This table follows our editorial ranking, not published rate order — a carrier lower in the list may pay a higher rate. A.M. Best financial strength is shown as a separate column; a higher-rate carrier may carry a materially lower strength rating, so compare both columns before deciding.
5.91%7.45% yr 1, then 6.45% yrs 2–5, simple interest
$5,000
Rated C+ (Marginal) by A.M. Best; under regulatory action
Atlantic Coast Life credits simple interest with a first-year bonus, so the effective annual yield is shown as the main figure with the published headline rate beneath. Simple interest does not compound, so the effective annual yield over the full term is materially lower than the headline figure: 7.45% headline ≈ 5.91% effective annual yield over five years. Compare a contract’s effective annual yield against a CD’s APY — never a headline rate against an APY.
Editor's Choice1
Aspida Life A-
Highest rates for short MYGA terms
★★★★★4.6/5
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Aspida is a private, independent MYGA specialist owned by Ares Management. Smaller than Athene but punches above its weight on rate: they're routinely #1 or #2 on 2-year and 3-year MYGA quotes. Their Synergy Choice MYGA is the workhorse product.
Global Atlantic is a major retirement insurance group backed by KKR ($550B+ AUM). They're particularly strong in fixed-indexed annuities and offer competitive MYGA rates across most term lengths.
Symetra is owned by Sumitomo Life (Japan, AAA rated) and operates one of the more competitive MYGA programs among bank-distributed annuities. Their Custom 7 and Trek series are popular for 7-year buyers.
Americo Financial Life is a privately-held, family-owned carrier (Robert L. Myers Trust). With nearly 80 years of operating history and an A rating, they offer a solid mid-tier MYGA option with competitive rates.
Athene Holding has built one of the largest fixed-annuity franchises in the U.S. since 2009. Backed by Apollo Global Management, they consistently rank in the top 3 for MYGA rates across most term lengths. Their MaxRate MYGA and Athene Agility are mainstays among fee-conscious savers comparing CDs and Treasuries.
Pros
Consistently top-3 MYGA rates across all term lengths
A+ A.M. Best rating with strong financial backing
Wide product lineup including MYGA, fixed-indexed, and SPIAs
Available in 48 states
Cons
Surrender charges are stricter than industry average
Younger company (2009) than legacy carriers like NY Life
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance is a subsidiary of Sammons Financial Group, a privately-held employee-owned conglomerate. They have a respected reputation among fee-only RIAs for clean MYGA and fixed-indexed products.
Lincoln Financial is a top-10 U.S. annuity carrier by volume. Best known for their variable annuity programs with living-benefit riders, they also offer competitive MYGA rates and a strong fixed-indexed lineup.
MassMutual is one of only a handful of A++ rated insurers and is owned by its policyholders. They offer a competitive MYGA product alongside variable and immediate annuities. A favorite for conservative buyers willing to trade ~0.3% in yield for top-tier safety.
Pros
A++ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength
175-year mutual track record
Strong dividend history
Competitive immediate annuity payouts
Cons
5-year MYGA rate 5.20% ($100,000–$999,999 band) vs. 5.65–6.00% among specialists at our September 2026 check
In-depth reviews of the top 8 above — see all 20 in the comparison table.
How we rank myga rates
This list is ordered in two tiers. Carriers rated A- or better by A.M. Best come first, ranked by 5-year effective annual yield; carriers rated below A- follow, stronger ratings first and then by effective yield. It is not a pure rate ranking — a carrier lower in the list may pay a higher rate, and the highest published rates on this page come from carriers rated below our A- preferred tier. Rate and A.M. Best strength are shown as separate columns so you can weigh them yourself; with annuities the insurer's strength is the guarantee, and there is no FDIC backing. Track Retirement is not an insurance agency and does not recommend any specific contract. These rankings are editorial and never for sale, and we disclose every relationship that pays us — see our advertiser disclosure.
What actually matters when choosing a carrier
With annuities the insurer's strength is the guarantee — there is no FDIC backstop. Prioritise carriers rated A- or better; state guaranty coverage is a capped, per-insurer backstop, not a substitute for that strength (limits vary; see NOLHGA).
$100,000 in a 5-year MYGA vs a 5-year CD
Illustrative, 24% tax bracket, both lines after tax: $6,635 more over 5 years, almost all of it from the rate difference (5.75% vs 4.4%) rather than from deferral. The 4.4% CD leg is an assumed APY, not a quote; the FDIC all-institution average is 1.41%. A MYGA is an insurance contract, not FDIC-insured.
Rate or payout, quoted the same week. These products are commodity-like — compare guaranteed figures across several A-rated carriers, not brochures.
Surrender schedule and free withdrawals. Length and early-exit penalty matter as much as the headline rate; ~10%/yr penalty-free is typical.
Teaser vs. guaranteed. Watch first-year bonus rates that reset; ask for the minimum guaranteed terms in writing.
Tax & account type. In a taxable account, tax deferral is a real edge; in an IRA the deferral advantage disappears — compare on rate, strength and liquidity only.
Before you sign
Regulators (FINRA, SEC) flag pressure to replace an existing contract or buy complex riders you can't explain back. A 1035 exchange or rider can be legitimate — but only with a written side-by-side that clearly benefits you.
Aspida Life took the #1 spot, scoring 4.6/5 on our methodology. They stand out for highest rates for short myga terms.
How were these rankings determined?
Track Retirement scores every annuity carrier on the factors that matter: A.M. Best financial strength, MYGA rate competitiveness, product range, surrender flexibility, and state availability.
What does an A.M. Best rating mean?
A.M. Best is the leading credit rating agency for insurance companies. Ratings of A++ (Superior) and A+ (Superior) are the top two tiers; A and A- (Excellent) are the next two; B++ and B+ (Good) are below that. We weight financial strength heavily and favor carriers rated A- or better — and we flag any carrier that sits below that bar so you can weigh it against the rate.
How does Track Retirement make money?
We earn a commission when you request a quote through one of our partner links — but rankings are based purely on our editorial methodology. See our advertiser disclosure.
Why you can trust Track Retirement
No carrier, advertiser, or listed agent can pay for a ranking, and none reviews our content before publication. Figures are drawn from primary sources — A.M. Best, NAIC, the IRS, SSA, and Treasury — and checked against them. Our content is researched and drafted with the help of AI tools and verified against those sources; see our editorial policy.
IndependentCarriers can't pay for a ranking
SourcedBuilt from primary sources
ScoredStrength, rates & terms
CurrentReviewed as rates & terms change
How Track Retirement ranks myga rates of 2026
We score every carrier on financial strength (A.M. Best), MYGA rate competitiveness, product breadth, surrender flexibility, and state availability. All affiliate relationships disclosed. See our full methodology and editorial policy.