Mutual of Omaha vs. Western & Southern: Annuity Comparison (2026) | Track Retirement
Carrier comparison

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.

  • 5.60% Mutual of Omaha 5-yr
  • 5.15% Western & Southern 5-yr
  • Mutual higher posted rate

Mutual of Omaha vs. Western & Southern — side by side

Highlighted cells indicate the carrier that wins on that metric.

Rate winner
MO

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.

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WS

Western & Southern A+

Conservative mutual with strong ratings

★★★★★4.6/ 5

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.

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MYGA rates by term

TermMutual of OmahaWestern & SouthernDifference
2-year — — —
3-year — 5.00% —
5-year 5.60% 5.15% +0.45 pts
7-year 5.75% 4.95% +0.80 pts
10-year — — —

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

MetricMutual of OmahaWestern & Southern
A.M. Best RatingA+ A+
Our rating4.5/54.6/5
Founded19091888
Min Purchase$25,000$20,000
State Coverage50 states50 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.

Rate vs. strength — the real trade-off

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
$98,000$105,873$113,746$121,619$129,492 MYGA 5.75% after tax: $124,511 CD 4.4% after tax: $117,876 Year 0Year 5

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.

Go deeper

Read the full Mutual of Omaha review and Western & Southern review, learn how to vet carrier safety, and see the full field in best annuity companies.

Mutual of Omaha vs. Western & Southern FAQs

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.

Independent Carriers can't pay for a ranking
Sourced Built from primary sources
Scored Strength, rates & terms
Current Reviewed 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.