Guaranty Income Life WealthChoice 10 Review (September 2026): 5.50% Cap With the 10% Bonus, 9.00% Without
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, independent licensed insurance producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Crediting rates verified against Guaranty Income Life's September 4, 2026 rate bulletin · Updated
On WealthChoice 10 with the 10% premium bonus, the S&P 500 annual point-to-point cap is 5.50% under Guaranty Income Life's September 4, 2026 bulletin. The same 10-year contract without the bonus has a 9.00% cap. The 10% bonus is paid for with lower crediting rates on every strategy, not just the cap.
Correction (September 24, 2026): this page used to describe an 8.00% cap on the bonus version (June 7, 2026 figure) and a return-of-premium guarantee. The current bonus-version cap is 5.50%, and we could not find a return-of-premium feature in Guaranty Income Life's public materials. The earlier competitor caps and case studies have been removed because they could not be re-verified.
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.
WealthChoice crediting rates, September 4, 2026
| Crediting method | 5-Year | 7-Year | 10-Year w/ Bonus | 10-Year No Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Fixed Rate | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| S&P 500 annual point-to-point cap | 9.50% | 9.75% | 5.50% | 9.00% |
| Bailout cap rate | 5.50% | 5.75% | 2.50% | 6.50% |
| S&P 500 annual point-to-point participation | 45% | 45% | 25% | 40% |
| S&P 500 performance trigger (threshold 0.00%) | 7.00% | 7.10% | 5.30% | 6.70% |
| S&P 500 monthly sum cap | 2.50% | 2.50% | 2.00% | 2.25% |
| Barclays Global Quality Index participation | 160% | 165% | 125% | 165% |
| S&P 500 Dynamic Intraday TCA Index cap | 12.75% | 13.00% | 8.00% | 11.00% |
| Horizon Ascend 5% Index participation | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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.
We’ll email it to you. Hans reads every one himself and replies within one business day. Hans Goldstein · NPN 20602398.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar.
What the bonus actually costs
Line the two 10-year columns up. The bonus version gives up 3.5 points of S&P 500 cap (5.50% vs 9.00%), 15 points of participation (25% vs 40%), and 3 points on the Dynamic Intraday TCA cap (8.00% vs 11.00%).
Those are yearly figures that can be reset at each anniversary; the 10% bonus is a one-time credit. Before choosing the bonus, ask the agent for the bonus vesting or recapture schedule in writing, because that decides what you keep if you leave early.
For contracts issued September 4 through December 31, 2026, the bulletin sets the guaranteed minimum cash surrender value at 2.45% on 87.5% of premium, and a 2.45% minimum renewal rate on the fixed account. The initial rates are held for 60 days from the date the application is received.
WealthChoice vs a 5-year MYGA
WealthChoice's fixed account pays 5.00% for one year and then renews at a declared rate with a 2.45% floor. A 5-year MYGA locks its rate for all five years.
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.
If what you want is a number you can plan around, compare a MYGA quote before you buy an index annuity for its fixed account.
Current MYGA rates · Best 5-year MYGA rates
Who it fits, and who it doesn't
- Fits: someone who wants index-linked crediting with no market loss, can leave the money for the full 10 years, and has compared the bonus and no-bonus versions side by side.
- Look elsewhere: anyone who may need more than the free-withdrawal amount before year 10, or who is choosing the bonus version mainly for the 10% headline.
Sources
- Guaranty Income Life WealthChoice rate bulletin, "September 04, 2026 Crediting Rates" (IRB Core WC 09.04.26)
- gilico.com WealthChoice page (GLBR 0.95% of accumulated value; checked September 24, 2026)
- public carrier rate sheets for the MYGA benchmark, October 14, 2026
Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) and is not affiliated with Guaranty Income Life. 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
What is the WealthChoice 10 cap rate right now?
Guaranty Income Life's September 4, 2026 bulletin lists an S&P 500 annual point-to-point cap of 5.50% on WealthChoice 10 with the 10% premium bonus, and 9.00% on WealthChoice 10 without the bonus. New-money rates only; renewal rates can differ.
How much is the WealthChoice 10 premium bonus?
The bulletin says the bonus rate on WealthChoice 10 is currently 10.00%. On the bonus version, every crediting rate is lower than on the no-bonus 10-year version (for example the S&P 500 cap is 5.50% vs 9.00%).
Does WealthChoice 10 have a return-of-premium guarantee?
We could not confirm one in Guaranty Income Life's public materials. The September 4, 2026 bulletin states a guaranteed minimum cash surrender value of 2.45% on 87.5% of premium for contracts issued September 4 through December 31, 2026. If an agent tells you there is a return-of-premium feature, ask to see it in the contract or a signed illustration.
What is the bailout cap on WealthChoice 10?
2.50% on the bonus version and 6.50% on the no-bonus version (September 4, 2026 bulletin). If the declared S&P 500 annual point-to-point cap falls below the bailout rate during the surrender period, surrender charges and the market value adjustment are waived for a 30-day window.
Is there an income rider?
Yes, an optional Guaranteed Living Benefit Rider on the 7- or 10-year plan costing 0.95% of accumulated value each anniversary, per gilico.com. Ask whether it can be combined with the bonus version before you apply.
Is WealthChoice 10 better than a MYGA?
They do different jobs. WealthChoice's 1-year fixed rate is 5.00% (September 4, 2026) and resets each year with a 2.45% floor. A 5-year MYGA locks one rate for the whole term; A-rated-or-better insurers were paying about 5.50% to 6.05% on October 14, 2026. If you want a known number, the MYGA is simpler.
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.