Goldstein Scorecard: B (dated October 4, 2026). See how it is graded.
Sagicor Milestone MYGA Review: Milestone Max and California Milestone, Surrender Schedules and A Rating
Written & reviewed by Hans Goldstein, EA, Independent Licensed Insurance Producer · CA license 4273294 · NPN 20602398Admitted to practice before the IRS
Facts verified against Sagicor’s Milestone Max and Milestone (CA) product pages and client guides, and its July 16, 2026 rating release, on October 4, 2026 · Updated
Sagicor Milestone is the MYGA line of Sagicor Life Insurance Company (Scottsdale, AZ): Milestone Max MYGA in every state it is sold except California, and Milestone MYGA in California only. Both offer 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7-year guarantee periods and 10% penalty-free withdrawals from contract year two. Surrender charges start at 9% (8.40% in California). AM Best upgraded Sagicor Life to A (Excellent) on July 16, 2026. Sagicor does not post current rates on its public site.
Correction (October 4, 2026): earlier versions of this page showed Milestone rates effective 8/19/2026 taken from AnnuityAdvantage and MyAnnuityStore, labelled as current. Those were third-party figures, not Sagicor documents, and have been removed. A Fitch A- rating, Weiss, COMDEX and renewal-integrity grades were also removed because Sagicor’s own materials list only the AM Best rating.
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.
Milestone MYGA: verified contract facts
| Feature | What Sagicor publishes |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Sagicor Life Insurance Company, Scottsdale, AZ; a wholly owned subsidiary of Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (TSX: SFC), which is a separate entity not responsible for the insurer’s obligations |
| Products | Milestone Max MYGA (not available in CA; forms ICC243010, 3010, 3010FL) and Milestone MYGA (CA only; form 3008CA) |
| Guarantee periods | 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 years |
| Current rates | Not publicly disclosed on sagicor.com; ask for the dated rate sheet |
| Free withdrawal | 10% of the last anniversary’s accumulation value a year from contract year 2 ($500 minimum withdrawal). Max: RMDs penalty-free from year 1 up to the 10% limit, and above it from year 2 |
| MVA | Milestone Max: yes, on full surrenders and withdrawals above the free amount while surrender charges apply; not on the death benefit. CA guide does not describe an MVA on withdrawals beyond “if any”; confirm in the contract |
| Renewal | 30-day penalty-free window; 3 to 6-year terms renew automatically with a new rate and a new surrender schedule (3 and 4-year terms twice, 5 and 6-year once; 7-year does not repeat). After that, the rate renews annually with no surrender charge. Florida differs |
| Waivers (Max) | Terminal illness after year 1; nursing home or confined care after the contract date: up to 100% penalty-free. Not long-term care insurance |
| Death benefit | Full account value, lump sum or annuitization |
| Minimum premium / issue ages | CA Milestone MYGA: $15,000 minimum, issue ages up to 90. Milestone Max: not stated in the public guide |
| Fees | No fees or front-end charges (Milestone Max client guide) |
Surrender charge schedule by contract year
| Product (7-year shown; shorter terms stop at their length) | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone Max (all states except CA) | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Milestone MYGA (California) | 8.40% | 8.35% | 7.35% | 6.30% | 5.30% | 4.25% | 3.20% |
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.
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Goldstein Scorecard (dated October 4, 2026)
| Dimension | Grade | Basis (sourced fact) |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength | A | AM Best FSR upgraded to A (Excellent) from A- on 7/16/2026, stable outlook (Sagicor release). |
| Rate competitiveness | Incomplete | No current rate published by Sagicor, so no dated comparison with the 9/24/2026 benchmark is possible. |
| Guaranteed floor | Incomplete | Minimum guaranteed rate after the term is not publicly disclosed. |
| Liquidity | B | 10% free from year 2, RMD-friendly, terminal illness and nursing home access; MVA (Max) and schedules restart on renewal of 3 to 6-year terms. |
| Costs | A | No fees or front-end charges per the Max client guide. |
| Transparency | B | Schedules, renewal mechanics and waivers are public; rates and the minimum rate are not. |
| Overall | B | Weighted toward financial strength and the contractual minimum, since a fixed rate is only as good as the insurer paying it. |
Pros and cons
Pros
- AM Best A (Excellent), upgraded July 16, 2026.
- Five term choices, 3 to 7 years, in both versions.
- 10% annual free withdrawal from year 2, with RMDs allowed from year 1 on qualified Max contracts.
- California version has lower surrender charges (8.40% start) than the 9% Max schedule.
Cons
- Current rates are not published by Sagicor; you need a dated rate sheet to compare.
- 3 to 6-year terms renew automatically into new surrender periods unless you act in the 30-day window.
- An MVA applies to excess withdrawals on Milestone Max while surrender charges apply.
Who it’s for, and when to look elsewhere
Fits: buyers who want a declared rate for 3 to 7 years from an A-rated insurer with yearly 10% access, including IRA owners taking RMDs. A MYGA locks a declared rate for the term; Milestone gives you five term lengths to choose from.
Look elsewhere if: you want a single term with no automatic renewal, or you want to see the rate publicly before talking to anyone. For comparison, A-rated-or-better insurers were paying about 5.50% to 6.05% on 5-year MYGAs and the best nationally available 5-year CDs about 4.70% to 5.00% APY (MYGAs: public carrier rate sheets, October 14, 2026; CDs: Bankrate and Popular Direct, October 18, 2026). Current rates: MYGA rates. Compare scenarios with the MYGA growth calculator and the MYGA vs CD after-tax calculator.
Questions to ask your agent
- What is the current Milestone rate for my term, state and premium band, with the rate sheet’s effective date? What minimum guaranteed rate applies after the initial term? Please put both in writing.
- Can you show the full surrender charge schedule by year for my state, how the MVA works, and how many times my term will renew into a new surrender period?
- When exactly is my 30-day penalty-free window, and how will Sagicor notify me?
- If this is an IRA, how much can I take for RMDs in year one without a charge?
- How are you paid on this product? Agents are paid a commission by the insurer, built into pricing and not deducted from your premium. Ask the percentage and whether a longer term pays more. See how annuity commissions work.
From my desk
On a Sagicor Milestone quote, the first thing I check is which product it is. A California resident gets Milestone MYGA with its own schedule; everyone else gets Milestone Max. Then I look at the renewal table, because a 3-year Milestone is not a 3-year commitment if you miss the window: it can renew into two more surrender periods.
The number buyers most often misread here is the term. The rate is guaranteed for the guarantee period you pick, but the surrender schedule can repeat. When I compare it to other MYGAs, I put Sagicor’s dated rate for the same term next to A-rated quotes for the same week and count total years of surrender exposure, not just the first term.
Hypothetical: a Milestone Max 3-year buyer who never acts at renewal could face surrender charges in years 1 to 9 (three 3-year periods), with penalty-free windows at anniversaries 3 and 6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Milestone Max MYGA and Milestone MYGA?
Milestone Max MYGA is sold in states other than California; Milestone MYGA is the California-only version. Both offer 3 to 7-year guarantee periods. California's surrender schedule starts at 8.40%, Max starts at 9%.
What are the current Sagicor Milestone rates?
Sagicor does not list current Milestone rates on its public product pages or client guides as of October 4, 2026. Ask for the current rate sheet with its effective date and premium bands.
What is the Sagicor Milestone surrender schedule?
Milestone Max: 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3% by contract year for the 7-year term, shorter terms stopping at their length. California Milestone MYGA: 8.40%, 8.35%, 7.35%, 6.30%, 5.30%, 4.25%, 3.20%.
Can I withdraw money without a surrender charge?
Yes, 10% of the last contract anniversary's accumulation value each year starting in contract year two, with a $500 minimum withdrawal. On qualified Milestone Max contracts, RMDs are penalty-free starting in year one.
What happens at the end of the guarantee period?
You get a 30-day penalty-free window. If you take no action, 3 to 6-year terms renew automatically with a new rate and a new surrender schedule; after the last surrender period the rate renews annually with no surrender charge.
What is Sagicor Life's AM Best rating?
A (Excellent), upgraded from A- on July 16, 2026, with a stable outlook, per Sagicor Financial's July 16, 2026 release.
Sources (checked October 4, 2026)
- Sagicor Life, Milestone Max MYGA product page: terms, free withdrawal, waivers, surrender schedule.
- Sagicor Life, Milestone MYGA (California) product page.
- Sagicor Life, Milestone Max MYGA client guide, MMM-CG0583: renewal table, MVA, RMDs, fees.
- Sagicor Life, Milestone MYGA California client guide, 9090-CA: $15,000 minimum, issue ages to 90.
- Sagicor Financial, Announces Credit Rating Upgrades by AM Best, July 16, 2026.
- MYGA and CD benchmark: public carrier rate sheets (MYGAs, October 14, 2026) and DepositAccounts (CDs, September 24, 2026); see MYGA rates.
Related: Sagicor Milestone Max 5-year · Milestone Max 3-year · Milestone Max 7-year · California MYGA options
Get a second opinion before you sign
Talk to Hans Goldstein, a licensed independent insurance producer.
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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.
Quick FAQ
Q: Is this annuity right for me?
A: It depends on when you need the money. A MYGA fits money you can leave alone for the full guarantee term, usually 3 to 10 years, when you want a fixed rate with no market exposure. It is the wrong place for an emergency fund or for money you may need before the term ends.
Q: How does an annuity actually pay out?
A: Three ways: (1) Surrender: withdraw cash, with a surrender charge if you leave before the term ends. (2) Annuitization: convert the value to a lifetime or fixed-period income stream. (3) 1035 exchange: move the money to another annuity at the end of the term without triggering tax.
Q: What happens if the carrier goes out of business?
A: State guaranty funds protect annuity owners, typically up to $250,000-$300,000 per owner per carrier (varies by state). Check your state's guaranty association limit. The carrier's AM Best rating signals failure probability; A-rated carriers have very low historical default rates.
Q: Can I lose money in this annuity?
A: Not from the market: the rate is fixed for the term. You can lose money by surrendering early, through the surrender charge and a market value adjustment if the contract has one. Hold to the end of the term and neither applies.
Q: How much commission does the agent make?
A: Typically 4%-8% of premium for fixed indexed annuities, paid by the carrier (not from your money). Higher commission products often have longer surrender periods or smaller caps. The product cost to you is the same whether commission is high or low, but commission size is a useful proxy for product complexity.
Q: Should I roll over my 401(k) into an annuity?
A: Sometimes yes, often no. Yes if: you want guaranteed income, you're risk-averse, you have other liquid assets for emergencies, and you're 55+. No if: you're under 50, you need liquidity, you have plenty of pension/SS income, or you'd be putting all your retirement assets into one product. Get an independent second opinion before rolling over six figures.
Q: Why are caps so different across products?
A: Trade-offs. Higher cap = lower bonus, longer surrender, lower-rated carrier, or different index strategy. There's no free lunch. A 10%+ cap typically means B-rated carrier + 14-year surrender. A 6% cap typically means A+ carrier + shorter surrender.
Q: How are annuity earnings taxed?
A: Inside the contract, growth is tax-deferred (no tax until you withdraw). Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income (not capital gains). For non-qualified annuities, only the gain portion is taxable. For qualified (IRA) annuities, the entire withdrawal is taxable. There's a 10% IRS penalty on withdrawals before age 59½.
Quick FAQ
Q: Is this annuity right for me?
A: It depends on when you need the money. A MYGA fits money you can leave alone for the full guarantee term, usually 3 to 10 years, when you want a fixed rate with no market exposure. It is the wrong place for an emergency fund or for money you may need before the term ends.
Q: How does an annuity actually pay out?
A: Three ways: (1) Surrender: withdraw cash, with a surrender charge if you leave before the term ends. (2) Annuitization: convert the value to a lifetime or fixed-period income stream. (3) 1035 exchange: move the money to another annuity at the end of the term without triggering tax.
Q: What happens if the carrier goes out of business?
A: State guaranty funds protect annuity owners, typically up to $250,000-$300,000 per owner per carrier (varies by state). Check your state's guaranty association limit. The carrier's AM Best rating signals failure probability; A-rated carriers have very low historical default rates.
Q: Can I lose money in this annuity?
A: Not from the market: the rate is fixed for the term. You can lose money by surrendering early, through the surrender charge and a market value adjustment if the contract has one. Hold to the end of the term and neither applies.
Q: How much commission does the agent make?
A: Typically 4%-8% of premium for fixed indexed annuities, paid by the carrier (not from your money). Higher commission products often have longer surrender periods or smaller caps. The product cost to you is the same whether commission is high or low, but commission size is a useful proxy for product complexity.
Q: Should I roll over my 401(k) into an annuity?
A: Sometimes yes, often no. Yes if: you want guaranteed income, you're risk-averse, you have other liquid assets for emergencies, and you're 55+. No if: you're under 50, you need liquidity, you have plenty of pension/SS income, or you'd be putting all your retirement assets into one product. Get an independent second opinion before rolling over six figures.
Q: Why are caps so different across products?
A: Trade-offs. Higher cap = lower bonus, longer surrender, lower-rated carrier, or different index strategy. There's no free lunch. A 10%+ cap typically means B-rated carrier + 14-year surrender. A 6% cap typically means A+ carrier + shorter surrender.
Q: How are annuity earnings taxed?
A: Inside the contract, growth is tax-deferred (no tax until you withdraw). Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income (not capital gains). For non-qualified annuities, only the gain portion is taxable. For qualified (IRA) annuities, the entire withdrawal is taxable. There's a 10% IRS penalty on withdrawals before age 59½.