Finding the best annuity rates today is one of the most effective ways to protect your retirement dollars, secure guaranteed growth, and build long-term income you cannot outlive. Because annuity rates change often—and vary significantly across carriers—retirement savers who compare multiple insurers are far more likely to lock in stronger guarantees and earn higher interest over time. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, our team evaluates products across more than 75 top-rated companies to help clients identify strong yields and understand exactly how annuities earn interest in different market environments.

When most people talk about the “best annuity rates,” they’re really talking about a combination of factors: the guaranteed fixed rates on multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs), the crediting terms inside fixed indexed annuities, and the payout rates on income-focused contracts. Whether you’re looking for guaranteed growth, long-term income, or a blend of both, the top rates available today can dramatically influence your retirement outcome. Many savers use annuities as a supplement to IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, and bank money—creating a conservative foundation that helps steady the overall plan.

Rates move based on interest markets, insurer demand, and state-by-state pricing, so the “best” options are never static. That’s why checking updated rate pages regularly and comparing offers is so important. The goal isn’t just to grab the highest number you see; it’s to find strong rates from financially sound companies that also offer the right liquidity, term length, and withdrawal flexibility for your situation.

Why the Best Annuity Rates Matter for Your Retirement Strategy

Annuity rates have a direct impact on how quickly your savings grow and how much guaranteed income you can receive in the future. In a world where market volatility can erode portfolios without warning, locking in a reliable rate helps create a foundation of predictable growth. High-quality annuity products allow you to earn competitive yields with none of the downside risk of equities and less interest-rate sensitivity than many bond portfolios.

For many retirees and pre-retirees, the best annuity rates provide a way to carve out part of their nest egg and protect it from market swings. Fixed and indexed annuities can sit alongside IRAs, 401(k)s, and other investment accounts as the conservative anchor of the overall plan. When built correctly, this mix can reduce sequence-of-returns risk in retirement while still giving you opportunities for growth, income, and inflation protection through features like deferred annuity structure and optional income riders.

Types of Annuity Rates You Can Compare

When you search for the “best annuity rates,” you’re usually looking at three broad categories. Understanding how each works makes it easier to decide which type fits you:

1. Fixed MYGA Rates – Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs) are sometimes described as “CD-like annuities.” They pay a guaranteed interest rate for a specific term such as 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. During that period, your principal is protected, your rate does not change, and your growth is tax-deferred until you start taking withdrawals. Many clients use MYGAs as an alternative to CDs and treasuries, especially when annuity yields are materially higher and can be paired with strategies like transferring an IRA to an annuity for consolidation and simplicity.

2. Fixed Indexed Annuity Rates – Fixed indexed annuities do not guarantee a single set rate every year. Instead, your growth is linked to the performance of one or more indices using crediting methods with caps, participation rates, and/or spreads. While your interest can vary year to year, your principal is protected from market losses. These contracts are especially appealing if you like the idea of market-linked accumulation without direct downside, and you want the option to add a guaranteed lifetime income rider or explore strategies outlined in pages like annuities as a retirement investment.

3. Guaranteed Income Rates – Some annuities are designed primarily to turn a lump sum into guaranteed income. These include single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs), deferred income annuities, and FIAs with income riders. In these cases, the “best rate” is often the highest guaranteed lifetime payout for your age, start date, and payout structure (single or joint-life). For many retirees, this is just as important as comparing pure accumulation rates on MYGAs. If you’re exploring income contracts, resources like what is an immediate annuity and best retirement income annuity options can help frame the conversation.

In practice, most people use a blend of these annuity types—locking in strong fixed rates on MYGAs while also evaluating income-focused products that can create a pension-like paycheck later in life.

See Today’s Best Fixed and Bonus Annuity Rates

If you want to drill down into specific rate numbers by term length and carrier, our live rate resources are the next step. These pages are updated as carrier pricing changes and help you see which companies are most competitive right now across guaranteed fixed and bonus-enhanced contracts.

Our fixed annuity rates resource focuses on MYGAs and other contracts designed for guaranteed accumulation over a specific term, while the bonus-annuity page highlights products with upfront premium enhancements. If you’re still weighing whether these strategies fit your financial picture, it may be helpful to read broader overviews such as are annuities worth it before you decide how much of your portfolio to allocate.

Check Income Options From Today’s Best Annuity Rates

Beyond pure accumulation, many retirees want to understand how today’s annuity rates translate into guaranteed monthly or annual income. Comparing income numbers helps you decide how much to allocate to annuities versus other investments, how long to defer income, and whether to use single or joint-life payout structures. This is especially important when coordinating with Social Security, pensions, and other retirement income sources.

Use the calculator below to explore how different premiums, start dates, and rider options can impact your income. This isn’t a formal quote, but it can give you a realistic benchmark to take into planning conversations and to compare against other strategies you might be considering.

Lifetime Income Calculator

Once you have a sense of the income potential, you can compare those results with current offers from fixed and bonus annuities. Sometimes a straightforward MYGA combined with a later income purchase makes sense; other times, a bonus annuity or index annuity with a built-in income rider can be more attractive. For a deeper dive into how bonus structures work, you can review the pros and cons outlined in bonus annuity pros and cons.

How to Choose the Best Annuity Rate for Your Situation

The highest number on a rate sheet is not always the best choice. What really matters is how the contract fits your time horizon, risk tolerance, tax situation, and liquidity needs. Here are key variables to weigh as you compare today’s best annuity rates:

Term Length and Time Horizon. Longer terms often provide higher yields, but they also commit your money under a surrender schedule for more years. If you anticipate needing funds sooner, a shorter MYGA or a laddered strategy may be more appropriate. Some clients split money across several terms—3, 5, 7, and 10 years—to balance yield and flexibility, similar to how they might structure a bond ladder or CD ladder.

Liquidity and Free-Withdrawal Provisions. Most annuities allow a percentage of the contract value (often around 10%) to be withdrawn each year after the first contract year without surrender charges. If you anticipate periodic access to cash, look for contracts with generous free-withdrawal provisions, clear language around required minimum distributions, and flexibility if you later decide to transfer a 401k to an annuity or reposition other assets.

Surrender Charge Schedules and Market Value Adjustments (MVA). Surrender charges and MVAs matter if you might need to exit early or make larger unscheduled withdrawals. An MVA can either increase or decrease your surrender value depending on interest rate changes since issue. It doesn’t change your credited rate, but it can impact the amount received on early surrender or large withdrawals exceeding the free amount.

Carrier Strength and Ratings. Annuity guarantees are backed by the financial strength of the issuing company. While state guaranty associations provide a backstop up to certain limits, it’s still vital to favor carriers with strong independent ratings and disciplined risk management. Diversifying among multiple carriers can make sense for larger balances or when using annuities as a core component of your retirement income strategy.

Tax Considerations. Non-qualified annuities offer tax-deferred growth, meaning you don’t owe taxes on interest until you withdraw it. In qualified accounts (like IRAs and 401(k) rollovers), the tax rules follow the retirement account itself. When deciding how much to invest, it’s wise to think about both current and future tax brackets and how annuities will interact with other income-producing assets in your plan.

Income Riders and Payout Options. If your primary goal is guaranteed income, you may want to compare withdrawal rates on FIAs with income riders versus simply using high fixed MYGA rates and adding income later. Some contracts provide roll-up rates or income factors that can be very compelling, especially when evaluated alongside your broader retirement income strategy and the question of how fixed indexed annuities work inside an income-focused plan.

Who Benefits Most From Today’s Best Annuity Rates?

High-quality annuity rates can benefit several types of savers and retirees. Understanding where you fit can help clarify how much of your portfolio to allocate and which products make sense.

Conservative pre-retirees often use MYGAs as a middle ground between low-yield bank products and market volatility. Locking in strong fixed rates for several years gives them confidence that at least part of their money is compounding steadily as they approach retirement. Some use surplus savings or proceeds from paying off a mortgage to fund a contract that will mature right around their target retirement date.

Retirees who need stable income may focus on income riders and payout rates rather than just accumulation. The best annuity rates in this context are those that translate into predictable monthly checks that, together with Social Security and any pensions, cover core living expenses. These retirees often prefer to let higher-risk assets handle long-term growth while annuities provide the “must-pay” income floor.

Investors rolling over CDs, treasuries, or bond funds sometimes use MYGAs or indexed annuities as an alternative, especially when after-tax annuity yields are more attractive. Because annuity growth is tax-deferred in non-qualified accounts, a strong rate can compare favorably to taxable interest. For investors exploring rollovers from employer plans or IRAs, pages like how to transfer an IRA to an annuity can help clarify the mechanics and paperwork.

Families worried about market shocks often carve out a secure bucket of assets that will not decline when markets fall. The best annuity rates allow them to build this protected bucket without sacrificing meaningful growth potential. Fixed annuities, indexed annuities, and income contracts each play a role depending on whether the priority is principal protection, income, or a blend of both.

Business owners or professionals with lump sums from a practice sale, inheritance, or severance package may choose to lock in those dollars at strong rates while they decide on the next phase of their financial life. Annuities can act as a safe, tax-deferred parking place that also creates future income options, especially when paired with the kind of long-term thinking found in resources like are annuities a good investment in retirement.

Related Pages

• How Does an IRA Work?
• How Does a 401(k) Work?
• What Is a Deferred Income Annuity?
• Do Annuities Have Fees?
• Do Annuities Pay an Income for Life?