Athene Performance Elite Annuity – Flexible Growth with Powerful Income Potential
Built for Performance and Control
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we specialize in helping individuals grow and protect their retirement savings with customized annuity solutions. The Athene Performance Elite, issued by Athene Annuity and Life Company, is a fixed indexed annuity designed for clients who want to maximize accumulation potential while maintaining access to their money. With bonus options, a range of index crediting strategies, and enhanced liquidity features, this annuity adapts to your retirement timeline—whether you’re focused on growth, income, or both.
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High Growth Potential with Premium Bonuses
At the time of publication, the Performance Elite series offers premium bonuses of up to 15%, depending on the version and contract term selected. These bonuses are applied immediately to your accumulation value and/or income benefit base, jumpstarting your potential for long-term growth.
You can choose between:
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Performance Elite 7
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Performance Elite 10
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Performance Elite 15
Each version includes a longer surrender period but higher bonus and participation rate opportunities—allowing you to customize based on your financial timeline.
Diverse Index Crediting Options
The Performance Elite offers multiple market-linked strategies, including:
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S&P 500®
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BNP Paribas Multi Asset Diversified 5 Index
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AI Powered US Equity Index
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Athene U.S. Rising Dividend Index
These strategies are available with uncapped participation, enhanced participation through riders, or spread-based methods. The wide variety of options allows you to tailor your annuity based on your risk tolerance and return expectations.
No-Fee Growth or Enhanced Options with Riders
You can choose a base contract with no annual fees, or enhance growth potential by selecting the Performance Strategy Rider (PSR)—a fee-based option that unlocks:
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Higher participation rates
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More uncapped strategies
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Additional index choices
This is ideal for clients focused on accumulation-first strategies who are willing to exchange a small fee for potentially stronger upside.
Flexible Access and Liquidity
While many annuities limit access to funds, the Performance Elite includes several liquidity-friendly provisions:
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10% annual penalty-free withdrawals starting in year two
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Full waiver for nursing home confinement, terminal illness, or required minimum distributions (RMDs)
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Cumulative Withdrawal Benefit – up to 30% cumulative if no withdrawals are taken in years 1 or 2
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Return of Premium (ROP) option available on certain versions, providing full access to original premium if canceled early
This flexibility makes it easier to adjust your retirement plan if life or market conditions change.
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Who Should Consider the Athene Performance Elite?
This annuity is ideal for:
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Pre-retirees with 5–15 years before retirement seeking accumulation-focused strategies
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Individuals wanting bonus-enhanced growth with optional fee-based enhancements
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Clients who value principal protection while pursuing market-linked returns
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Investors who want access to cash without penalties under certain life events
The Performance Elite series empowers individuals to build a retirement plan around growth, control, and confidence.
Talk to an Advisor or Request Your Annuity Quote
Ready to explore this annuity in more detail—or compare it with other carriers to see if even higher rates are available? With guaranteed income, principal protection, and long-term growth potential on the line, making the right choice is essential. The experienced advisors at Diversified Insurance Brokers will guide you through the options and design a strategy tailored to your retirement goals.
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FAQs: Athene Performance Elite
What type of annuity is Athene Performance Elite?
Athene Performance Elite is a fixed indexed annuity designed for long-term accumulation. It offers multiple index options, competitive participation rates, and features focused on tax-deferred growth.
What contract lengths are available?
The Performance Elite series is available in several surrender schedule lengths. Longer terms typically offer higher participation rates and stronger growth potential.
Does the Performance Elite have spreads, caps, or participation rates?
Depending on the crediting strategy you select, Athene may use participation rates, cap rates, or spread charges. Many Performance Elite strategies emphasize uncapped growth with competitive participation rates. You can compare crediting methods on our pages explaining annuity cap rates and participation rates.
Is there a built-in income rider?
The Performance Elite is primarily an accumulation-focused FIA and does not include a standard lifetime income rider. However, it can be paired with other Athene products for long-term income planning. See our guide on best retirement income annuity options.
Are penalty-free withdrawals available?
Yes. Most Athene Performance Elite contracts include annual penalty-free withdrawal options, typically up to 10% of the contract value, similar to what’s described in our page on annuity free withdrawal rules.
Who is the Performance Elite best for?
This annuity is best for long-term savers looking for strong index-linked upside, tax-deferred accumulation, and principal protection. It is also popular among clients who want alternatives to market volatility without committing to an income rider.
How do I compare Performance Elite rates to other FIAs?
You can compare Athene’s current rates with competing carriers by visiting our current annuity rate page or using our income tools to evaluate long-term projections.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
