Best 10-Year MYGA 2026: Top Maximum-Lock Yields
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Independently reviewed & last updated 2026-06-09
A 10-year MYGA locks one guaranteed rate for a decade. It fits buyers who are sure they can leave the money alone for 10 years. The rates in the table below are from June 2026 and are not current.
Ratings (independent third-party)
| Rating Agency | Grade |
|---|---|
| AM Best | Various |
| S&P | Various |
| Moody's | Various |
| COMDEX (composite, 0-100) | Various |
Hans is independently licensed. Reviews are based on publicly available rate sheets, prospectuses, public carrier rate sheets, and carrier filings.
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.
10-year MYGAs as of June 2026 (not current)
| Carrier | Product | AM Best | Rate | Free Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers Life | Safeguard Plus 10 | B++ | 6.05% | 0%/0% |
| Wichita National | Security 10 | B+ | 6.05% | 0%/0% |
| Revol One | DirectGrowth 10 | B++ | 6.00% | 0%/0% |
| Aspida | WealthLock 10 | A- | 5.85% | 10%/10% |
| Delaware Life | Pinnacle 10 | A- | 5.85% | 10%/10% |
| Reliance Standard | Eleos 10 | A+ | 5.85% | 10%/10% |
The 10-year math
Hypothetical, using June 2026 rates (not current quotes).
$200K at 5.85% compounded for 10 years = about $353,100
The same $200K in:
- 10-year CD at 4.40%: $307,572
- 10-year Treasury at 5.17% (par yield, U.S. Treasury, September 25, 2026), interest reinvested at the same rate: about $331,100
- S&P 500 ETF (assuming a 7% historical average): $393,430
In this illustration the MYGA beats the CD by about $45K over 10 years; against the September 25, 2026 10-year Treasury yield the gap is closer to $22K. It underperforms an all-equity portfolio but carries no market risk.
Rates expire like milk.
The best MYGA, CD and savings rates change every few weeks. Get a short email when a rate on this page changes.
We’ll email you when a rate on this page changes. Hans Goldstein · NPN 20602398.
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When 10-year wins
- You're 50 to 60 and know you won't need the money for 10 years.
- You want your principal protected and the rate fixed.
- You're comfortable with the carrier. With a B+ or B++ carrier, keep the amount under your state's guaranty limit.
When to skip
- You're 70 or older. Getting out at 80+ is too long a wait.
- You may need more than 10% a year out. Look at a 5- or 7-year term instead.
- You want index upside. A fixed indexed annuity (FIA) fits that better.
For $250K or more, call me at 213-414-2808 and I'll walk through a 10-year MYGA and how to split it across carriers.
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: 8/100, Grade A+ (Transparent)
Easy to understand. Few moving parts. The buyer can fully explain the product to a friend after one read of the contract.
Score breakdown
| Dimension | Score (1-10) | What this measures |
|---|---|---|
| Riders | 1/10 | How many riders, optional or built in (income, death benefit, LTC). Each one adds cost and one more thing to understand. |
| Crediting strategies | 1/10 | How many index options (cap, spread, participation rate, step rate, volatility-controlled indices). More choices are harder to follow. |
| Surrender complexity | 1/10 | 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 | 1/10 | 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: complicated products rarely get anyone sued, 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.
Annuities in plain terms
An annuity is an insurance contract. You pay a premium, in one lump sum or over time, and get one of three things back:
- Lifetime income (SPIA: pay once, get a check every month for life)
- Tax-deferred growth with downside protection (FIA: index-linked interest with a cap and a 0% floor)
- A fixed rate for a set term (MYGA: works like a CD, with the tax deferred)
The carrier pays for these out of its bond portfolio and, for FIAs, an option budget that buys the index-linked credit.
Every annuity trades liquidity and growth for certainty. A SPIA gives the most certainty (income for life), but you give up access to the principal. An FIA protects the downside but caps the growth. A MYGA locks the rate but ties up the money for the term.
Quick FAQ
Q: Are annuities ever "good investments"?
A: Yes, when used for what they do well: income certainty, downside protection or a locked rate. They go wrong when sold for something else, like a SPIA pitched for "growth."
Q: What's the difference between immediate and deferred annuities?
A: An immediate annuity (SPIA) starts paying within 12 months of purchase. A deferred annuity grows for years before payments begin.
Q: Who regulates annuities?
A: State insurance commissioners. (RILAs are also FINRA-regulated as securities.)
Q: What's the state guaranty fund limit?
A: Usually $250,000 to $300,000 per owner per carrier, depending on the state. Splitting a large purchase across carriers keeps each piece inside the limit.
Q: How do I compare annuities side-by-side?
A: Compare the carrier's ratings (AM Best, S&P, Moody's, Fitch, Weiss, KBRA composite), the Goldstein Complexity Index, the carrier's renewal-rate record, its service, and how the structure fits what you need the money to do.
Q: When should I get a second opinion?
A: Before you sign any annuity over $50,000. An independent review costs you nothing.
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.
Comparing this MYGA against others? Request a free, independent second opinion on the quote you have, or see this month's best MYGA rates.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar, or call 213-414-2808.
- Hans Goldstein, Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the IRS
- California insurance license #4273294 (look it up at the California Department of Insurance) · NPN 20602398
- Independent, not a captive agent: appointed with multiple A-rated carriers
- 5.0 on Google from 7 reviews (Goldstein & Co. LLC listing, checked October 18, 2026)
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.