FIA leader vs. variable annuity heavyweight. We compare Allianz Life (A+) and Nationwide (A+) on MYGA rates, financial strength, product range, and customer experience.
Highlighted cells indicate the carrier that wins on that metric.
Fixed-indexed annuity leader
Allianz Life is the U.S. subsidiary of German insurance giant Allianz SE. They're a top-two fixed-indexed annuity issuer by volume in the U.S. — LIMRA has ranked them #2 behind Athene in recent years. MYGA rates are competitive but not class-leading.
Get Allianz Life quote Read full review →Best big-name carrier for MYGA
Nationwide is one of the largest mutual insurance companies in the U.S. and offers MYGAs alongside a full lineup of variable, indexed, and immediate annuities. Rates are slightly below MYGA specialists but their A+ rating and brand security justify the trade-off for many buyers.
Get Nationwide quote Read full review →| Term | Allianz Life | Nationwide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-year | — | — | — |
| 3-year | — | 2.70% | — |
| 5-year | — | 3.50% | — |
| 7-year | — | 4.00% | — |
| 10-year | — | 4.25% | — |
Allianz Life and Nationwide are tied on MYGA rates across all terms shown. Illustrative rates for comparison — not a live quote. Confirm current rates with a licensed specialist.
| Metric | Allianz Life | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| A.M. Best Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Our rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Founded | 1896 | 1926 |
| Min Purchase | $20,000 | $2,000 |
| State Coverage | 50 states | 50 states |
| 5-year MYGA (published) | no MYGA | 3.50% |
Choose Allianz Life if you prioritize fixed-indexed annuity leader. Their standout feature is: a+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength.
Choose Nationwide if you prioritize best big-name carrier for MYGA. Their standout feature is: a+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength.
For safety-first buyers, the carrier with the higher A.M. Best rating wins (tied here). Both clear our A- preferred-tier threshold on the letter grade alone. An A.M. Best rating is an opinion of an insurer's ability to meet its obligations, not a guarantee, and it can be changed or withdrawn at any time; annuity guarantees are not FDIC-insured. Track Retirement is not a licensed insurance agent and does not recommend either contract; this comparison is general information, not advice.
The headline MYGA rate is only meaningful if the carrier honors a multi-decade contract. Allianz Life and Nationwide differ on both axes — use the table for the numbers and the framing below for the decision.
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.
Whichever carrier you lean toward, most of the gap above is the rate difference rather than the tax treatment — the deferral itself is the smaller part. Either way it only pays off if the money can stay put for the full term with a strong insurer.
Read the full Allianz Life review and Nationwide review, learn how to vet carrier safety, and see the full field in best annuity companies.
Allianz Life does not currently market a multi-year guaranteed annuity that we track, so there is no MYGA rate comparison between these two carriers.
Allianz Life is rated A+ by A.M. Best; Nationwide is rated A+. Both currently sit at or above our A- financial-strength floor on the letter grade alone. An A.M. Best rating is an opinion of an insurer's ability to meet its obligations; it is not a guarantee, and it can be changed or withdrawn at any time. Annuity guarantees are not FDIC-insured.
For MYGAs, neither carrier charges explicit fees. The quoted rate is what you earn, provided you hold to term. For variable annuities, fees vary significantly by product; check the specific contract.
Allianz Life operates in approximately 50 states; Nationwide in approximately 50. State counts are approximate and change as filings are approved or withdrawn — some carriers are not admitted in every state, and California, New York and Oregon in particular have their own filing requirements. Confirm with the carrier or a state-licensed agent that a specific contract is available where you live before you apply.
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.
Track Retirement scores every annuity 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.