Cash bonus · By goal
Compare cash bonus annuities
Compare annuities that offer an upfront bonus added to contract value, not just an income rider value used for future payout calculations.
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- Contract-value bonus focus
- Built for pre-retirees & retirees
- State-specific availability
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Premium-bonus annuities available right now
Annuities that credit an upfront premium or benefit-base bonus. Filter by your state, age, term, and carrier strength — the bonus figure is the headline bonus as filed; weigh vesting and rider charges on each product page.
| Product | Type | A.M. Best | Term | Issue ages | Premium bonus | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Elite 15 Plus Athene | FIA | A+ | 15-yr | Up to 73 | 34% (through age 70) / 29% (ages 71–73) | ★ 3.8 | View → |
| Performance Elite 15 Athene | FIA | A+ | 15-yr | Up to 73 | 27% (through age 70) / 22% (ages 71–73) | ★ 3.6 | View → |
| Performance Elite 10 Plus Athene | FIA | A+ | 10-yr | Up to 78 | 24% (through age 70) / 26% (through age 64) / 26% (through age 70) / 24% (ages 65–70) / 22% (ages 71–75) / 24% (ages 71–75) / 20% (ages 76–78) / 20% (ages 76–81) / 22% (ages 76–81) | ★ 4.2 | View → |
| Secure Retirement 10-Year Max Heartland National | FIA | B++ | 10-yr | Up to 80 | 25% (through age 70) / 16% (ages 71–75) / 10% (ages 76–80) | ★ 3.1 | View → |
| WealthDefender 10 Bonus Plus Ibexis | FIA | A- | 10-yr | Up to 78 | 22.5% (through age 70) / 22.5% (ages 71–75) / 19.5% (ages 76+) | ★ 3.5 | View → |
| American Select Bonus Plus 10-Year American Life | FIA | B++ | 10-yr | Up to 85 | 22% (through age 74) / 19% (ages 75–85) | ★ 3.3 | View → |
| Performance Pro F&G | FIA | A | 10-yr | Up to 80 | 16% (through age 75) / 18% (through age 75) / 21% (through age 64) / 21% (through age 75) / 18% (ages 65–75) / 11% (ages 76+) / 12% (ages 76+) / 15% (ages 76+) | ★ 4.1 | View → |
| OrionShield Bonus 10-Year AuguStar | FIA | A | 10-yr | Up to 85 | 10% (ages 18–80) / 14% (ages 18–80) / 16% (ages 18–80) / 18% (ages 18–80) / 21% (ages 18–80) / 7% (ages 81+) / 8% (ages 81+) / 9% (ages 81+) / 10% (ages 81+) | ★ 3.8 | View → |
| TopRidge Bonus Annuity Security Benefit | FIA | A- | 10-yr | Up to 80 | 21% | ★ 3.6 | View → |
| Bonus Annuity Plus Nassau | FIA | B++ | 10-yr | Up to 85 | 21% (through age 80) / 15% (ages 81–85) | ★ 3.4 | View → |
| Athene Performance Elite 10 Athene | FIA | A+ | 10-yr | Up to 78 | 19% (through age 70) / 20% (through age 64) / 20% (through age 70) / 19% (ages 65–70) / 17% (ages 71–75) / 18% (ages 71–75) / 15% (ages 76–78) / 16% (ages 76–78) | ★ 4.0 | View → |
| EverGuard Aspire 10-Year Bonus Talcott Financial Group | FIA | A- | 10-yr | Up to 85 | 18% (through age 75) / 12% (ages 76–85) | ★ 3.5 | View → |
What is a cash bonus annuity
A cash bonus annuity offers an upfront premium bonus added to the annuity when the contract is issued or funded. For people nearing retirement, that can be attractive because it may create a larger starting value inside the contract from day one. Some annuities, though, promote a “bonus” that applies only to an income rider value used later to calculate lifetime withdrawals — this page focuses on annuities where the bonus is tied to contract value.
The details matter. Some products make the bonus vest over time, and early withdrawals or surrendering the contract can reduce how much of that bonus you actually keep. When you're close to retirement, clarity matters more than flashy numbers — a contract-value bonus is most relevant for someone repositioning CD money or evaluating whether a bonus feature is real account value or just a future-income calculation.
What the NAIC says
The NAIC says some annuities offer a premium bonus the insurer adds when the contract is purchased or funded — while warning that some or all of that bonus may be unavailable for a period of time or lost if money is taken out early.
Bonus annuities may also come with higher withdrawal charges, longer withdrawal-charge periods, lower caps, or lower participation rates.
Cash bonus vs. rider bonus
If someone sees a 20%, 30%, or 45% “bonus,” they may assume that full amount is immediately theirs as accessible contract value. In many rider-based designs, that is not what the bonus means.
Cash bonus
Rider bonus
What to compare before choosing
Bonus percentage
A bigger headline bonus does not always mean a better contract overall. Current products show different bonus levels by product and even by age band.
Where the bonus is credited
Is it credited to contract value, accumulation value, income value, or more than one? That answer changes everything.
Vesting schedule
Many premium bonuses vest over time. If you surrender early or take too much out, you may lose part of the bonus.
Liquidity
How much can you access annually without penalty, and what happens to the bonus if you take withdrawals? Product rules vary.
Tradeoffs
Some bonus products offset the bonus through longer surrender periods, lower caps, lower participation rates, or other restrictions.
State availability
Features and availability can vary by state. Make sure the product you are comparing is available where you live.
Who this is for
This page may be helpful if you want to:
- Compare annuities with a bonus tied to contract value
- Avoid confusing a rider bonus with real accessible value
- Review long-term retirement options with principal protection
- See whether a larger upfront bonus is worth the surrender-period tradeoff
- Narrow down products before requesting a personalized quote
Karen wanted a real contract-value bonus
Karen, 62, kept seeing annuities advertised with “big bonuses,” but did not want to confuse a rider-based income bonus with a bonus added to actual contract value.
She wanted to compare cash bonus annuities that could give her a larger starting contract value, while understanding vesting rules, liquidity limits, and how long she would need to keep the annuity for the bonus to truly matter.
Best for
Savers repositioning IRA money who want a larger starting contract value — and who don't want to confuse a rider income bonus with accessible value.
Considering a Roth conversion?
Some retirees and pre-retirees compare cash bonus annuities because, when available as a Roth IRA annuity, the upfront contract-value bonus may help improve the long-term starting point after conversion taxes are considered. The IRS says a Roth IRA can be set up as an account or annuity, and that you may be able to convert amounts from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA regardless of AGI.
Roth conversions can still create current taxable income, so this should always be reviewed with a tax professional. The annuity bonus should not be framed as a tax reimbursement — but when comparing the long-term economics, a contract-value bonus may be part of the picture worth evaluating.
Before choosing a cash bonus annuity
A premium bonus can be valuable, but it is only one part of the contract. Those tradeoffs are spelled out in both regulator guidance and current insurer disclosures. Questions worth asking:
- Is the bonus added to contract value or only to an income value?
- Does the bonus vest over time, and what is the vesting schedule?
- What happens to the bonus if you withdraw early?
- Does the product give up anything else in return for offering the bonus?
- Is the product available in your state?
Explore more
Bonus figures are the headline bonus as filed and are not quotes or guarantees. Premium bonuses may vest over time and may be reduced or forfeited on early withdrawal or surrender; bonus products may carry longer surrender periods or lower caps. All guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. This is educational information, not a recommendation or tax advice.
Find which cash bonus annuities may fit your goals
- Contract-value bonus focus
- Vesting & liquidity compared
- 100% free. No pressure.