At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help retirees and pre-retirees evaluate insurers for safety, income potential, and long-term reliability. If you’re asking, “Is Athene a good insurance company?” the answer for many retirement savers is yes—Athene is widely recognized for strong financial strength, competitive fixed indexed annuities, and disciplined risk management. Below we cover what matters most: ratings, product lineup, pros and cons, and who Athene may be a good fit for.

Company Overview & Financial Strength

Athene focuses on retirement solutions—especially fixed and fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) aimed at principal protection and competitive accumulation. Its operating companies have carried strong, investment-grade financial strength ratings from major agencies. Tip: always confirm the latest letter grades before purchasing, as ratings can change by company entity and over time.

• Financial Strength: Athene’s operating subsidiaries have historically held strong A+ level ratings from A.M. Best, S&P, Fitch and Moody’s—supporting long-term guarantees and income promises.
• Scale & Focus: Annuities are a flagship business, with broad distribution and product depth across accumulation and income designs.
• Reserves & Risk Controls: Regulated U.S. insurers with required statutory reserves and extensive risk management.

Where Athene Stands Out

Is Athene a good insurance company?  Athene is known for competitive credited rates, diverse index choices, and a lineup that spans accumulation-focused FIAs and income-oriented riders. Popular options often include Performance Elite series (accumulation-focused) and other FIAs that can pair with guaranteed lifetime income riders. Athene also offers multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs) and select payout annuities.  Is Athene a good insurance company?  See for yourself:

• Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs): Multiple crediting strategies, broad index selection, and competitive participation/caps (varies by product/state).
• Income Options: Optional riders to turn assets into guaranteed lifetime income, coordinated with Social Security and pensions.
• MYGAs: CD-style simplicity—guaranteed rates for a set term with principal protection.

Estimate Potential Income From an Athene Annuity

Use our calculator to preview income scenarios and see how different premiums, start dates, and riders could affect guaranteed payouts.

Pros of Choosing Athene

• Competitive Accumulation Potential: FIAs frequently feature attractive crediting terms and diverse indices.
• Robust Product Depth: Accumulation and income designs, plus MYGAs for guaranteed rates.
• Income Flexibility: Optional riders to customize payout timing and longevity protection.
• Scale & Experience: A leading player in the FIA market with significant annuity expertise.

Potential Cons to Weigh

• Complexity: Indexed crediting and riders add moving parts—understanding caps, participation rates, and spreads is essential.
• Liquidity Constraints: Surrender charges apply in early years; penalty-free withdrawal amounts vary by contract.
• Changing Terms: Caps, participation, and rider costs can change for new purchases based on market conditions.

Who Athene Is a Good Fit For

• Retirees seeking principal protection with competitive accumulation potential.
• Savers who want indexed growth without market-loss risk and the option to add lifetime income later.
• CD/treasury investors exploring MYGAs for multi-year guaranteed rates and tax-deferred growth.

Example Planning Scenario

A retiree allocates a portion of IRA assets to an Athene FIA for downside protection and diversified index exposure. They add a lifetime income rider to start guaranteed payments in five years—coordinating with Social Security to cover essential expenses. Remaining assets stay in liquid fixed income for emergencies. The result: a balanced plan with guaranteed income, growth potential, and principal protection.