North American Performance Choice 8 overview
The Performance Choice 8 earns interest from the performance of a market index, yet your money is never invested in the market itself. When the index falls during a crediting period, the credit is zero rather than a loss.
Its best S&P 500 1-year point-to-point cap is currently 8.90% at a $100,000 premium, one of 17 crediting strategies on the contract. Every strategy's current terms are in the menu below.
The tradeoff is access and upside. Withdrawals above the free amount face a surrender charge for 8 years, and index credits are limited by caps, participation rates, or spreads.
Crediting strategy menu
These are the carrier's filed rates by premium band, refreshed automatically from our live feed. The Reference cap tag marks the strategy we use to rank this product against its peers.
| Strategy | Type | Term | Cap | Par | Spread | Fixed / Trigger | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year Goldman Sachs Equity TimeX Index Point to Point Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 75% | — | — | — |
| 1-Year Fidelity Multifactor Yeild Index 5% ER W/ Enhanced PR | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 190% | — | — | 0.95% |
| 1-Year Fidelity Multifactor Yeild Index 5% ER W/PR | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 150% | — | — | — |
| 1-Year Fixed | Fixed | 1-yr | — | — | — | 4.75% | — |
| 1-Year S&P 500 Annual Point-to-Point W/PR | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 35% | — | — | — |
| 1-Year S&P 500 Monthly Point-to-Point Cap | Monthly | 1-yr | 2.95% | — | — | — | — |
| 1-Year S&P 500 Point-to-PointReference cap | Point-to-point | 1-yr | 8.90% | — | — | — | — |
| 1-Year S&P MARC 5% ER Annual Point to Point W/PR | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 160% | — | — | — |
| 2 Year Goldman Sachs Equity TimeX Index with Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 115% | — | — | — |
| 2-Year Fidelity Multifactor Yeild Index 5% ER W/ Enhanced PR | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 270% | — | — | 0.95% |
| 2-Year Fidelity Multifactor Yeild Index 5% ER W/PR | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 220% | — | — | — |
| 2-Year S&P 500 Annual Point-to-Point W/PR | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 50% | — | — | — |
| 2-Year S&P MARC 5% ER Annual Point to Point W/PR | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 220% | — | — | — |
| Morgan Stanley Dynamic Global Index Annual Point-to-Point with Enhanced Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 205% | — | — | 0.95% |
| Morgan Stanley Dynamic Global Index Annual Point-to-Point with Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 1-yr | — | 160% | — | — | — |
| Morgan Stanley Dynamic Global Index Two-year Point-to-Point with Enhanced Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 285% | — | — | 0.95% |
| Morgan Stanley Dynamic Global Index Two-year Point-to-Point with Participation Rate | Point-to-point | 2-yr | — | 225% | — | — | — |
A cap sets a ceiling on the credit. A participation rate credits a percentage of the index gain. A spread subtracts a fixed amount before crediting the rest. Strategy fees, where shown, are charged whether or not the strategy credits.
Compare all fixed index annuity rates to see how these terms line up against every carrier in our live feed.
Getting your money out
The contract allows 10% of the account value out each year without a surrender charge, beginning in year 2.
The surrender charge starts at 10.00% in year 1 and steps down to 3.00% in year 8. Those charges apply to the amount you withdraw above the free allowance.
A market value adjustment also applies during the surrender period. It can raise or lower an early withdrawal depending on how interest rates have moved since the contract was issued.
Optional riders
- Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB) Rider
- Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Rider · 0.90% annually
- Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit Rider · 1.10% annually
- Income Pay GLBR Option 1 · 0.40% annually
- Income Pay GLBR Option 2 · 0.95% annually (1.50% max)
- Income Pay GLBR Option 3 · 0.95% annually (1.50% max)
- Income Pay Option 1 w/ Income Multiplier (GLWB) · 0.50% annually
- Income Pay Option 2 w/ Income Multiplier · 1.05% annually (1.50% max)
- Income Pay Option 3 w/ Income Multiplier · 1.05% annually (1.50% max)
To see what a rider would actually pay, run this contract through our income rider calculator.
Rider availability and pricing vary by state. Waiver-type benefits such as nursing home or terminal illness provisions may exist beyond what our rate feed reports, so confirm with the carrier.
Who this fits
This contract fits money that can stay put for 8 years and a saver who wants a floor under a portion of retirement savings. It suits dollars that would otherwise sit in bonds or CDs but can accept a range of outcomes in exchange for more upside.
It does not fit an emergency fund or money with a known near-term spending date. A buyer who wants full market upside will find the caps and participation rates limit strong years, and withdrawals before age 59½ can carry a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty on top of ordinary income tax.
Not sure this is the right fit? Take our annuity guide quiz and we will point you to the product types that match your timeline and your goal.
See what the Performance Choice 8 would pay you
Send us your premium amount, your state, and when you need the money. We will come back with current numbers on this contract and the comparable ones from the 90+ top annuity companies on our platform, in writing.
Or call 855-277-8088
About North American
North American holds an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+. An annuity's guarantees rest on the issuing carrier's claims-paying ability, and no annuity is FDIC insured.
The contract is currently filed in 50 states. Availability and product versions vary by state, so confirm your state before applying.
To see how North American measures up on size, ratings, and product lineup, compare the top annuity companies we place business with.
For the company's history, ratings, and full product lineup, read our North American annuity review.
Other North American index annuities
Same carrier, different surrender terms and rate sheets. Caps shown are the best S&P 500 1-year point-to-point cap at a $100,000 premium, refreshed from the same live feed as this page.
| Product | Surrender | S&P 500 1-yr cap |
|---|---|---|
| NAC Control. X | 10 yrs | 9.50% |
| NAC Guaranteed Allocation | 5, 7, 10 yrs | 12.50% |
| NAC VersaChoice | 10 yrs | 10.10% |
| NAC VersaChoice (ELB) | 10 yrs | 10.10% |
| North American BenefitSolutions | 10 yrs | 5.00% |
| North American Charter Plus | 10, 14 yrs | 6.50% |
| North American Income Pay Pro | 10 yrs | 5.00% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the current cap on the Performance Choice 8?
Its best S&P 500 1-year point-to-point cap is 8.90% at a $100,000 premium as of Nov 9, 2026. Carriers reprice caps regularly, so treat this as a snapshot of the current rate sheet rather than a permanent number.
How many crediting strategies does the Performance Choice 8 offer?
It currently offers 17 strategies across fixed, capped, participation, and trigger designs. Each strategy has its own current terms by premium band, listed in the strategy menu on this page.
Is my money locked up for 8 years?
Not locked, but charged. The contract allows 10% of the account value out each year without a surrender charge, beginning in year 2. Withdrawals above that allowance face the surrender schedule shown on this page, plus a market value adjustment.
How does the Performance Choice 8 compare to similar annuities?
It currently ranks #34 of 89 among 8-10 year fixed index annuities in our live carrier feed, ranked by S&P 500 1-year cap at a $100,000 premium. That standing refreshes automatically as carriers reprice.
Is the Performance Choice 8 FDIC insured?
No annuity is FDIC insured. Every guarantee in the contract is an obligation of North American, which holds an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A+.
How we know what's on this page
Rates, terms & availability
Every number on this page comes from the carrier's filed rate sheets in our live rate feed, refreshed daily. Nothing is typed in by hand, so the figures update automatically when North American reprices.
Financial strength
A.M. Best. We publish the carrier's letter rating rather than a score of our own.
Peer standing
We rank each product's best S&P 500 1-year cap at a $100,000 premium against contracts with similar surrender periods in the same feed. Where a fact is not in the feed, the page leaves it out rather than estimating.
Rates and rankings on this page come from each carrier's filed rates in our live feed as of Nov 9, 2026 and refresh automatically. Rates vary by premium amount and state. This is rate information, not a quote or a recommendation. Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of North American.
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