Momentum Growth is built for people who like the “guardrails” of a fixed indexed annuity (no direct market downside to principal from index performance), but who don’t want a one-size-fits-all allocation. Instead of forcing you into a single index strategy, this contract emphasizes choice: you can select among different crediting approaches and can refine your positioning as your timeline evolves. For many clients, that flexibility is just as important as the headline story of principal protection—because the best annuity strategy is rarely static for 5–10 years.

Whether you’re repositioning conservative assets, rolling over a retirement account, or placing non-qualified savings, it’s helpful to evaluate Momentum Growth the same way you’d evaluate any fixed indexed annuity: (1) how interest is credited, (2) how the surrender schedule and liquidity rules work, (3) what happens if you need money early, (4) how beneficiaries are treated, and (5) how the contract fits alongside other retirement-income building blocks. If you want a broader baseline for comparing products across carriers, our current annuity rates hub is a useful reference point before you zoom into any one contract’s design.

One important point up front: a fixed indexed annuity like Momentum Growth is primarily an accumulation tool. That doesn’t mean it can’t be used as part of a retirement income plan—it can—but the “how” matters. Many people build a protected growth sleeve first, then later decide whether to (a) annuitize, (b) reposition into a dedicated income-rider contract, or (c) integrate systematic withdrawals across multiple buckets. If you’re comparing accumulation-focused FIAs with income-focused FIAs, it helps to also explore our resources on whether annuities are worth it and annuities as a retirement investment to frame the decision around outcomes rather than product labels.

Flexible Growth Potential with VersaGain

What sets the Momentum Growth annuity apart is VersaGain, a positioning feature that emphasizes customization. In plain English, VersaGain is meant to give you more control over how your contract pursues index-linked interest crediting. Different indexes behave differently over time, and different crediting strategies can emphasize different trade-offs (for example, higher upside potential vs. smoother interest patterns). With VersaGain, the concept is that you can fine-tune how your annuity is allocated across available crediting options to better match your comfort level and time horizon—rather than being locked into a single approach that may not feel as appropriate in year 6 as it did in year 1.

This is often the difference between “owning an annuity” and “owning an annuity strategy.” When the contract provides multiple levers—index choices, crediting methods, and the ability to reallocate at set points—you can adapt. That adaptability is especially valuable in periods when interest rates, cap rates, participation rates, and index methodologies change across the industry. For a broader view of how rate mechanics affect real-world results, you may also find value in our explainer on what an annuity spread rate is and how it fits into the overall crediting picture.

Momentum Growth typically offers a menu of crediting choices that may include well-known indexes and a fixed interest option. Your exact availability can vary by state and contract version, but the general idea is to give you diversified market participation pathways while keeping the principal-protection structure intact. Common examples of index options you may see referenced include:

S&P 500 Dynamic Intraday TCA Index — a rules-based index framework designed to manage volatility dynamically.

Barclays Aries Index — another rules-based index approach that may incorporate volatility controls or allocation methodologies.

Nasdaq-100 Volatility Control 12% Index — a volatility-controlled version built around Nasdaq-100 exposure targeting a defined volatility level.

Fixed interest rate option — a non-index, declared rate option that can be useful when you prefer simplicity or want to diversify away from index mechanics.

Regardless of which index options are available, remember the central value proposition: you are not directly invested in the stock market, and your credited interest is determined by the contract’s crediting terms—not by owning the index itself. The practical advantage is that market declines do not reduce your annuity value due to index performance. The practical trade-off is that upside is typically shaped by contract terms (caps, participation, spreads, or other levers) which can change at renewal.

How Interest Crediting Typically Works (and What to Look For)

When evaluating Momentum Growth, it helps to focus on the “crediting engine.” Fixed indexed annuities generally credit interest using one or more methods tied to index performance over a period (often one year, though other terms exist). You’ll often see terms like cap rate, participation rate, and spread. These are not “fees” in the traditional sense, but they do define how much of an index move can translate into credited interest. That’s why contract design matters more than marketing headlines: two FIAs can be positioned as “principal protected,” but deliver very different results over time depending on how the crediting terms interact with the chosen index strategy.

If you’re building an annuity allocation with a goal of stable accumulation, you’ll often compare Momentum Growth to other accumulation FIAs and also to fixed annuity alternatives like MYGAs (multi-year guaranteed annuities). MYGAs can be a strong “benchmark” when you want straightforward declared rates and less moving parts. A helpful comparison path is to review current fixed annuity rates alongside FIA options so you can decide whether the additional complexity of index crediting is likely to improve your expected outcome given your time horizon and risk preferences.

Access to Funds and Liquidity Options

Liquidity is where many annuity decisions become “real.” Momentum Growth is designed to be a longer-term contract, which is why it includes a surrender-charge period. But it also typically includes a free-withdrawal provision that can help you maintain access without breaking the long-term strategy. In many designs, you may be able to withdraw up to 10% of premium per year after the first contract year without surrender charges. That feature can be important for clients who want a protected-growth sleeve but still want a reasonable emergency-access lane.

In addition to standard free withdrawals, many annuities include waiver provisions that may allow additional access if certain conditions are met—commonly scenarios like terminal illness or nursing home confinement. These waivers can vary by contract and state, so the best practice is to confirm definitions, waiting periods, and documentation requirements before assuming they will apply in a future claim scenario. If you want a broader view of how free withdrawals typically work across the annuity landscape, our guide to annuity free withdrawal rules is a useful context builder.

It’s also important to understand Market Value Adjustment (MVA) language if it applies. MVA provisions are not unique to this contract type; they are common in certain annuities and can either increase or decrease the amount you receive if you withdraw more than the free amount during the surrender period, depending on interest-rate movements. Practically, MVA is one more reason we encourage clients to match the surrender period to the portion of assets they can truly commit for that time frame—then keep separate liquidity for short-term needs.

Death Benefit and Legacy Treatment

For many families, a protected accumulation strategy isn’t just about retirement—it’s also about leaving assets in an orderly way. Momentum Growth typically provides a death benefit structure that pays beneficiaries based on contract values at the time of death, subject to the contract’s definitions. In many annuity structures, beneficiaries may receive the greater of accumulation value or surrender value, which helps preserve the intent of principal protection. For a deeper explanation of how annuity beneficiary treatment usually works and what choices beneficiaries may face, see our guide to annuity beneficiary death benefits.

It’s also worth pairing legacy planning with “contract mechanics” planning. Beneficiary designations, payout options, and how quickly beneficiaries must distribute proceeds can vary depending on whether the annuity is qualified (IRA/rollover) or non-qualified. If you’re deciding which dollars to place into an annuity, this is one of the most important strategy questions—because the same product can behave differently depending on the tax wrapper around it.

Income Flexibility (What This Contract Does—and Does Not—Do)

Momentum Growth is generally positioned as an accumulation-focused fixed indexed annuity. That means it may not include a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) rider by default. However, many clients still evaluate accumulation contracts through an “income lens,” because the end goal is often retirement cash flow. One common approach is to build protected growth first, then later decide whether to annuitize, reposition, or blend with an income-rider contract designed specifically for lifetime withdrawals.

Annuitization is a tool that can convert contract value into a stream of income, but it’s a decision that should be made intentionally because it can reduce flexibility. If lifetime income is your primary objective, you may also want to compare Momentum Growth with contracts built explicitly for income riders. A helpful starting point is our broader annuities hub, and if you’re already thinking about monthly retirement cash flow, the perspective on annuities for monthly retirement income can help you frame product selection around outcomes.

How Delaware Life Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Delaware Life Insurance Company has built a strong presence in the annuity space with a focus on product innovation and a menu of retirement solutions. Momentum Growth is part of that ecosystem and is best evaluated not as a standalone “good or bad” product, but as one potential tool among many. When we review Delaware Life products, we typically compare them against other carriers offering similar crediting approaches, similar surrender periods, and similar liquidity structures—because that is the fairest way to judge whether a given contract is competitive in today’s market.

If you’re researching Delaware Life more broadly, you can start with our overview of Delaware Life, then cross-check with market comparisons via current annuity rates and the specific rate buckets referenced above (fixed rates and bonus rates). That sequence tends to produce the clearest conclusion: not “is it good,” but “is it good for this objective, with these dollars, on this timeline.”

Who the Momentum Growth FIA Is Usually Best For

Momentum Growth tends to appeal to investors who want to move a portion of assets into a principal-protected structure but still want upside potential tied to index performance, especially if they prefer having multiple crediting choices. It is often considered by pre-retirees who are stepping away from a more volatile allocation, retirees who want to reduce sequence risk on a portion of assets, and conservative savers who want tax-deferred growth on non-qualified dollars.

It can also be a fit for people who value optionality—because the ability to reallocate among crediting strategies over time can matter as markets and rates change. That said, the contract is still an annuity: it has a surrender period, it is designed for long-term positioning, and it works best when funded with dollars that are truly intended to stay committed for that period. If that sounds like your situation, the next step is usually to compare Momentum Growth to 2–4 close alternatives (same surrender length, similar crediting style, similar liquidity rules) and choose the best overall outcome based on available terms at the time you’re applying.

For additional context while you’re researching, these pages pair well with this review because they address the most common annuity decision points:

Bottom line: the Delaware Life Momentum Growth Fixed Indexed Annuity is most compelling when you want principal protection, market-linked growth potential, and meaningful flexibility in how you allocate crediting options over time. As with any annuity, the “best” outcome depends on the exact rates and terms available at the time you apply—so comparisons matter. Use the rate resources above for market context, then evaluate Momentum Growth against similar contracts so you can choose the strategy that improves outcomes for your specific timeline and goals.