Mutual of Omaha vs. Western & Southern: which is better?
Two A+ rated mutual brand carriers. We compare Mutual of Omaha (A+) and Western & Southern (A+) on MYGA rates, financial strength, product range, and customer experience.
Mutual of Omaha vs. Western & Southern — side by side
Highlighted cells indicate the carrier that wins on that metric.
Rate winner
Mutual of Omaha A+
Trusted brand with broad product lineup
★★★★★4.5/ 5
Mutual of Omaha is a household name in life and health insurance with a respected A+ rating. Their MYGA product is competitive but not top-rate. Best fit for buyers who want a familiar brand and broad product access.
Western & Southern Financial Group is a privately-held mutual holding company with subsidiaries including Integrity Life, National Integrity, and Columbus Life. Strong A+ A.M. Best rating — one of the safest non-public carriers.
Mutual of Omaha wins on 2 of 5 terms (2 tied). Illustrative rates for comparison — not a live quote. Confirm current rates with a licensed specialist.
Side-by-side specs
Metric
Mutual of Omaha
Western & Southern
A.M. Best Rating
A+
A+
Our rating
4.5/5
4.6/5
Founded
1909
1888
Min Purchase
$25,000
$20,000
State Coverage
50 states
50 states
5-year MYGA (published)
5.60%
5.15%
Product lineup
Mutual of Omaha offers
MYGA
Immediate (SPIA)
Western & Southern offers
MYGA
Fixed-Indexed
Immediate (SPIA)
Pros and cons
Mutual of Omaha pros
A+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength
Strong consumer brand
Broad agent network
Mutual structure
Mutual of Omaha cons
MYGA rates not class-leading
Limited fixed-indexed lineup
Higher fees on some riders
Western & Southern pros
A+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength
Mutual structure, conservative investment policy
Strong dividend history
Available in all 50 states
Western & Southern cons
MYGA rates not top-tier
Less consumer brand recognition
Bank-only distribution for some products
Who should choose each
Choose Mutual of Omaha if you prioritize trusted brand with broad product lineup. Their standout feature is: a+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength.
Choose Western & Southern if you prioritize conservative mutual with strong ratings. Their standout feature is: a+ A.M. Best — top-tier financial strength.
Our verdict
On published rate alone, Mutual of Omaha 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 (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. Mutual of Omaha and Western & Southern differ on both axes — use the table for the numbers and the framing below for the decision.
$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.
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.
Which has better MYGA rates — Mutual of Omaha or Western & Southern?
Mutual of Omaha posts the higher figure on 2 of 5 MYGA term lengths in these illustrative, representative rates. Its 5-year figure is 5.60% vs. 5.15%. 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.
Which is safer — Mutual of Omaha or Western & Southern?
Mutual of Omaha is rated A+ by A.M. Best; Western & Southern 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.
Which has lower fees?
For MYGAs, neither carrier charges explicit fees. The quoted rate is what you earn, provided you hold to term.
Are both available in my state?
Mutual of Omaha operates in approximately 50 states; Western & Southern 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.
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 we compare carriers
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.