating?
Athene Annuity and Life Company is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best, the second-highest of its 15 rating levels. S&P and Fitch also rate Athene A+.
Does Athene offer a lifetime income annuity?
Yes. Athene fixed index annuities such as the Ascent Pro 10 offer an optional guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) rider, which pays guaranteed income for life after an accumulation period. Athene also offers single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs).
Is Athene available in New York?
Athene Annuity and Life Company does not sell in New York. New York residents buy Athene products through its separate New York company, Athene Annuity & Life Assurance Company of New York.
How do I buy an Athene annuity?
Athene products are sold through licensed insurance agents, not directly online. My Annuity Store is an independent marketplace that can compare Athene products with 90+ top annuity companies. Request a free quote at no cost or obligation.
