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
Annuity questions!
Annuity Gator Team is very precise in assisting you with your needs. They take time out and answer all of your question without feeling that you are being pressured. Thanks
- Reginald
Annuity performance analysis augmented by IRA alternatives
Appreciated the in-depth review we received and especially the detailed data analysis and summary of our path forward thru retirement.
- atlPeter
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
Terry Ciotti with Annuity Gators A++++ guidance
Terry Ciotti with Annuity Gators was the best advisor I could have ever asked for. His honesty, professionalism, and guidance through the whole process was A+++. He didn’t rush me in any way. He answered all my questions, and I felt great about my decisions. He is my go to with Annuity Gators with any future endeavors. A very big Thank You!!
- Margaret
Helpful and thorough
Rick Sparkman was a wonderful advisor. He thoroughly considered my goal -guaranteed income -and provided a number of different options that allowed me to understand the different sort of benefits that would accrue from the different classes of offerings (cd like return, guaranteed payout for life after deferral, payout with variability indexed). I was able to clarify what my real goals are and what I was willing to sacrifice (access to the sum deposited, inheritance) in order to achieve a guaranteed high payout for life for both my wife and me. Annuities are complicated and are inherently costly but they can achieve specific goals if you understand them. Some part of everyone’s portfolio needs to be immune to market fluctuation and an annuity can be part of that strategy. I was given an excellent education with weeks of meetings and I came to a conclusion that fits my needs. Even if you do not think annuities are for you (and I was one of those) speaking with Rick helped me understand their appropriate postioning within my plans.
- Eran
I recommend Mark Newman.
I worked with Mark Newman. When I first spoke to Mark, I didn’t know anything about annuities. Mark was knowledgeable and explained everything clearly. He helped me select the best one for me, then kept me updated on the progress in opening the annuity.
- Robert
Jason Siebert is the man period!
Jason Siebert is the man who you need when you consider retirement period! I m sure because I ve done my homework A year ago, when it became obvious to me that I would have to retire prematurely, I started my journey in search of retirement education and a financial advisor. I read many articles, I attended many retirement workshops, many webinars; I was meeting and conversing with many financial advisors local, throughout the country, in person, over the phone, virtually… My torment ended a couple months ago when I came across Jason Siebert with Annuity Gator. After he understood my financial needs, Jason revealed to me, using parallel comparisons, of what many brokers were offering, was without a doubt, not the best solution for my retirement goals. In just 2-3 virtual sessions with Jason, I learned more from him about annuities, retirement products, and my retirement options than I learned from others in a year. So, now I have the financial advisor. Thank you, Jason!
- Zmey
Great job explaining the various
Great job explaining the various products and services in an agnostic format. I learned a lot about annuities and most of my confusion was mitigated. Thanks!
- JohnC
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
I am not an annuity fan but I must say
I am not an annuity fan but I must say the information garnered from your reps has got me seriously thinking about putting some of my money into an annuity.
- Jack
My experience with Annuity Gator
I had a bad experience with another financial advisor, and as a result, I became very skeptical, and had developed trust issues. After several contacts with Rick Sparkman, I realized that there was something different about him. By this time, I had talked with several financial advisors. I felt very comfortable working with him, he gave me many education sessions. I have no regrets, and will refer him to any one who is interested in an annuity for retirement. Working with Rick was educational and enlightening, and I am looking forward to a wonderful retirement, because I am confident that the product that was chosen for me, was not commission driven. In my opinion Rick is a true Fiduciary.
- Doreen
Before & After
Before I contacted Joseph, I knew nothing about annuities & was very sceptical of this product. After speaking with him & reading his book, “Wealth Compounded”, I feel much more at easy concerning fixed & indexed annuities.
- Bailey
Very helpful full of information
Very helpful full of information
- joseph
The person who called me was very
The person who called me was very helpful. He went over and beyond my expectation. He was very professional and kind!
- La
David was informative
David was informative, prepared and candid regarding his recommendation on which plan would be best for my retirement.
- Jeffrey
Mark Newman: Takes the complex and make it simple
I worked with Mark Newman for the first time and he took the complexity and made it simple for me. Was able to answer my questions understand my needs and put together a solution that worked for me. I ll be working with him in the future on some additional investments as he was able to build trust quickly and great follow up as well.
- Erich
Barbara Halperin is excellent
Barbara Halperin is excellent! She handled everything in a timely manner and explained everything in detail to us. It was a great experience doing all of this on the computer face to face. I referred Barb to my daughter and will recommend her to other friends and family.
- Christopher
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
Very knowledgeable on products
Very knowledgeable on products available.
- David
Highly recommend Sean Sparkman
Sean is very knowledgeable on all the annuity products and explained every thing clearly which is easy to understand. He is very patient and is willing to take time answering any questions. He is trustworthy to be your advisor.
- Alex
Excellent service
Excellent service, answered all my questions without being pushy
- Prem
Advisor was very seasoned informational
Advisor was very seasoned informational and extremely knowledgeable. Great Experience!!!
- Joseph
Casey Madden was great
Casey Madden was informed, caring and just what I needed.
- Diana
The honeymoon phase was excellent
The honeymoon phase was excellent. I will review more as time go on. Sean Mason is an amazing advisor. He speaks in terms the layman can understand. He is not pushy and takes his time explaining and answering any questions you may have. He did not try to sell me on anything and let me soak in the information given and time to research on my own. He said he was there if I needed anything or had questions to give him a call. Give him a call and just talk to him about your concerns, I have a feeling you will be glad you did.
- Desiree
First contact with Annuity Gator
John Montoya shared information that I did not know. He was also clear and concise in his communication with me. I am currently waiting for him to get back to me with advice to accomplish my goals.
- Elizabeth
Very informative
Very informative, Marco was very educated in showing us what annuities would fit our retirement, he a super nice man. We will be having another meeting to discuss which one we should go with.
- David
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
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
Knowledge is Power!
Robert was very professional and patient with me as he took time to answer all my questions. I didn’t feel any pressure just enlightened. It was educational and he provided me with information to make the decisions needed for my financial future. He was knowledgeable of the various ways to grow my financial nest egg utilizing annuities that have a built in guarantee as well as pointers of how to protect it as much as possible from unnecessary taxes all of which is important so that I don’t out live my money.
- Linda
The person I am in contact with is on
The person I am in contact with is on target for everything. He keeps me informed, answers any of my questions fluently. He doesn’t treat me like any questions are foolish or not necessary. He helps me with communication if needed on the computer. His name is Michael.
- Angelyn
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
Seemed very impersonal and intrusive
Seemed very impersonal and intrusive
- Dilipkumar
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
Informational!!
Informational!!
- Chemist
Great Service from a Proffessional makes a difference.
My wife and I went to Annuity Gator to compare what we already had in our Annuities with other Annuities because we weren’t happy with our pay out. We contacted Darryl Stein with Annuity Gator and I must say that Darryl was the difference maker for us, He wanted for us what we wanted and that basically was to get the most out of the money we had invested. He was proffessional throughout the whole process, got us twice the payout we were going to get with our previous annuity. When we were ready to sign the documents he came to our house and went over everything including setting up the websites with the new company we invested in. To put it simply Darryl was great and we are very happy with our annuity that he set up for us.
- Wayne
Rectified $40,000 mistake
Terry Ciotti was amazingly helpful and saved me from making a $40,000 mistake. He helped make direct contact with the annuity provider and guided me through the process of rectifying my mistake. I cannot recommend Terry and Annuity Gator more highly.
- Harry
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
Annuities and investment opprtunities
Jim was very professional and excellent in explaining investment opportunities to a novice such as myself. Very much appreciated.
- Elijah
Great site
Great site, I learned a lot and follow up was great .
- Steve
Very informative
Very informative, this company teaches people and breaks down the confusion regarding annuities. They help you to find the RIGHT annuity for you and your goals. I highly recommend this company! Louise F
- Louise
Jay at Annuity Gator was very helpful
Jay at Annuity Gator was very helpful. There is so much noise regarding annuities that I wanted to do a “gut check” with an independent advisor regarding a couple of different indexed annuities. He was very responsive and easy to speak with. I highly recommend.
- Beth
I could not have ask for a better. Outstanding Service
I could not have ask for a better experience. I was looking for retirement income. My rep, Joshua Schlinsky, took all the time we needed to explain everything in detail and executed the process flawlessly. I could not be happier.
- David
Josh was wonderful to work with.
Josh was wonderful to work with. No pressure and explaining the various products available. Would recommend him to anyone wanting an annuity David Kahn
- David
Very helpful always answer my call.
Very helpful always answer my call.
- rita
Rep was thorough, but concise
Representative called me on time, was clear, concise, thorough, and listened to me. Also offered to follow up, and DID.
- Michael
Jason Siebert was excellent
Jason Siebert was excellent. Never rushed me, answered all my questions (many, more than once), responded promptly to emails… He is confident and has a superb knowledge of annuities.
- David
The best information on annuities out
The best information on annuities out there
- Rocky
Annuity Gator STAR
Sean is a wonderful young man who is a straight shooter. He is honest and clear, able to take the time to explain all that we needed. He teaches about different types of financial plans, and he actually follows up, by calls, emails and texts! Thank you!!
- George
Great sales people mattet
The salesperson was outstanding. Jeff Blocker helped educate me and was very personable. He helped me to select the best option for me.
- Brenda
Terry Ciotti was Excellent
Terry Ciotti was available as scheduled and forthright with his recommendations. He fielded questions effectively and gave me assurances in the products offered.
- William
Very personable and knowledgeable advisor
Excellent service. Appreciated the seminar by Terry. Have received excellent service, responsiveness, knowledgeable and very personable advisor, Barbara Halperin. She is great. Have already recommended her to others. Thank you, Barbara!
- Janice
Cassy was professional and
Cassy was professional and knowledgeable.
- Mark
I was extremely impressed
I was extremely impressed with the knowledge and expertise of my advisor. He made me feel confident and secure in allowing him to prepare a retirement plan to exactly suit my needs. He listened to all my concerns and offered excellent advice
- Patricia
Great
Great, no sales pressure very informative.
- David
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
Annuity Review
Ryan is very informed with annuity options and was very helpful to me. I am just not ready to retire at this time.
- Daniel
Well researched and helpful information.
Well researched and helpful information.
- Billie
I received excellent service from Mark
I received excellent service from Mark Shelby.
- Lyn
Thank you
I was unfortunate to have had a very unqualified & dishonest financial advisor for my IRA investments including my Annuity. I was recommended by Fidelity to contact Annuity Gator for advice. I am fortunate to have been connected with Merrit Strunk as my advisor to advise about my inappropriate Annuity. He has shared his knowledge, expertise, & sincere caring attitude & attention to my situation. I am very grateful for his professional advice. Thank you!
- LS
Great experience
Great experience. Answered all my questions.
- Frank
The adviser was knowledgeable and
The adviser was knowledgeable and answered my questions thoroughly without attempting to sell anything.
- Craig
I had many questions about Annuity’s
I had many questions about Annuity’s and did not feel the people I had been talking to were giving me all my options. But one email to Annuity Gator began a process where they went the extra mile to inform me of the many choices out there. I even got a breakdown in the mail just today. I would recommend them to anyone looking to find out more on how annuities work and what to expect across the board. They have been outstanding in helping me make some tough decisions. Thank You!
- Randy
Barbara Halperin is the BEST!
Barbara Halperin made my experience great with Annuity Gator! She is knowledgeable, understanding, patient and a true fiduciary. Which is very rare in the current investing climate. Twice Barbara lead me to great annuities with my best intentions at heart. I am very grateful as the proud owner of (2) annuities and my retirement is monstrously more secure than previously! I owe Barbara a tremendous gratitude and I now consider her a dear friend. Thank you again Barbara!
- Boyd
Annuity Program Success
I had been looking for an annuity to invest in, but didn t have a clue where to go and who to contact. The representative assign to me was very instrumental in presenting and explaining the process and earnings potential. He also described the different options I had with the one program I purchased. I was pleased with his customer service and allowed me to ask a million questions and have some time to think about this before I made my decision. I am putting away a large amount of money for my future economic welfare and I believe I chose a good company to do it with. I m giving them 5 Stars and am optimistic to see my earnings potential after this first year.
- Daniel
Great Experience
I and my wife are both going to be fully retired. Not managing money very well for 64 years of age I need someone that could educated my going into a presentation mode where I don t want to be fully in the stock market in the later years of life. I am so great full that Marco Pallares contacted me to put a plan even be a year away from taking action he took his time explaining the opportunity that we can use. Thanks Marco!!!
- James
Knowledgeable on the subject
Knowledgeable on the subject . Help customer find the right product for her/his conditions . Willing to compare and find the best to fit the customer’s needs. Always prepared for online meeting with remote customers .
- customer
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
I cannot say enough good things about
I cannot say enough good things about Terry. I was heavily invested in index annuities and Terry helped me roll everything over to fixed annunitys. It was perfect timing, seeing what is going in the stock market. His knowledge of annunitys put my mind at ease as we chose what to invest in going forward. Security was my number one concern so he helped us achieve that goal. I look forward to working with him again.
- Jim
Terry is a wealth of knowledge and an
Terry is a wealth of knowledge and an asset to the annuity and insurance industry!
- John
I was not sure and set uneasy to be Great advice, gave me a piece of mind.
After reading over the documents of my annuity, I felt as though I had made a horrible mistake. My mind was very uneasy and troubled questioning if I had made the right decision. After talking with a representative from Annuity Gator, the representative reassured me that even though the annuity that I invested in may not be the overall best annuity that it was a good annuity that will not allow me to lose any investments. The representative also went into detail and explained to me the pros and cons of my annuity. I received a thorough understanding which left me at ease with a clear mind. I would like to thank Annuity Gator for their honesty, professionalism, and great expertise.
- Regina
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
Great!
Greg was great to talk to. Very informative and unbiased. Appreciate the information.
- Pat
I ve worked with Terry for almost three
I ve worked with Terry for almost three years now and consider that s he s done an admirable job. He s answered all my questions and preempted many many more. My wife and I feel quite secure in the fact that the money we ve invested via Terry s recommendations will pay dividends in our retirement. More importantly, we can think about enjoying these next few years prior to retirement than wonder we ve set aside enough for a comfortable retirement. I can wholeheartedly recommend Terry if you re serious about your financial future and want to work with an honest straightforward individual who s interested in your financial success rather than maximizing his own profits.
- Enrique
Very professional and very little
Very professional and very little pressure.
- John
Very informative and helpful.
Very informative and helpful.
- Larry
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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.
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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