• Written By
    Sheena Zimmermann, M.Ed.

    Sheena Zimmermann, M.Ed.

    Financial Writer

    As a professional who values lifelong learning, Sheena Zimmermann joined the Annuity.org team with a deep commitment to connecting readers with resources designed to improve their financial literacy and strengthen their financial health.

    Read More
  • Edited By
    Emily Miller
    Emily Miller, Managing Editor for Annuity.org

    Emily Miller

    Managing Editor

    Managing editor Emily Miller is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience as a researcher, writer and editor. Throughout her professional career, Emily has covered education, government, health care, crime and breaking news for media organizations in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Texas. She joined the Annuity.org team in 2016.

    Read More
  • Financially Reviewed By
    Timothy Li, MBA
    Timothy Li, MBA Headshot

    Timothy Li, MBA

    Business Finance Manager

    Timothy Li, MBA, has dedicated his career to increasing profitability for his clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Timothy currently serves as a business finance manager where he researches ways to increase profitability within the supply chain, logistics and sales departments.

    Read More
  • Updated: August 11, 2023
  • 3 min read time
  • This page features 5 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

Annuity.org partners with outside experts to ensure we are providing accurate financial content.

These reviewers are industry leaders and professional writers who regularly contribute to reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Our expert reviewers review our articles and recommend changes to ensure we are upholding our high standards for accuracy and professionalism.

Our expert reviewers hold advanced degrees and certifications and have years of experience with personal finances, retirement planning and investments.

Why Trust Annuity.org
Why You Can Trust Annuity.org
Annuity.org has provided reliable, accurate financial information to consumers since 2013. We adhere to ethical journalism practices, including presenting honest, unbiased information that follows Associated Press style guidelines and reporting facts from reliable, attributed sources. Our objective is to deliver the most comprehensive explanation of annuities and financial literacy topics using plain, straightforward language.

Our Partnerships, Vision and Goals

We pride ourselves on partnering with professionals like those from Senior Market Sales (SMS) — a market leader with over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry — who offer personalized retirement solutions for consumers across the country. Our relationships with partners including SMS and Insuractive, the company’s consumer-facing branch, allow us to facilitate the sale of annuities and other retirement-oriented financial products to consumers who are looking to purchase safe and reliable solutions to fill gaps in their retirement income. We are compensated when we produce legitimate inquiries, and that compensation helps make Annuity.org an even stronger resource for our audience. We may also, at times, sell lead data to partners in our network in order to best connect consumers to the information they request. Readers are in no way obligated to use our partners’ services to access the free resources on Annuity.org.

Annuity.org carefully selects partners who share a common goal of educating consumers and helping them select the most appropriate product for their unique financial and lifestyle goals. Our network of advisors will never recommend products that are not right for the consumer, nor will Annuity.org. Additionally, Annuity.org operates independently of its partners and has complete editorial control over the information we publish.

Our vision is to provide users with the highest quality information possible about their financial options and empower them to make informed decisions based on their unique needs.

Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company, or Americo, helps consumers plan and save for retirement with a variety of life insurance and annuity products.

Americo is authorized to issue annuities in the District of Columbia and all states besides New York. Annuity companies, like Americo, issue annuities to help protect clients against outliving their savings while providing growth potential.

About Americo

Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company, originally called The College Life Insurance Company of America, was founded in 1946.

The life insurance and annuity company is among a family of other subsidiary companies, including the following:

  • Great Southern Life Insurance Company
  • United Fidelity Life Insurance Company
  • National Farmers Union Life Insurance Company
  • Investors Life Insurance Company of North America

“We are progressive in our thinking,” according to the Americo website. “We are solutions-oriented. We offer innovative product solutions that can be tailored to fit your situation.”

In addition to consumer-focused annuity products, Americo offers:

  • Term and universal life insurance
  • Whole life insurance
  • Medicare Supplement insurance
  • Vision insurance
CALLING AMERICO

Current Americo annuity customers can reach out to the company through the following number:

1-800-231-0801

Americo’s Credit Ratings

Credit rating agencies routinely evaluate the financial strength of annuity providers. This scoring provides a snapshot of the company’s ability to cover claims and other financial obligations.

Americo’s website refers to its ratings as “a portrait of financial stability,” boasting the third highest out of 16 possible AM Best rating categories.

Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company Credit Ratings

Credit Rating
AM Best: A Excellent
Moody’s: A3 Stable

Annuity Products Offered by Americo

One of two entities underwrite the annuity products for Americo — Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company or Great Southern Life Insurance Company.

Available products and benefits may vary by state, but Americo specializes in two primary annuity types: fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuities, or MYGAs.

Fixed Indexed Annuities

Fixed indexed annuities earn interest based on the performance of a market index. For example, if the S&P 500 has favorable gains, the annuity collects earnings up to a certain amount. Even if the market endures losses, this annuity type has downside protection.

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGA)

MYGA products offer a fixed interest rate over a pre-determined period. Earnings are tax deferred, so you do not incur tax until you begin making withdrawals.

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How soon are you retiring?

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What is your goal for purchasing an annuity?

Select all that apply

Resources for Americo Clients

Americo clients can service their policies and complete important forms online.

The Americo website has easily accessible links to the following important processes:

  • Making a claim
  • Updating bank information
  • Surrendering a policy
  • Withdrawing from your policy
  • Submitting Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) forms
  • Updating your address
  • Updating beneficiaries
  • Completing additional forms, such as W-9s and annuitant changes

Americo also has a comprehensive glossary of terms to help consumers understand financial jargon, annuity terms and contract verbiage.

LEARN MORE

If you have an annuity with Americo, you can log into your account at:

Americo’s Customer Portal

About Annuity.org

Annuity.org has provided reliable, accurate and trustworthy financial information to readers since 2013. We partner with professionals like those from Senior Market Sales (SMS), a market leader with over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, to offer personalized retirement solutions for consumers across the country.

Any information offered about the company above is provided free of charge and individual product offerings are verified and accurate as of publication.

Our partners work with the provider companies mentioned on our site. However, Annuity.org is not a service provider. Actual products, terms and rates offered through the above company are subject to in-state availability and a variety of other factors. Visit the Our Partners page for additional information.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: August 11, 2023