Goldstein Scorecard: B (dated October 4, 2026). See how it is graded.
Knights of Columbus Fixed Annuity Review: 4.80% SPDA, 4.75% FPDA (Rates Effective October 1, 2026)
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Facts verified against the Knights of Columbus October 2026 rate sheet, kofc.org annuity and insurance FAQ pages, and AM Best on October 4, 2026 · Updated
Knights of Columbus sells fixed deferred annuities, not a fixed indexed annuity. Its Vantage Single Premium Deferred Annuity pays 4.80% at $100,000 or more and 4.60% under $100,000, and its Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity pays 4.75% on new deposits, per the rate sheet effective October 1, 2026. Both carry a 3.00% minimum interest rate. The issuer is the Order itself, rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best. Only members and their families can buy.
Correction (October 4, 2026): an earlier version of this page was titled “Knights of Columbus Fixed Indexed Annuity Review”. Knights of Columbus does not sell a fixed indexed annuity: its U.S. annuities are fixed declared-rate contracts (single premium deferred, flexible premium and immediate). This page now reviews the Knights of Columbus Vantage SPDA and Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity, from the October 2026 Knights of Columbus rate sheet. An S&P AA- rating, a COMDEX score, a star rating and generic FIA cap material were removed as unsourced or not applicable.
Knights of Columbus annuity rates (effective October 1, 2026)
| Product | Premium | Rate, October 2026 | Rate, September 2026 | Minimum rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vantage Single Premium Deferred Annuity (new contracts and contracts renewing for a 2nd five-year period) | $100,000 or more | 4.80% | 4.40% | 3.00% Guaranteed Minimum Lifetime Rate |
| Vantage Single Premium Deferred Annuity | Under $100,000 ($25,000 minimum) | 4.60% | 4.20% | 3.00% Guaranteed Minimum Lifetime Rate |
| Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity (new deposits received in the 4th quarter of 2026; rate held through the end of the 3rd quarter of 2027) | Not stated on the sheet | 4.75% | 4.25% | 3.00% for new contracts |
Per the rate sheet, the rate is set by when Knights of Columbus receives the money, the minimum rate is set when the contract is issued, and guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of Knights of Columbus. The Order may refuse or limit premiums above $1,000,000 unless it approves them before the application is submitted.
Rates expire like milk.
Send your email and I'll send you what this product actually guarantees, what the surrender schedule really 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.
Email only. 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.
Contract basics
| Feature | Knights of Columbus (per its own documents) |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal benefit society, One Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT |
| Product type | Fixed deferred annuities with a declared interest rate; not indexed, not variable |
| U.S. products | Single Premium Deferred Annuity (Vantage), Flexible Premium Annuity, Single Premium Immediate Annuity |
| Tax types | Non-qualified, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) and SEP options |
| Minimum premium | Vantage SPDA: $25,000. FPDA minimum: not publicly disclosed |
| Maximum premium | The Order may refuse or limit amounts over $1,000,000 unless approved before the application |
| Minimum interest rate | 3.00% on new SPDA and FPDA contracts (October 2026 sheet), set at issue for the life of the contract |
| Fees | No maintenance, management or transaction fees, per the rate sheet and product page |
| Surrender charges | The kofc.org annuity page says withdrawals may be subject to surrender charges; the schedule by year is not publicly disclosed |
| Free withdrawal, MVA, issue ages | Not publicly disclosed |
| Who can buy | Members of the Order and their families; membership is open to practicing Catholic men age 18 or older |
| How it is sold | Through Knights of Columbus field agents (Find an Agent on kofc.org) |
Goldstein Scorecard (dated October 4, 2026)
| Dimension | Grade | Basis (sourced fact) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength (AM Best) | A+ | A+ (Superior) FSR and aa (Superior) issuer credit rating, stable outlook, affirmed November 14, 2025 (AM Best press release). |
| Rate competitiveness | C+ | 4.80% SPDA at $100,000+ (October 1, 2026) versus about 5.80% to 6.00% on A-rated-or-better 5-year MYGAs on September 24, 2026. |
| Guaranteed floor | A | 3.00% minimum lifetime rate on new contracts, set at issue (October 2026 sheet). |
| Liquidity | Incomplete | Surrender schedule, free withdrawal amount and any MVA are not publicly disclosed. |
| Costs | A | No maintenance, management or transaction fees (rate sheet and product page). |
| Transparency | B | A dated rate sheet is published monthly; the surrender schedule and FPDA minimum premium are not public. |
| Overall | B | Five of six dimensions graded; weighted toward financial strength, the floor rate and liquidity for a buyer who wants a known result. |
Get the current numbers for your amountor call 213-414-2808
Pros and cons
Pros: A+ (Superior) AM Best rating; a 3.00% minimum lifetime rate on new contracts; no maintenance, management or transaction fees; a public, dated rate sheet; rates rose from 4.40% to 4.80% between the September and October 2026 sheets.
Cons: available only to members and their families; the 4.80% top rate is below the dated 5-year MYGA benchmark; the surrender schedule is not published; the rate is declared by the Order and is not locked like a MYGA unless your contract says so; sold only through Knights of Columbus agents.
Who it’s for, and when to look elsewhere
Fits: a Knights of Columbus member, or family member, who values the Order’s A+ rating and fraternal mission, wants no product fees, and wants a 3.00% contractual minimum rate on long-term savings.
Look elsewhere if: you mainly want the highest known rate for a set term. A MYGA locks a declared rate for the term. For comparison, A-rated-or-better insurers were paying about 5.80% to 6.00% on 5-year MYGAs and the best nationally available 5-year CDs about 4.35% to 4.50% APY on September 24, 2026 (AnnuityRateWatch carrier data; DepositAccounts). Current rates: MYGA rates. Also look elsewhere if you are not eligible for membership, or if you need to know the full surrender schedule before you meet an agent.
Run your amount: MYGA growth calculator · MYGA vs CD after-tax calculator. Related: What is a MYGA? · 5-year MYGA rates compared · Fixed vs variable annuity · Are annuities FDIC insured?
Questions to ask your agent
- Is the 4.80% (or 4.60%) rate held for five years, or can it change each year? Show me the rate guarantee period in the contract.
- What is the minimum interest rate in my contract, in writing? The October 2026 sheet says 3.00% for new contracts.
- What is the full surrender schedule by year for my state, is there a market value adjustment, and how much can I withdraw each year with no charge?
- For the Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity: what is the minimum deposit, and what rate will deposits I make after the 3rd quarter of 2027 earn?
- How are you paid on this annuity? The commission comes from the insurer, is built into pricing and is not deducted from my premium. What percentage is it, and does a longer surrender term pay more? (Background: how annuity commissions work.)
From my desk
When I look at a Knights of Columbus annuity, I check how long the quoted rate is held before I look at the rate itself. The rate sheet prices the Vantage SPDA for “new contracts and contracts renewing for a 2nd five-year period”, which points to five-year rate periods, but the contract is what binds the Order. I want that period, the surrender schedule and the 3.00% floor on paper before an application.
The number buyers most often misread here is the Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity rate. The 4.75% applies to deposits received in the 4th quarter of 2026 and is held through the end of the 3rd quarter of 2027. Money added later earns whatever rate the Order declares then, never less than the contract minimum.
How I compare it: against a MYGA from an A-rated-or-better insurer on a dated rate sheet, for the same term. Hypothetical, not a quote: $100,000 at 4.80% for five years, compounded yearly, grows to about $126,417; at 5.80% it grows to about $132,565. The Knights of Columbus contract offers a 3.00% lifetime floor; the MYGA offers a higher locked rate for its term. Which matters more depends on how long you plan to keep the money there.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Knights of Columbus fixed indexed annuity?
No. The Knights of Columbus retirement annuities page lists a Single Premium Deferred Annuity, a Flexible Premium Annuity and a Single Premium Immediate Annuity in the U.S. All are fixed annuities that credit a declared interest rate. None is tied to a stock index, and the October 2026 rate sheet shows only declared rates.
What does the Knights of Columbus Vantage SPDA pay?
Per the Knights of Columbus rate sheet effective October 1, 2026: 4.80% for single premiums of $100,000 or more and 4.60% under $100,000, for new contracts and contracts renewing for a second five-year period. The September 2026 sheet showed 4.40% and 4.20%. Rates are subject to change without notice.
What is the minimum interest rate?
The October 2026 rate sheet lists a 3.00% Guaranteed Minimum Lifetime Rate on the Vantage SPDA and a 3.00% guaranteed minimum interest rate for new Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity contracts. The minimum is set when the contract is issued and is backed by the claims-paying ability of Knights of Columbus.
Who can buy a Knights of Columbus annuity?
Members of the Order and their families. Per the Knights of Columbus insurance FAQ, membership is open to practicing Catholic men age 18 or older. Annuities are sold through Knights of Columbus field agents; kofc.org has a Find an Agent tool.
What are the surrender charges?
Knights of Columbus says withdrawals may be subject to surrender charges, but the surrender schedule by year is not publicly disclosed on its rate sheet or product page. Ask the agent for the schedule for your state in writing before you apply.
What is the Knights of Columbus AM Best rating?
A+ (Superior) financial strength, with a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of aa (Superior) and a stable outlook, affirmed by AM Best on November 14, 2025.
Sources (checked October 4, 2026)
- Knights of Columbus Annuities Current Rates, October 2026: rates effective October 1, 2026
- Knights of Columbus, Annuities Current Rates, September 2026: rates effective September 1, 2026 (history)
- Knights of Columbus, Retirement Annuities page: products, tax types, fees; checked October 4, 2026
- Knights of Columbus, Insurance FAQ: membership eligibility; checked October 4, 2026
- AM Best, “AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Knights of Columbus”: November 14, 2025
Hans Goldstein is an independent licensed insurance producer (CA license 4273294, NPN 20602398) and is not affiliated with Knights of Columbus. Rates are copied from the Order’s rate sheet with its date; they change monthly. Examples labelled hypothetical are illustrations, not quotes.
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 15-minute call only 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
Email only. Hans replies within one business day, and only calls if you ask him to. 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.