Retire with confidence
We investigate hundreds of annuities from top-rated insurance companies to find the best retirement annuity for you. Whether you want more income or growth without the risk of losses so you can retire with confidence, we can help.

We investigate annuities, so you can retire with confidence
We are independent investigators that investigate only top retirement annuities























Hear from our clients
Rated Excellent
Rated 4.9 | Based on 412 Trustpilot reviews


Good service
Good service! Answered all my questions. Very easy to work with.
- Richard



I was contacted by Mark Shelby who
I was contacted by Mark Shelby who answered my question and patiently walk me through very clear explanation on how annuities work. I also listened to the recent webinar that was very well done. Thank you, Lyn
- Lyn



Great service
Marcus was very patient and clear when he explained how annuities work. I appreciated his honesty about the various choices open to me and I trusted his advice.
- Tina



Great site
Great site, I learned a lot and follow up was great .
- Steve



Barry is a great representative for
Barry is a great representative for your company. He is patient, knowledgeable, shows empathy and has been very professional.
- Jonathan



I was provided very useful information
I was provided very useful information about different choices available for me to meet my financial goal. Thank you very much.
- Narayan



Sean Sparkman Annuity
Sean Sparkman has not been pushy. He has been ridiculously patient with my lack of knowledge. He frequently sends educational articles.
- Minnesota



James Ault is Excellent
James Ault, AnnuityGator Analyst, is a very honest and intelligent person who is very knowledgeable about investments, especially annuities. He is also very patient and takes the time to fully understand his customer and their goals. He also does an excellent job of explaining how the various annuities work and suggesting the best options for his customers.
- Jake



Very helpful full of information
Very helpful full of information
- joseph



If you are a novice invester or new to retirement – this is for you
I retired rather sudden in Jan 2024 with no planning or education of retirement finances other than you are not as agressive in retirement. I reached out to a number of people on the internet and this one guy- Sean Sparkman has been outstanding. I have been moving slowly because I have to know and understand the issues. He has shown great patience with me. We have talked weekly for most of 5 months and we have started working the plan.He has never hurryed me or tried to move me ahaed till I was ready. Most other folks gave me a call or two and if I was not ready to sign something, they moved on. He has helped educate me and answers my questionss and just does not tell me what I want to hear. I never belieced I would deal with someone over the internet instead of local, but here I am eating those words =that is how happy and satisfied I am with Sean. This is a top reccommendation to try and get with him. He will help you get to where you WANT to be and in YOUR timing. This guy is not looking for some quick sales commision and run. You will be very glad if you seek him out.
- Stephen



I was looking into consolidating
I was looking into consolidating several IRA’s in hopes of lessening the time and effort needed to manage them. I wanted to check into annuities to see if they were right for me and the people at Annuity Gator spent a lot of time and sent me material to help me understand annuities. I believe they presented several products that were quite attractive but at this time I decided to continue my course of action. I will use the information they gave me so that in the future I can confidently choose an annuity from them that fits my needs.
- Jack



jeff woodard a very dedicated person with annuity gator
it was a tough road to hoe but jeff woodard was on top of it every day. Always responded to emails and phone calls
- Stanley



I’ve been working with James Ault
I’ve been working with James Ault. He has been GREAT! Answers all my questions. Follows up as needed. Timely, knowledgeable, and friendly. I look forward to continuing to work with him.
- Greg



Scott P was was excellent
Scott P was was excellent. Knowledgable and supportive, thank you!
- Dts



Lisa’s new annuity
I have just replaced an old annuity with a new, better one. I could not have made it through this process had it not been for my advisor, William Seeley. He guided me every step of the way, by asking what I wanted/needed the annuity to do, explaining things I didn’t understand, answering my questions and most of all, staying in contact. He worked very hard on my behalf and got me the annuity that I needed to further my retirement goals. I will definitely recommend his services to my family and friends.
- Lisa



Excellent information
Excellent information, explained well and no pressure.
- Suzanne



Best Agent Experience!
I was pleasantly surprised at my online experience which led to a very favorable call with my agent, Cal Menzies. He surpassed every expectation as far as his knowledge of the products I considered and recommended the best option for my needs. I never felt pressured and I am now set for the remainder of my retirement years. Highly recommend him! AG is fortunate to have someone like Cal to represent them!
- Zu



I have the understanding that the
I have the understanding that the appointment with your representative was for 30 minutes, not three and a half hours. Yes that’s correct, that appointment lasted nearly three and a half hours.
- Rex



Found the right solution for our needs
After contacting you, I was put in touch with Wendy Pyne who did an excellent job of helping us find the right annuity for us.
- George



Great resource for professionals in the
Great resource for professionals in the financial services industry. Great sounding board.
- Elliott



Helpful & Not Overbearing
Was considering different annuities and thought this site might provide some clarification. Talked with Terry Ciotti who got back to me in a timely manner with some options. He listened carefully about what I wanted as an end result & provided appropriate guidance. Appreciated not having a product forced on me.
- Annuity



Annuity Annual Performance
Barbara Halperin has been Exceptional revealing with my account.
- Frederic



Very knowledgeable advisor
Very knowledgeable advisor. Opened me to new products that I am able to review.
- James



Hello
Hello, Sean Sparkman was Honest, hardworking and diligent. in my search for an agent for annuities he is a lucky find.
- Kyster



Very helpful n honest
Very helpful n honest
- Asuncion



Five stars to Matthew Taub
Of the past fifty-three years in working with brokers and sales reps, Matt was the most patience and thorough in helping me invest my little nest egg. No pressure and he listens to my concerns. Highly recommend!
- Dennis



I received great ,knowledgeable
I received great ,knowledgeable information from them.Helped me understand my current Annuity Policies
- Howard



Great experience working with Tim Walker!
Tim Walker was great to work with! He met with me several times to thoroughly understand my retirement goals and risks I was willing to take. Then he came with back with a few options for me. He took the time to review them in detail and answered all of my questions. Then once I decided what I wanted he got me set-up. Overall it was a great experience working with Tim!
- Ruth



Always get a second opinion
I was given incorrect information about taxes, I m glad I didn t go ahead with the transaction.
- Mark



Joshua: Annuity Gator
Joshua helped me understand annuity products, how they can offer a safe and secure income stream for years to come. I’d received some advisement from other financial planners, didn’t like their approach, seemed more interested in sales than guidance to protect my retirement funds. We met several times, did my research and finely came to the best options for me, meet the goals we set during our initial meeting. His guidance, patience were most valued during the process, explained everything in terms i could understand. As i move forward into retirement i feel more secure that i’ll be able gain a good income stream while preserving my investment, providing a legacy for my family.
- KRA



Working with Mike K
Working with Mike K. is a breeze. Appoinyments are kept and on time. He is very professional. Answers questions in a way that can be understood by a layman. Will continue to recommend his services. Thanks Mike.
- Jim



Great source of info and service
Excellent service, great advice. I d recommend them to anyone looking for transparent and quality annuity advice.
- Mike



Assistance opening an annuity
I would like to thank Scott Stooksbury for his excellent service in helping me open an annuity account through the Annuity Gator website. He is thorough, thoughtful and patient. I highly recommend him.
- ron



Mark Shelby has been very thorough!
Mark Shelby has been very thorough, and provided tax and other information that clearly we were not anticipating on our own. He has been a tireless and informed information provider for our unique circumstances! Thanks for all your assistance!! Henry and Lisa Austin
- Henry



Seemed very impersonal and intrusive
Seemed very impersonal and intrusive
- Dilipkumar



Hello Annuity Gator
Hello Annuity Gator, I again would like to express my praise of agent Sean Sparkman in my dealings with him to secure my income stream annuity,he followed through 100% on what he initially told me about working hard and leaving no stone unturned to help me meet my goals. I had read into annuities online and in writings but didn’t realize how limited my understanding was, he showed me an avenue i didn’t know existed strategized ,knocked on every door and negotiated. two thumbs up ! Kyster Porter
- Kyster



William is a trustworthy guy
William is a trustworthy guy, taking a lot of time explaining to me the ins and outs of the product we chose. He sifted through several annuities to arrive at the perfect fit. I never felt pushed or “sold”, and the transaction was smooth and quick.
- Brigitte



informative interview
informative interview. Jeff Katz was great, just think I started looking too soon. but knowledge is golden.
- Charles



Very knowledgeable and solid advice
Very knowledgeable and solid advice. Great to work with. Very helpful.
- Karl



Knowledgeable, Reliable and Trustworthy
Approximately a 15 months ago I met Joshua Schlinsky through a visual phone meeting. I was skeptical, I wasn’t a fan of discussing my needs and financial matters over the Zoom Meeting. I prefer face to face. After about 5 zoom meetings, I found Joshua to be very knowledgeable about the many constantly changing Annuities and their crediting options from different Insurance Companies. Joshua gained my Trust and I found him very easy to work with. Not a pushy salesman. He educated me with the newest options in the ever-changing market. Along with his professional advise, He and I made good solid choices. I am thankful for Joshua and his staff for being a Professional, Educated and Passionate firm representing me.
- Rosario



I was delighted and very comfortable
I was delighted and very comfortable working with Barbara Halperin of Annuity Gator. I had no idea there were so many different annuities. Her years of experience and her knowledge were most helpful in explaining the difference between an annuity and what would be a tremendous lifelong annuity for me. I will be forever grateful to Barbara and Annuity Gator. Great people build great companies. Thanks, Barbara!
- ERNEST



Toney listened to what my goals were
Toney listened to what my goals were and then did the research to find products to meet those goals. Plan came together perfectly.
- Michael



Excellent service
Excellent service, answered all my questions without being pushy
- Prem



Very helpful in Explaining my annuity
Very helpful in Explaining my annuity product, how it works and it s pros /cons Also offering alternative options and insight Thanks Casey
- Lois



Barbara and Terry were excellent and
Barbara and Terry were excellent and helped us a lot. They were very knowledgeable and patient with us. Thanks Dale and Liz Nuzum
- Cindy



Bill Decker was very helpful
Bill Decker was very informative and helped me and my wife understand all of our options. With all of the uncertainty in the investing world right now he explained our options in a way that will help us in making the right decisions going forward. I highly recommend Bill for anyone that would want an advisor that they can trust and is great at explaining financial matters in an easy to understand way.
- Paul



Bill is fantastic
Bill is fantastic. Patient, informed, and experienced. This is a zero pressure, educational process. Very impressive organization.
- James



From what I can see
From what I can see, your representative is very knowledgeable and that is what a fiancial planner is required to be!
- Marguerite



Barbara Halperin, a trusted advisor !
Our experience with Barbara Halperin was 5 stars due to the professional presentations of the subject matter, the verbal explanations, and the detail of research on each potential annuity company.
- jpkarpo71



Pleasant and super efficient .
David was extremely helpful from start to finish. He explained and gave me time to think and ask questions . No rushing . Extremely personable. Did all the work for me . Keep me abreast of where we were in the process. I am very happy Mr David Smart was able to consolidate and set up an annuity that will meet my needs. I would definitely refer to Annuity Gator .
- Joan



Understanding your annuity
I feel I have a better of understanding of annuities with the help of Annuity Gator. I was hesitant to try an annuity because of things I had heard in the past. Now I think annuities have evolved for the better given the advice of financial advisors who help you focus on how the right annuity can help you achieve your goals in retirement. All of my questions were answered promptly. And I know the importance of reading and understanding all of the fine print in the contract.
- Donna



Relationships Matter
I had contacted Annuity Gator to get a rating on an annuity product that I heard about from another financial company. Terry was completely familiar with that product along with another product to consider from the same underwriter. Terry spent as much time with me as I needed to completely understand each product, and I felt that he listened to my goals and concerns. Terry explained how Annuity Gator would provide assistance to me for multiple years over the term of my annuity, which made me feel like I was entering into a relationship with the company. Terry made me feel like a person instead of a prospect.
- Jane



Feeling secure about my future
I opened My account with Joshua because when I met him, I felt very comfortable. He is very informative and explains everything. He takes his time and answers all my questions ..and he is just a phone call away. I like the fact that he is a family man because he treats all his clients as part of his family. I know he is doing the right thing for me ..I trust his decisions.
- Vivian



Great products
Great products
- Sharma



First of all I would like to say the
First of all I would like to say the representative Matt taub thanks For being transparent and sizing the Questions that I had for a clear transparent decision enough to give me What I needed to continue to pinpoint the right product priceless and this is a good outfit.!!??????????
- William



MANY ANNUITY OPTIONS
i had a very good experience working with Rick Sparkman… I was rather gun shy about attempting to search out another annuity, since my first encounter with annuities was with a financial advisor who knew little about the products and had very limited offerings.. Rick opened the gates to the many types of annuities that Annuity Gator has available.. Although, I thought the evaluation of these annuities difficult.. he made it seamless.. explaining to me which one best serves my needs.. I would recommend Rick to anyone interested in using annuities as another investment tool.
- Susan



Our advisor Jim Van Meter
Our advisor, Jim Van Meter, is awesome. No high pressure sales. Just common sense advise. He does his homework and gets back to you on a timely manner.
- George



I want to express my heart felt gratitude
I want to express my heart felt gratitude for the assistance and guidance that our Annuity Advisor , Neil Dekter, provided my wife and I when converting our IRA in to our current Annuity. My wife and I had experienced a most un-fortunate event related to a portion of our retirement investments and, the company that held our investments made transferring funds challenging. Neil’s Courtesy, Professionalism and Patience helped not only to execute the transfer smoothly but, helped my wife and I keep our sanity through a trying time! Through Neil’s efforts, I rest easy knowing that my wife and I will receive a steady monthly lifetime income. I am sure there are many Annuity Advisors who are experts in the industry and, Neil is not only an expert in Annuities, he is an expert in people and truly cares for his clients! My wife and I feel deeply blessed to have met Neil and had the opportunity to work with him!
- Scott



I had an absolutely marvelous
I had an absolutely marvelous experience with annuity gator as presented to me by Barbara Halperin. This was a no pressure no high intensity sales pitch rather it was an honest and frank discussion of financial goals and the best way to achieve them. Barbara was very knowledgeable, understanding, and complete in her explanations and recommendations. There were not any hint of annoying callbacks rather only professional communication and timely phone calls. I have recommended Barbara and annuity gator to several family members and friends as a result of my experience. There were no stones left unturned and questions were answered, I m sure multiple times, with a five star rating to this company and especially to Barbara Halperin. Thanks again Barbara and annuity gator
- Bruce



Feeling comfortable with my decision work with Sean!
Sean took the time to explain everything to me. I felt like he would make the same decisions for himself. I spoke with several, investment consultants and I have had better results from Sean than my previous financial manager.
- Ron



The Best Annuity Advisor
I m absolutely pleased to work with Cal Menzies, and had him as my Annuity Advisor. He was truly focused on my needs, he did an excellent follow up to make sure all was done properly and on time. He worked hard to find the best product for me and get my benefits when I needed it. He was very professional, showing that he cares about every aspect of her job and his clients. Thank you Cal for all your attention. It was a pleasure working with you. I sincerely thank you for the time we have worked together. We continue in contact! I would highly recommend Cal Menzies to anyone who is looking for Annuity investments.
- Ely



Annuity Gator is awesome!
Scott Plamondon has been a dream to work with. He explains everything in super easy terms. I am not very savvy when it comes to insurance, retirement plans, stock market, etc but realized at age 60 that I needed to hone my skills because no one else is going to do that for me. Scott has shown me step by step how to protect my little nest egg from rising taxes and make sure I have a tax free stream of income in my retirement.
- D.



I had Sean Sparkman as my annuity
I had Sean Sparkman as my annuity representative from Annuity Gator for several years. I would recommend him to any prospective clients for his excellent services. I am a very cautious person and would not make an annuity purchase decision without fully understanding. Sean was so patience to explain and gave me time to read, understand and ask questions and he had never been push ! Even after I purchased annuity from him for several years, we ve still kept communicating and exchange ideas. Whenever I wrote him emails he would reply instantly and answered all my enquirers ASAP, I must rate him as the top annuity representative!
- Victor



Very informative.
Very informative.
- Kim



Scott was very knowledgeable
Scott was very knowledgeable. It was a good first call.
- Gary



Well researched and helpful information.
Well researched and helpful information.
- Billie



I dealt with Cal Menzies who walked me
I dealt with Cal Menzies who walked me through the maze of annuities. He was very knowledgeable, clear, patient and above all I felt he is an honest man worthy of my trust.
- Emile



My advisor(Barbara Halperin) provided
My advisor(Barbara Halperin) provided me with appropriate educational material which enabled me to make an investment decision by selecting an appropriate annuity which meets my needs. She also helped me by assisting me in filling out all the required paperwork. I felt that my advisor was easily available to answer all questions with expertise and patience. I will certainly recommend her to others.
- Mike



Appreciate seeing the various fixed
Appreciate seeing the various fixed index annuity offerings ands their crediting methods. Prefer not to tie up my money for 7 years at this time. Will look at alternative products with a one year commitment.
- Suzanne



Exceptional Advisor
Terry Ciotti was excellent in helping me understand how annuities work and explaining the policy terminology. He has a great demeanor and concern for his client. He is a highly valued employee for annuity gator and should be referred for new clients at any level.
- Robert



I would like to let everyone know that
I would like to let everyone know that Sean Beckerman is the BEST!!!!! He is very knowledgeable and willing to explain what can be complicated in a way that I was able to understand. I have recommended Annuity Gator and Sean specifically to everyone I have spoken to regarding retirement. I am confident that Sean has created a plan specific to me based on the time he took to get to know me and help me fine tune my retirement goals. SEAN IS THE BEST!!!!!
- Jody



Joe who help me was very knowledgeable.
Joe who help me was very knowledgeable. He was able to answer all my questions. I didn’t make a purchase but when I am ready your company will be one of the first one I seek out.
- Timothy



Very knowledgeable people who seem very
Very knowledgeable people who seem very transparent. Take the time to explain complex investment strategies
- George



I really like Sylvia
I really like Sylvia. My situation is complicated and feel confident that she will see me through all my options
- Donna



Great experience
Great experience. Answered all my questions.
- Frank


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First, we gather basic information from you to understand your goals and determine if a certain retirement annuity is right for you.
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Last, you can retire with peace of mind and confidence knowing that you found the right retirement annuity that provides you the highest income and benefits.
How can we help you start your
annuity journey?
Let our Licensed Annuity Investigators get you started on the path to a comfortable retirement in three easy ways.
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How we are different…
We don’t confuse you with fancy brochures or complicated charts and graphs. We keep it simple with
honest guidance, full transparency, and personalized recommendations, all without high-pressure
sales tactics, in-person meetings, or complicated insurance jargon.
We focus relentlessly on three areas:
Honest guidance
Best annuities
Personalization

Honest guidance
We give it to you straight. We don’t hide anything or avoid conversations about fees, commissions, or fine print. Our Licensed Annuity Investigators provide full transparency, answer all your questions, and give honest guidance so you can retire with confidence.
Best annuities
With our technology-driven approach, we can investigate hundreds of top annuities from multiple top-rated insurance companies. Our Licensed Annuity Investigators can help you understand your options and feel confident you have found the best retirement annuity for your situation to financially prepare for a comfortable and worry-free retirement.


Personalization
There is no one-size-fits-all annuity. The right annuity for your retirement depends on your goals, needs, and desired retirement outcome. Our Licensed Annuity Investigators can help you customize a strategy that helps you reach your desired outcome with minimal effort from you.

Need help finding the right annuity?
We have over 100 retirement annuities in our review database.
FAQs
What are annuities, and how do they work in retirement planning?
Annuities are financial products offered by an issuing insurance company that can help you convert your retirement savings into a guaranteed income stream. They are often used as part of retirement planning to ensure you have enough money to cover your expenses throughout retirement. Depending on the type of annuity—such as fixed annuities, variable annuities, or deferred income annuities—you can receive guaranteed lifetime income, tax-deferred growth, and protection from market declines. These products can be tailored to meet your investment objectives and provide regular payments, either immediately or in the future, based on your needs.
What is the difference between fixed and variable annuities, and can I lose money with them?
Fixed annuities provide a guaranteed rate of return and predictable payments, making them a safer option for those seeking stability. Variable annuities, on the other hand, offer underlying investment options tied to market performance, which means your account value may fluctuate. While fixed annuities protect your principal, variable annuities carry market risk, so it’s possible to lose money depending on how the investments perform. Both types may include additional features like a death benefit or a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit for an extra fee.
How do taxes work with annuities, and what is tax deferral?
Annuities offer tax-deferred growth, meaning you don’t pay taxes on earnings until you withdraw them. When you take distributions, they are taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gains. This can help your retirement nest egg grow faster compared to taxable accounts. However, early withdrawals may incur surrender charges and additional penalties. It’s important to consult a licensed insurance agency or tax professional for personalized tax advice before making decisions about an annuity.
What should I consider when evaluating a retirement annuity?
When evaluating retirement annuities, consider reviewing unbiased reviews and analyses to understand the pros and cons of each product. Websites like AnnuityGator.com provide independent reviews to help you make informed decisions. Look at the financial strength of the issuing insurance company, such as York Life Insurance Company, as their claims-paying ability is crucial for honoring guarantees like guaranteed lifetime income. Also, evaluate the fees, investment options, and any additional features like cost-of-living adjustments that align with your retirement goals.
What happens to my annuity if I pass away?
Many retirement annuities include a death benefit that ensures any remaining contract value or specified funds are passed on to your beneficiaries. Some contracts also allow you to choose income options that continue payments to a spouse or heir after your death. The specifics vary depending on the type of annuity and the terms outlined by the issuing corporation. Be sure to review these details carefully when purchasing an annuity to ensure it aligns with your legacy planning goals.
See How Stephen Turned His 401(K) Into a Guaranteed Lifetime Income and Can Now Retire with Confidence