Brighthouse Deferred Income Annuity (2026): Guaranteed Income Builder Is No Longer Sold
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, independent licensed insurance producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Product status checked on brighthousefinancial.com · Updated
Brighthouse no longer sells its deferred income annuity. Its website says Brighthouse Guaranteed Income Builder contracts are no longer available for purchase. The income product it does sell is the Brighthouse Income Annuity, an immediate annuity. If you want income that starts later, you will be comparing other insurers' deferred income annuities.
Correction (September 24, 2026): this page used to review "Brighthouse Income+" as a current deferred income annuity. I could not find a product by that name on Brighthouse's site, and Brighthouse says its DIA (Guaranteed Income Builder) is no longer sold, so I rewrote the page.
What Brighthouse offers for income now
| Product | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Income Builder (deferred income annuity) | No longer available for purchase | Existing owners: Brighthouse Service Team, 800-882-1292 |
| Brighthouse Income Annuity (single premium immediate annuity) | Offered | Increasing Income Option; Early Access Option (owners 59½+, 2% processing fee on partial withdrawals) |
Is the annuity you're looking at actually the best one available?
Send your email and I'll send what it really guarantees, what the surrender schedule costs you, and the two or three carriers paying more for the same guarantee. If it's already a good fit, I'll tell you that.
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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.
What income annuities pay, September 2026
| Age | Man, average | Man, best | Woman, average | Woman, best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | $583 | $645 | $565 | $624 |
| 65 | $639 | $689 | $612 | $660 |
| 70 | $714 | $760 | $662 | $719 |
| 75 | $831 | $882 | $773 | $824 |
| 80 | $1,001 | $1,069 | $922 | $993 |
A deferred income annuity pays more per dollar than an immediate one because payments start later, but the figure depends on your age, sex, deferral period and the insurer. Get quotes from several insurers for the exact start age you want.
Alternatives worth comparing
- Immediate annuity if you want income now: compare payouts across insurers; the spread between average and best in the table above is often 7% or more.
- A MYGA now, income later: lock a fixed rate for 5 years, then convert or buy an income annuity at the older age. MYGA benchmark: insurers rated A or better topped out around 5.50% to 6.05% on 5-year compound-interest MYGAs (public carrier rate sheets, October 14, 2026); rates vary by state, premium and carrier.
- Other insurers' deferred income annuities if you want the payout locked today.
Annuity payout calculator · Current MYGA rates
Sources
- brighthousefinancial.com annuities page
- Brighthouse Income Annuity page
- ImmediateAnnuities.com payout tables, "surveyed as of September 9, 2026," $100,000 premium, before state premium tax
- public carrier rate sheets (MYGA benchmark), October 14, 2026
Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) and is not affiliated with Brighthouse Financial. Figures are copied from the sources named, as of the dates shown; confirm current terms and rates with the issuer before you buy. MYGA figures are market benchmarks, not quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Does Brighthouse still sell a deferred income annuity?
No new ones, as far as its website shows. Brighthouse says Guaranteed Income Builder annuity contracts are no longer available for purchase. Current owners can call the Brighthouse Service Team at 800-882-1292.
What income annuity does Brighthouse sell now?
The Brighthouse Income Annuity, a single premium immediate annuity. Options include an Increasing Income Option and an Early Access Option (owners 59½ or older; a 2% processing fee applies to partial withdrawals).
What does an immediate annuity pay today?
Per $100,000, single life only, ImmediateAnnuities.com's September 9, 2026 survey showed a 65-year-old man at $639/month on average ($689 best) and a 65-year-old woman at $612 average; at 70, $714 and $662. Quotes vary by carrier and state.
I own a Guaranteed Income Builder contract. Is it affected?
Brighthouse's notice is about new purchases. Existing contracts stay in force under their terms; call 800-882-1292 with questions about yours.
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.
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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.