Is the Athene Agility 10 a Good Annuity?
The Athene Agility 10 is a 10-year fixed index annuity issued by Athene, designed for lifetime income that grows with index credits. If your goal is safe growth, see our Athene Performance Elite 7 review; for more guaranteed income, the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus. The verdict: no rider fee and a 55% income bonus, but only $8,525 a year guaranteed at 70.
- Best for: buyers 55 to 65 who can wait 10 years for income and want it to rise after good index years.
- Not for: anyone who needs the highest guaranteed income number, or income before contract year 11.
Athene Agility 10 at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Lifetime income that grows with index credits |
| Carrier | Athene Annuity and Life Company (AM Best A+, S&P A+, Fitch A+, Moody’s A1) |
| Surrender schedule | 10 years: 9%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% |
| Market value adjustment | Yes, on withdrawals above the free amount (how an MVA works) |
| Premium | $10,000 minimum (lower in some states), $2,000,000 maximum without home office approval; single premium |
| Issue ages | 40 to 80 |
| Free withdrawal | 10% of premium or 10% of account value each year, whichever is greater |
| Waivers | Confinement (60 days in a care facility), terminal illness, and a 30-day bailout if the 1-year S&P 500 cap drops below its bailout rate |
| Death benefit | Account value (or guaranteed minimum, if greater) in a lump sum, or the benefit base paid over 5 years |
| Guaranteed minimum value | 87.5% of premium growing at 2.15%; $91,900 cash value in year 1, $108,241 in year 10 on $100,000 |
| Bonus | 55% bonus to the benefit base (income value only), not the cash value |
| Income rider | Built-in Income and Death Benefit Rider, no fee; income after the 10-year surrender period |
| Index options | 14 strategies on 1- and 2-year terms plus a 3.05% fixed account; no strategy fees |
| Illustration basis | October 15, 2026; male, 60, Arizona; $100,000 non-qualified; income at 70 |
Full details are in the official Athene Agility brochure. Compare its index rates with today’s fixed index annuity rates.
How Much Income Does the Athene Agility 10 Pay?
| Rider feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Rider fee | None |
| Benefit base at issue | $155,000 ($100,000 premium plus the 55% bonus) |
| Roll-up | 200% of any interest credited, before and after income starts; nothing in a 0% year |
| Wait period | 10 contract years, and at least age 50 |
| Payout rate | 5.0% at 65, 5.5% at 70, 6.0% at 75 |
| Guaranteed income at 70 | $8,525 a year for life |
| Hypothetical income at 70 | $17,347 a year, rising to $26,352 by 76 |
| Enhanced Income Benefit | Doubles income to $17,050 after 180 of the last 250 days in a care facility |
- When the rider beats plain withdrawals: at $8,525 a year, the guaranteed account value runs out around age 81. Every check after that is Athene’s money.
- Waiting adds little on the guarantee: with zero credits the benefit base stays at $155,000. Only the payout rate steps up, by 0.1% a year.
- Income keeps growing: after payments start, each credited year raises the check by the full interest rate credited.
- Your own numbers: try our income rider calculator for your age, premium and start date.
How Much Guaranteed Lifetime Income Can You Buy?
Live quotes from today’s carrier feedSee what the Athene Agility 10 would pay you for life before the October 28 Fed decision
Lifetime income depends on your age, your premium and when you start. Run the numbers in our income rider calculator, or request a quote with current carrier figures for your age and state, in writing.
Athene Agility 10 Rates
| Index strategy | 1-year term | 2-year term |
|---|---|---|
| AI Powered Global Opportunities | 98% participation | 135% participation |
| BNP Paribas Multi-Asset Diversified 5 | 135% participation | 190% participation |
| UBS Innovative Balanced | 98% participation | 135% participation |
| Nasdaq FC | 80% participation | 130% participation |
| S&P 500 FC | 62% participation | 85% participation |
| AI Powered US Equity | 105% participation | 140% participation |
| S&P 500 | 5.5% cap (with bailout) | 11.25% cap |
| Fixed account | 3.05% | None |
Rates as of October 15, 2026, Arizona. Athene resets them on each anniversary.
Hypothetical Historical Rate of Return
Our October 15, 2026 illustration put 100% in the 1-year BNP Paribas Multi-Asset point-to-point strategy at a 135% participation rate. It applies today’s rates to 2016 through 2025.
| Year | Hypothetical value | Cash surrender value | Guaranteed cash value | Hypothetical benefit base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $108,019 | $99,197 | $91,900 | $171,037 |
| 10 | $180,199 | $178,561 | $108,241 | $315,398 |
- Backtest caveat: the index launched in January 2016, so its 9.05% “high period” from 2010 is back-cast. The live decade earned 6.07% a year.
- The income gap is the whole bet: $17,347 hypothetical against $8,525 guaranteed. Two of the ten years credited 0% and added nothing.
- Our planning range is 4% to 7% a year in credits, which lands income between those two numbers.
- MYGA benchmark: At today's top 10-year rate of 6.30% (compound), $100,000 grows to about $184,218 over 10 years, a gain of $84,218. See current MYGA rates.
Get your Athene Agility 10 illustration for your age and state
Send us your premium amount, your state, and when you need the money. We will come back with current numbers on this contract and comparable ones from the 90+ top annuity companies on our platform, in writing.
Athene Agility 10 Strengths and Red Flags
What it does well
- No rider fee: the income rider, Enhanced Income Benefit and enhanced death benefit cost nothing, so no charge eats the account value.
- 200% roll-up for life: credits grow the benefit base at double speed, even after payments start, and the check rises with each credited year.
- Strong carrier and exits: A+ from AM Best, S&P and Fitch, plus confinement, terminal illness and bailout waivers.
Red flags
- Low guaranteed income: $8,525 a year at 70, about half the $16,875 the Ascent Pro 10 Bonus guaranteed for the same client on October 14.
- No guaranteed roll-up: a 0% year adds nothing to the benefit base.
- Backtest-heavy index: AI Powered Global Opportunities has 3 years of live history, yet shows the menu’s highest backtest, 14.42% on the 2-year term.
- 87.5% floor: the guaranteed cash value stays below premium until year 7.
- Weak S&P 500 cap: 5.5% on the 1-year term, so most of the upside depends on custom indexes.
Final verdict: the Athene Agility 10 is built for lifetime income that can grow with index credits. It earns our 4.0 rating for buyers who can wait 10 years. For more guaranteed income, consider the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus; for safe growth, the Athene Performance Elite 7.
Compare live rates on 137 fixed index annuities or visit our annuity review database.
Other Athene Reviews
Also based on: Athene Agility 10 illustration via Annuities Genius, October 15, 2026.
This review is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation or an offer to sell any annuity. Product features, index options, and rates can and do vary by state, and this product is not available for sale in every state. Always request a carrier illustration and work with a licensed annuity agent before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much income does the Athene Agility 10 pay on $100,000?
About $8,525 a year for life, guaranteed, starting at 70 for a man who buys at 60. With index credits, the hypothetical income was $17,347, but that is not guaranteed.
Does the Athene Agility 10 have a rider fee?
No. The Income and Death Benefit Rider is included automatically, and none of the 14 index strategies charges a fee.
Can I take money out of the Athene Agility 10 early?
Yes. Each year you can take 10% of premium or 10% of account value, whichever is greater, with no charge. Larger withdrawals face surrender charges and the MVA.
Is Athene a good annuity company?
Athene Annuity and Life Company is rated A+ by AM Best, S&P and Fitch, and A1 by Moody's. See our Athene company review.
