Straight Answers, No Sales Pitch

When you purchase an annuity, the insurance company pays a commission — not you. There's no separate advisory fee, no markup, and nothing deducted from your deposit. Whatever amount you put in is the amount that goes to work for you.

Because Devin is independent and works with 40+ carriers, his pay doesn't depend on steering you toward any one company. The product that's genuinely best for your situation is the one he recommends. If you ever want to know exactly how he's compensated on a specific product, just ask — he'll tell you plainly.

Every rate you see in the rate tool is live and constantly updated, sourced directly from Annuity Rate Watch — the same industry data feed insurance professionals use to track carrier rates in real time. Rates are updated daily, so what you see reflects current market conditions, not a stale table someone forgot to refresh.

Each rate listing includes the date it was last updated, the carrier's A.M. Best rating, the term, and the minimum premium — so you're never comparing numbers without the full picture. Rates can and do change, sometimes quickly, so always confirm the current rate before finalizing any decision.

It goes directly to Devin — and stays there. Your information is never sold, shared, or distributed to a team of agents or to other companies. Many sites that look like this one are actually lead-generation funnels that sell your details to whoever pays the most. Annuity Radar is not one of them.

When you contact Annuity Radar, you get one person, every time: Devin.

No. The entire approach here is education-first. Devin's job is to lay out your options clearly — including the trade-offs and the downsides — and then let you decide on your own timeline. There are no countdown clocks, no "this rate expires today" tactics, and no obligation.

If an annuity isn't the right fit for your situation, he'll tell you that too. Sometimes the most honest answer is "this isn't for you right now."

Nothing. The education, the rate comparisons, the quiz, and Devin's time are all free to you. The only money that changes hands is your deposit going to the insurance company you choose — and Devin's commission comes from that carrier, not from your pocket.

Fixed annuities — including MYGAs and fixed indexed annuities — are designed to protect your principal. With a MYGA, your rate is contractually guaranteed for the full term. With a fixed indexed annuity, you cannot lose money due to market downturns; in a bad market year, your worst case is typically zero growth, not a loss.

The guarantee is backed by the financial strength of the insurance company that issues your contract, which is why carrier strength ratings matter (see below).

This is one of the most important questions, and it has a real answer. Every state has a guaranty association that provides a layer of protection if an insurer becomes insolvent. Coverage limits vary by state — commonly around $250,000 per person, per insurer, though some states differ — which is one reason larger amounts are sometimes split across multiple carriers.

On top of that, the insurance industry is heavily regulated and required to hold reserves against the contracts they issue. Devin only works with financially strong, highly rated carriers, and he'll walk you through both the carrier's strength and your state's guaranty coverage before you commit.

Independent agencies — most notably A.M. Best, which specializes in insurers — grade each company's financial strength on a letter scale (A++ down through lower grades). The rating reflects the company's ability to pay its claims and honor its guarantees over the long term.

The rate tool on this site shows the A.M. Best rating for each product so you can weigh strength alongside rate. A slightly lower rate from a stronger carrier is often the better long-term decision.

No — and it's important to be clear about this. Annuities are insurance products, not bank deposits, so they are not FDIC insured. Instead, they're backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and by your state's guaranty association. Different mechanism, but a serious one: it's the same structure that protects pensions and life insurance.

They're cousins. Both give you a guaranteed rate for a set number of years. The key differences: a MYGA often pays a higher rate than a comparable CD, and its growth is tax-deferred — you don't pay taxes on the interest until you withdraw it, instead of every year like a CD. For money you don't need right away, that deferral can add up meaningfully.

The trade-off is liquidity: CDs and MYGAs both have early-withdrawal penalties, and a MYGA is an insurance contract rather than a bank product. The MYGA page breaks this down in detail.

A surrender charge is a fee for withdrawing more than your allowed amount before the contract term ends. It's how the insurer can offer a guaranteed rate — they're counting on the money staying put for the term. Most contracts let you withdraw a portion each year (often around 10%) penalty-free, and the surrender charge typically declines each year until it disappears at the end of the term.

The takeaway: annuities are best for money you won't need in full during the term. Devin will make sure the term matches your timeline before recommending anything.

Usually, yes — within limits. Most fixed annuities include a free-withdrawal provision allowing you to take out a percentage each year (commonly up to 10%) without penalty. Many also waive penalties in specific situations such as confinement to a nursing home or a terminal illness diagnosis, depending on the product and state.

For full access to the entire balance before the term ends, a surrender charge would generally apply. This is why matching the term to your needs matters so much.

Yes. By law, every annuity comes with a free-look period — typically 10 to 30 days after you receive the contract — during which you can cancel for a full refund with no surrender charges, for any reason. It's a built-in safety net that lets you review the actual contract in hand before fully committing.

Growth inside an annuity is tax-deferred — you don't owe taxes on the interest as it accumulates, only when you withdraw it. How withdrawals are taxed depends on whether the annuity is funded with qualified money (like an IRA) or non-qualified money (already-taxed savings).

Taxes are situation-specific, and Devin isn't a tax advisor — he'll always recommend confirming the details with your CPA or tax professional before you make a move.

Most fixed annuities pass directly to the beneficiary you name, typically avoiding probate. Depending on the contract and how it's structured, your beneficiary may receive the remaining account value or continue receiving income payments.

This is one of the details Devin reviews with you up front — naming beneficiaries correctly is a simple step that makes a big difference for your family later.

Often, yes. A 1035 exchange lets you move from one annuity to another without triggering taxes, and qualified accounts like IRAs can typically be transferred directly. This is useful if your current annuity's surrender period has ended and better rates are now available elsewhere.

It isn't always the right move — surrender charges and lost features can outweigh a higher rate — so Devin will run the comparison honestly before suggesting it. If you'd like a no-obligation look at your current contract, you can request a free annuity review.

Minimums vary by carrier and product, but many fixed annuities start around $10,000–$25,000. The rate tool on this site lets you filter by your deposit amount so you only see products available at your level. Whether you're placing $20,000 or $1,000,000, the process is the same.

In short: you reach out, Devin learns your goals, he shops 40+ carriers and brings back a clear comparison, you decide on your own timeline, and if you move forward he handles the paperwork with you from application through funding. The full walkthrough is on the Our Process page.

It comes down to your goal — safe growth, guaranteed income, or a mix — plus your timeline and how much access to your money you want. The 2-minute quiz is a great starting point: it points you toward the type of strategy that may fit, and Devin takes it from there with a personalized comparison.