American Equity Investment Life Insurance Review

Pros Explained

• Nationwide coverage: American Equity is licensed and available in Washington D.C. and all 50 states.
• Multiple plans: There is a big selection of plans for you to choose from, increasing the likelihood of finding a plan to meet your needs.
• Lucrative riders: American Equity does not skimp on additional protection, offering several riders to boost, protect, or lengthen income for policyholders. 

Cons Explained

• Annuity-based products: If you are looking for the more traditional forms of life insurance, American Equity may not be the right choice for you. 
• Low crediting rates: American Equity’s crediting rates for the S&P 500 are lower than some other competitors. 
• Extended surrender periods: Depending on your plan, you may face extended periods of surrender charges that can last up to 11 years and more. 

Available Plans

American Equity offers a variety of annuity plans.

Fixed Annuity Plans

A fixed annuity policy from American Equity is designed to provide guaranteed lifetime income based on the use of a popular index. 

American Equity uses specific indices, including these featured options:

• BofA Destinations Index
• Credit Suisse Tech Edge Index
• SG Global Sentiment Index
• S&P 500 Index 
• S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index 

These plans offer a set rate that is guaranteed not to change for a specific term with the option to convert your policy into lifelong income. There is tax-deferred growth that continues until you make a withdrawal, and you also have the option to complete the IRS required minimum distribution (RMD) immediately with this policy.

There are many different fixed annuity plans, although product availability may vary based on where you live.

EstateShield

The EstateShield plan provides guaranteed income with protected premiums, plus additional index growth. You have the option to reallocate to different crediting strategies on your contract anniversary or following a two-year crediting strategy.

EstateShield 10

The EstateShield 10 is a fixed index annuity that carries a 10-year term with guaranteed lifelong income, potential annual increases, and enhanced death benefits with your beneficiary’s choice of payment distribution. It is available for policyholders between the ages of 40 and 75 years.

When you pay your initial premium, you can choose whether to allocate the funds to your choice of a combination of fixed interest and index-linked crediting strategies.

There are certain indices for your EstateShield 10 policy:

• BofA Destinations Index (Multi-Asset)
• Credit Suisse Tech Edge Index (Multi-Asset)
• S&P 500 (Equity only) 
• S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index (Equity only) 
• SG Global Sentiment Index 

You also have the entire first year of your policy to add additional funds to your annuity and your benefits account value (BAV). After your initial premium, all premiums that follow are automatically allocated to the fixed interest strategy.  

Upon your contract anniversary or the end of a two-year crediting strategy, you have the option to reallocate your contract value based on the new strategy of your choice. A first-year BAV bonus is included after 10 years for your lifetime income withdrawal reserve. It is also included as part of your beneficiary’s enhanced death benefit. There is a minimum allocation of $1,000 per value and a minimum transfer of 10% of your contract’s value.

EstateShield 10 keeps your money close, with up to 10% free withdrawals each year. Other withdrawals may be subject to the surrender charge as outlined below based on the number of years you have held your contract. 

If you add the Lifetime Income Benefit Rider, you can begin to receive payments after the 10th anniversary of your contract. The payouts vary based on a number of factors.

AssetShield 

American Equity’s AssetShield Series allows you to allocate your initial premium to your choice of a fixed interest or index strategy, with all other payments going to a fixed index strategy. The minimum premium is $5,000, but the maximum premium depends on your age:

• Ages 18 to 69: $1,500,000 
• Ages 70 to 74: $1,000,000 
• Ages 75 to 80: $750,000 
• Ages 81 to 85: $500,000

It also has a sliding fee schedule for its surrender charge based on your plan and the year.

AssetShield plans use these popular indices:

• BofA Destinations Index (Multi-Asset)
• Credit Suisse Tech Edge Index (Multi-Asset)
• S&P 500 (Equity only) 
• S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index (Equity only) 
• SG Global Sentiment Index 

AssetShield 5

This fixed index annuity plan is available for policyholders between the ages of 18 to 85 years. There is a five-year surrender charge schedule.

AssetShield 7

Available for ages 18 to 85 years, AssetShield 7 offers a seven-year surrender charge schedule for its fixed index annuity policy.

AssetShield 10 

The AssetShield 10 fixed index annuity has a 10-year surrender charge schedule and is available for policyholders between the ages of 18 and 80.

IncomeShield Series

The IncomeShield Series offers fantastic benefits while protecting your principal and offering several crediting options for improved income. 

IncomeShield 7

Available with the lifetime income benefit rider, the IncomeShield 7 fixed index annuity comes with a seven-year surrender charge schedule.  

Allocation options include either a fixed interest strategy or indexed strategies using S&P 500, S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index, BofA Destinations Index, Credit Suisse Tech Edge Index, or SG Global Sentiment Index.

IncomeShield 10

The IncomeShield 10 fixed index annuity comes with a guaranteed 7% Premium Bonus on all premiums paid in your policy’s first year. The Premium Bonus then vests over a 10-year period, based on the contract year.

The IncomeShield 10 has a 10-year surrender charge schedule.

Destinations

This fixed index annuity launched in 2020. Geographic availability of this product may be restricted. It combines a fixed rate with index-linked crediting strategy options. 

There are two plans: Destination 9 and Destination 10.

Destination 9

Developed in conjunction with Bank of America, the Destination 9 plan has a fixed rate lasting for nine years.

Destinations 10

Similar to the Destinations 9 policy, the Destinations 10 policy is a fixed index annuity but with a fixed rate lasting 10 years.

Bonus Gold

The Bonus Gold is a fixed index annuity that has a 10% Premium Bonus on any premiums you pay within your first contract year. However, there is a 16-year surrender charge schedule with the option to add a Lifetime Income Benefit Rider (LIBR).

Retirement Gold 

The Retirement Gold is also a fixed index annuity with an optional lifetime income benefit rider. It carries a 12% premium bonus on all first-year premiums with a 14-year vesting period.

Retirement Gold has a 10-year surrender charge schedule.

Guarantee Series Single Premium Deferred Annuity

There are three plans for the Guarantee Series single premium deferred annuity from American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company. Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 85. 

If there is a death, the beneficiary is entitled to the entire contract value. In this case, there are typically no surrender charges, and while a lump-sum payment is the most popular payout option, American Equity may offer other payment options. 

If you keep your policy until the end of the guarantee period, you have 30 days from the end of your policy to choose one of the following options:

• Apply the contract value to a settlement with no surrender charges
• Take a partial withdrawal with no surrender charges and apply the rest to another guarantee period
• Surrender the contract without surrender charges
• Renew the contract for another guarantee period

If no decision is made, the contract then automatically renews for a new term matching the length of your prior contract. It will, however, hold a new guaranteed interest rate that may be different from the one you had before. There may also be income tax that applies, and distributions prior to the age of 59½ may face additional IRS penalties. Your insurance agent can help with more details.

There are three options for the Guarantee Series: the Guarantee 5, Guarantee 6, and Guarantee 7 plans. They are a deferred fixed annuity with a single premium and penalty-free withdrawals.

Guarantee 5

The Guarantee 5 plan is a single premium deferred annuity with a five-year guarantee period.

Guarantee 6

The Guarantee 6 plan has a longer guarantee period of six years.

Guarantee 7

The Guarantee 7 plan has a guarantee period of seven years.

GuaranteeShield Series

American Equity’s GuaranteeShield Series can be a better choice when you are looking for stability in your finances. It includes fixed annuity products with a single premium, tax-deferred growth, and fixed rates. With guaranteed principal protection, there is a free withdrawal option if you hit tough times in the future. It allows you to access up to 10% of your contract value anytime after your first year. 

When the policy has met the end of its term, you have 30 days to choose one of the following:

• Renew the contract for a new guarantee period
• Make a free withdrawal and apply the remaining contract value to a new guarantee period
• Annuitize your contract for annuity payments
• Surrender your contract without any surrender charges or market value adjustment
• Continue your contract without any surrender charges

If you fail to make a decision, your contract automatically continues without any surrender charges and a 1% minimum guaranteed interest rate, which varies each year.

GuaranteeShield 3

There is a three-year guarantee period with the GuaranteeShield 3 plan. 

The surrender charge depends on the contract year and is different for California residents.

GuaranteeShield 5

There is also the option for the GuaranteeShield 5, which offers a five-year guarantee period.

Available Riders

A rider is a type of optional add-on that you can purchase to further customize your annuity to your needs. 

Many American Equity policies either automatically include or offer the option of the Lifetime Income Benefit Rider (LIBR) for your policy. With this rider in place, you permanently receive income payments with payment guaranteed for life. The LIBR also offers optional enhancements: an Enhanced Death Benefit, which can give you a greater benefit than your base contract, and a Wellbeing Benefit, which increases the income payment by up to 200% when you meet the eligibility requirements.

American Equity offers several other riders that you can purchase based on the plan you choose.

Market Value Adjustment (MVA)

The Market Value Adjustment (MVA) Rider provides optional coverage, either increasing or decreasing how much you can withdraw based on current market conditions. An MVA may increase or decrease the amount of a withdrawal in excess of the penalty-free withdrawal amount or the surrender value. Typically, the cash surrender values decrease as the MVA index increases. However, this could make your policy’s interest rates increase.

Nursing Care Rider

This rider begins after your policy’s third contract anniversary and applies if you become confined to a qualified nursing care center for a minimum of 90 days. In this case, you can make a penalty-free withdrawal. If you are confined within your second or third contract year, a 20% penalty-free withdrawal applies.

Enhanced Benefit Rider

This rider gives you both a qualifying nursing care benefit and terminal illness benefit. The qualifying nursing care benefit allows you to withdraw up to 100% of the contract value if you are confined to a qualifying nursing care facility for at least 90 days. It must be after the first contract year. The terminal illness benefit allows you to withdraw up to 100% of the contract value when diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Rate Integrity Rider

When you add the Rate Integrity Rider, it waives surrender charges when you terminate your annuity contract due to a cap or participation rate for any included crediting strategies, with each crediting strategy rate determined at time of policy purchase.

Terminal Illness Rider 

This rider applies after your first contract year, offering a 100% penalty-free withdrawal if you receive a terminally ill diagnosis.

Customer Service

American Equity has a team of more than 500 employees to provide customer service.

Complaint Index

An important way to judge a company’s customer satisfaction is to look at its consumer complaint index rating by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC collects consumer complaints and assigns each insurance company a unique complaint index score using a baseline of 1.00. 

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company had an impressively small complaint index of 0.03 in 2021. Its complaint indexes for 2020 and 2019 were similarly small at 0.14 and 0.07. These scores are significantly lower than the industry average, showing that American Equity has sound business practices and satisfies customers enough to receive far fewer complaints than expected for its size.

Third-Party Ratings

Another important rating to consider is a company’s financial strength scores. AM Best is a respected leader in the industry for financial reliability, assigning each insurance provider a grade each year. The rating offers a good indication of a company's ability to pay claims and meet financial obligations. American Equity receives a high rating of A- (Excellent). 

Cancellation Policy

When you purchase a new annuity, there is a "free look" period that allows you to review your contract in greater detail and return it for a refund within the eligible timeframe. Insurance and annuity companies typically give 10-30 days for this period, but it can vary by company and state, so be sure to ask your insurance or annuity carrier about options. 

If you choose to cancel your policy after the free look period, American Equity provides a detailed schedule of upfront surrender charges based on your plan and the contract year of your withdrawal. Other charges may apply, so be sure to consult your policy for details.

Price

The price of American Equity’s annuities relies upon a number of factors, such as your age, health, medical history, and state of residence. Your gender is another factor, with most companies basing rates not on current gender identity but instead, your sex at birth.  

To receive a quote, contact an agent for policy options in your area.

Competition

To understand how American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company stacks up against the competition, we compare it to one of the best life insurance companies today, New York Life.

Both companies have several plans to choose from. However, New York Life offers life insurance as well as annuities whereas American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, despite its name, only offers annuities. New York Life also has a much higher market share and receives higher scores from AM Best, signifying stronger financial stability. Although American Equity has its strengths, New York Life rates higher in a number of areas.

Our Methodology: How We Review Life Insurance Carriers

Investopedia analyzes the leading life insurance carriers today using our signature life insurance review methodology. We analyze factors like the type of coverage available, how many plans are offered, and how much coverage costs. We also look to top industry ratings providers to evaluate each company’s customer service and financial strength. Based on these factors and more, we present detailed and analytical life insurance reviews to help guide your financial future for you and your family.