Expert review · 2026

Prudential review

Global financial powerhouse known for innovative RILAs and comprehensive annuity lineup.

Carrier strength

A+

A.M. Best

Products8

Total assets$650+ Billion

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8 Prudential annuities

Click any product for rates, specs, and the full peer-group review.

Product	Type	Surrender	Rating	Income rider	Bonus
Elevate Accumulator 10	FIA	10yr	A+	—	—	Details →
Elevate Accumulator 7	FIA	7yr	A+	—	—	Details →
Prudential Elevate Income A buyer who has already decided they want guaranteed lifetime income from an A+ carrier and will defer it long enough for the 8% roll-up and the deferral bonus to do their work	Income	10yr	A+	Yes 1.20% annually and a Max Fee of 2.50% after Year 10 fee	—	Review →
Prudential PruSecure 5-Year Buyers who want a short-duration FIA from a brand-name carrier with multiple index choices and a clean point-to-point design	FIA	5yr	A+	—	—	Review →
Prudential PruSecure 7-Year Buyers who want a longer-duration PruSecure with potentially more competitive caps and a higher renewal floor than the 5-year version	FIA	7yr	A+	—	—	Review →
Prudential SurePath 10-Year Buyers who want a 10-year FIA from a brand-name carrier with the Goldman Sachs Voyager Index option and the more competitive crediting that longer-duration contracts typically fund	FIA	10yr	A+	—	—	Review →
Prudential SurePath 7-Year Buyers who want a 7-year FIA from a brand-name carrier with a focused index menu (S&P 500, MSCI EAFE, Goldman Sachs Voyager) and a relatively higher minimum	FIA	7yr	A+	—	—	Review →
Prudential SurePath Income Buyers age 45 or older who want a 10-year income FIA with a built-in single or spousal lifetime income benefit and the Goldman Sachs Voyager Index option	Income	10yr	A+	Yes 1.00% annually (2.50% max) fee	—	Review →

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About Prudential

Prudential Financial is one of the largest financial services companies in the world, with over 150 years of history in retirement income planning. Pruco Life Insurance Company, their annuity subsidiary, is known for innovative registered index-linked annuities (RILAs), competitive fixed indexed annuities, fixed annuities, and variable annuities. They offer a broad product lineup designed for both accumulation and income strategies.

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The tradeoffs

What works

Strong financial ratings (A from AM Best, AA- from S&P)
Innovative FlexGuard RILA lineup with flexible mid-term features
Wide range of product types (fixed, FIA, RILA, variable annuities)
Competitive income rider options and spousal coverage features
Brand recognition and 150+ year history in retirement planning

What to watch

Variable annuity fees can be higher relative to FIA products
Some products have longer surrender periods (7-10 years)
Income rider fees on certain products can impact returns (up to 1.45% annually)
Not all products available in all states (CA, NY, OR limitations on some RILAs)
Accumulation-focused products lack income rider options on entry-level MYGA line

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What you could receive

Live projection for Elevate Income with Elevate Income Benefit — single life, issue age 62, income beginning at age 65. Illustrative, not a quote; figures refresh from Annuity Rate Watch.

Premium	Monthly	Annual
$250,000	$2,034	$24,413
$500,000	$4,069	$48,825
$1,000,000	$8,138	$97,650

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Income rider fees

Disclosed charges for optional riders on Pruco Life products, live from Annuity Rate Watch. Product-level detail is on each review.

Rider	Product	Fee
Elevate Income Benefit	Prudential Elevate Income	1.20% annually and a Max Fee of 2.50% after Year 10
Surepath Income Benefit	Prudential SurePath Income	1.00% annually (2.50% max)

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Best fit for these buyers

Investors wanting innovative RILA products with mid-term flexibility

Retirees seeking protected lifetime income with growth participation

Those who value brand recognition and 150+ year financial history

Ages 50-75 seeking accumulation, income, or hybrid strategies

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Frequently asked questions

Is Prudential a good annuity company?

We have reviewed 6 Prudential products, and A.M. Best rates the carrier A+ for financial strength. We describe its financial position as "Superior" with $650+ Billion in total assets.

How much income can I get from a Prudential annuity?

Income depends on your premium, age, and start date. At our benchmark scenario — single life, issue age 62, income beginning at age 65 — Prudential's highest-paying income product (Elevate Income) currently projects about $48,825 per year on a $500,000 premium, or $24,413 on $250,000. Figures are illustrative, based on live Annuity Rate Watch data, and are not a quote.

What are the fees for Prudential annuities?

Fee structures vary by product. Optional income riders on Prudential products carry disclosed charges — for example Elevate Income Benefit (Prudential Elevate Income): 1.20% annually and a Max Fee of 2.50% after Year 10; Surepath Income Benefit (Prudential SurePath Income): 1.00% annually (2.50% max). See each product review for the full fee detail.

What is the surrender period for Prudential annuities?

Surrender periods on Prudential's current lineup run 5–10 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.

Sources & standards

How we know what's on this page

Rates, terms & availability: Annuity Rate Watch, which aggregates carriers' filed rate sheets. Refreshed every night.
Financial strength: A.M. Best. We publish the carrier's letter rating rather than a score of our own.
Contract detail: The carrier's own brochure — minimum guaranteed surrender value, death benefit, RMD treatment, annuitization options, waiver riders and free-withdrawal terms. Where the brochure and the rate feed disagree, the brochure wins: it is the filed document. Where neither carries a fact, the page omits it. We do not fill gaps with estimates.

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