American Equity
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, or American Equity, is a retirement planning business and a top-tier provider of annuity products.
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Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, American Equity is an American-owned and operated financial services company. They are licensed to sell annuity products in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
American Equity currently serves more than 500,000 contract owners across the United States.
About American Equity
David J. Noble founded American Equity in 1995, and the company centered on two philosophies: exemplary customer service and product integrity. With only three employees at the beginning, the company has grown to more than a 800-person staff and 24,000 agents today.
In the second quarter of 2022, American Equity’s net income available to common stockholders was $349.7 million. Based on the information in their 2022 Earnings Press Release, American Equity is considered a leading issuer of fixed index annuities.
- American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company
- Eagle Life Insurance Company
- American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York
American Equity specializes in selling fixed index and fixed rate annuities, sharing, “We are in the business of helping individuals preserve their retirement dollars and provide a secure, predictable income they cannot outlive.”
Credit Ratings
There are many annuity providers to choose from. As you compare their rates, product options and annuity fees, it is also important to review their credit ratings.
Credit ratings are agency opinions that demonstrate an insurance company’s financial strength. American Equity has the following scores among three reports:
Standard and Poor’s | Fitch | A.M. Best | |
---|---|---|---|
Insurer Financial Strength | A- | A- | A- |
The A- rating shows American Equity’s proven capacity to cover financial obligations, although the company may be more vulnerable to adverse economic conditions compared with higher-rated companies.
Annuity Products Offered by American Equity
American Equity takes pride in its personal approach to selling annuities for financial security.
The company expresses on their website, “At American Equity, we strive to provide stable annuity products backed by our company’s financial strength, disciplined investment practices and award-winning customer service.”
Current product offerings include fixed indexed annuities, fixed annuities and immediate annuities.
Fixed Indexed Annuities
Fixed indexed annuities provide premium protection with growth potential. Earnings are tied to a specific stock index, such as the S&P 500. American Equity provides several fixed indexed annuity product options:
- Destinations
- AssetShield 5
- AssetShield 7
- AssetShield 10
- IncomeShield 7
- IncomeShield 10
- Bonus Gold
- Retirement Gold
Fixed Annuities
Fixed annuities are designed to provide a reliable income stream with a guaranteed interest rate. This rate is determined at the beginning of the contract. In this category, American Equity offers the Guarantee Series and GuaranteeShield Series products.
Both fixed indexed and fixed annuities grow tax-deferred until you begin receiving payments. Your interest rate cannot fall below zero, even if the stock market experiences a downturn.
Immediate Annuities
Immediate annuities provide periodic payments for life, or a chosen timespan. American Equity’s Single Premium Immediate Annuity begins paying out within 12 months of the contract’s start date.
American Equity refers to their services as “sleep Insurance.” Instead of having sleepless nights while worrying about their retirement, policyholders can feel more secure with guaranteed annuity income.
Client Resources
At American Equity, excellent customer service is a core business philosophy. The company offers educational resources, calculators and an interactive client website. Contract owners can easily review the status of recent requests, submit online requests and access premium and withdrawal history.
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4 Cited Research Articles
Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company. (2022, August 8). American Equity Reports Strong Results as Investment Yield Improves. Retrieved from https://ir.american-equity.com/static-files/91e984ac-5c7b-426f-9e32-5f68eda1f40d
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.american-equity.com/holding-company/about-us
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company. (n.d.). American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company Ratings. Retrieved from https://www.american-equity.com/about/ratings
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Company. (n.d.). Client Resources. Retrieved from https://www.american-equity.com/resources/client-resources
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