What Is the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus?
The Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus is a fixed index annuity built around guaranteed lifetime income. It stacks a 10% premium bonus on the accumulation value, a 20% income base bonus at issue, and a guaranteed 10% simple interest roll-up on the income base for the first 10 years. On a live illustration we ran on May 23, 2026, a male annuitant age 60 with $100,000 premium and a 10-year deferral locks in $16,500 per year of guaranteed lifetime income starting at age 70. That is a 16.5% income-to-premium ratio, one of the highest available at the A+ tier in the current rate environment.
The product is distinct from the Athene Ascent Pro 10 (the non-bonus version). The Bonus variant trades slightly lower crediting rates and a 10-year vesting schedule on the premium bonus for materially higher up-front income base growth. For accumulation-and-income buyers in their late 50s and early 60s, the trade is usually worth it. Here is the full breakdown.
Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with built-in lifetime income rider |
| Carrier | Athene Annuity and Life Company |
| Surrender Period | 10 years |
| Premium Bonus | 10% to accumulation value at issue (vested over 10 years) |
| Income Base Bonus | 20% to benefit base at issue ($120,000 starting base on $100,000 premium) |
| Income Roll-Up | 10% simple interest for 10 years, then 5% simple in years 11 to 20 |
| Rider Fee | 1.00% annually, deducted monthly from accumulation value |
| Issue Ages | Up to 80 (qualified and non-qualified) |
| Minimum Premium | $10,000 most states ($5,000 in AK, CT, DE, DC, HI, ID, LA, MA, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA) |
| Free Withdrawal | Up to 10% of accumulated value annually after year 1, plus RMDs |
| Market Value Adjustment | Applies to excess withdrawals during surrender period |
| AM Best Rating | A+ (Superior) |
| State Availability | All states except Guam, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
How Much Income Does the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus Pay?
| Income starts at (single life) | Benefit base | Payout rate | Guaranteed income a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | $170,000 | 6.20% | $10,540 |
| 67 | $190,000 | 6.60% | $12,540 |
| 69 | $210,000 | 7.10% | $14,910 |
| 70 | $220,000 | 7.50% | $16,500 |
- How the base grows: a 20% bonus makes it $120,000 on day one, then 10% simple adds $10,000 a year for 10 years.
- After year 10: the roll-up drops to 5% simple for years 11 through 20.
- Care boost: income doubles for up to 60 months if you can’t do 2 of 6 daily activities (not in MA).
- Run your own numbers: try our income rider calculator or the live quote below.
How Much Guaranteed Lifetime Income Can You Buy?
Live quotes from today’s carrier feedHypothetical Historical Rate of Return
Income is guaranteed, but the account value still earns index credits that can raise later income.
| Strategy | Crediting | Current rate |
|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas Multi-Asset Diversified 5 | 1-year participation | 140% |
| S&P 500 | 1-year cap | 5.5% |
| Fixed account | Declared rate | Set at issue |
- Volatility-controlled index: the BNP index targets 5% volatility, so 140% participation buys modest credits. See our BNP Paribas Multi-Asset Diversified 5 review.
- Bonus vesting: the 10% premium bonus vests 10% a year if you surrender; it’s fully yours for income.
- Benchmark it: compare the 5.5% cap with current fixed index annuity rates.
- 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 Ascent Pro 10 Bonus 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 Ascent Pro 10 Bonus Strengths and Red Flags
What it does well
- Big guaranteed income: $16,500 a year at 70 on $100,000, a 16.5% income-to-premium ratio.
- Three bonuses: 10% to account value, 20% to the income base, plus a 10% simple roll-up.
- Care hedge: doubled income for up to 5 years during a qualifying care event.
Red flags
- 1.00% rider fee: Athene’s Agility 10 includes its income rider at no charge.
- 10-year lock-up: an 8.3% year-one charge plus an MVA on excess withdrawals.
- Bonus vests slowly: surrender early and you forfeit part of the 10% premium bonus.
- Modest S&P 500 cap: 5.5% limits account growth.
Final verdict: the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus is built for guaranteed lifetime income after a 5- to 10-year wait. It earns our 4.5 rating for buyers who can hold 10 years. For growth, the Athene Performance Elite 7 fits better than the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus.
Compare live rates on 137 fixed index annuities or visit our annuity review database.
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
What is the guaranteed lifetime income on a $100,000 premium at age 60?
On a single-life male annuitant age 60 with $100,000 premium and a 10-year deferral, the Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus guarantees $16,500 per year for life starting at age 70. The income/premium ratio is 16.5%. A 15-year deferral to age 75 raises the guaranteed annual income to $23,625.
How is the Ascent Pro 10 Bonus different from the regular Ascent Pro 10?
The Bonus version adds a 10% premium bonus to the accumulation value at issue, with a 10-year vesting schedule. The non-Bonus version does not include this bonus. Both contracts share the same income rider structure (20% income base bonus, 10% simple roll-up). The Bonus version typically has slightly lower current cap rates on the S&P 500 strategy as the trade-off for the up-front premium bonus.
What happens if I need to access more than 10% of my money before the surrender period ends?
Withdrawals above the 10% annual free withdrawal during the 10-year surrender period are subject to a surrender charge (starting at 8.3% in year 1 and declining to 0.9% in year 10), a market value adjustment, and a premium bonus vesting adjustment. Required minimum distributions count toward the free withdrawal amount and do not trigger charges. For unplanned liquidity needs beyond RMDs, the Ascent Pro 10 Bonus is an expensive contract to exit early.
Is the Enhanced Income Benefit a substitute for long-term care insurance?
The Enhanced Income Benefit doubles the lifetime income withdrawal for up to 60 months if the annuitant qualifies (confined to a qualified care facility or unable to perform 2 of 6 ADLs for 90 of 125 days). It is a meaningful built-in benefit but it is not a substitute for a standalone long-term care policy. The benefit limit is 60 months, the benefit doubles only the lifetime withdrawal amount (not unlimited care costs), and qualification requires physician certification. For buyers with significant LTC concerns, a separate LTC or hybrid life-LTC policy may be more appropriate.
What is the financial strength rating of Athene?
Athene Annuity and Life Company carries an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best. The Comdex composite of all four major rating agencies sits at 87. Athene is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Global Management since the January 2022 merger and has been the #1 selling fixed indexed annuity carrier in the United States every year since 2020.
Can I buy the Ascent Pro 10 Bonus in New York?
No. The Athene Ascent Pro 10 Bonus is not approved for sale in New York, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. New York residents who want a comparable income-focused FIA should consider the Nationwide Peak 10 (which is approved in all 50 states) or another New York-approved contract.
