Goldstein Scorecard: B+ (dated October 4, 2026). See how it is graded.
Aspida WealthLock 3 MYGA Review: 3-Year Rates, Surrender Schedule, A- Rating
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Facts verified against Aspida’s WealthLock MYGA rate sheet (10/01/2026), fact sheet and brochure on October 4, 2026 · Updated
CD vs MYGA, after tax
What $100,000 earns in 3 years: CD vs MYGA, after tax
Rates used: CD 5.00%, the top nationally available 5-year CD (Bankrate, October 14, 2026); change it to the rate you are offered. MYGA 5.25%, Aspida WealthLock 3-year, the product on this page (AM Best A-, reaffirmed 9/18/2026), $100,000 and up, effective October 1, 2026 (Aspida rate sheet; not sold in New York).
| CD, interest taxed every year | $112,162 |
|---|---|
| MYGA, tax-deferred, before tax | $116,591 |
| MYGA after paying tax on all the interest at withdrawal | $112,941 |
| Tax deferral alone adds about | $146 |
| MYGA ahead of the CD, after tax | $779 |
Assumes 22% federal and 0% state income tax, no withdrawals, rates held for the whole term. MYGA interest is taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw it, not as capital gains. Gains taken before age 59 1/2 can owe a 10% IRS penalty, and cashing out early can cost a surrender charge.
In an IRA both grow tax-deferred, so the edge there is the rate alone. Bank and credit union deposits are FDIC or NCUA insured up to the limits; a MYGA is backed by the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and your state's guaranty association up to its limits, not the FDIC. General education, not tax, legal or financial advice.
| WealthLock MYGA term | $25,000 to $99,999 | $100,000+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year | 4.30% | 4.45% |
| 3-year | 5.10% | 5.25% |
| 5-year | 5.65% | 5.80% |
| 7-year | 5.85% | 6.00% |
Source: Aspida WealthLock MYGA rate sheet, form 25017 10/26, last updated 10/01/2026. Rates are subject to change; confirm the rate for your premium band and state on your application date.
Aspida WealthLock 3 is the 3-year term of the WealthLock MYGA series from Aspida Life Insurance Company (Durham, NC). Per Aspida’s rate sheet last updated October 1, 2026, it credits 5.25% a year for premiums of $100,000 or more and 5.10% for $25,000 to $99,999, with a 9%, 8%, 7% withdrawal charge schedule and 10% free withdrawals after the first contract anniversary.
Aspida reports an AM Best rating of A- (Excellent), reaffirmed September 18, 2026.
Correction (October 4, 2026): earlier versions of this page took the 3-year rate (5.00% to 5.15%, effective 9/22/2026) from a third-party site, listed a “WealthLock 10” sibling, said the minimum premium was commonly $5,000 to $10,000, and showed a Fitch rating.
Aspida’s own documents show rates of 5.10% and 5.25% as of 10/01/2026, terms of 2, 3, 5 and 7 years only, a $25,000 minimum premium, and AM Best and KBRA ratings (no Fitch rating is shown). A hypothetical buyer “case study” and unsourced Weiss, COMDEX, renewal and service grades were removed.
WealthLock 3: verified contract facts
| Feature | What Aspida publishes |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Aspida Life Insurance Company, Durham, NC (licensed in 49 states and DC, not New York); distributed by WealthVest |
| Type | Single premium deferred fixed multi-year guaranteed annuity; contract form series ICC22C-MYGA1012 / C-MYGA1012 |
| 3-year rate | 5.25% ($100,000+); 5.10% ($25,000 to $99,999); rate sheet last updated 10/01/2026 |
| Premium | $25,000 minimum, $2,000,000 maximum (more with Aspida’s prior approval); single premium |
| Issue ages | 18 to 90, qualified and non-qualified; maturity age 115 |
| Withdrawal charges, 3-year | Year 1: 9%; Year 2: 8%; Year 3: 7%; then 0%. Aspida notes charges may vary slightly by state |
| Free withdrawal | Up to 10% of contract value a year after the first contract anniversary; interest-only systematic withdrawals after the first 30 days; RMDs from IRAs after 30 days |
| MVA | Yes, positive or negative, on surrenders and excess withdrawals; not on RMDs, free withdrawals or after the charge period |
| Waivers | Nursing home (90 consecutive days, after first anniversary) and terminal illness (death expected within one year, after first anniversary): up to 100% without charge or MVA |
| Death benefit | Full contract value, no withdrawal charge or MVA |
| Rate after the term | Changes after the initial guarantee period but never below the contractual minimum stated in the contract; the minimum is not publicly disclosed |
Rates expire like milk.
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Goldstein Scorecard (dated October 4, 2026)
| Dimension | Grade | Basis (sourced fact) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength | A- | AM Best A- (Excellent), reaffirmed 9/18/2026, and KBRA A- with a positive outlook (Aspida financial professional site). |
| Rate competitiveness | B | The series’ 5-year rate, 5.80% at $100,000+, sits at the low end of the 5.50% to 6.05% A-rated range on 10/14/2026; no verified same-date 3-year benchmark, so the 3-year 5.25% is not graded against peers. |
| Guaranteed floor | Incomplete | The contractual minimum rate after the term is in the contract and not publicly disclosed. |
| Liquidity | B | Short 3-year schedule (9/8/7%), 10% free after year 1, interest withdrawals after 30 days; MVA on excess withdrawals. |
| Costs | A | No annual fee or rider charge is listed; waivers are built in. |
| Transparency | A- | Dated rate sheet, schedule and waivers are posted on aspida.com; minimum rate is not. |
| Overall | B+ | Weighted toward financial strength and the contractual minimum, since a fixed rate is only as good as the insurer paying it. |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Rate locked for the full 3 years: 5.25% at $100,000 or more (10/01/2026 rate sheet).
- Short withdrawal charge schedule that ends after year 3.
- 10% free withdrawal after the first anniversary, plus nursing home and terminal illness waivers.
- Insurer rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, reaffirmed September 18, 2026.
Cons
- Premium-banded: under $100,000 the rate is 0.15% lower.
- No penalty-free principal withdrawals in year 1 (interest-only withdrawals and RMDs are allowed).
- MVA applies to surrenders and excess withdrawals during the charge period.
- $25,000 minimum; not sold in New York.
Who it’s for, and when to look elsewhere
Fits: money with a 3-year horizon (a maturing CD, a planned purchase, a ladder rung) where the buyer wants a declared rate for the full term from an A- insurer. A MYGA locks a declared rate for the term; this one does it for 3 years.
Look elsewhere if: you need full access inside 3 years, you are investing under $25,000, or you live in New York. Longer terms in the same series pay more (5-year 5.50%, 7-year 6.00% at $100,000+).
For comparison, A-rated-or-better insurers were paying about 5.50% to 6.05% on 5-year MYGAs and the best nationally available 5-year CDs about 4.70% to 5.00% APY (MYGAs: public carrier rate sheets, October 14, 2026; CDs: Bankrate and Popular Direct, October 18, 2026).
Current rates: MYGA rates. Compare terms with the MYGA growth calculator and the MYGA vs CD after-tax calculator. Sibling reviews: Aspida WealthLock MYGA series and Aspida WealthLock 7.
Questions to ask your agent
- What contractual minimum rate applies after my 3-year term ends, and what renewal rate is Aspida declaring on maturing WealthLock contracts? Please put it in writing.
- Can you show the full surrender (withdrawal charge) schedule for my state by year, how the MVA is calculated, and when the 10% free withdrawal starts?
- Which premium band am I in, and what would the rate be at the next band?
- What is the exact maturity date, and how long is the window to choose at the end of the term?
- How are you paid on this product? Agents are paid a commission by the insurer, built into pricing and not deducted from your premium. Ask the percentage and whether the 5 or 7-year term pays more. See how annuity commissions work.
From my desk
When I check a WealthLock 3 quote, I look at the date on the rate sheet and the premium band first. Aspida’s sheet is banded at $100,000, and a quote of $95,000 lands in the lower band. Then I confirm the state version of the withdrawal charge schedule, since Aspida notes charges may vary slightly by state.
The number buyers most often misread is the free withdrawal. The 10% is available only after the first contract anniversary; in year one you can take credited interest and RMDs, not principal. On the comparison, I set the 3-year 5.25% next to the same series’ 5-year 5.50% and A-rated 5-year MYGAs on the same date, and ask whether the shorter commitment is worth the rate gap.
Hypothetical, from Aspida’s own rate sheet: $100,000 at 5.25% for 3 years with no withdrawals grows to $116,591.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current Aspida WealthLock 3 rate?
Per Aspida's WealthLock MYGA rate sheet last updated October 1, 2026: 5.25% for premiums of $100,000 or more and 5.10% for $25,000 to $99,999, fixed for the 3-year term.
What is the surrender charge on WealthLock 3?
Withdrawal charges are 9% in year 1, 8% in year 2 and 7% in year 3, then 0%. An MVA can also apply to excess withdrawals and surrenders during that period.
Can I withdraw money penalty-free?
Up to 10% of contract value each year after the first contract anniversary. Interest-only systematic withdrawals are available after the first 30 days, and RMDs from IRAs are not charged.
What is the minimum premium and the issue age range?
The minimum premium is $25,000 and the maximum is $2,000,000 (more with Aspida's approval). Issue ages are 18 to 90.
Is Aspida a safe company?
Aspida reports an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent), reaffirmed September 18, 2026, and a KBRA rating of A- with a positive outlook. Annuities are not FDIC insured; state guaranty associations cover annuities up to limits that vary by state.
Is WealthLock available in every state?
No. Aspida is licensed in 49 states and DC but not New York, and products may not be available in all states.
Sources (checked October 4, 2026)
- Aspida Life, WealthLock MYGA rate sheet, form 25017 10/26: rates last updated 10/01/2026.
- Aspida Life, WealthLock MYGA Series fact sheet, form 25032 07/25: ages, premium, schedules, waivers, MVA.
- Aspida Life, WealthLock MYGA brochure, form 23014a 07/26: terms, free withdrawal, minimum rate language.
- Aspida, Fixed Annuities product page: WealthLock terms 2, 3, 5 and 7 years.
- Aspida, financial professionals page: AM Best A- reaffirmed September 18, 2026; KBRA A-, positive outlook.
- MYGA and CD benchmark: public carrier rate sheets (MYGAs, October 14, 2026) and DepositAccounts (CDs, September 24, 2026); see MYGA rates.
Related: 3-year MYGA rates compared · Is a MYGA from a PE-owned carrier still safe? · MYGA laddering explained · Are annuities FDIC insured?
Get a second opinion before you sign
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Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
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Disclosure
This review is based on the carrier's public product materials and rates as of the date shown above. Annuity rates, caps, participation rates, payout factors, crediting methods, and long-term care benefit structures change often, sometimes monthly. Confirm current figures in the latest carrier disclosure and the contract before you buy. This is general education, not a personal recommendation or an offer of any product. Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) appointed with several A-rated carriers. His appointment with the carrier reviewed here may vary, and this review is not an endorsement. No carrier paid for 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.