Quick take: The June 8, 2026 top MYGA rate table has Wichita National Security topping the 5/7-year tables at 6.25%/6.10% but at B+ rating. American National Palladium MYG MAX shows a misleading 9.90% headline that drops to a 5.72% GTD yield. Below: every product, sorted by GTD yield not headline rate.
There are FOUR fields that matter, in this order:
Don't shop on "Current Rate" alone. A 9.90% headline rate that drops to 4.90% base in Year 2 has a GTD yield of 5.72% — worse than a clean B++ at 6.00%.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL Life Sundance 2 MVA | B++ | 5.15% | 5.15% | Int / Int | 2 yrs |
| Axonic Waypoint 2 MYGA (high band) | A- | 5.00% | 5.00% | 0% / 10% | 2 yrs |
| GBU Asset Guard Select 2 | A- | 4.95% | 4.95% | 10% / 10% | 2 yrs |
| Oceanview Harbourview 2 | A | 4.95% | 4.95% | 0% / 10% | 2 yrs |
Hans's pick: Axonic Waypoint 2 at 5.00% (A-) — best A-rated 2-yr; GBU at 4.95% if you want 10%/yr Y1 free withdrawal.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Security 3 MVA | B+ | 5.85% | 5.85% | 0% / 0% | 3 yrs |
| NexAnnuity Nex3 MVA | B+ | 5.75% | 5.75% | 0% / 0% | 3 yrs |
| Farmers Safeguard Plus 3 | B++ | 5.65% | 5.65% | 0% / 0% | 3 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 3 | B++ | 5.55% | 5.55% | 0% / 0% | 3 yrs |
| CL Life Sundance 3 | B++ | 5.50% | 5.50% | Int / Int | 3 yrs |
Hans's pick: CL Sundance 3 at 5.50% (B++) — only one with Interest free-withdrawal liquidity. Wichita Security 3 at 5.85% only if you can stay under state guaranty fund + don't need any liquidity.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford Multi-Select 4 | A | 5.25% | 5.25% | Int / 10% | 4 yrs |
| Nassau Simple Annuity 4 | B++ | 5.25% | 5.25% | 5% / 5% | 4 yrs |
| Oceanview Harbourview 4 | A | 5.20% | 5.20% | 0% / 10% | 4 yrs |
| Clear Spring Preserve 4 | A- | 5.15% | 5.15% | 0% / 10% | 4 yrs |
Hans's pick: Oxford Multi-Select 4 at 5.25% (A) — cleanest A-rated 4-yr with Year-1 interest free withdrawal.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Security 5 | B+ | 6.25% | 6.25% | 0% / 0% | 5 yrs |
| American Gulf Anchor 5 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 5 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 5 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 5 yrs |
| Farmers Safeguard Plus 5 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 5 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 5 Enhanced Death Benefit | B++ | 5.90% | 5.90% | 0% / 0% | 5 yrs |
Hans's pick: Wichita Security 5 at 6.25% (B+) IF the account size is under your state's guaranty fund limit AND you definitely won't need liquidity. Otherwise Aspida WealthLock 5 (A-) or GBU Compass 5 (B++) for higher quality at a small yield discount.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Headline Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American National Palladium MYG MAX 6 (high band) | A | 9.90% | 5.72% | 0% / 0% | 10 yrs |
| American Gulf Anchor 6 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 6 yrs |
| Oxford Multi-Select 6 | A | 5.70% | 5.70% | Int / 10% | 6 yrs |
| American National Palladium MYG Annuity 6 (high band) | A | 9.75% | 5.57% | 10% / 10% | 10 yrs |
🚨 THE BIG TRAP: American National Palladium MYG MAX 6 is the #1 rate-sheet trap in MYGA shopping. The 9.90% looks great. The actual GTD yield is 5.72%. The surrender period is 10 YEARS not 6. Read the full trap breakdown here →
Hans's pick: Oxford Multi-Select 6 at 5.70% (A) — clean A-rated 6-yr with real 5.70% yield and 10%/yr free withdrawal. American Gulf Anchor 6 at 6.00% if you accept B++.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita Security 7 | B+ | 6.10% | 6.10% | 0% / 0% | 7 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 7 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 7 yrs |
| Farmers Safeguard Plus 7 | B++ | 5.95% | 5.95% | 0% / 0% | 7 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 7 Enhanced Death Benefit | B++ | 5.90% | 5.90% | 0% / 0% | 7 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 7 Free Partial Surrender | B++ | 5.90% | 5.90% | Int / Int | 7 yrs |
Hans's pick: Aspida WealthLock 7 (A-) or GBU Compass 7 (B++) for buyers wanting better-than-B+ ratings. Wichita Security 7 at 6.10% only with the same caveats as 5-yr.
| Carrier / Product | AM Best | Rate | GTD Yield | Free Withdrawal | Surrender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers Safeguard Plus 10 | B++ | 6.05% | 6.05% | 0% / 0% | 10 yrs |
| Wichita Security 10 | B+ | 6.05% | 6.05% | 0% / 0% | 10 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 10 | B++ | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0% / 0% | 10 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 10 Enhanced Death Benefit | B++ | 5.90% | 5.90% | 0% / 0% | 10 yrs |
| Revol One DirectGrowth 10 Free Partial Surrender | B++ | 5.90% | 5.90% | Int / Int | 10 yrs |
Hans's pick: Delaware Life Pinnacle 10 (A-) at ~5.85% with 10%/yr free withdrawal. Trading 20 bps for A- rating + liquidity is worth it for a 10-year commitment.
American National Palladium MAX advertises 9.90%. Real yield: 5.72%. ALWAYS look at GTD Yield.
A "6-year" MYGA can have a 10-year surrender period. Check both.
Most B+ and B++ products have ZERO liquidity. If you need any cash mid-term, you pay full surrender charges. Compare to Oxford Multi-Select (Int Y1 + 10% Y2+) or GBU Compass (10% both years).
B+ and B++ carriers should always be sized to stay under your state's guaranty fund coverage (typically $250K, NY $500K). Multiple smaller B++ contracts across carriers > one big B++ contract.
Any "premium bonus" attached to a MYGA usually vests over the surrender period — meaning if you surrender early, you FORFEIT the bonus you were promised. Bonus + surrender period are linked.
Splitting $500K across 3/5/7/10-year terms gives you cash flexibility every 2-3 years + lifts your blended yield + reduces MVA risk concentration.
📞 Call 213-414-2808 for a written second-opinion review of your MYGA quote vs all 35 products on this list. No charge, no pressure. Just an independent look at whether the rate, term, rating, and liquidity match your situation — and which 2 alternatives you should compare against.
Rates listed reflect product availability and rate published as of 6/8/2026. Rates change frequently — often monthly. Always confirm current rates against carrier's current disclosure before purchase.
A core part of every Goldstein review. The more complex an annuity, the worse the rating in this dimension — because complexity is where buyers get burned (confusing riders, fee structures hidden in plain sight, surrender penalties that surprise people, separate "benefit bases" they thought were cash). Simple products (SPIAs, MYGAs) score low; products with stacked bonuses + income riders + MVA + multiple crediting strategies score high.
Easy to understand. Few moving parts. The buyer can fully explain the product to a friend after one read of the contract.
| Dimension | Score (1–10) | What this measures |
|---|---|---|
| Riders | 1/10 | Number of optional/required riders (income, death benefit, LTC, etc.). More riders = more fees + more confusion. |
| Crediting strategies | 1/10 | Number of index-linked strategies (cap, spread, participation rate, step rate, volatility-controlled indices). More options = harder to understand. |
| Surrender complexity | 1/10 | Length of surrender period + MVA + bonus recapture interaction. Longer + MVA + recapture = more confusion. |
| Benefit-base separation | 1/10 | If the product has a separate "PIV" or income-base that is NOT cash but feels like cash. This is the single biggest source of buyer confusion in the industry. |
| Bonus structure | 1/10 | Premium bonus with recapture schedule. The bonus is real, but the recapture is complex. |
Why complexity matters more than people think: Carriers don't get sued for complexity. Agents don't get sued for it either (in most states). But buyers regret it constantly. The annuity that wins your money in year one and confuses you for the next 14 is worse than a simpler product that you understood perfectly. Simple ≠ inferior. Simple = audit-able.
A MYGA (Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity) is a "CD on steroids." You give the carrier money for a fixed term (3, 5, 7, or 10 years). The carrier guarantees a specific interest rate for that entire term. At maturity, you get your money plus accumulated interest back, or you renew or convert to another product.
The math:
- Put $100,000 in a 5-year MYGA at 5.65%
- At year 5 maturity: ~$131,500 (compound growth, no tax until withdrawal)
- Same $100K in a 5-year CD at 4.5%: $124,618 after annual tax
Why MYGA beats CD:
- Higher rate (typically 1-2 percentage points more)
- Tax-deferred growth (you owe tax only at withdrawal)
- Longer terms available (5-10 years vs. CD max 5)
The trade-off:
- Surrender charges if you withdraw before maturity (5-10% typical)
- Free withdrawal of 10% per year (usually) for emergencies
- Locked-in rate for the term — if rates rise after you buy, you're stuck at the lower rate
- IRS 10% penalty on gain portion if withdrawn before age 59½
The only "fee" is built into the contract — no separate annual fee.
Q: Is a MYGA safer than a CD?
A: Both are safe at the retail level. CDs are FDIC-insured (federal); MYGAs are state guaranty fund covered (state). Coverage limits are similar (~$250K).
Q: What happens at maturity?
A: You typically have 30 days to elect: renew at the carrier's then-current rate, withdraw cash, transfer (§1035) to a different annuity, or annuitize for lifetime income. Don't miss the window — many carriers auto-renew if you don't elect.
Q: Can I §1035 exchange to a different MYGA at maturity?
A: Yes — tax-free direct transfer to a new annuity, including a different carrier offering better rates.
Q: What about MVA (Market Value Adjustment)?
A: Some MYGAs have MVA. If you surrender early when rates have RISEN, MVA reduces your surrender value further. If rates have FALLEN, MVA can increase it.
Q: Should I ladder MYGAs?
A: For larger purchases, yes. Splitting across 3-year, 5-year, 7-year locks in rates at multiple maturity dates and gives flexibility to capture future rate moves.
Q: How is MYGA interest taxed?
A: Inside the contract: tax-deferred. At withdrawal (non-qualified): only the gain is taxable as ordinary income. Inside an IRA: standard IRA rules apply.
Q: Can I lose money on a MYGA?
A: Not from market loss (no market exposure). You CAN lose money from early surrender charges + MVA. Stay to maturity = guaranteed return.
Q: Is the rate locked for the full term?
A: Yes. Some MYGAs have a "1-year rate" then "renewal rate" structure — be sure you understand whether the full term is at one rate or steps down.
Talk to a licensed independent expert. Hans.
MYGAs lock in your rate for the full term. Before you commit, is this carrier's rate actually competitive vs. the full market? Is the rating tradeoff worth it? Before signing, get an independent review of the rate, surrender schedule, and carrier strength.
Drop your info — within 24 hours, you'll get a written independent review of your quote, side-by-side comparisons vs. 2 alternatives, and a no-pressure 15-minute call if you want one.
📞 Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
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This review reflects publicly available product materials and approximate rates as of the date stated above. Annuity rates, caps, participation rates, payout factors, crediting methods, and long-term care benefit structures change frequently — typically monthly. Always confirm current values against the most recent carrier disclosure document and the actual contract before purchasing. This article is general information for educational purposes; it is not a personalized recommendation, solicitation, or offer of any specific product. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (NPN 20602398) appointed with multiple A-rated carriers across the annuity and long-term care insurance market; the producer's specific appointment status with the carrier discussed in this review may vary, and this review is not an endorsement or representation of carrier appointment. No compensation has been received from any carrier in connection with the publication of this review. Always read the actual contract and consult a licensed advisor before purchasing any annuity or long-term care insurance product. Past index performance does not predict future credited interest. Annuities and hybrid life+LTC policies are long-term contracts with surrender charges; they are not suitable for funds you may need before the end of the surrender period. AM Best ratings and tax treatment are subject to change. Tax discussion of IRC §7702B, §1035, and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 reflects law as of 2026 and is subject to change.