Goldstein Scorecard: B (dated October 4, 2026). See how it is graded.
MassMutual Ascend Fixed Indexed Annuities: The Current Lineup, Ratings and What Is Public
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Facts verified against MassMutual Ascend’s product list, ratings page and press releases, and the Index Achiever SEC summary prospectus, on October 4, 2026 · Updated
MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company, the former Great American Life, sells fixed indexed annuities under the names American Landmark 3 and 5, American Legend 7, Premier Income Bonus and Safe Return, plus fee-based Index Protector 4, 5 MVA and 7. It does not sell a “Secure Future” annuity. AM Best rates it A++ (Superior), affirmed October 23, 2025, per the company. Current caps are not published on its consumer site.
Correction (October 4, 2026): an earlier version of this page was titled “Great American Secure Future FIA.” MassMutual Ascend (formerly Great American Life) does not sell a product by that name; its product list has no “Secure Future.” This page now gives an overview of MassMutual Ascend’s current fixed indexed annuities, from that list and the company’s own pages. The old page also showed S&P AA+, Moody’s Aa3, Fitch AA+, Weiss, KBRA and a COMDEX 99 score, plus service and renewal “tiers” and a star rating. MassMutual Ascend’s ratings page shows AM Best A++ and S&P AA (not AA+); the other scores could not be verified and were removed.
Who MassMutual Ascend is
MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), based in Cincinnati, Ohio. In its October 3, 2022 press release, Great American Life Insurance Company announced it would do business as MassMutual Ascend, following its acquisition by MassMutual in May 2021, and said existing contracts and their benefits were not affected by the name change. If you own an older Great American Life annuity, it is now serviced by MassMutual Ascend.
Per its ratings page (checked October 4, 2026), AM Best rates MassMutual Ascend A++ (Superior), affirmed October 23, 2025, the highest of AM Best’s 16 ratings, and S&P rates it AA (Very Strong), upgraded February 20, 2025.
The current fixed indexed annuity lineup
| Product | Type | Charge period and key feature (as MassMutual Ascend describes it) |
|---|---|---|
| American Landmark 3 | FIA | Multiple indexed strategies; early withdrawal charges and MVA end after 3 years |
| American Landmark 5 | FIA | Multiple indexed strategies; early withdrawal charges and MVA end after 5 years |
| American Legend 7 | FIA | Multiple indexed strategies; early withdrawal charges and MVA end after 7 years |
| Premier Income Bonus | FIA with built-in income rider | Built-in income rider with a 6% bonus; early withdrawal charges and MVA end after 7 years |
| Safe Return | FIA | Return of premium feature and a bailout on indexed strategies; early withdrawal charges end after 10 years |
| Index Protector 4 | Fee-based FIA | For fee-based (advisory) portfolios; early withdrawal charges end after 4 years |
| Index Protector 5 MVA | Fee-based FIA | For fee-based portfolios; MVA ends after 5 years |
| Index Protector 7 | Fee-based FIA | For fee-based portfolios; return of premium feature; early withdrawal charges and MVA end after 7 years |
Two other products are often grouped with these but are not 0%-floor fixed indexed annuities. Index Summit 6 and Index Summit 6 Pro are 6-year registered index-linked annuities, and Index Achiever (with an Advisory version) is a registered index-linked annuity whose SEC summary prospectus dated May 1, 2026 says you could lose up to 10% on a -10% floor strategy, up to 50% on a downside participation strategy and up to 90% on a 10% buffer strategy. Those are securities, sold by prospectus. MassMutual Ascend’s fixed-rate annuities (MYGAs) are SecureGain 3, 5 and 7.
Optional riders
| Rider | What MassMutual Ascend says |
|---|---|
| Income Ascender (income) | 9% simple interest rollup credit for income, 10-year rollup period, payout percentages that generally rise the longer you wait; added at issue, ages 40 to 85 |
| IncomeDefender (income) | 8% rollup; payments can start right after issue at age 55+; available with Index Protector 7 |
| Legacy Ascender (death benefit) | 9% simple interest rollup for issue ages 50 to 79, 6% for ages 80 to 85; no waiting period for the death benefit |
A rollup grows a benefit base used to figure income or the death benefit. It is not cash you can withdraw. Ask for the rider charge and how it is calculated before you add one. To compare a rider with plain annuitization, use the income rider vs annuitization calculator.
What is not public
MassMutual Ascend’s consumer fixed-indexed annuity page describes FIAs in general but shows no product rates, contract minimums, year-by-year withdrawal charge percentages, free withdrawal amounts or minimum premiums. Those numbers are set in each product’s rate sheet and contract and are not publicly disclosed here; ask for them in writing for the exact product and state. Any contractual guarantees in these annuities are backed by the claims-paying ability of MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company. Index losses are not credited on these FIAs; early withdrawal charges and an MVA can reduce what you receive if you leave early. Model an exit in the annuity surrender charge calculator and project growth in the annuity calculator.
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Goldstein Scorecard (dated October 4, 2026)
| Dimension | Grade | Basis (sourced fact) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength | A+ | AM Best A++ (Superior), affirmed October 23, 2025; S&P AA, upgraded February 20, 2025 (per MassMutual Ascend) |
| Rate or cap competitiveness | Incomplete | No current rates on the consumer site |
| Guaranteed floor | B- | Client rate fliers publish a 2.40% minimum cap and 5.00% minimum participation for the contract duration on American Legend 7, Index Protector 7 and Premier Income Bonus (American Legend 7 client rate flier, Index Protector 7 client rate flier, Premier Income Bonus client rate flier, checked October 4, 2026); minimums for the other products are not public. |
| Liquidity | B | Charge periods from 3 years (American Landmark 3) to 10 years (Safe Return); MVA on most products |
| Costs | Incomplete | Rider charges not published |
| Transparency | C | Product names and structures public; rates, minimums and schedules not on the consumer site |
| Guaranteed minimum cap | 2.40% | Cap strategies for the contract duration on American Legend 7 (American Legend 7 client rate flier), Index Protector 7 (Index Protector 7 client rate flier) and Premier Income Bonus (Premier Income Bonus client rate flier), checked October 4, 2026. |
| Minimum participation rate | 5.00% | Participation strategies on the same three products, same client rate fliers. |
| Overall | B | Very strong insurer and a wide range of terms; key pricing numbers are not public |
How these contract minimums compare across products: guaranteed minimum caps across FIAs (October 2026).
Get the current numbers for your amountor call 213-414-2808
Pros and cons
Pros
- AM Best A++ (Superior), the top of AM Best’s scale, per the company’s ratings page.
- Owned by MassMutual since May 2021.
- A wide range of charge periods: 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 years.
- Return of premium features on Safe Return and Index Protector 7, and a bailout on Safe Return’s indexed strategies, per the product list.
Cons
- No current rates or contract minimums on the consumer site, so you need the rate sheet to compare.
- Rider charges are not published.
- Similar names across FIAs and registered products (Index Protector vs Index Achiever and Index Summit) can cause confusion about which ones can lose value.
Who it’s for, and when to look elsewhere
Fits: someone who wants an FIA from a very highly rated insurer and wants to choose the length of commitment, from 3 to 10 years, and who will get the current rate sheet and contract minimums in writing before deciding.
Look elsewhere if: you mainly want a known rate. A MYGA locks a declared rate for the whole 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. If you were shown Index Achiever or Index Summit 6, know that those can lose value; read the prospectus.
Questions to ask your agent
- Which exact product is this, and is it a fixed indexed annuity or a registered index-linked annuity?
- What are the guaranteed minimum cap, participation rate and declared (fixed) rate in this contract, in writing, and are they for the whole contract?
- What is the full surrender (early withdrawal charge) schedule by year in my state, how does the MVA work, and how much can I take out free each year?
- If a rider is included or offered, what is its charge, what is it charged on, and is the bonus or rollup credited to cash value or only to a benefit base?
- How are you paid on this product? Commission comes from the insurer, is built into pricing and is not deducted from premium; ask the percentage and whether a longer term pays more. See how annuity commissions work.
From my desk
When someone asks me about a “Great American” annuity, the first thing I check is whether the contract is a fixed indexed annuity or one of the registered index-linked products. In this lineup the names sit close together, and the difference matters: a FIA does not credit index losses, while Index Achiever’s prospectus spells out losses of up to 10%, 50% or 90% depending on the strategy.
The number buyers most often misread on this product type is a rollup or bonus percentage. A 9% rollup or a 6% income bonus grows a benefit base for income or a death benefit; it is not a 9% or 6% return on your money. On the illustration, I look for the line that shows cash surrender value, not the benefit base.
To compare with a MYGA, I put the MYGA’s declared rate next to the FIA’s declared (fixed) strategy rate and its contract minimums, for the same term. If the FIA only beats the MYGA when the index cooperates every year, a MYGA from a comparably rated insurer is the simpler choice. For a second set of eyes on a quote, see annuity second opinion.
About Hans Goldstein: independent licensed insurance producer. CA Life License #4273294. NPN #20602398. Phone: 213-414-2808. Email: hans@hansgoldstein.com.
Related reviews
- How annuity crediting actually works
- FIA cap rates in 2026
- Brighthouse Shield Level review (how a registered index-linked annuity differs from an FIA)
- Are annuities FDIC insured? (state guaranty limits)
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is there a Great American Secure Future annuity?
A: No. MassMutual Ascend (formerly Great American Life) lists no product called Secure Future in its product list, checked October 4, 2026. Its fixed indexed annuities are American Landmark 3 and 5, American Legend 7, Premier Income Bonus, Safe Return and the fee-based Index Protector 4, 5 MVA and 7. Its fixed-rate annuities are SecureGain 3, 5 and 7.
Q: Is Great American Life the same company as MassMutual Ascend?
A: Yes. MassMutual acquired Great American Life Insurance Company in May 2021, and on October 3, 2022 the company announced it would do business as MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company. The company said existing contracts and their benefits were not affected.
Q: What is MassMutual Ascend’s AM Best rating?
A: A++ (Superior), affirmed October 23, 2025, per MassMutual Ascend’s ratings page checked October 4, 2026. S&P rates it AA (Very Strong), upgraded February 20, 2025.
Q: Are Index Achiever and Index Summit 6 fixed indexed annuities?
A: No. They are registered index-linked annuities. The Index Achiever summary prospectus dated May 1, 2026 says you could lose up to 10%, 50% or 90% of principal and prior earnings depending on the strategy. A fixed indexed annuity does not credit index losses.
Q: What are the current MassMutual Ascend FIA caps?
A: Not publicly disclosed on MassMutual Ascend’s consumer site as of October 4, 2026. Ask for the current rate sheet and the contract minimums for the exact product and state.
Q: How are MassMutual Ascend fixed indexed annuities taxed?
A: Growth is tax-deferred. Earnings are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn, and withdrawals before age 59½ may carry a 10% additional federal tax unless an exception applies.
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.
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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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Sources (checked October 4, 2026)
- MassMutual Ascend, All Annuities product list (product names and descriptions), checked October 4, 2026.
- MassMutual Ascend, MassMutual Ascend overview and financial strength ratings (AM Best affirmed October 23, 2025; S&P upgraded February 20, 2025).
- MassMutual Ascend, Great American Life Unveils new Brand as MassMutual Ascend, October 3, 2022.
- MassMutual Ascend, Income Ascender rider press release, January 5, 2026.
- MassMutual Ascend, Legacy Ascender rider press release, June 22, 2026.
- MassMutual Ascend, Fixed-indexed annuities consumer page, checked October 4, 2026.
- SEC EDGAR, Index Achiever Annuity summary prospectus, May 1, 2026.
- MYGA and CD benchmark: AnnuityRateWatch carrier rate data and DepositAccounts, September 24, 2026.
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.