What is an Annuity Roll Up Rate
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
What is an annuity roll-up rate? The roll-up rate is the guaranteed annual growth rate applied to an annuity’s income base—the value used to calculate your lifetime income. It determines how much your guaranteed income will increase each year before you begin withdrawals. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we compare roll-up rates, payout factors, and rider fees across 100+ A-rated carriers to help clients maximize guaranteed income for retirement.
Roll-up rates are central to how income rider annuities work. While they don’t affect your cash value directly, they define how quickly your guaranteed income grows. Understanding this rate is key to comparing annuities and designing a reliable retirement paycheck you can’t outlive.
Compare Annuities with High Roll-Up Rates
See which annuities offer strong guaranteed growth and competitive lifetime income factors.
Lifetime Income Calculator
How Annuity Roll-Up Rates Work
The roll-up rate is a guaranteed annual percentage applied to your annuity’s income base during the deferral period—usually 7 to 10 years. When you start taking income, the final income base is multiplied by your payout factor to determine guaranteed lifetime payments.
For example, a 7% roll-up rate for 10 years on a $100,000 annuity would create a $200,000 income base. If your payout factor is 5%, your guaranteed income would be $10,000 per year for life (5% of $200,000).
Simple vs. Compound Roll-Up Rates
- Simple roll-up: Adds a fixed percentage (e.g., 7%) of the original income base each year.
- Compound roll-up: Applies growth to the prior year’s accumulated amount, compounding over time for higher potential income.
Compound roll-ups typically result in greater long-term growth, though some carriers trade a slightly lower rate for the compounding feature. We help clients evaluate both designs based on age, goals, and income timing.
Key Factors That Impact Roll-Up Value
- Deferral period: The number of years before activating income.
- Roll-up duration: Many annuities limit roll-up growth to 10 or 15 years.
- Rider fees: Usually 0.75%–1.25%, deducted from the account value—not from the income base.
- Payout factor: The percentage used to convert the final roll-up base into lifetime income.
- Age and timing: Waiting longer to begin income can multiply the payout amount significantly.
Sample Roll-Up Comparison
| Carrier | Roll-Up Rate | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier A | 7% | Simple | 10 Years |
| Carrier B | 6.5% | Compound | 10 Years |
| Carrier C | 8% | Simple | 7 Years |
Get a Comparison of Current Roll-Up Rates
We’ll show which annuities offer the strongest guaranteed growth and income potential for your goals.
Talk With an Advisor Today
Choose how you’d like to connect—call or message us, then book a time that works for you.
Schedule here:
calendly.com/jason-dibcompanies/diversified-quotes
Licensed in all 50 states • Fiduciary, family-owned since 1980
FAQs: Annuity Roll-Up Rates
What does an annuity roll-up rate apply to?
It applies to your income base, not your account value. The roll-up determines how much your future guaranteed income grows each year before activation.
Is a roll-up rate the same as an interest rate?
No. It’s used to calculate guaranteed lifetime income growth, not investment earnings or cash value accumulation.
Do roll-up rates compound or stay simple?
Some annuities use simple growth, while others offer compounding. Compound roll-ups usually produce higher lifetime income.
Does the roll-up rate stop after income begins?
Yes. Once income starts, the roll-up phase ends, and payments are based on the final roll-up base multiplied by your payout percentage.
Do rider fees reduce the roll-up rate?
No. The roll-up rate continues unaffected. Fees are deducted from the account value, not the income base.
