Is Global Atlantic a Good Insurance Company?

Is Global Atlantic a good insurance company? For retirement savers seeking competitive fixed indexed annuities, multi-year guaranteed annuities, and income-focused products backed by exceptional institutional capital, Global Atlantic is one of the most compelling carriers in the current marketplace — and its financial backing makes it genuinely distinctive among major annuity providers. Global Atlantic Financial Group operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of KKR, one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers with more than $500 billion in assets under management. That institutional backing directly influences Global Atlantic’s ability to price annuity products competitively, because KKR’s investment management capabilities allow Global Atlantic’s reserves to be deployed into a broader range of alternative credit and private investment strategies than most traditional insurance carriers can access. The result is a carrier that consistently prices MYGAs and FIAs at the top of the A-rated tier — not despite its institutional ownership, but in significant part because of it.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we evaluate Global Atlantic the same way we evaluate every annuity carrier: through the lens of what a specific contract actually delivers for a specific buyer’s retirement situation, compared against the strongest alternatives available at the same moment. Global Atlantic is frequently a strong contender in that comparison — but the right outcome for any specific buyer depends on matching the carrier’s specific product design, surrender schedule, and income rider mechanics to the buyer’s timeline, liquidity needs, and retirement income objectives. This page covers Global Atlantic’s financial backing, its current product focus, the specific strengths and limitations that buyers should understand, and how to evaluate whether a Global Atlantic contract belongs on your shortlist.

Global Atlantic Financial Group: Company Background

Global Atlantic Financial Group was founded in 2004 within Goldman Sachs and separated as an independent, privately held company in 2013. The company built its identity around retirement solutions — primarily annuities — and reinsurance, growing rapidly by competing on pricing, product design clarity, and strong income features. In February 2021, KKR acquired a majority ownership stake in Global Atlantic. In January 2024, KKR completed a full acquisition, making Global Atlantic a wholly owned subsidiary of KKR with 100 percent institutional backing from one of the world’s preeminent alternative asset management firms.

The KKR ownership story matters to annuity buyers for a specific reason. KKR’s investment management capabilities allow Global Atlantic’s reserves to be deployed into alternative credit, private credit, and other institutional investment strategies that are generally not accessible to traditional insurance carriers investing primarily in public fixed-income markets. The broader yield generated by those strategies gives Global Atlantic pricing capacity that shows up directly in competitive MYGA rates and FIA crediting parameters. Since the full 2024 acquisition, Global Atlantic has continued growing its asset base, now exceeding $150 billion in total assets — a scale that reflects both the reinsurance business and the retail annuity operations.

Global Atlantic’s current focus is exclusively on annuity products. The company no longer sells life insurance to new customers — existing life insurance policyholders continue to be serviced, but new-business production is concentrated entirely in the annuity category. This focused specialization allows the company to direct its product development, pricing expertise, and distribution relationships toward the annuity market specifically, which is reflected in consistent recognition: Global Atlantic has appeared in Barron’s 100 Best Annuities guide for four consecutive years, with the FIA Income 150+ SE featured.

Global Atlantic’s Financial Strength: AM Best, S&P, and Scale

Financial strength ratings are foundational when evaluating any annuity carrier, because annuity contracts are long-duration obligations that must be honored by the carrier decades after purchase. The insurer’s ability to meet those obligations depends on its financial reserves, capital structure, investment portfolio quality, and overall business health — all of which are assessed by independent rating agencies whose determinations directly affect how confident buyers and financial advisors should be in a carrier’s long-term promise-keeping ability.

Global Atlantic’s issuing subsidiaries carry an AM Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) — the third-highest rating of 13 possible grades on AM Best’s scale. An A rating places Global Atlantic in the same financial strength tier as several other major annuity carriers, and meaningfully above the A- threshold that many fee-only financial planners and RIAs use as a minimum screening standard when evaluating annuity carriers. S&P rates Global Atlantic’s issuing subsidiaries at A- (Strong), which is the sixth-highest of S&P’s rating grades. Both ratings reflect the carrier’s strong capitalization, the financial resources provided through KKR ownership, and the stability of its reserve base.

Buyers should note that Global Atlantic operates through multiple issuing subsidiaries depending on the state and product type. Forethought Life Insurance Company is the primary issuing entity for most retail annuity products. Accordia Life and Annuity Company, Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company, and First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company are additional subsidiaries that may issue specific products in certain states. The financial strength ratings apply to each of these subsidiaries individually, and buyers should confirm which specific entity is issuing their contract before finalizing any purchase.

Is Global Atlantic a Good Company? The Product Lineup

The most practical way to evaluate whether Global Atlantic is a good insurance company for any specific buyer is to examine what the carrier actually offers and how those products match common retirement planning objectives. Global Atlantic’s annuity lineup spans three core categories: fixed indexed annuities (FIAs), multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs), and registered index-linked annuities (RILAs, also called structured annuities). Each category serves a different risk tolerance and planning objective, and each competes differently in the current marketplace.

Global Atlantic Annuity Product Categories

Global Atlantic Fixed Indexed Annuities: Accumulation and Income

Fixed indexed annuities are Global Atlantic’s largest product category and the area where the carrier competes most visibly in the independent distribution channel. FIAs credit interest based on the performance of an external index — typically the S&P 500 or other major indices — subject to contractual parameters: caps (maximum interest credited in a period), participation rates (percentage of index gain credited), or spreads (amount subtracted from index gain before crediting). In negative index years, the policyholder earns zero — not negative interest — preserving principal from market downturns. In positive years, interest is credited up to the contract’s specific parameters.

The KKR investment management advantage shows up most clearly in FIA crediting parameters. Because Global Atlantic’s reserve portfolio generates yield from broader alternative credit strategies, the carrier has more crediting budget available for index participation — which typically translates into higher caps or better participation rates than same-tier competitors investing exclusively in public fixed income. Buyers comparing FIA crediting across A-rated carriers will frequently find Global Atlantic near the top of the parameter comparison, particularly in longer-duration products where the investment horizon allows for more illiquidity premium capture.

Global Atlantic’s FIA lineup includes accumulation-focused designs and income-focused designs. The ForeAccumulation II is a primary accumulation-focused FIA — our dedicated resource on the Global Atlantic ForeAccumulation II fixed index annuity covers the product’s growth mechanics and principal protection structure in detail. For buyers considering Global Atlantic’s income-focused approach, the Forethought Income 150+ SE is one of the carrier’s most recognized income products — featured four consecutive years in Barron’s 100 Best Annuities guide. Our resource on the Forethought Income 150+ SE FIA covers the income rider mechanics, income base growth, and withdrawal provisions of this specific design. For buyers wanting to understand how FIA income riders work generally before evaluating specific products, our resources on what a fixed indexed annuity with an income rider is and fixed indexed annuities with income riders cover the structural mechanics.

Common misunderstandings about FIAs apply to Global Atlantic’s products just as they do to any other FIA. FIAs do not credit dividends from the underlying index — only the price-return component of the index is measured for crediting purposes. The index is used as a measurement reference rather than direct ownership. And “caps” and “participation rates” are subject to adjustment at renewal, within the contractual minimum guarantees. For buyers new to FIA mechanics, our resource on fixed indexed annuity myths debunked addresses the most common misconceptions that affect how buyers evaluate these products.

Global Atlantic MYGAs: Competing at the Top of the A-Rated Tier

Global Atlantic’s MYGA products compete on rate — and the KKR backing is the reason the carrier can consistently offer rates that rank near the top among A-rated issuers. Multi-year guaranteed annuities are straightforward products: a single premium is deposited, a fixed interest rate is declared for the entire guarantee period, and at the end of the period, the accumulated value (plus any earned interest) is available for withdrawal, rollover, or renewal at the then-current declared rate. Tax deferral applies in non-qualified accounts, which provides an advantage over taxable CDs when both are producing similar gross interest rates but the annuity’s net after-tax accumulation is superior.

Global Atlantic’s MYGA products are available in standard guarantee periods from two to seven years, with specific term availability varying by state and product generation. Premium-banded rate structures are common — buyers depositing $100,000 or more typically receive higher declared rates than buyers in lower premium bands. Buyers evaluating Global Atlantic MYGAs should compare the guaranteed rate at the relevant premium band and guarantee period against current competitors at the same term length, using the most current rate sheets available. Our resource on best MYGA annuity rates tracks the current marketplace, with Global Atlantic frequently appearing near the top for multiple term lengths.

Global Atlantic RILAs: More Growth Potential With Defined Limits

Registered index-linked annuities occupy the space between fixed indexed annuities and variable annuities. Like FIAs, RILAs credit interest based on index performance. Unlike FIAs — which provide a zero floor that eliminates all index losses — RILAs offer a defined buffer: the carrier absorbs the first portion of losses (often the first 10, 15, or 20 percent) while the buyer absorbs losses beyond that buffer. In exchange for taking on this partial downside risk, RILAs typically provide substantially higher caps or participation rates than FIAs with equivalent floor protection.

The ForeStructured Growth II Advisory is Global Atlantic’s primary RILA product, featuring prominently in Barron’s 100 Best Annuities alongside the Income 150+ SE. RILAs are Securities-regulated products that require a securities license to sell, which is part of why they appear in the “Advisory” distribution channel rather than through the same independent agent channel as traditional FIAs. Buyers considering RILAs should compare the buffer levels, cap rates, and indexed strategies available against the FIA alternatives, and evaluate whether the additional growth potential of a RILA justifies the partial downside risk exposure relative to their specific planning objectives and risk tolerance.

Is Global Atlantic a Good Insurance Company for Income Planning?

For buyers whose primary objective is retirement income — converting a portion of savings into a reliable monthly or annual cash flow that cannot be outlived — Global Atlantic’s income-focused FIA products are among the stronger offerings in the current marketplace. The income planning evaluation framework differs from the accumulation evaluation because different metrics determine which product performs best. The accumulation comparison looks at projected account value over a defined deferral period. The income comparison looks at projected guaranteed withdrawal amounts as a percentage of premium, how the income base grows during the deferral phase, what the rider fee structure costs annually, and whether joint-life income options are available for couples planning together.

The Forethought Income 150+ SE’s recurring presence in Barron’s guides reflects genuine competitiveness on these income-specific metrics. Income 150+ is designed around an income base that grows aggressively during the deferral period, creating a high guaranteed withdrawal foundation when income is eventually activated. For buyers planning to defer income activation for several years — the most common scenario for pre-retirees purchasing at 55-65 with income start dates in the mid-to-late 60s — this roll-up structure can produce income projections that compare favorably to peer carriers’ income rider offerings at equivalent premium levels. For context on how income riders work in general before evaluating Global Atlantic’s specifically, our resource on what the best fixed indexed annuities for income are covers the broader marketplace comparison framework.

Coordinating Global Atlantic income with other retirement income sources — Social Security, pension distributions, and RMD-producing retirement accounts — is the planning step that turns an annuity purchase into an integrated retirement income strategy rather than an isolated product decision. Our resource on how Social Security and annuities work together covers the income-coordination framework, and our broader resource on best annuity for guaranteed income in retirement covers the income-focused carrier and product landscape within which Global Atlantic competes.

What Global Atlantic No Longer Offers

One important fact that every buyer researching Global Atlantic should understand is that the carrier no longer sells life insurance to new customers. Global Atlantic offered both life insurance and annuity products for much of its operating history, but the current business is exclusively annuity-focused. Existing life insurance policyholders continue to be serviced, and Accordia Life and Annuity Company continues to administer certain legacy life insurance products, but buyers seeking new life insurance coverage will need to look to other carriers. This is not a negative reflection on Global Atlantic’s financial strength — it is a strategic focus decision that allows the company to concentrate resources on its annuity business.

Buyers who are evaluating Global Atlantic because they want a single carrier for both life insurance and annuity needs will find that Global Atlantic can only serve the annuity portion of that plan. The life insurance coverage would need to come from a separate carrier. This is a common planning scenario — many retirement households hold annuities from one carrier and life insurance from another, and there is nothing structurally inefficient about this arrangement. But buyers should be clear-eyed about it at the outset rather than discovering it mid-process.

Common Retirement Use Cases Where Global Atlantic Fits Well

Global Atlantic annuities are frequently used in several specific retirement planning scenarios where the carrier’s strengths align well with buyer objectives. The most common is IRA or 401(k) rollover into a protected annuity structure, where a buyer is consolidating retirement assets and wants to reduce market exposure while maintaining competitive growth potential or establishing guaranteed income. Our resource on what to do with a solo 401(k) after retirement covers the rollover framework, and annuity rollover options covers the systematic rollover approach that many pre-retirees use to transition qualified assets into annuity structures.

A second common scenario is cash repositioning from low-yield savings, maturing CDs, or money market holdings into a MYGA or FIA structure that improves yield while maintaining principal protection. For buyers in this category, Global Atlantic’s MYGA pricing and FIA crediting parameters frequently produce competitive comparisons against peer carriers at the same premium and time horizon. The tax deferral benefit of non-qualified annuity accumulation adds additional yield advantage compared to equally-yielding taxable alternatives — our resource on how annuities are taxed in retirement covers this tax efficiency in detail.

A third common scenario is the income floor strategy for retirees who want to cover essential monthly expenses with guaranteed income so the remainder of the portfolio can remain invested without the constant pressure of funding living expenses from volatile assets. This strategy is most effective when the annuity’s guaranteed withdrawal amount — combined with Social Security and any pension income — covers the household’s non-discretionary monthly obligations, allowing the investment portfolio to operate with a longer effective time horizon. For early retirees building this type of layered structure, our resource on annuity strategies for early retirees covers the income-floor layering approach within which Global Atlantic income products are frequently used, and our broader resource on fixed indexed annuities in retirement covers the strategic rationale for FIA deployment in retirement income planning.

Where Global Atlantic May Be Less Ideal

For all its competitive strengths, Global Atlantic is not the best answer for every retirement planning scenario. Several situations call for different carriers or product types that Global Atlantic cannot match.

The first scenario where Global Atlantic is not the right fit is buyers seeking life insurance coverage. As described, Global Atlantic no longer writes new life insurance policies. Any buyer who needs life insurance — term, whole life, universal life, or indexed universal life — must look to other carriers entirely. For these buyers, the carrier comparison should start with life insurance providers and evaluate any annuity needs separately.

The second scenario is buyers who need maximum liquidity or short-duration commitment windows. Global Atlantic’s most competitive products — particularly the income-oriented FIAs — carry longer surrender periods that may not fit buyers whose circumstances could change significantly in the near term. Buyers with meaningful near-term liquidity needs should compare Global Atlantic’s free-withdrawal provisions and surrender schedules carefully against their actual expected cash flow requirements before committing. Our resource on annuity free withdrawal rules covers the standard free-withdrawal framework that applies to most FIAs and MYGAs, including Global Atlantic products.

The third scenario is buyers who specifically want a carrier with a very long established history under the same brand name. Global Atlantic has been an independent entity since 2013 — about 12 years. While the underlying companies (particularly Forethought Life, which has a longer history) provide additional track record, some buyers prioritize carriers with 50-plus year brand histories when making multi-decade annuity commitments. Carriers like American National, American Equity, or North American provide longer independent operating histories — our resources on whether American Equity is a good company, whether North American is a good company, and whether Athene is a good company cover those carriers’ positioning for comparison.

Bottom Line: Is Global Atlantic a Good Insurance Company?

For retirement savers focused on annuities — particularly FIAs with competitive income rider designs, MYGAs with top-tier A-rated pricing, or RILAs for buyers comfortable with partial downside — Global Atlantic is genuinely one of the stronger carriers in the current marketplace. The AM Best A (Excellent) rating, KKR’s institutional capital backing, $150+ billion in total assets, and the consistent Barron’s recognition for specific product designs all support the carrier’s credibility as a serious long-term annuity partner.

The right way to confirm whether Global Atlantic belongs at the top of your shortlist is to run a side-by-side comparison at your specific premium, age, and income start date against the strongest competitors available in your state at the same moment. That comparison — using current approved rates and current income rider mechanics — will either confirm Global Atlantic as the best fit or reveal that a competitor produces a stronger outcome for your specific situation. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we run that comparison across more than 100 carriers and help clients evaluate the outcome rather than the brand. Our resource on how to protect your funds in retirement covers the broader protection framework within which annuity carrier selection sits, and for buyers who want a full survey of peer carrier comparisons, our resources on whether GILICO is a good company, whether Gainbridge is a good company, whether EquiTrust is a good company, and whether F&G is a good company provide the parallel evaluations that allow Global Atlantic to be assessed in context.