$461 Billion in Annuity Sales — A Fourth Consecutive Record
$461 Billion in Annuity Sales — a Fourth Consecutive Record
Annuity sales set an industry record for the fourth year running in 2025. Here is what is driving the number, and what it actually means if you are weighing guaranteed income for your own retirement.
A Fourth Straight Record Year
U.S. retail annuity sales reached $461 billion in 2025, according to LIMRA. That makes 2025 the fourth consecutive year annuity sales have set a new industry record.
The growth did not slow toward the end of the year. Q4 2025 alone brought in $114.4 billion — the ninth consecutive quarter above the $100 billion mark. A single strong quarter can be a blip. Nine in a row is a pattern.
For most people, a headline like this is easy to skim past. But the number reflects a real shift: more retirees and pre-retirees are choosing to lock in guaranteed income and principal protection rather than leave that decision to the market.
What's Behind the Record
Three forces are showing up together, and each one points the same direction.
Rate environment. Fixed-rate annuities (MYGAs) and fixed indexed annuities have offered some of the strongest guaranteed rates in over a decade. When a principal-protected product pays meaningfully more than a savings account or CD, more retirees take a serious look.
Market volatility. Retirement assets fell in early 2026 after a strong 2025. Watching a portfolio move sharply is a different experience in retirement than during working years — there is less time to recover. Guaranteed income removes that variable from part of a plan.
Wider access and awareness. Legislative proposals to allow in-service 401(k)-to-annuity rollovers, combined with more mainstream financial media coverage, have put annuities in front of a much larger audience than a decade ago.
Reading the Record as a Retiree, Not an Analyst
A sales record is an industry headline. Here is how to translate it into something useful for your own decision.
More Carriers Are Competing for Your Business
Record demand has pushed more insurance carriers to compete on rate and product design. That generally means more options to compare — not a reason to rush a decision.
Rates Move With the Market — They Are Not Locked Forever
Current rates reflect today's environment. Rates on new contracts can rise or fall as broader interest rates shift. A rate quoted today is not guaranteed to be available next quarter.
A Record Sales Year Does Not Replace Your Own Research
Widespread adoption is a signal worth noting, not a substitute for understanding how a specific product fits your income needs, timeline, and liquidity. That research step still matters.
Common Questions
1What exactly does the $461 billion figure include?▼
2Why are annuity sales at a record high right now?▼
3Does a sales record mean annuities are right for me?▼
4Which annuity types are driving most of the growth?▼
5Will annuity rates stay this high?▼
6How do I know if an annuity fits my retirement plan?▼
See What Guaranteed Income Looks Like for Your Numbers
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