Why it earned this rating
Our assessment
Secure Horizon Accelerator earns a solid mid-range rating because the 16-17% upfront premium bonus is genuinely large and immediately credits to account value. The 10-year surrender period and MVA are significant commitments, and the absence of a built-in income rider narrows the audience. For buyers who actually have 10-year money and want bonus-amplified accumulation, the structure delivers. For everyone else, the tradeoffs are real.
The short version
This is a 10-year accumulation fixed indexed annuity built around a large upfront premium bonus — 16% or 17% depending on state. That bonus credits immediately to account value, which is how this product separates itself from simpler FIAs. There is no income rider and no chronic illness rider, so this is purely an accumulation play. Buyers who commit fully and let the product run its course get the benefit of the bonus plus index-linked growth potential. Buyers who need flexibility before year 10 should look closely at the MVA and bonus recapture mechanics first.
Key facts
The full review
Is North American Secure Horizon Accelerator a Good Annuity?
It depends on the time horizon. If the buyer has committed 10-year money and wants the biggest possible starting account value, this is a good annuity. The bonus is real and immediate, and North American carries an A+ A.M. Best rating. If the buyer might need flexibility, the 10-year surrender schedule plus MVA plus bonus recapture creates a compounding liquidity problem that can offset a large portion of the bonus benefit on early exits.
Why Someone Would Buy This Annuity
The main reason to buy Secure Horizon Accelerator is the immediate account-value premium bonus. Getting a 16-17% credit at issue means the accumulation clock starts ahead of what the buyer actually deposited. That head start can be meaningful on a 10-year horizon, especially for buyers who plan to let the contract run to maturity. A secondary reason is the index menu, which includes six index options spanning the S&P 500, a stabilizer index, a managed-futures index, and a multi-asset index, giving buyers some breadth in how they pursue growth.
Who This Annuity Is Best For
I think Secure Horizon Accelerator is best for someone in their 50s or early 60s who has a clear 10-year block of retirement savings to deploy, does not need that money for income during the surrender period, and wants the highest possible starting balance in a principal-protected structure. Qualified accounts (IRA, rollover) are a common fit given the RMD-friendly free-withdrawal provision. It is less suitable for someone who wants guaranteed lifetime income, wants simpler design, or has any realistic chance of needing a significant withdrawal before year 10.
What You're Really Buying Here
You are buying a principal-protected contract with a large immediate credit to your account value, plus the ability to earn index-linked interest over 10 years. The upfront bonus is the core selling point, but it comes bundled with a full 10-year surrender commitment, a market value adjustment on applicable withdrawals, and a bonus recapture clause that applies if you exit early. The bonus is not free money — it is compensation for committing to the full term. Think of it as the insurance company paying you upfront for a longer lockup.
How the Core Feature Works
The premium bonus credits 16% or 17% of your deposit directly to your account value at contract issue. After that, you choose among several crediting strategies to earn interest over each contract year. Options include a fixed rate (currently 3.15% as of the March 2026 rate sheet), annual point-to-point with participation rate, annual point-to-point with cap rate (ranging from approximately 0.95% to 10% depending on strategy), a two-year point-to-point with participation rate, and a Performance Strategy Ladder. Indices available include the S&P 500, the S&P 500 Distance Stabilizer Index, S&P PRISM Index, Loomis Sayles Managed Futures 2 Index, NYSE GEARS Index, and Research Affiliates Global Multi-Asset Index.
Some strategies carry a Strategy Charge deducted annually from accumulation value. The specific charge amounts are not detailed in available brochure materials — ask the issuing carrier for current strategy-specific charge disclosures before selecting an index option.
Why the Secondary Feature Matters
The secondary feature worth noting is the index breadth. Most FIAs in this peer group lean heavily on the S&P 500. Secure Horizon Accelerator also includes the Loomis Sayles Managed Futures 2 Index and the Research Affiliates Global Multi-Asset Index, which pursue returns through different market dynamics. For buyers who want some diversification in how their interest is calculated, those options add real choice. The caveat is that these specialty indices typically carry strategy charges or lower cap/participation rates that offset some of the apparent upside — details buyers should confirm with a rate sheet.
Liquidity and Surrender Schedule
Free withdrawals are 7% of beginning-of-year accumulation value starting in year two. That is narrower than the 10% free-withdrawal provision on many peer FIAs, so buyers need to think carefully about annual income needs before committing. Withdrawals during the surrender period are subject to both the surrender charge and a market value adjustment — the MVA adjusts the penalty up or down depending on interest rate movement, which can work for or against the buyer.
The surrender schedule runs: 10%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 4%, then 0%. That front-loaded schedule means the penalty stays at 10% for the first five years — a longer plateau than many 10-year FIAs that graduate earlier. Bonus recapture applies on early exits, which is separate from the surrender charge and further increases the cost of leaving early. Required minimum distributions are covered by the RMD-friendly free-withdrawal provision.
| Contract Year | Surrender Charge |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10% |
| 2 | 10% |
| 3 | 10% |
| 4 | 10% |
| 5 | 10% |
| 6 | 9% |
| 7 | 8% |
| 8 | 7% |
| 9 | 6% |
| 10 | 4% |
| 11 | 0% |
Fees and Tradeoffs
There is no base contract fee and no income rider fee, which is consistent with an accumulation-only design. The main cost to watch is the Strategy Charge that applies on select crediting methods — the brochure acknowledges it exists but does not disclose amounts, so those need to be confirmed on the current rate sheet. That lack of upfront transparency on an explicit fee is a mild disclosure gap.
The structural tradeoffs are clear: a 10-year surrender period, an MVA on applicable withdrawals, a bonus recapture provision, and a 7% (not 10%) free-withdrawal allowance. Each of those individually is manageable; together they mean the product is only appropriate for buyers who genuinely will not need the money for 10 years.
Product snapshot
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Fixed Indexed Annuity |
| Surrender Period | 10 years |
| Issue Ages | 0-79 |
| Minimum Premium | $25,000 |
| Indices | S&P 500, S&P 500 Distance Stabilizer Index, S&P PRISM Index, Loomis Sayles Managed Futures 2 Index, NYSE GEARS Index, Research Affiliates Global Multi-Asset Index |
| Crediting Methods | Fixed rate, Annual point-to-point with participation rate, Annual point-to-point with cap rate, Two-year point-to-point with participation rate, Performance Strategy Ladder |
| Free Withdrawal | 7% of beginning of year accumulation value, penalty-free, annually beginning year two |
| MGSV | 87.5% of premiums at 1-3% depending on variation |
| Death Benefit | Greater of account value plus appreciation-to-date or minimum guaranteed surrender value |
| Income Rider | Not available |
| Premium Bonus | 16-17% depending on state (includes 4% premium bonus special) |
| Availability | Approved in most states except NY. Premium bonus varies by state: 17% in AL, AZ, AR, CO, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, ME, MI, MS, NE, NM, NC, ND, RI, SD, TN, VT, WV, WI; 16% in AK, CT, DE, HI, ID, IN, LA, MA, MO, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, WA, WY. |
Carrier snapshot
Legal Entity: North American Company for Life and Health Insurance
Parent: Sammons Financial Group
A.M. Best Rating: A+
Final take
Secure Horizon Accelerator is a reasonable choice for buyers who have a clear 10-year time horizon and want to start with a larger account balance than their deposit alone would provide. The premium bonus is the product's defining feature, and it is a real one — not a benefit-base credit on a rider, but an immediate addition to accumulation value. North American's A+ financial strength rating adds confidence on a product requiring a decade-long commitment.
The product is not a fit for buyers who want guaranteed income, want flexibility before year 10, or are uncertain about their withdrawal needs. The combination of a front-loaded surrender schedule, an MVA, and bonus recapture means early exits are expensive in ways that can exceed what the bonus provided. For the right buyer, this is a clean accumulation trade. For everyone else, the lock-up terms will outweigh the upfront benefit.