One honest number per contract
We rank on what a contract really pays, never the headline rate. A teaser bonus can't buy a better place.
How it works
How Annuity Atlas works
Annuities are hard to compare because every contract is described differently. We line them up on the number that matters, show you how we did it, and let you decide, on your own or with a licensed professional on a call.
The four steps
- 01
Tell us your goal
Start with what the money is for. Some people want a paycheck for life, some want growth they can't lose, some just want to stop worrying about what they've already saved. We ask a few plain questions about that goal, your age and your state, because those decide which contracts you can actually buy.
- 02
We check the whole market
Every night we pull the rates carriers have filed for all 1,116 products in our catalog. Some things a rate feed never carries, like death benefits, withdrawal rules and waivers, so we read those from the carrier's own brochure and show the date we read it. Where neither source says something, we say nothing rather than guess.
- 03
We compare like with like
A first-year bonus can make an ordinary contract look like the best on the market. So we compare each contract only with contracts of the same kind and a similar surrender period, on the number that shows what it really pays: the yield you keep if you hold it to the end, the cap you can actually compare, or the income a carrier actually quoted.
- 04
You decide
The comparison is yours to read on your own time. If you want a second pair of eyes, book a call: a licensed insurance professional walks through the carrier illustrations with you on the call and answers your questions. Nothing is bought on a call unless you choose to, and if no annuity fits your goal, you'll hear that too.
How we're different
Real peers only
A contract is compared with others of the same kind and a similar surrender period, not with everything at once.
Rankings aren't for sale
Placement comes from carriers' own filed rates. No carrier can pay to move up.
What happens on a call
A call is optional. Book a time that suits you and a licensed insurance professional calls you then.
- 01You pick the time
Choose a slot on the calendar. Nobody calls you before that.
- 02We start with your goal
What the money is for, when you need it, and what you want it to do.
- 03Carrier illustrations, on the call
On the call, we go through the carriers' own illustrations side by side, on the figures in each illustration.
- 04No obligation
If an annuity fits your goal, we'll walk you through how the options compare. If none does, that's the answer you'll get.
How we make money
Paid by carriers. Answerable to you.
We earn commissions
When you purchase an annuity through our licensed team, the issuing insurance company pays a commission. You never pay us directly — but it is a conflict of interest, and we'd rather say so plainly.
Rankings aren't for sale
Placement comes from carriers' own filed rates. No carrier can pay to move up, and commission size never enters the comparison.
Real reviews, or none
On-camera reader interviews are in production. Until they're ready, we publish no testimonials at all — never a fabricated quote.
Questions
Do I have to talk to anyone?
No. Your comparison is yours to read. A call only happens if you book one.
Where do your rates come from?
From the rates carriers file, collected by Annuity Rate Watch and refreshed every night. Contract details the rate feed doesn't carry come from each carrier's own brochure.
Why isn't the highest rate always first?
Because the highest headline rate is often a first-year bonus. We rank on what the contract pays if you hold it to the end, so a teaser can't jump the line.
Which carriers do you recommend?
Our comparisons only recommend carriers rated B++ or better by A.M. Best. Pages for other carriers stay up so you can read about them, but they are not recommended.
How do you get paid?
If you buy an annuity through our licensed team, the insurance company pays us a commission. You never pay us directly, and commission never enters the ranking.
Can I see an illustration before a call?
Carrier illustrations are walked through with you on a call, where a licensed professional can explain them. Book a call when you're ready.
