Rachel Christian, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Rachel Christian

    Rachel Christian

    Financial Writer and Certified Educator in Personal Finance

    Rachel Christian is a writer and researcher for RetireGuide. She covers annuities, Medicare, life insurance and other important retirement topics. Rachel is a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education.

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  • Edited By
    Matt Mauney
    Matt Mauney, Senior Editor for RetireGuide

    Matt Mauney

    Financial Editor

    Matt Mauney is an award-winning journalist, editor, writer and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience working for nationally recognized newspapers and digital brands. He has contributed content for ChicagoTribune.com, LATimes.com, The Hill and the American Cancer Society, and he was part of the Orlando Sentinel digital staff that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017.

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  • Financially Reviewed By
    Toby Walters, CFA®
    Toby Walters, CFA

    Toby Walters, CFA®

    Chartered Financial Analyst and Paraplanner

    Toby Walters, CFA®, has over 25 years of financial research experience. With a knowledge and understanding of researching and analyzing financial data, he has developed a unique and experienced viewpoint on money matters. He has been a chartered financial analyst since 2003, and most recently a portfolio analyst and paraplanner.

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  • Published: May 5, 2020
  • Updated: March 24, 2023
  • 6 min read time
  • This page features 10 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

A qualified expert reviewed the content on this page to ensure it is factually accurate, meets current industry standards and helps readers achieve a better understanding of retirement topics.

Cite Us
How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Christian, R. (2023, March 24). Annuity Companies and Providers. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/companies/

MLA Christian, Rachel. "Annuity Companies and Providers." RetireGuide.com, 24 Mar 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/companies/.

Chicago Christian, Rachel. "Annuity Companies and Providers." RetireGuide.com. Last modified March 24, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/companies/.

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Why You Can Trust Us

Content created by RetireGuide and sponsored by our partners.

Key Principles

RetireGuide’s mission is to provide seniors with resources that will help them reach important financial decisions that affect their retirement. Our goal is to arm our readers with knowledge that will lead to a healthy and financially sound retirement.

We’re dedicated to providing thoroughly researched annuity information that guides you toward making the best possible financial decisions for you and your family.

We partner with Senior Market Sales (SMS), a leader in the insurance industry with over 30 years of experience and a network of 66,000 independently licensed agents across the United States.

Our partnership with SMS (and Insuractive, the company’s consumer-facing branch) allows us to deliver expertly researched and reviewed content at no cost or obligation to all of our visitors. It also gives our visitors the opportunity to take the next step in their financial journey by requesting help from our partner through the phone numbers or forms provided on our website.

If a visitor chooses to inquire about an annuity or other financial product through SMS as a result of our research and accurate information, RetireGuide may receive compensation for connecting the visitor with SMS. The revenue we earn for helping visitors get the help they’re seeking makes RetireGuide stronger for our audiences.

The content and tools created by RetireGuide adhere to strict editorial guidelines to ensure quality and transparency.

Editorial Independence

While the experts from SMS are available to help you navigate various annuity options, RetireGuide retains complete editorial control over the information it publishes.

We operate independently from SMS, which allows the award-winning RetireGuide team to provide you with unbiased information.

Visitors can trust our inflexibility regarding our editorial autonomy. We do not allow our partnership to influence RetireGuide’s editorial content whatsoever.
Key Takeaways
  • Annuities are insurance contracts sold by financial institutions. The best companies to purchase annuities from should have high credit ratings, positive reviews and an established financial presence.
  • Annuity issuing companies are not guaranteed by the federal government. They are backed by state-guaranteed associations that are highly regulated.
  • The majority of annuity companies offer every type of annuity available on the market.

Who Provides Annuities?

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company in which the insurer promises to make payments to you, either now or in the future.

Annuities can be purchased with one lump-sum payment or a series of payments. In return, you receive either a single distribution or a series of payments from the insurance company. Annuities are commonly utilized in retirement planning.

You can purchase an annuity from:
  • Brokerage firms
  • Large banks
  • Independent broker dealers
  • Mutual fund companies
  • Independent insurance agents and financial advisors
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How to Purchase an Annuity

To purchase an annuity, you must follow a simple step-by-step process.

Steps for Buying an Annuity
  1. Determine your present and future financial needs. How much money will you need during retirement? It’s important to understand your own investment goals before proceeding.
  2. Select the right annuity product. There’s a lot of choices out there. Do your homework, explore your options and ask questions.
  3. Select your provider. The insurance company backs the asset, so choose a trustworthy insurer with a stable financial history.
  4. Carefully review contract terms. Before purchase, the insurance company should provide you with either an illustration or a prospectus. Carefully review this along with your contract.
  5. Fill out the application. Make sure fields are properly completed and ask the insurer any final questions.
  6. Transfer money. Annuities can be purchased with cash, retirement account funds or brokerage account assets.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

How soon are you retiring?

STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

What is your goal for purchasing an annuity?

Select all that apply

Learn About Top Annuity Products & Get a Free Quote

Find out how an annuity can offer you guaranteed monthly income throughout your retirement. Speak with one of our qualified financial professionals today to discover which of our industry-leading annuity products fits into your long-term financial strategy.

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STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

Selecting the Right Annuity Company

Annuities are not guaranteed by the federal government, so your annuity is only as good as the company that issues it.

It is possible for you to lose money if the insurance company you invested with defaults or declares bankruptcy.

That’s why it’s essential to carefully research any company before purchasing an annuity.

Factors to consider include:
  • High ratings from independent rating companies such as Standard & Poor’s, A.M. Best and Moody’s.
  • Minimal fees and administrative costs
  • Strong financial health
  • Positive online reviews

It should be noted that although annuities are not backed by the government, insurance companies that sell these assets are highly regulated and must comply with strict state requirements.

A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office determined that even after the 2008 financial crisis, the impact on most insurance companies and their policyholders was relatively limited.

Best Annuity Companies

Below is an alphabetical list of highly rated annuity providers.

Best Annuity Providers for 2021
American Equity
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company focuses on the sale of fixed index and fixed rate annuity products. It is licensed to sell in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia.
AIG
AIG, a leading insurance corporation, has assets exceeding $527 billion and operates in over 70 countries worldwide. Its extensive presence spans every sector of the insurance industry, including the annuities market. In 2022, AIG established a new subsidiary company named Corebridge Financial, Inc. under which it now issues annuities.
American National
Founded in 1905, American National features a wide range of life insurance, annuity and pension plan products. It also offers credit insurance, accident and health insurance.
Athene
Athene Holding Ltd. is a leading retirement services company that issues, reinsures and acquires retirement savings products, including annuities and pensions.
Fidelity & Guaranty Life (F&G)
FGL Holdings is part of the Fidelity National Financial Inc. family of companies. It has offered annuity and life insurance products for nearly 60 years through a network of independent agents.
Liberty Bankers Life
Liberty Bankers Insurance Group offers retirement, life and health insurance products, including annuities. They feature a B++ financial rating by A.M. Best.
National Western Life
National Western Life offers annuity products and features high industry ratings from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor.
Nationwide
Nationwide is a well-known insurance company with more than 90 years of experience. They offer a variety of annuity products, including a new fixed indexed annuity.
North American
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance is a Midwest-based business established in 1886. They offer a comprehensive portfolio of universal life insurance, term life insurance and annuity products.
Oxford Life
Oxford Life Insurance Company features products for older Americans that help meet their financial needs, with an emphasis on life insurance and annuities.
Reliance Standard Life
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company is a leading insurance carrier specializing in employee benefits solutions. It offers two types of annuities — traditional fixed and fixed index.
Transamerica
Established in 1904, Transamerica features high strength ratings from independent rating services and offers annuity products, including its Secure Retirement Index Annuity.
United of Omaha
As Mutual of Omaha’s main subsidiary since 1926, United of Omaha Life Insurance Company features products in the long-term care, life insurance, fixed annuity and Medicare supplement markets.
Enjoy a Safe & Secure Retirement
Learn how annuities provide premium protection, guaranteed retirement income and long-term care benefits through our partner Annuity.org.

Frequently Asked Questions About Annuity Companies

What is an insurance annuity?

Annuities are purchased through insurance companies that act as their own form of insurance against you running out of money after you retire. They offer a guaranteed line of income and are typically tax-deferrable.

What are the top qualities of annuity companies?

Focus on companies that are healthy, financially stable and receive high marks from independent ratings. Make sure to compare those factors amongst your options before making a decision.

What happens to my annuity if the insurance company fails?

Annuities are not provided or insured by the federal government. If your insurance company fails or goes bankrupt, you — the annuitant — are at risk of losing your money.

However, insurance companies are legally required to belong to their particular state’s guaranty association who do provide protection. This is one of many reasons why it’s important to read through your contract when purchasing an annuity.

Last Modified: March 24, 2023

10 Cited Research Articles

  1. F&G Annuities & Life. (2020, October 20). Fidelity National Financial Announces 3rd Quarter 2020 Earnings Release And Conference Call. Retrieved from https://investors.fglife.bm/news/news-details/2020/Fidelity-National-Financial-Announces-3rd-Quarter-2020-Earnings-Release-And-Conference-Call/default.aspx
  2. Hube, K. (2019, July 19). The Top 100 Annuities—and How to Choose the Best for You. Retrieved from https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-top-100-annuitiesand-how-to-choose-the-best-for-you-51563580708
  3. Hawley, C. (2018, October 6). 5 questions you should ask before buying an annuity policy. Retrieved from https://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-questions-you-should-ask-before-buying-an-annuity-policy-2018-10-03
  4. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2013, July 29). Impacts of and Regulatory Response to the 2007-2009 Financial Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-13-583
  5. Insurance Information Institute. (n.d.). Facts + Statistics: Annuities. Retrieved from https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-annuities
  6. CNN Money. (n.d.). How do I know the company will honor my future payments? Retrieved from https://money.cnn.com/retirement/guide/annuities_basics.moneymag/index13.htm?iid=EL
  7. Nationwide. (n.d.). Company Overview. Retrieved from https://www.nationwide.com/personal/about-us/company-overview/
  8. North American. (n.d.). Contact North American. Retrieved from https://www.northamericancompany.com/contact-us
  9. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (n.d.). Annuities. Retrieved from https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/investment-products/insurance-products/annuities
  10. The Wall Street Journal. (n.d.). How to Select and Shop for an Annuity. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-HOWTOPFB-8