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
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
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
Just what I needed to plan for financial security in retirement
When I started to plan for my retirement, one of the concerns is to make sure I didn’t run out of money. I needed a steady and reliable source of income. I knew an annuity would be the answer but there were so many options and choices that it was overwhelming. I had spoken with a few other advisors but they were all a little vague when answering my questions. Not so with Joshua Schlinksy. He took the time to answer all my answers accurately and thoroughly. Unlike the other advisors I spoke with, Joshua seemed genuinely interested in making sure I would be comfortable in retirement. If you are approaching or into retirement and need financial guidance, I would recommend giving Joshua a call.
- Armand
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
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
Advisor was very seasoned informational
Advisor was very seasoned informational and extremely knowledgeable. Great Experience!!!
- Joseph
Not needed but very welcomed advise…
I have been following Annuity Gator now for several years so by the time I was ready to discuss annuity’s with a broker I felt very comfortable understanding the different types of annuities available in the marketplace. What I really liked was the broker that was introduced to me through AG. As he evaluated my current financial scenario he actually realized I did not need an annuity. I decided to get a small one just as protection in the future of some of my retirement funds. The whole process has been very professional. Thanks AG!
- Dave
Good service
Good service! Answered all my questions. Very easy to work with.
- Richard
Lot of great advice.
Lot of great advice.
- Sal
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
James went the extra mile to ensure
James went the extra mile to ensure that our needs were satisfied.
- Kenneth
I was listened to rather than lectured…
I was listened to rather than lectured to.!
- Alan
Very informative
Very informative
- Robert
Sean was outstanding..His personality
Sean was outstanding..His personality and patients in answer my questions was first rate..I would recommend him to anyone.
- Jon
Brian Greco was just awesome to work
Brian Greco was just awesome to work with. He took his fiduciary responsibility seriously and gained my trust by being patient, clearly explaining all of my options and never pushing to sell me on anything. I really felt Brian listened to my needs and had my best interest at heart in making retirement planning decisions. His follow up, knowledge and customer service were outstanding as well. I highly recommend Brian!!
- Kelly
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
Annuity Annual Performance
Barbara Halperin has been Exceptional revealing with my account.
- Frederic
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
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
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
Very knowledgeable!
Jason has been so helpful explaining the different types of annuities! We will definitely recommend Jason and Annuity Gator to our friends and family.
- Scott
Great
Great, no sales pressure very informative.
- David
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 found the right person
I was fortunate to have found a person that I could trust with my money. Mr Soloman is highly recommended.
- Maurice
The agent was very respectful and
The agent was very respectful and knowledgeable regarding annuities. Since I had read Bank on Yourself by Pamela Yellen, it was easy to discuss the issues regarding annuities. There is a sense of security in listening to someone who knows what he is talking about void of ego.
- Mike
Bill is fantastic
Bill is fantastic. Patient, informed, and experienced. This is a zero pressure, educational process. Very impressive organization.
- James
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
Merritt Strunk provided awesome help
Merritt Strunk provided awesome help with questions regarding a competitors Annuity and never even talked about another product or tried to sell me something.
- Jeff
It was very educational. I understand the benefits and the implications of choosing an annuity.
It was very educational.
- Donna
Why I chose annuity gator with Jason Siebert
I am not a novice purchasing annuities or researching internet companies . I own several MYGAs for different accounts and confidently chose them myself . However, I was pitched a complex fixed index annuity from a specific company by a suave financial advisor. I noticed many red flags throughout this advisor s lengthy presentation and knew I needed another unbiased opinion . I found annuity gator online and liked their business model of only using independent financial agents who represent hundreds of companies and were not captive agents . I was assigned to Jason Seibert . I asked Jason to scrutinize this annuity and tell me the good, the bad and the ugly . Jason willingly and skillfully analyzed the product and confirmed the red flags while judiciously pointing out more . I spent several sessions with Jason exploring annuity products best suited for me . Jason has that rare ability to simplify complex ideas , educate ,and provide structure while not judging a clients level of understanding or their reasons for preferring some products over others . Jason was committed to finding the highest annuity rates from highly rated companies using my criteria . He did not pressure me to make any decision about anything or to purchase if I did not want to . He made clear we could have as many discussions as I wanted which we did even if I chose not to purchase a product . When I finally chose my annuity product , we screen shared completing the application to make the process shorter and easier than if I did it myself. The application was delivered to the annuity company , reviewed, accepted and funded in a reasonable time frame without mistakes or missing data. That alone is huge . I knew immediately that Jason was the right agent for me and I chose the best product for me with his support . It s very difficult to search the internet for reputable companies and even rarer to find an agent with both analytical and interpersonal skills . I recommend Jason Siebert and Annuity Gator to provide safe , manageable and legitimate solutions for income in retirement or any phase of life
- Marilyn
Very informative and helpful.
Very informative and helpful.
- Larry
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
I say that quickly as many things are
I say that quickly as many things are still in process. However, so far, explanations have been excellent as things are progressing as quickly paper/emails, with responses all take time
- Angelyn
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
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
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
Joshua is very knowledgeable and not
Joshua is very knowledgeable and not pushy about the subject matter. He was very pleasant to work with.
- Rick
Always get a second opinion
I was given incorrect information about taxes, I m glad I didn t go ahead with the transaction.
- Mark
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
I received great ,knowledgeable
I received great ,knowledgeable information from them.Helped me understand my current Annuity Policies
- Howard
Great experience
Great experience. Very knowledgeable and no pressure. Give them 5 stars.
- Judy
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 so fortunate to have had Scott
I was so fortunate to have had Scott Plamondon take me as his client. He is so knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of financial planning not just annuities. He has guided me through an extremely tough situation for which I am eternally grateful.
- Patricia
I had a less than good results with a
I had a less than good results with a major insurance company with my retirement funds. It wasn t all their fault due to the bond market going south. But it still cost me a lot of money. I reached out to Annuity Gator to see what they had to offer. I am as skeptical because of what I had heard about annuities in general. Barry Young took me by the hand and never tried to close the deal: He was steady and reassuring from day one. I would suggest to anyone to give Them the opportunity to explain how todays annuities actually work.
- Ted
Annuity Gator is a Great Research Tool !!!
Possibly because I had rolled over a 401K to an annuity, I had begun getting a lot of other annuity sellers’ emails. One of them was Annuity Gator, but I did not know what they did. I realized that my annuity was not going to provide an income stream for 10 years so I contacted the “salesman” who sold me the annuity and I got nowhere. It took several phone calls to get the situation looked at and 4 months to get an answer. It was then I contacted Annuity Gator, but they wanted me to talk to one of their national representatives. I asked them to give me a local representative and that’s how I met Eli Mitcham over the phone. It was he who worked with me through the process which was difficult. After a lot of email correspondence and a lot of time, Eli’s diligence to undo the financial mess I was in paid off. His knowledge of the business is admirable. Eli is a knowledgeable and honest person and that is an awesome combination.
- Rosie
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
Robert Baltzell was a great help
Robert Baltzell was a great help explaining the type of annuity I had been sold by another agency. He went above and beyond my expectations when contacting Annuity Gator.
- Don
So far so good.
So far so good.
- Pradumnakumar
Glad We turned to Annuity Gator !!
Darryl J. Stein was fantastic he went through several scenarios, to ensure we got the best product. We were looking to get extra income from the money we had in other accounts. The product he found for us beat other financial advisors literally by thousands of dollars, we were very pleased with Darryl from Annuity Gator and would recommend him to all our family and friends.
- Wayne
informative interview
informative interview. Jeff Katz was great, just think I started looking too soon. but knowledge is golden.
- Charles
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
Great info very helpful and
Great info very helpful and knowledgeable. Thanks again Matthew Taub
- Mr
Mike was absolutely terrific
Mike was absolutely terrific! He walked me through everything & just sat back & let me make my own choice.
- R
Great service
Great service! Thank you
- Lana
Great service.
Barry was very helpful and responsive.
- Ken
I had a fantastic phone discussion with
I had a fantastic phone discussion with John. He provided me with a great understanding of how annuities work.
- Catherine
Annuity Gator Rep. Barbara Halperin Superstar!
Ms. Barbara Halperin was personable, uncommonly professional, impressively knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. It was my distinct pleasure connecting with her.
- Michael
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
Very helpful
Warren was very helpful and offered good information
- Andrea
I got in touch with Terry at Annuity
I got in touch with Terry at Annuity Gator, was very pleased with his knowledge of annuity I’ve had one for years with another company. Needed someone’s honest opinion about rolling it over into another . Terry took his time and went over it with me. He told me to keep what I had, not to change a thing. How many sale people would tell you that, most are out for a % for what they sell.If you need help with an annuity, please get in touch with Terry, he’s honest and trustworthy.
- J
I was listened to rather than lectured
I was listened to rather than lectured to.!
- Alan
Great resource and helpful and knowledgable agent
Annuity Gator was very educational for me, and ultimately I bought an annuity through Greg Ferguson I’m very happy with (and just before the market crashed!)
- Maggie
Annuity gator has educating videos and…
Annuity gator has educating videos and articles for you to make decisions with out trying to sell you products, I was paired up with a wonderful money manager to talk with and go over several different plans for my wife and myself. Again no pressure to buy anything. This is a good tool I wish I found it years ago.
- Steven
Excellent annuity service
Excellent support and service. I would highly recommend to anyone that needs an annuity.
- Mary
Excellent Service from Donna.
Donna was there with me every step of the way. She was very thorough about all the products and services available. She made me feel like I made good choices and know she will always be there for information and support.
- Paul
Best Advice Given Hands Down
Our representative is very knowledgeable and professional as well as patient . Able to make complex issues very understandable.
- Peter
Very helpful n honest
Very helpful n honest
- Asuncion
Purchase of Annuaity
Thus far, all is going very well and all questions have been answered.
- Wallace
Merrit Strunk was great
Merrit Strunk was great. He took a lot of time explaining different products. He was very knowledgeable in annuities. Was not pushy at all. Very good experience
- Brent
My annuity education
Ryan was very good at explaining everything and all the information that he had was very helpful and I would highly recommend anyone looking at annuities to use them
- Timothy
I learned a lot about Annuity
I learned a lot about Annuity. Very informative. Thanks
- Anita
Great follow up.
Great follow up.
- Susan
Go Gators!
It was my motto in college. And coincidentally I can still confidently use it in describing my interaction with Annuiy Gator’s Barbara Halperin! I found her to be an amazing advisor encompassing many superlatives. Super knowledgeable. Highly professional. No high pressure tactics. Concerned and individualized attention.In comparison to other financial meetings and dealings, my interaction with Barbara is right up there at the top of the list. I’m deeply grateful for being able to call on such a valuable resource.
- Larry
Skeptical though interested
Initially I was very skeptical concerning FIAs, how they worked and fit into my retirement plans. I had no idea what to expect, thought it was all fancy sales hype. I reached out to a few financial planners with various programs but not sold on the proposals. I did my homework, contacted Annuity Gator for their take on the subject which connected me with Joshua. After a few meetings, reading through his book things started to make sense. Joshua was straight forward answering any, all questions about the products available to me with great patience. We continued to meet for almost a year before coming up with a solution that fit my goals, decided to include my pension, 403B funds into two products to supplement Social Security at retirement. Joshua was on top of all the products available, ratings and felt my best interests were met. Joshua ran down all the numbers, options and went with guaranteed payments for life, a legacy option. Both FIAs together provided the shortfall I was looking for which included beneficiaries. Joshua was great to work with, would highly recommend his services.
- Keith
Great products
Great products
- Sharma
How it
Works
Meet your Licensed Annuity Investigator online
Review
First, we gather basic information from you to understand your goals and determine if a certain retirement annuity is right for you.
Calculate
Recommend
Retirement Freedom
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.
Take the Annuity Quiz
Answer a few simple questions and instantly see the top retirement annuity recommendations for you.
Ask a Question
Get professional answers to your annuity questions from a Licensed Annuity Investigator, not a high-pressure sales agent.
Request a Web Demo
See how our annuity ranking software can help you research, rate, and compare the top annuities for retirement and build a customized retirement strategy.
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