Our mission
Annuities deserve honest research
Annuities are one of the most important — and most mis-marketed — financial products a retiree can buy. Annuity Atlas exists to cut through the brochure language, remove the conflicts of interest, and give shoppers the clarity they need to decide whether an annuity belongs in their plan at all.
At a glance
- Products analyzed
- 861
- Carriers reviewed
- 74
- Ranking basis
- Filed rates
- Data refresh
- Nightly
In an industry full of conflicts of interest, we took a different route
The four principles the site is built on — and the things we refuse to do even when they would be more profitable.
Independent
Not owned by, affiliated with, or funded by any insurance company. Our ratings reflect consumer benefit — not a carrier's distribution goals.
Data-driven
Rankings come from the carriers' own filed rate data, refreshed nightly. Each contract is placed against comparable contracts on one measured number — never a score we invented.
Transparent
Full methodology published. Every partnership disclosed. No hidden fees, no dark-pattern forms, no trading reviews for referrals.
Expert-reviewed
Every analysis is cross-checked by licensed professionals with direct experience in annuity product design and distribution.
The Annuity Atlas credo · published at /aboutWhat we refuse to do
One measured number per class, and the date we measured it
We do not score annuities. A score is a judgment dressed as a measurement, and it goes stale the moment a carrier reprices. Each contract is ranked against comparable contracts on one number the carrier filed — published openly so you can challenge it.
What each class is ranked on
- 01Fixed rate (MYGA)
Guaranteed yield to surrender
Never the headline first-year rate — a first-year bonus makes a mediocre contract look like the best on the market.
- 02Fixed indexed
Comparable annual S&P 500 cap
Volatility-controlled, fee-bearing, spread-based and sub-100% participation strategies are excluded. They are not like-for-like with a plain annual cap.
- 03Income
Guaranteed income per $100,000
A real carrier quote for the age and coverage asked for. Never interpolated between quoted ages.
Peer group = the product's class and surrender band (3–5, 6–7, 8–10, 11+ years)
No contract is exempted from the comparison in exchange for a carrier relationship. Where we cannot measure a product against real peers, the page makes no claim at all.
Read the full methodologyProcess · four stages
Data collection
Rates, terms, riders, surrender schedules and state availability come from the carriers' filed rate sheets, refreshed every night.
The brochure wins
Facts the rate feed does not carry — surrender value, death benefit, waiver riders, free-withdrawal terms — come from the carrier's own brochure, dated. Where the two disagree, the filed document wins.
Peer comparison
Each contract is placed against every comparable contract in the feed — its class and its surrender-length band — on one measured number, not a blend of five.
Stated as a quartile
We publish where the contract sits, with the date it was measured. A percentile flaps from one night's repricing to the next; a quartile does not.
The bar we hold ourselves to
Editorial independence, accuracy, and transparency — the three things we'll refuse to compromise on even when it costs us revenue.
How we produce, review, and correct our content
Annuity Atlas is committed to accurate, unbiased, and actionable information about annuity products. The editorial team operates independently from any commercial partnership.
See legal & disclosuresEvery review is researched, written, and reviewed by qualified financial professionals. Every data point is cross-checked against primary sources — AM Best, S&P Global, and state insurance department filings.
When we surface a product, it is because it ranked on the published metric for its class — not because of who issues it. We may earn compensation when readers connect with a licensed specialist, but that relationship never influences a ranking or an editorial decision.
Rankings refresh nightly as carriers adjust rates, release products, or receive updated financial strength ratings. If you believe anything on this site is inaccurate, email the editorial team and we'll investigate within two business days.
Spot an error?
Flag an error or request a correction at admin@annuity-atlas.com.
Get in touch
Questions on research, methodology, or a partnership?
We read every message. For corrections, methodology questions, or media inquiries, the fastest path is email.
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