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About Athene Annuity
Athene is one of the largest and fastest-growing retirement services companies in the United States. Known for competitive fixed and fixed indexed annuity rates, Athene has built a reputation for financial strength and innovation in the retirement income space. Their products consistently rank among the top choices for guaranteed income and accumulation.
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How we scored them
Income Options96/100
Financial Strength92/100
Fees & Costs90/100
Flexibility88/100
Customer Service91/100
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The tradeoffs
What works
- Industry-leading fixed annuity rates
- Strong financial ratings from all major agencies
- Wide range of indexed crediting strategies
- Competitive income rider payouts
- No annual fees on base contracts
What to watch
- Limited variable annuity options
- Surrender periods can be lengthy (7-10 years)
- Not available in all states
- Newer company compared to legacy insurers
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Income rider fees
Disclosed charges for optional riders on Athene products, live from Annuity Rate Watch. Product-level detail is on each review.
| Rider | Product | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Family Endowment Rider | Velocity | 0.85% annually |
| Velocity Family Endowment Rider MAX | Velocity | 0.85% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - Flex Growth with Earnings Indexed Income | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - Flex Growth with Inflation Adjusted Option | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - Flex Growth with Level Income | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - SGO Max with Earnings Indexed Income | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - SGO Max with Inflation Adjusted Income | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
| BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - SGO Max with Level Income | BCA 2.0 10-Year | 1.00% annually |
+31 more riders listed on individual product pages.
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Best fit for these buyers
Investors seeking high guaranteed income
Those wanting competitive fixed rates
Retirees looking for principal protection with growth potential
Ages 55-75 planning for retirement income
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Frequently asked questions
Is Athene Annuity a good annuity company?
Athene Annuity earns an average rating of 4.0/5 across the 17 products we've reviewed, and A.M. Best rates the carrier A+ for financial strength. We describe its financial position as "Excellent" with $250+ Billion in total assets.
What are the fees for Athene Annuity annuities?
Fee structures vary by product. Optional income riders on Athene Annuity products carry disclosed charges — for example Velocity Family Endowment Rider (Velocity): 0.85% annually ; Velocity Family Endowment Rider MAX (Velocity): 0.85% annually ; BCA 10 2.0 BALIR - Flex Growth with Earnings Indexed Income (BCA 2.0 10-Year): 1.00% annually . See each product review for the full fee detail.
What is the surrender period for Athene Annuity annuities?
Surrender periods on Athene Annuity's current lineup run 5–15 years, depending on the product. Most products allow an annual free-withdrawal amount before charges apply — the product table above shows each product's surrender length, and each review covers the exact schedule.