American Equity

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.

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 600 staff and 20,000 agents today.

With its owned subsidiaries, American Equity has amassed $53.91 billion in liabilities as of December 2020.

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.”

In 2020, American Equity ranked among the top 3 individual annuity providers in J.D. Power’s U.S. Life Insurance Study. This was based on the Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking category, and they also achieved the highest satisfaction score for price.

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:

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.

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 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:

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 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.

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.