Highest Annuity Rates Today

Today’s highest annuity rates are concentrated in a specific segment of the MYGA marketplace — one where carrier pricing philosophy, investment strategy, and competitive positioning intersect to produce declared rates that consistently exceed what the broader A-rated carrier universe can sustain. In June 2026, the highest available MYGA declared rates cluster in the 6.00%–6.35% range across mid-term surrender periods, delivered primarily by carriers in the B-range of the AM Best financial strength rating scale. Understanding why those carriers lead the highest-rate tier — and what that means for buyers evaluating whether to pursue those rates or accept a modestly lower yield from a stronger carrier — is the most useful thing any serious annuity rate shopper can know before making a decision. This page addresses that question directly alongside the current rate benchmark, so buyers can evaluate the highest available rates today with a complete picture rather than just a headline number. For the broader context on fixed annuity products as a category before narrowing to specific rate comparisons, our annuities overview, Annuities 101 guide, and our resource on whether annuities are a good investment provide the foundational evaluation framework. For the current fixed annuity rate landscape with full product details, our current fixed annuity rates page provides the companion resource to this highest-rate analysis.

The highest annuity rates available today are not simply the result of one carrier being more generous than another — they are the product of specific investment strategy differences that allow certain carriers to generate higher yields on their general account portfolios while maintaining financial adequacy under state regulatory standards. Carriers that accept somewhat higher portfolio investment risk — moving toward the upper end of investment-grade credit, increasing exposure to private credit instruments, or accepting longer asset duration — can generate higher investment yields that translate into higher declared MYGA rates. This is not inherently dangerous: all carriers offering MYGA products must meet state insurance regulatory capital and reserve requirements regardless of their AM Best rating. The regulatory oversight that governs all state-licensed insurance carriers — including B-rated carriers — is the same framework that governs A-rated carriers. The rating difference reflects the carrier’s financial cushion above the regulatory minimum, not whether the carrier meets the minimum. For a complete explanation of what an AM Best rating means in practical terms for annuity buyers, our resource on what an insurance company’s AM Best rating means provides the detailed context needed to interpret the carrier ratings in the rate table below.

The practical question for any buyer evaluating today’s highest annuity rates is not whether the highest-rate carriers are safe — they are, within the parameters of their regulatory structure — but whether the rate differential between the highest-rate B-rated carriers and the modestly lower-rate A-rated alternatives is sufficient to justify the trade-off in financial strength cushion for the specific buyer’s premium size and contract term. For a $50,000 deposit into a 3-year MYGA, the rate differential of 0.25%–0.50% between the highest-rate B-carrier and the best available A-rated alternative represents approximately $375–$750 in additional guaranteed interest over the 3-year term. For a $700,000 deposit, the same differential represents $5,250–$10,500. The evaluation of whether that dollar difference justifies the financial strength trade-off is specific to each buyer’s situation — and this page provides the framework for making that evaluation clearly. For a focused evaluation of the best fixed annuity options specifically for retirement-stage buyers who prioritize safety alongside yield, our best fixed annuity for retirees resource and our guide on annuities for conservative investors provide the buyer-specific analysis.

Why the Highest Annuity Rates Today Come From Specific Carrier Profiles

Insurance carriers that consistently lead the highest-rate tier of the MYGA market share a common set of characteristics that explain their pricing leadership. They tend to be smaller regional or niche carriers without the same brand recognition as national insurers — companies like Mountain Life, American Gulf, Wichita National, and Sentinel Security — whose business models are built around competitive pricing in the fixed annuity market rather than broad-market insurance offerings across multiple product lines. Their investment portfolios are often positioned toward the upper range of investment-grade credit — accepting the higher yield available from BBB-rated bonds and private placement instruments rather than concentrating in A-rated or better bonds as the larger carriers do. Their operational cost structures are typically leaner than large national carriers, which means more of the investment yield flows through to declared rates. And their regulatory standing — while reflected in B-range AM Best ratings — meets all state insurance department standards for capital adequacy and claims-paying capacity.

The carriers that appear in the highest-rate tier of today’s MYGA market are not newcomers or poorly managed companies. Many have been issuing MYGA and fixed annuity products for decades and have maintained uninterrupted claims-paying histories. The AM Best B-range ratings — B, B+, and B++ — reflect financial stability with a narrower capital cushion above regulatory minimums compared to A-rated carriers, not financial distress or elevated claims risk. AM Best’s B++ rating specifically is classified as “Good” by the rating agency, indicating a stable financial profile that meets all obligations to policyholders. Understanding this context is essential for buyers who see a B-rated carrier in the highest-rate table and instinctively assume it is unsafe — the rating reflects relative financial strength within the insurance industry’s framework, not an indication that the carrier is likely to fail. For the complete context on how AM Best ratings are calculated and what each tier means for annuity buyers, our dedicated resource on what an insurance company’s AM Best rating means provides the full explanatory framework.

💰 Highest Annuity Rates by Term (1–10 Years) as of June 2026

The table below shows today’s highest available MYGA declared rates across common term lengths. All rates shown are currently available on new contracts issued in June 2026. Click any rate to request a live quote for your specific state, premium amount, and preferred term. Note that rates vary by state approval, premium band, and timing — the rate shown is the current benchmark; your confirmed live offer may differ based on these factors. Larger deposits frequently qualify for higher rates; contact us to confirm the tiered pricing available at your specific premium level.

Rates are subject to change and may vary by state, age, and premium band. Larger deposits may qualify for different tiers. A-rated alternatives at slightly lower declared rates are available — contact us to compare both segments for your specific situation.

The Highest Annuity Rates by Term — What Each Tier Currently Offers

Short-Term Highest Rates (1–3 Years): 4.15%–6.00%

The 1-to-3-year segment of the highest-rate table shows a notable feature: the 1-year highest rate (4.15% from GCU Life, rated A-) comes from an A-rated carrier, while the 2 and 3-year highest rates (5.25%–6.00% from Mountain Life, rated B) come from a B-rated carrier. This is not unusual — the 1-year segment has limited demand from higher-risk carriers because the economics of a 1-year term do not provide enough investment runway to significantly differentiate rates across carrier quality tiers. The practical implication for short-term buyers is that the highest rates at 1 year are already from a financially stronger carrier, while the 2 and 3-year highest rates involve the classic B-rated carrier trade-off. For buyers specifically evaluating short-term options — whether for a CD alternative, a near-term liquidity bridge, or a conservative positioning ahead of a known financial decision — our resource on best short-term MYGA annuities provides the focused analysis. For the broader comparison between short-term MYGAs and competing conservative instruments, our fixed annuities vs. CDs resource provides the relevant mechanics.

Mid-Term Highest Rates (4–7 Years): 6.05%–6.35%

The 4-to-7-year tier represents the highest-rate sweet spot in today’s MYGA market — where the combination of competitive declared rates (6.05%–6.35%) and manageable surrender periods produces the strongest value for buyers who can commit funds for the selected term. The 5-year highest rate of 6.35% from American Gulf (B++) represents the peak of today’s MYGA declared rate market. American Gulf’s B++ rating — the highest in the B range, classified as “Good” by AM Best — represents a stronger financial profile than the plain B ratings of some other highest-rate carriers, making it a particularly compelling option for buyers who want the highest available rate with a somewhat more robust carrier financial profile than the B-rated alternatives. The 7-year highest rate of 6.10% from Wichita National via the Security MYGA (B+) provides a competitive alternative for buyers who want the longest available mid-term commitment with a rate that captures more of today’s market yield than shorter alternatives.

Long-Term Highest Rates (8–10 Years): 5.50%–6.25%

The 8-to-10-year tier shows an interesting inversion of the typical pattern: the 9-year highest rate (5.50% from Liberty Bankers via the Heritage Elite, rated A-) comes from an A-rated carrier and is actually lower than the 8-year and 10-year rates from B-rated carriers. This reflects Liberty Bankers’ willingness to offer competitive rates with a stronger financial profile — a genuine value proposition for buyers with larger premium amounts where carrier strength becomes a more significant consideration. The 10-year highest rate of 6.25% from Sentinel Security via the Personal Choice product (B) represents the highest rate available at the longest common MYGA term — with the B carrier financial profile that buyers at this term length should evaluate carefully given the 10-year commitment horizon. For buyers whose primary goal is guaranteed growth over a long holding period rather than the highest possible declared rate, our resource on highest guaranteed annuity rates provides the full market overview including the A-rated options at each term length for comparison.

Highest Rate vs. Strongest Carrier — The Trade-Off Every Buyer Faces Today

The rate-versus-strength trade-off is the central evaluation decision for any buyer pursuing today’s highest MYGA rates. On one side is the highest declared rate available — typically 0.25%–0.75% higher than what A-rated carriers offer at the same term. On the other side is the financial strength differential between the B-rated highest-rate carrier and the best available A-rated alternative. Here is how to think about this trade-off for real dollar amounts at specific terms. On a $100,000 deposit at a 5-year term, the difference between 6.35% (American Gulf, B++) and a hypothetical 5.85% from an A-rated carrier is approximately $2,700 in additional guaranteed interest over the full 5-year term. On a $500,000 deposit at the same term, the same rate differential represents approximately $13,500 in additional guaranteed interest. For buyers working within state guaranty association limits (typically $250,000 in fixed annuity value per insurer per state), the financial backstop from state regulation applies equally to both carriers, which reduces the practical significance of the rating differential for those amounts. For buyers positioning significantly above those limits, the carrier’s financial strength profile becomes a more meaningful consideration that should be weighed against the dollar value of the rate differential. Our annuity rescue plan resource addresses situations where an existing annuity with a weaker carrier profile might warrant repositioning — providing the evaluation framework for buyers who want to understand the full risk picture of any carrier relationship before committing.

Premium Banding — How Your Deposit Size Affects Which Highest Rate Applies

One of the least discussed but most practically significant factors in MYGA rate comparison is premium banding — the practice of offering different declared rates at different deposit size thresholds. Many carriers in the highest-rate tier offer tiered pricing that produces higher declared rates for larger deposits. Common banding thresholds include $25,000 (minimum for some products), $50,000, $100,000, $250,000, and $500,000+. A carrier that shows 6.35% as its highest published rate may actually offer 6.50% or higher for deposits above $250,000 — meaning the buyer who deposits $300,000 receives a meaningfully better rate than the buyer who deposits $75,000 with the same carrier. The benchmark rate table on this page reflects the published market rate — the rate you see before any premium band enhancement applies. When you request a live quote, specify your exact premium amount so the confirmed rate reflects your specific tier. Premium band enhancements can add 0.10%–0.40% to the declared rate, which on a $500,000 deposit at a 5-year term represents an additional $2,500–$10,000 in guaranteed interest over the term. This is one reason confirming a live quote rather than relying on a benchmark table is always the right final step before purchasing.

How Today’s Highest MYGA Rates Compare to Other Conservative Alternatives

Today’s highest MYGA declared rates of 6.00%–6.35% at 3-to-7-year terms exist in a specific context relative to competing conservative savings vehicles. Money market accounts at national banks are currently yielding approximately 4.5%–5.0% for the highest-tier accounts — but these rates float with the federal funds rate and can decline at any point. 5-year Treasury notes are currently yielding approximately 4.0%–4.5% — guaranteed by the U.S. government but taxable at the federal level (unlike annuity interest, which is tax-deferred until withdrawal for non-qualified money). Bank CDs at competitive online institutions are currently offering 5.0%–5.5% at 5-year terms for the highest-rate offers — FDIC-insured but with annual tax reporting on accrued interest for non-qualified money. Against these benchmarks, today’s highest MYGA declared rates of 6.00%–6.35% at 5-year terms represent a competitive yield advantage on the declared rate alone — before accounting for the after-tax advantage of tax deferral on non-qualified money. For a detailed comparison of these structures and their specific mechanical differences, our fixed annuities vs. CDs resource provides the complete analysis including after-tax yield examples at different income tax brackets. For buyers evaluating whether the MYGA structure is the right vehicle for their conservative savings before comparing specific rates, our resource on the primary reason people buy annuities provides the philosophical context for when annuity structures serve buyers well and when they do not.

The State Guaranty Association Backstop — What It Means for Highest-Rate B-Rated Carriers

Every state in the United States operates an insurance guaranty association — a last-resort protection mechanism funded by insurance industry assessments that provides limited coverage to policyholders of failed insurance carriers. For fixed annuities including MYGAs, these associations typically provide protection up to $250,000 in accumulated annuity value per insurer per state (limits vary by state — some states cover as little as $100,000, others up to $500,000 or more). This backstop applies equally to all licensed insurance carriers in the state — including both A-rated and B-rated carriers. When a buyer chooses a B-rated highest-rate carrier for a deposit within the state guaranty association limits, the practical financial protection backstop is the same as it would be with an A-rated carrier for that amount — because the regulatory safety net applies regardless of the carrier’s AM Best rating. The AM Best rating indicates relative financial strength above the regulatory minimum, not whether the carrier is covered by the guaranty association framework. The practical significance of this context is that buyers who choose the highest-rate B-rated carriers for deposits within guaranty association limits have meaningful regulatory protection that reduces the practical risk of the rating differential for those amounts. For deposits significantly above guaranty association limits — common for buyers doing large IRA or 401(k) rollovers — the carrier’s financial strength becomes a more significant consideration, and diversification across multiple carriers (even at slightly lower rates from stronger carriers) becomes a prudent strategy to avoid excessive concentration above protection limits.

When Pursuing the Highest Annuity Rate Is the Right Strategy

There are specific scenarios where pursuing today’s highest MYGA rate — from the B-rated highest-rate carriers in the table — is genuinely the right decision rather than a trade-off to be cautious about. These scenarios share a common set of characteristics: the premium is within state guaranty association protection limits; the term aligns precisely with the buyer’s actual holding horizon; the buyer is primarily focused on accumulation rather than income guarantees that require carrier strength over a 20-to-30-year income obligation; and the buyer is informed about the carrier’s financial profile and has made a deliberate, values-based decision that the rate differential justifies the financial strength trade-off. For a buyer depositing $100,000 into a 5-year MYGA as a CD alternative, choosing the highest available B-rated rate at 6.35% versus an A-rated alternative at 5.85% is a reasonable, well-informed decision — the $2,500 in additional guaranteed interest represents genuine value, the deposit is well within guaranty protection limits, and the 5-year term is short enough that the carrier’s financial trajectory can be monitored and reassessed at renewal. For buyers in this scenario, the highest rate is genuinely the best choice. For buyers doing $700,000 rollovers into 10-year MYGAs, the calculus shifts — and an A-rated carrier at a modestly lower rate or a diversification strategy across multiple carriers becomes more prudent than maximizing the declared rate from a single B-rated carrier.

When a Slightly Lower Rate From a Stronger Carrier Is the Better Choice

The scenarios where accepting a slightly lower declared rate from a stronger carrier is the better decision are equally well-defined. Large premium amounts well above state guaranty association limits — particularly for buyers positioning IRA rollover money that represents the majority of their liquid retirement assets — call for prioritizing financial strength over incremental rate optimization. A 10-year MYGA commitment from a B-rated carrier on a $600,000 IRA rollover creates a 10-year relationship with a carrier whose financial cushion is narrower than A-rated alternatives, and whose financial profile could change during that decade in ways that an A-rated carrier is less likely to experience. The incremental rate benefit does not compensate for the additional concentration and counterparty risk at that premium level and term length. Similarly, buyers who are doing income planning — using MYGAs as accumulation vehicles with the intention of converting to guaranteed lifetime income at maturity — may find that a stronger carrier with a full suite of annuitization and income product options serves their long-term plan better than the highest-rate B-rated carrier, even if the MYGA declared rate is slightly lower. For these buyers, our resources on using annuities for monthly retirement income, lifetime income annuity options, and how much income an annuity pays provide the income planning context that connects today’s accumulation rate decision to tomorrow’s income outcome.

The Ladder Approach to Capturing Today’s Highest Rates Across Multiple Terms

Many buyers do not need to choose between the highest rate at a single term — they can capture today’s highest rates across multiple terms simultaneously through a ladder strategy. A ladder built around today’s highest-rate offerings might look like this for a $300,000 total premium: $100,000 into the 3-year Mountain Life Secure Summit at 6.00% (matures 2029 at approximately $119,000), $100,000 into the 5-year American Gulf Anchor MYGA at 6.35% (matures 2031 at approximately $134,000), and $100,000 into the 7-year Wichita National Security MYGA at 6.10% (matures 2033 at approximately $151,000). Total maturity value across all three: approximately $404,000 — a $104,000 gain on $300,000 in guaranteed principal-protected growth over the 2026-to-2033 period. The ladder creates three scheduled decision points, diversifies across three carriers (reducing concentration in any single carrier), and captures today’s competitive rates at each term tier rather than concentrating everything at one maturity date. For buyers who want to evaluate the best ladder structure for their specific premium, the annuity payout calculator and our team of advisors can model the full ladder across multiple premium allocations and term combinations.

Tax Treatment of Today’s Highest Annuity Rates

The tax treatment of today’s highest MYGA declared rates creates a meaningful after-tax yield advantage for non-qualified (after-tax) money compared to competing taxable instruments at the same declared rate. When a buyer earns 6.35% in a MYGA on non-qualified funds, no annual income tax applies to the accrued interest — it compounds inside the contract without generating an annual 1099. Compare this to a CD at the same 6.35% rate: the buyer receives a 1099-INT each year and pays ordinary income tax on the full accrued interest, reducing the effective after-tax compounding rate. For a buyer in the 24% federal tax bracket, a 6.35% MYGA produces an after-tax equivalent yield of approximately 6.35% (full deferral during accumulation) while a 6.35% CD produces an effective after-tax annual yield of approximately 4.83%. The 1.52% after-tax equivalent advantage of the MYGA in this example compounds meaningfully over a 5-year term on a $250,000 deposit — producing approximately $18,700 more in after-tax accumulated value than the comparable CD, on top of any declared rate differential. For the complete mechanics of non-qualified annuity taxation, our resources on non-qualified annuities and the annuity exclusion ratio provide the full distribution tax context. For qualified money (IRA, 401k rollovers), the tax deferral is already provided by the account type — the MYGA’s advantage for qualified money is the highest available guaranteed declared rate within the account structure, alongside the principal protection and predictable accumulation outcome. For the qualified money rollover decision framework, our resources on what to do with a 401(k) after retiring and what to do with an IRA after retiring provide the broader decision context. For buyers evaluating whether today’s highest MYGA rates compete effectively with bonus FIA designs for a large retirement rollover, our current bonus annuity rates page and the resource on whether an annuity or 401(k) is better for retirement provide the comparative framework that completes the full decision picture.