Short-term MYGA leader vs. long-term MYGA leader. We compare Aspida Life (A-) and Sentinel Security Life (C+) on MYGA rates, financial strength, product range, and customer experience.
Highlighted cells indicate the carrier that wins on that metric.
Highest rates for short MYGA terms
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.
Get Aspida Life quote Read full review →Rated C+ (Marginal) by A.M. Best; under review
Sentinel Security Life, a Utah insurer in the A-CAP group, concentrates on MYGAs and posts some of the highest long-duration rates in our examples. A.M. Best cut its rating to C+ (Marginal) on September 22, 2026 and kept it under review with negative implications.
Quote requests for this carrier are paused while A.M. Best has its C+ (Marginal) rating under review.
Read full review →| Term | Aspida Life | Sentinel Security Life | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-year | 4.80% | — | — |
| 3-year | 5.70% | 6.00% | -0.30 pts |
| 5-year | 6.30% | 6.25% | +0.05 pts |
| 7-year | 6.35% | 6.25% | +0.10 pts |
| 10-year | — | 6.25% | — |
Aspida Life wins on 2 of 5 terms. Illustrative rates for comparison — not a live quote. Confirm current rates with a licensed specialist.
| Metric | Aspida Life | Sentinel Security Life |
|---|---|---|
| A.M. Best Rating | A- | C+ under review |
| Our rating | 4.6/5 | 2/5 |
| Founded | 2021 | 1948 |
| Min Purchase | $25,000 | $2,500 |
| State Coverage | 49 states | 35 states |
| 5-year MYGA (published) | 6.30% | 6.25% |
Choose Aspida Life if you prioritize highest rates for short MYGA terms. Their standout feature is: often #1 on 2-year and 3-year MYGA rates.
Sentinel Security Life is rated C+ by A.M. Best, below the A- floor we use, so we don't suggest choosing it on rate alone.
On published rate alone, Aspida Life posts the higher figure on more of the terms shown here. For safety-first buyers, the carrier with the higher A.M. Best rating wins (Aspida Life is rated higher). Heads-up: Sentinel Security Life sits below our A- preferred tier, so weigh strength heavily, not just the headline rate. Important: A.M. Best currently has Sentinel Security Life under review with negative implications, meaning the rating could be downgraded — the letter grade alone overstates the position. 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. Aspida Life and Sentinel Security Life 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 Aspida Life review and Sentinel Security Life review, learn how to vet carrier safety, and see the full field in best annuity companies.
Aspida Life posts the higher figure on 2 of 5 MYGA term lengths in these illustrative, representative rates. Its 5-year figure is 6.30% vs. 6.25%. These are illustrative figures, not a live quote — your actual rate depends on premium, state, and carrier filing, and a higher posted rate often comes from a lower-rated carrier.
Aspida Life is rated A- by A.M. Best; Sentinel Security Life is rated C+. A.M. Best currently has Sentinel Security Life's rating under review with negative implications (Under review — negative (AM Best, downgraded to C+ 2026-09-22)), which means it could be downgraded. Sentinel Security Life is currently rated below our A- floor (C+), so weigh its strength carefully. 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.
Aspida Life operates in approximately 49 states; Sentinel Security Life in approximately 35. 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.