Athene Performance Elite FIA, 7 vs 10-Year Variants Compared (2026)
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Independently reviewed & last updated 2026-09-25
| Feature | Performance Elite 7 | Performance Elite 10 | Source, as of |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 1-yr cap, no strategy charge | 9.75% | 5.50% | Athene current rates, 9/25/2026 |
| S&P 500 1-yr cap, with 1.25% strategy charge | 12.75% | 8.00% | Athene current rates, 9/25/2026 |
| Fixed strategy | 4.85% (CA 3.00%) | 2.90% | Athene current rates, 9/25/2026 |
| Premium bonus, PE / PE Plus (most states, ages 0-70) | none / 6% | 22% / 25% | Athene current rates, 9/25/2026 |
| Liquidity Rider charge (PE Plus only) | 0.95% | 0.95% | Athene current rates, 9/25/2026 |
Bonus rates are lower in some states (for example CA: PE 10 17% / 20%; PE 7 Plus 5%). Rates can change at any time; confirm the rate for your state before applying.
Quick take: Athene's Performance Elite is sold in 7-year and 10-year surrender variants. On September 25, 2026 the base Performance Elite 10 carried a 22% premium bonus (most states) and the Performance Elite 7 Plus a 6% bonus. Below: which Performance Elite term wins.
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CD vs MYGA, after tax
What $100,000 earns in 5 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 5.95%, the best A-rated rate we track as of October 13, 2026: Delaware Life Pinnacle Plus 5-year (AM Best A-, negative outlook, 7/31/2026), $100,000 and up, effective October 6, 2026 (Delaware Life rate sheet).
| CD, interest taxed every year | $121,081 |
|---|---|
| MYGA, tax-deferred, before tax | $133,507 |
| MYGA after paying tax on all the interest at withdrawal | $126,136 |
| Tax deferral alone adds about | $674 |
| MYGA ahead of the CD, after tax | $5,055 |
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.
Ratings (independent third-party)
| Rating Agency | Grade |
|---|---|
| AM Best | A |
| S&P | A+ |
| Moody's | A2 |
| COMDEX (composite, 0-100) | 85 |
Hans is independently licensed and is NOT specifically appointed to discuss or sell Athene products. Reviews are based on publicly available rate sheets, prospectuses, public carrier rate sheets, and carrier filings.
Performance Elite, 7 vs 10-year variants
| Variant | S&P 500 1-yr Cap | Surrender | Free Withdrawal | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Elite 7 | 9.75% no charge / 12.75% with charge (9/25/2026) | 7-year: 12/12/11/10/8/6/4% | 10%/yr after Y1 | Buyers wanting Athene rating + shorter lock |
| Performance Elite 10 | 5.50% no charge / 8.00% with charge (9/25/2026) | 10-year: 12/12/12/11/10/8/6/4/2/1% | 10%/yr after Y1 | Buyers wanting a large premium bonus over a longer horizon |
Pros / cons by term
| Variant | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Elite 7 | A+ S&P; shorter lockup; higher caps than the 10 on 9/25/2026 | Little or no premium bonus (6% on PE Plus); Athene CS issues still apply (see ratings note) |
| Performance Elite 10 | A+ S&P; 22% premium bonus (25% Plus) on 9/25/2026; longer compounding | LONG 12-year-feeling surrender (first 3 years all 12%); Athene CS issues |
Trade-off math
On September 25, 2026 the trade was bonus versus caps: the Elite 10 paid a 22% premium bonus (vesting over the surrender period) with lower caps, while the Elite 7 paid higher caps with little or no bonus. Caps reset each year; the bonus is fixed at issue but claws back on early surrender. If you have a 10+ year horizon and will not touch the money, the Elite 10 bonus is hard to beat. If you're 70+ or want optionality, Elite 7.
What neither has
No GLWB income rider. For Athene lifetime income, look at Agility. The 0.95%/yr charge on Performance Elite Plus (9/25/2026) pays for the Liquidity Rider, not an income rider. To compare an income rider with other lifetime income options after tax, use the annuity income calculator.
My take
Athene's Performance Elite is sold in 7-year and 10-year surrender variants. On September 25, 2026 the base Performance Elite 10 carried a 22% premium bonus (most states) and the Performance Elite 7 Plus a 6% bonus. Below: which Performance Elite term wins. Get a second opinion before signing, the right term variant can be worth tens of thousands of dollars over the contract's life. Phone: 213-414-2808.
About Hans Goldstein: Independent retirement income specialist. CA Life License #4273294. NPN #20602398. Reviews 30+ carriers. Phone: 213-414-2808. Email: [email protected].
Goldstein Complexity Index
Every annuity I review gets a complexity score from 0 to 100. Higher means harder to understand. Complexity is where buyers get hurt: riders they didn't know they were paying for, surrender charges that surprise them, and income "benefit bases" they took for cash. SPIAs and MYGAs score low. Products that stack a bonus, an income rider, an MVA and several crediting options score high.
This product's score: 24/100, Grade A (Mostly clear)
One or two complications (a rider, a crediting choice). With a 30-min agent walkthrough, most buyers understand it.
Score breakdown
| Dimension | Score (1-10) | What this measures |
|---|---|---|
| Riders | 3/10 | How many riders, optional or built in (income, death benefit, LTC). Each one adds cost and one more thing to understand. |
| Crediting strategies | 4/10 | How many index options (cap, spread, participation rate, step rate, volatility-controlled indices). More choices are harder to follow. |
| Surrender complexity | 6/10 | Length of the surrender period, plus any MVA and bonus recapture. The longer and more layered it is, the harder it is to know what leaving early costs. |
| Benefit-base separation | 2/10 | Whether there is a separate income base ("PIV") that is not cash but looks like it. This causes more buyer confusion than anything else. |
| Bonus structure | 1/10 | A premium bonus with a recapture schedule. The bonus is real, but you can lose part of it if you leave early. |
How to read this
- A+/A (0-40): Easy to understand. A pure accumulation FIA, a MYGA or a SPIA. Little room for mis-selling.
- B (41-60): Read the contract carefully and get a second opinion before signing. Income riders cause most of the confusion.
- C (61-80): Many owners don't fully understand what they bought. Common mis-sells: a bonus presented as cash, a benefit base presented as account value, surrender charges glossed over.
- D (81-100): Get an independent second opinion before signing. The product may still fit you, but the odds you later say "I didn't know it worked that way" are high.
Why it matters: nobody gets sued for selling a complicated product, but buyers regret them all the time. An annuity that wins your money in year one and confuses you for the next 14 is worse than a simpler one you understood from the start. Simple products are easier to check.
Renewal rate risk: FIA caps can change after year one
The cap you are quoted on a fixed indexed annuity is not locked like a mortgage rate. It covers the first crediting period, usually one year. At each contract anniversary the carrier can reset it anywhere above the contract minimum.
It works much like a high-yield savings rate: the bank can lower that next month, and the carrier can lower your cap next year. The reason is how caps are funded. The carrier puts most of your premium in bonds and uses part of the yield to buy index options. When bond yields fall, that option budget shrinks and caps get cut. Caps were cut across the industry in the 2010-2021 low-rate years and came back after 2022.
The minimum cap is the only guarantee
Every FIA states a minimum guaranteed cap in the contract. Of the 99 FIAs we found that publish one, 86 let the insurer cut the cap to 1% or less, and some go as low as 0.25%. A few set 2% to 3%, and several insurers publish no number at all (FIA minimum cap data, checked October 4, 2026). Read that number before you sign.
Questions to ask before you buy
- "What is the minimum guaranteed cap in this contract?"
- "Can you show me this product's in-force renewal-rate history for the last 5 years?"
- "What cap are contracts sold in 2020, 2018 and 2015 getting today?"
- "If the cap drops to the minimum, what would I realistically earn each year?"
If the agent can't answer questions 2 and 3 with documents, you don't have enough information to buy yet.
How an FIA works, in plain terms
A fixed indexed annuity credits interest based on a stock index, with a cap on the upside and a 0% floor on the downside. A market drop can't reduce your account value, and in a big up year you only get the capped amount.
Example: $100,000 in an FIA with a 7% annual point-to-point cap on the S&P 500.
- S&P up 12%: you are credited the 7% cap, $7,000.
- S&P up 4%: you get the full 4%, $4,000.
- S&P down 20%: you get 0%, and the principal is untouched.
Where the cost sits: an FIA with no income rider has no explicit annual fee. The carrier pays for the floor by capping your upside. Surrender charges run 7-15 years if you pull out early, and most contracts let you take about 10% a year without a charge.
Quick FIA FAQ
Q: Will the cap rate change after I buy?
A: Yes. Caps renew every year, within the contract minimum. A 7% cap at purchase can be cut over time, down to the contract minimum, which on most FIAs that publish one is 1% or less. Check the minimum guaranteed cap in your contract.
Q: Why is my cap lower than my friend's FIA?
A: Carriers trade cap for other features: a premium bonus, a longer surrender period, an income rider or a bigger brand name. Two FIAs with similar headlines can be built very differently.
Q: What is the "minimum guaranteed cap"?
A: The lowest cap the carrier can set on your contract. On most FIAs that publish one it is 1% or less, some as low as 0.25%, and a few set 2% to 3%. With a 1% minimum, your worst case is close to 0% after inflation.
Q: How are FIA gains taxed?
A: Growth is tax-deferred. Gains are taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw them, and gain taken before 59½ usually carries a 10% IRS penalty.
Q: Can I lose money?
A: Not from a market drop. You can lose money by surrendering early (surrender charge) or through a market value adjustment. Hold to the end of the surrender period and neither applies.
Q: How long is the surrender period?
A: It varies: 7 years on some (Athene PEC 7 Plus), 10 on most, 14 to 15 on bonus products. A longer surrender period usually buys a higher cap or a bigger bonus.
Q: What's the difference between cap, participation rate, and spread?
A: The cap is the most you can be credited. The participation rate is the share of the index gain you get. The spread is a percentage subtracted from the index gain. Some products combine them. See How Annuity Crediting Actually Works.
Q: Should I add an income rider?
A: Only if you will actually turn it on for lifetime income. The fee (0.85% to 1.50% a year) is charged whether you use it or not, and plenty of owners pay it for years and never do.
Get a second opinion before you sign
Talk to Hans Goldstein, a licensed independent insurance producer.
A fixed indexed annuity ties up your money for 7 to 15 years. Cap rates renew annually and can drop. Income riders have separate benefit bases that aren't cash. Get an independent review before you commit your retirement savings to a multi-year contract.
Send your details. Within one business day you get a written review of your quote, a side-by-side with two alternatives, and a free 15-minute call if you want one.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar, or call 213-414-2808.
Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
We’ll email it to you. Hans replies within one business day. Privacy Policy.
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.