Best Annuity Companies (2026): Top A-Rated Carriers, Ranked
Compare top A-rated annuity companies by financial strength first, with live CANNEX product breadth used only as a tiebreak.
CANNEX data as of July 16, 2026 - 25 companies ranked
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What makes an annuity company best?
A carrier is not best because it has the highest rate on one contract. For long-term annuity guarantees, claims-paying ability comes first: AM Best and other agency ratings, then product breadth, then product fit for the buyer's goal.
Use this page as a financial-strength shortlist, then move to current rate comparisons by product type. The strongest company for a MYGA buyer may not be the same company for an FIA income-rider buyer.
How we rank
Financial strength first.
- AM Best tier is the primary ranking signal. A++ carriers rank ahead of A+ carriers, then A and A-.
- Additional agency ratings from carrier profiles or CMS data strengthen the financial-strength score when available.
- Live product breadth from the CANNEX/AdvisorWorld feed is only a tiebreak after financial-strength signals.
| # | Carrier | AM Best | Why it ranks | Live products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (NYLIAC) | A++ Superior | One of the highest-rated carriers in the industry - the dedicated annuity issuer of New York Life, a mutual insurer founded in 1845 - carrying top-tier financial-strength ratings from all four major agencies across a lineup of indexed, fixed, and guaranteed-income annuities. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, A.M. Best: A++, Fitch, Moody's, S&P Global. | 5 |
| 2 | MassMutual | A++ Superior | A policyholder-owned mutual with one of the strongest balance sheets in U.S. life insurance - and a deliberately narrow annuity shelf. The draw here is the carrier behind the guarantee, not the length of the product menu: two declared-rate MYGAs from a top-tier mutual. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, S&P Global, Moody's. | 2 |
| 3 | Reliance Standard | A++ Superior | An Illinois-domiciled fixed-annuity issuer with roots to 1907, backed by the financial strength of Tokio Marine Group and carrying an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best across a shelf of fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuities issued through its retirement services business. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global, Moody's. | 5 |
| 4 | MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company | A++ Superior | A MassMutual-owned annuity specialist, formerly Great American Life, offering fixed and fixed indexed annuities for accumulation, income, and protection needs. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global. | 18 |
| 5 | Allianz | A+ Superior | A Minneapolis-based retirement and protection carrier within Allianz SE, built around risk management, fixed index annuities, registered index-linked annuities, and indexed universal life insurance. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Moody's, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, S&P Global. | 5 |
| 6 | Prudential Financial | A+ Superior | One of the largest and oldest names in U.S. insurance and retirement services - a publicly traded company (NYSE: PRU) with more than 150 years of operating history, issuing annuities through its Prudential and Pruco Life subsidiaries. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, Standard & Poor's, S&P Global, Moody's. | 8 |
| 7 | Athene Annuity and Life Company | A+ Superior | A retirement-services carrier built around retail annuities, pension risk transfer, funding agreements, and reinsurance - with Apollo as the public-company parent since the 2022 merger. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P, FItch, Moody's, S&P Global. | 7 |
| 8 | Integrity Life Insurance Company | A+ Superior | A Cincinnati annuity issuer established in 1966 and a member of Western & Southern Financial Group - a mutual enterprise founded in 1888 - carrying an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best across a current annuity lineup of JourneyMark and Indextra fixed indexed annuities and three declared-rate MYGAs. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global, Fitch, Moody's, Comdex. | 3 |
| 9 | Securian Financial | A+ Superior | A mutual financial-services company established in 1880 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota - issuing annuities through Minnesota Life Insurance Company, with high financial-strength ratings across all four major agencies. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global, Fitch, Moody's. | 3 |
| 10 | Protective Life Insurance Company | A+ Superior | A diversified, century-old life and retirement insurer - founded in 1907 and part of Dai-ichi Life Group - carrying an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best across a broad annuity shelf spanning accumulation FIAs, income-rider FIAs, and multi-year guaranteed annuities. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global Ratings, Fitch, Moody's. | 3 |
| 11 | Pacific Life | A+ Superior | A Newport Beach-based life insurance and retirement company founded in 1868, with annuities, life insurance, employee benefits, structured settlements, and institutional solutions under one long-term promise brand. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, S&P Global, Moody's. | 5 |
| 12 | Midland National | A+ Superior | An A+ rated annuity carrier founded in 1906 and headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with retirement products issued through the Sammons Financial Group family. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, Standard & Poor's, S&P Global. | 6 |
| 13 | North American Company | A+ Superior | A privately held Sammons Financial Group carrier offering fixed indexed annuities for accumulation and income, plus fixed-rate MYGAs. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global Ratings, S&P Global, Fitch. | 2 |
| 14 | Western-Southern Life Assurance Company | A+ Superior | A Cincinnati life and annuity issuer established in 1981 inside the Western & Southern Financial Group - a scaled, mutually held enterprise with roots to 1888 - carrying a top-tier A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best across a MYGA-focused annuity shelf. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P, Fitch, Moody's. | 4 |
| 15 | Nationwide Life Insurance Company | A+ Superior | A Columbus-based mutual insurance and financial-services organization with annuities, life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, and broad personal and business insurance lines. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global, Moody's. | 5 |
| 16 | Mutual of Omaha | A+ Superior | A large, well-known mutual insurance and financial-services company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska - with more than a century of history and a broad protection and retirement platform - issuing annuities through United of Omaha Life Insurance Company. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P Global, Moody's. | 2 |
| 17 | Equitable Financial Life Insurance of America | A Excellent | The Arizona-domiciled issuing carrier of the Equitable brand - a subsidiary of publicly traded Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH) and part of a 165-plus-year retirement and protection platform - carrying an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best, best known for pioneering the registered index-linked annuity and leading variable-annuity distribution. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, S&P. | 5 |
| 18 | Symetra Life Insurance Company | A Excellent | A retirement and protection insurer headquartered in Bellevue, Washington - a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, one of Japan's largest life insurers, with more than 65 years of operating history. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s, S&P Global. | 5 |
| 19 | Lincoln Financial | A Excellent | A publicly traded, diversified financial-services organization (NYSE: LNC) spanning annuities, life insurance, retirement plans, workplace benefits, and long-term care planning - issuing annuities primarily through The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, Moody's, S&P Global. | 10 |
| 20 | Corebridge Financial | A Excellent | The former AIG Life & Retirement business, now the independent public company Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG) - one of the largest U.S. retirement carriers, carrying an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best across a broad shelf of fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuities issued by American General Life Insurance Company. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, Moody's. | 16 |
| 21 | American National Life Insurance Company | A Excellent | One of the oldest carriers on the platform - a multiline insurer founded in 1905 and now a core U.S. retirement arm of Brookfield Wealth Solutions - carrying an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best across a deep shelf of fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuities. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, S&P Global. | 5 |
| 22 | American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company | A Excellent | A Des Moines–based, A-rated carrier focused exclusively on retirement income — and part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions since 2024. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, S&P Global. | 3 |
| 23 | Brighthouse Financial | A Excellent | One of the largest U.S. annuity and life specialists - the former retail business of MetLife, independent since 2017 and built solely around retirement and protection - carrying A-range financial-strength ratings from all four major agencies. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, S&P, Fitch, S&P Global, Moody's. | 8 |
| 24 | Global Atlantic Financial Group | A Excellent | A KKR-owned retirement, life insurance, annuity, and reinsurance platform whose retail annuity contracts are commonly issued by Forethought Life Insurance Company. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, Moody's, S&P Global. | 7 |
| 25 | Jackson National Life | A Excellent | A Lansing, Michigan annuity manufacturer founded in 1961 and the principal legal issuer within publicly traded Jackson Financial Inc. (NYSE: JXN) - carrying an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best across a broad platform best known for variable annuity leadership, growing RILA momentum, and expanding fixed and fixed index annuity choice. Rating source: CANNEX via AdvisorWorld, as of July 16, 2026; agencies: AM Best, Fitch, S&P, S&P Global, Moody's. | 5 |
Disclosure and sources: rankings reflect financial strength signals first, not a personalized recommendation. AM Best ratings and current product breadth are sourced from CANNEX via AdvisorWorld; additional agency ratings come from carrier profile data where available. The best annuity company for you depends on product type, state, premium, time horizon, liquidity needs, and income goals. Guarantees are backed by the issuing carrier's claims-paying ability and are not FDIC-insured.
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Best annuity companies FAQ
What is the best annuity company?
There is no single best annuity company for every buyer. This ranking starts with financial strength - especially AM Best and other agency ratings where available - then uses current product breadth as a tiebreak. The right carrier still depends on the annuity type, state, premium, liquidity needs, and income goal.
Does an A++ rating matter?
An A++ AM Best rating is a strong claims-paying-ability signal, but it does not automatically make one product best for you. Product terms, surrender schedule, rider costs, state availability, and the current CANNEX rate data still matter.
Is the highest-rated company always best for me?
No. Higher financial-strength ratings are valuable, but a carrier with the strongest rating may not offer the product type, term, rider, or current rate that fits your goal. Use this list as a trust screen, then compare current rates and contract details.