What makes this style of fixed indexed annuity attractive is the combination of guardrails and flexibility. Your premium is not invested in the stock market. Instead, interest credits are tied to the performance of one or more indices, and your contract generally protects against negative index years. In exchange for that protection, growth is typically limited by caps, participation rates, or performance triggers. That “trade” can make sense for conservative savers who want a defined risk profile and prefer a strategy that is designed to avoid major drawdowns in retirement. If you’re comparing how annuities fit into a broader retirement plan, it can also help to review are annuities a good investment in retirement to see how different contract types are commonly used.

FlexMark Select is often evaluated for three main planning goals: accumulation with downside protection, income planning with an optional lifetime withdrawal rider, and features that can help if health changes later. The right way to assess it is not “is it good?” but “is it good for what you want it to do?” That starts with comparing today’s rates and crediting terms, then modeling income options, and finally confirming how liquidity, surrender schedules, and rider rules actually work in your state. Our advisors do that comparison work daily across a broad marketplace, which is why many clients start by benchmarking rates and then requesting a personalized illustration.

Flexible Index Strategies with Principal Protection

The core of the FlexMark Select Fixed Index Annuity is how interest is credited. Rather than earning a simple declared rate every year, this contract typically allows you to select from multiple index-linked strategies. Commonly referenced indices include the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100, along with other index options that may be designed to target smoother performance characteristics. The index choice matters because each strategy is paired with a set of rules—caps, participation rates, or other crediting mechanics—that determine how much of the index movement turns into credited interest.

From a planning standpoint, it helps to think of index strategies as “dials” you can adjust. Some clients prefer a more conservative strategy that aims for steadier crediting, while others prefer a strategy that is more sensitive to equity markets. Regardless of strategy, the defining risk-control feature is that the contract is designed to prevent negative index years from reducing your annuity’s credited value. This is why many retirees use fixed indexed annuities as a stability tool inside a broader plan—especially when they want upside potential but cannot tolerate the emotional and financial stress of large market drawdowns.

If you’re comparing contract mechanics and how carriers structure crediting terms, it can help to also review fixed indexed annuity myths debunked. Many shoppers assume all FIAs work the same way, but the practical differences in crediting strategy design, renewal rates, and rider rules can be meaningful over time.

Because crediting terms can change, the best way to evaluate FlexMark Select is with current, state-specific illustration options and a side-by-side comparison against other strong fixed indexed annuities. If you want us to run that comparison, the fastest path is to use the annuity request form above. We’ll model the strategy mix and show how the contract behaves under different crediting outcomes, with a focus on what matters most—income potential, stability, liquidity, and legacy planning.

Income Riders and Customizable Bonus Options

For clients who want the option to create a reliable income stream later, FlexMark Select can be paired with an optional Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) rider. A GLWB rider is designed to provide contractually defined lifetime withdrawals, even if the underlying account value is eventually reduced by withdrawals over time. This can be especially useful for retirees who want “pension-like” income without giving up all control of their assets the way an immediate annuity sometimes can.

When we evaluate any income rider, we focus on the practical questions that impact real retirement planning: when income can start, how the income base is calculated, whether there are roll-up or step-up features, and what happens if you take withdrawals early or exceed the free-withdrawal limits. Those details drive whether the rider produces the income outcome you expect. If you’re planning around retirement income without a traditional pension, you may also find it helpful to review annuity options for retirees without pensions, since many clients are comparing a rider-based approach to other income solutions.

This contract is also commonly described as offering a choice between a bonus version and a non-bonus version. In practice, “bonus vs. no bonus” should never be evaluated on the headline number alone. A premium bonus may improve starting values and can sometimes help income math, but it can also come with trade-offs such as different caps, different rider charges, or different surrender schedules. The best choice depends on whether your primary objective is accumulation, income, or a blend of both. We run both scenarios and explain the trade-offs in plain language so you can decide with confidence.

If you want a broader view of how bonuses work and when they actually help, compare it against the current marketplace here: current bonus annuity rates. The goal is not to chase a bonus—it’s to choose a contract where the total design produces the best long-term outcome for you.

Health-Triggered Boosts and Liquidity Features

One reason some retirees pay attention to Ameritas FlexMark Select is the concept of an income “booster” tied to health triggers. Depending on the rider structure and state availability, a MyFit Income Rider with Booster feature may increase the withdrawal benefit if you meet defined health criteria. This is not a replacement for traditional long-term care insurance, but it can be an important planning feature for clients who are concerned about health-driven income disruptions later in retirement and want additional contractual levers built into the annuity design.

When we review health-triggered rider features, we focus on the definitions. What qualifies as a triggering event? Is it based on activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, confinement, or other criteria? How is eligibility verified, and what documentation is required? The value of the feature is not just that it exists, but that it is clearly understood before you buy. If long-term care planning is part of your broader strategy, you may also want to explore how annuities compare to hybrid options in hybrid long-term care strategies.

Liquidity is another core issue for any annuity buyer. FlexMark Select is generally structured with penalty-free withdrawal provisions, commonly allowing up to a defined percentage annually after the first contract year, subject to contract rules. This can help clients maintain access to a portion of funds for unexpected needs while still preserving the long-term structure that makes the annuity work. Liquidity also includes safety valves such as terminal illness or nursing home provisions in many contracts, although the exact terms vary by carrier and state. We confirm these details during the illustration review so you know what flexibility you actually have.

Legacy transfer is typically straightforward in this type of annuity. Beneficiaries generally receive the contract’s accumulation value (subject to any rider provisions and contract terms), which can create a clean transfer mechanism compared to some other income approaches. If estate planning is part of your objective, we also help you coordinate beneficiary designations with your broader planning so the annuity integrates correctly with your accounts and goals.

Who This Annuity May Be a Good Fit For

Ameritas FlexMark Select is often considered by individuals who want conservative growth potential tied to market indices, while prioritizing principal protection. It can be a fit for pre-retirees who want a structured accumulation tool during the final working years and for retirees who want an income strategy that can be turned on later through a rider. It can also fit households that like having a choice between a bonus or non-bonus approach, as long as the trade-offs are clearly understood and the contract is selected for the right reasons.

We frequently see this style of annuity used as part of a “bucketed” retirement income plan. A portion of assets may be kept liquid for near-term spending, another portion may be positioned for stable growth and future income, and another portion may remain invested for longer-term inflation exposure depending on the client’s risk tolerance. FlexMark Select typically lives in the “stable growth and income planning” bucket. The question is how large that bucket should be for you and whether the contract rules align with your timeline.

The best next step is to compare current terms, then run an income illustration based on your age, premium, and desired income start date. You can use the calculator above for an initial estimate, and then request a personalized annuity illustration so we can confirm the numbers and compare options across the market. If you want to ensure you are seeing competitive terms, you can also benchmark against current fixed annuity rates and current bonus annuity rates before making a final decision.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we keep the process straightforward. We’ll confirm your objectives, run side-by-side comparisons, explain the contract trade-offs clearly, and help you choose an approach that supports your retirement plan without unnecessary complexity.