In early 2026, Corebridge Financial and Equitable Holdings announced a proposed billion all-stock merger. The combined company would manage over
.2 trillion in assets and rank among the top three U.S. retirement services platforms. Closing is expected in late 2026 or 2027 pending regulatory approval. Existing Corebridge contracts will continue to be honored regardless of merger timing. See our full merger coverage.
Corebridge Financial was spun off from AIG in 2022 and went public on the NYSE. Despite the new name, the company carries over a century of insurance heritage — its subsidiaries (American General Life, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, and others) have been issuing annuities since 1919.
With over $350 billion in assets and one of the broadest annuity product lineups in the industry, Corebridge serves millions of Americans across every major annuity category. Their AM Best A (Excellent) rating reflects strong — though not superior — financial strength.
Fixed-rate MYGA with 3, 5, and 7-year terms. Competitive rates with 10% free withdrawal and standard surrender charge schedule. No annual fees.
Best for: Straightforward guaranteed accumulation with a century-old carrier at competitive rates.
FIA linked to S&P 500, MSCI EAFE, and other global indices. Multiple crediting strategies including annual point-to-point, monthly average, and monthly cap. Optional income riders available.
Best for: Index-growth buyers who want multiple index options and sophisticated crediting strategy choices.
Broad sub-account selection (60+ funds) with optional living benefit riders. Offers a guaranteed minimum income benefit (GMIB) and guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB). Annual fees typically 1.25%–2.50% depending on riders elected.
Best for: Investors who want market participation with living benefit guarantees and are comfortable with annual fees and market risk.
SPIA and period-certain options with competitive payout rates. Available in all 50 states. Payout options: life-only, period certain, joint life, cash refund.
Best for: Retirees converting a lump sum to guaranteed lifetime income with a nationally recognized carrier.
| Rating Agency | Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| AM Best | A (Excellent) | Excellent financial strength |
| S&P Global | A+ (Strong) | Strong financial security |
| Moody’s | A2 (Good) | Good financial strength |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Broadest product lineup in the industry | AM Best A — strong but not A+ or A++ |
| 100+ year insurance heritage (AIG legacy) | Variable annuity fees can be high with riders |
| $350B+ in assets — excellent size and scale | NAIC complaint index slightly above average historically |
| Competitive across all annuity categories | Recent spin-off from AIG creates some brand uncertainty |
| Major employer-plan provider (403b, 457) | Complex product suite — requires careful comparison shopping |
Corebridge Financial’s insurance subsidiaries hold AM Best A (Excellent) ratings. This indicates excellent financial strength — one full notch below the A+ (Superior) and two notches below A++ (Superior) ratings held by companies like MassMutual and New York Life.
Corebridge Financial was AIG’s life and retirement division. AIG spun it off as an independent publicly traded company (NYSE: CRBG) in 2022. The insurance subsidiaries — American General Life, etc. — remain the same entities that were previously part of AIG. AIG still holds a majority stake in Corebridge.
Yes. Corebridge’s MYGA rates are generally competitive with the broader market, though they may not always top the rate tables. Their real strength is breadth — buyers can compare fixed, indexed, and variable products with income riders from one carrier.
Corebridge Financial is a relatively new name on a very old business. The Corebridge brand launched in September 2022 when American International Group (AIG) spun off its Life and Retirement division into a standalone publicly traded company, listed on the NYSE under ticker CRBG. AIG retained a majority stake through early 2024 and has been reducing its position gradually through secondary offerings.
The underlying insurance subsidiaries that actually issue Corebridge annuity contracts are much older. American General Life Insurance Company, the primary annuity issuer, was founded in 1960 but traces its roots back to 1926 through predecessor companies. The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, another major subsidiary, was founded in 1850 and is one of the oldest life insurers in the United States. When you buy a Corebridge annuity, you are buying a contract backed by one of these legacy insurance entities with 75 to 175 years of continuous operation.
Corebridge currently manages over $350 billion in assets across its subsidiaries and serves more than 2 million U.S. policyholders. It is one of the top five fixed annuity issuers in the United States by premium volume, alongside Athene, New York Life, MassMutual, and Nationwide.
The Value+ Protector is Corebridge’s main multi-year guaranteed annuity product. It offers 3, 5, 7, and 10-year terms with a single guaranteed rate for the full contract period. Current rates are competitive with the broader A-rated carrier market, though Corebridge rarely sits at the very top of rate tables. Minimum deposit is $10,000. The contract allows 10% annual free withdrawal, and surrender charges decline linearly from approximately 7% in year one to 0% after the term ends.
The Value+ Protector is best for buyers who want a recognizable brand name behind their contract and are willing to accept a rate that is “competitive but not the highest” in exchange for Corebridge’s $350B balance sheet.
The Power Series is Corebridge’s flagship fixed indexed annuity. It offers multiple crediting strategies including S&P 500 annual point-to-point with cap, monthly average, and monthly sum. Optional index choices include the MSCI EAFE (international developed markets) and various proprietary volatility-controlled indexes. Surrender periods run 7 to 10 years depending on the product variant. Optional income riders include lifetime withdrawal benefits and enhanced death benefits.
Compared to FIA specialists like Allianz and American Equity, the Power Series is a solid mid-tier option with competitive caps but not typically the highest guaranteed lifetime income payout.
Polaris Platinum is Corebridge’s most comprehensive variable annuity, with access to 60+ investment subaccounts from top-tier fund families including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and PIMCO. Optional living benefit riders include GMIB (guaranteed minimum income benefit) and GMWB (guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit). Total annual fees range from 1.25% to 2.50% depending on which riders you elect, which is typical for a variable annuity with living benefits.
LifeShield is Corebridge’s single premium immediate annuity (SPIA). It offers life-only, period-certain, joint life, and cash refund payout options. Current payout rates are competitive with top SPIA providers but rarely the highest in the market. For retirees who want the specific peace of mind of a SPIA from a major national brand, LifeShield is a reasonable choice.
Corebridge annuities are sold through independent insurance brokers, bank channels, and registered representatives at brokerage firms. Corebridge does not sell direct to consumers. To buy a Corebridge annuity:
| Feature | Corebridge | Athene | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM Best Rating | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) | A+ (Superior) |
| Assets | $350B+ | $300B+ | $300B+ |
| Ownership | Public (NYSE: CRBG) | Owned by Apollo | Mutual |
| Product Breadth | MYGA, FIA, VA, SPIA | MYGA, FIA, SPIA | MYGA, FIA, VA, SPIA |
| MYGA Rate Strength | Mid-pack | Top 5 | Mid-pack |
| Best For | Breadth of product lineup | Rate competitiveness | Mutual ownership + income riders |
