Annuity Sales Just Hit a New Quarterly Record: What $123.9 Billion in Q2 2026 Means for You
Annuity Sales Just Hit a New Quarterly Record: What $123.9 Billion in Q2 2026 Means for You
U.S. annuity sales hit $123.9 billion in the second quarter of 2026, the largest quarterly total ever recorded. Here is what is driving it and what it means if you are weighing guaranteed income right now.
U.S. annuity sales hit $123.9 billion in the second quarter of 2026 (LIMRA, 2026). That is a new quarterly record.
It is also the 11th consecutive quarter above $100 billion in sales. Year to date, total annuity sales have reached $231.3 billion, up 2% over the first half of 2025 and a new first-half record.
This is not a one-quarter spike. It is the fourth consecutive year of growth in annuity demand, and it is happening across every major product category, not just one.
What Is Driving the Growth
A combination of market conditions is pushing more savers toward guaranteed income.
LIMRA points to a combination of global tensions, market volatility, and higher interest rates as the driver behind the record. When markets get less predictable, more savers look for a portion of their retirement income they can count on regardless of what the market does.
Higher rates also mean insurers can offer more competitive guaranteed rates on fixed products, which widens the gap between a fixed annuity and a savings account or CD. That gap is one of the biggest reasons fixed-rate deferred annuity sales climbed sharply this quarter.
The Record Isn't in One Product, It's Across Several
Every major annuity type set or approached a record this quarter, each for a different reason.
Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILAs)
RILAs set their own quarterly record this quarter. They offer some upside participation in market index gains along with a buffer or floor against losses, which appeals to savers who still want growth exposure but not full market risk.
Fixed-Rate Deferred Annuities (MYGA-Style)
Fixed-rate deferred annuities, the product category that includes MYGAs, jumped sharply quarter over quarter. Demand reflects continued appetite for a rate that is guaranteed and locked in for a set number of years, rather than exposed to market swings.
Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIAs)
SPIAs, the simplest guaranteed-income product on the market, also set a record. Growth here signals more retirees converting savings directly into guaranteed monthly income rather than just accumulating for the future.
What This Means If You Are Weighing an Annuity Right Now
Record sales do not mean an annuity is automatically right for every saver. It means more people are running the numbers.
- A RILA offers some participation in market gains with a buffer against losses.
- It suits savers who still want growth exposure but not full market risk.
- A fixed-rate deferred annuity (MYGA) locks in a guaranteed rate for a set term.
- It suits savers who want certainty and no market exposure at all.
- A SPIA converts a lump sum into guaranteed monthly income right away.
- It suits retirees who need to turn savings into a paycheck today.
Common Questions
1 Why are annuity sales at a record high in 2026? ▼
2 What is a RILA and why is it growing so fast? ▼
3 Is a fixed annuity the same as a MYGA? ▼
4 What is a SPIA? ▼
5 Does a sales record mean annuity rates are going up? ▼
6 How do I know which type of annuity fits my situation? ▼
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