Index Annuity Cap Changes: October 26, 2026 California Update
Index annuity cap rates in California mostly moved up since my last update on October 12. Of the products I tracked both weeks, 31 raised their S&P 500® annual point-to-point cap and only 1 lowered one. The bigger story is a new top cap: Talcott Financial Group’s EverGuard Aspire now shows a 16.00% cap on its 5-, 7- and 10-year versions, well above anything else on the list. I’m Kevin Edwards, an independent California annuity agent, and here’s what changed for October 2026.
For every California S&P 500 cap in one place, see my California fixed index annuity rates page, updated weekly.
What Changed Since October 12
| Carrier | Product | Surrender | Old cap → New cap | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketEarly Income | 10 years | 5.00% → 6.00% | +1.00 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketFuture Bonus Income | 10 years | 6.00% → 7.00% | +1.00 pts |
| Sagicor Life Insurance Company | Sage Accumulator 10 CA | 10 years | 10.65% → 11.40% | +0.75 pts |
| Sagicor Life Insurance Company | Sage Accumulator 5 CA | 5 years | 10.65% → 11.40% | +0.75 pts |
| Sagicor Life Insurance Company | Sage Accumulator 7 CA | 7 years | 10.65% → 11.40% | +0.75 pts |
| Lincoln Financial | Lincoln OptiBlend 7 CA | 7 years | 10.00% → 10.60% | +0.60 pts |
| American General Life Insurance Company | Power 10 Protector | 10 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| American General Life Insurance Company | Power 5 Protector | 5 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| American General Life Insurance Company | Power 7 Protector | 7 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| American General Life Insurance Company | Power Select Builder | 10 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| Aspida | Synergy Choice Bonus 10 CA | 10 years | 5.25% → 5.75% | +0.50 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketEdge Bonus Index | 10 years | 4.25% → 4.75% | +0.50 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketFive Index | 5 years | 9.00% → 9.50% | +0.50 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketSeven Index | 7 years | 9.50% → 10.00% | +0.50 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketTen Bonus Index ROP | 10 years | 6.00% → 6.50% | +0.50 pts |
| EquiTrust Life Insurance Company | MarketValue Index | 10 years | 10.00% → 10.50% | +0.50 pts |
| Fidelity & Guaranty Life | Performance Pro with GMWB | 10 years | 5.75% → 6.25% | +0.50 pts |
| Lincoln Financial | Lincoln OptiBlend 10 CA | 10 years | 10.25% → 10.75% | +0.50 pts |
| Lincoln Financial | Lincoln OptiBlend 5 CA | 5 years | 10.00% → 10.50% | +0.50 pts |
| Nassau Life and Annuity Company | Nassau Bonus Annuity 10 Group C | 10 years | 8.00% → 8.50% | +0.50 pts |
| Nassau Life and Annuity Company | Nassau Bonus Annuity 10 Group C With Income | 10 years | 8.00% → 8.50% | +0.50 pts |
| Nassau Life and Annuity Company | Nassau Growth Annuity 10 Group C | 10 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| Nassau Life and Annuity Company | Nassau Growth Annuity 10 Group C with Income | 10 years | 10.50% → 11.00% | +0.50 pts |
| American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company | AssetShield 5 | 5 years | 8.25% → 8.50% | +0.25 pts |
| American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company | AssetShield 7 | 7 years | 9.00% → 9.25% | +0.25 pts |
| American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company | AssetShield 9 CA | 9 years | 9.25% → 9.50% | +0.25 pts |
| American National Insurance Company | Smart Start Accumulator 10 CA | 10 years | 10.75% → 11.00% | +0.25 pts |
| Fidelity & Guaranty Life | FG AccumulatorPlus 10 | 10 years | 10.25% → 10.50% | +0.25 pts |
| Fidelity & Guaranty Life | FG AccumulatorPlus 7 | 7 years | 10.00% → 10.25% | +0.25 pts |
| Fidelity & Guaranty Life | Flex Accumulator | 10 years | 9.50% → 9.75% | +0.25 pts |
| Nassau Life and Annuity Company | Nassau Growth Annuity 7 Group C | 7 years | 9.00% → 9.25% | +0.25 pts |
| American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company | AssetShield 9 Bonus CA | 9 years | 6.25% → 6.00% | −0.25 pts |
The largest increases were at Sagicor, where Sage Accumulator 5, 7 and 10 CA each went from 10.65% to 11.40%, and at EquiTrust, where MarketEarly Income and MarketFuture Bonus Income each rose a full point. American Equity lifted its Power Protector and Power Select Builder caps to 11.00%. The only decrease was American Equity AssetShield 9 Bonus CA, down from 6.25% to 6.00%. No product changed its guaranteed minimum cap.
New and Removed Products
25 products are new to my list this week, mostly from carriers that weren’t on my October 12 list: Talcott Financial Group, Oxford Life, Prosperity, Integrity Life and Americo, plus new versions from Aspida and Prudential.
- Talcott Financial Group: 6 products, caps 6.00% to 16.00%, guaranteed minimum 1.00%
- Oxford Life Insurance Company: 5 products, caps 9.50% to 11.50%, guaranteed minimum 1.00%
- Aspida: 2 products, cap 10.60%, guaranteed minimum 1.00%
- Prosperity S.USA Life: 6 products, caps 6.00% to 10.25%, guaranteed minimum 0.25%
- Integrity Life Insurance Company: 3 products, cap 9.50%, guaranteed minimum 1.00%
- Americo (Legacy): 2 products, caps 8.95% to 9.00%, guaranteed minimum 1.00%
- Pruco Life Insurance Company (Prudential): 1 product, cap 5.00%, guaranteed minimum 2.00%
22 products dropped off: all 12 Ibexis FIA Plus and WealthDefender products, Oceanview’s four Harbourview FIA products, Prudential Surepath 7 and 10, and four products from The Standard. Ibexis and Oceanview both have rate changes scheduled this week, so some of these may come back once the new rates post. If you were looking at one of them, ask me before you assume it’s gone.
Best Cap by Surrender Period vs. Last Update
| Surrender period | Oct 12 best cap | Oct 26 best cap | Oct 26 product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 8.00% | 9.70% | Oxford Life Insurance Company Select 3 |
| 5 years | 11.00% | 16.00% | Talcott Financial Group EverGuard Aspire 5 |
| 7 years | 11.65% | 16.00% | Talcott Financial Group EverGuard Aspire 7 |
| 8 years | 8.90% | 8.90% | North American Company Performance Choice 8 |
| 9 years | 9.25% | 9.50% | American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company AssetShield 9 CA |
| 10 years | 12.00% | 16.00% | Talcott Financial Group EverGuard Aspire 10 |
| 14 years | 6.50% | 6.50% | North American Company Charter Plus 14 CA FEE |
Without Talcott, the best caps would be 11.40% for 5 years (Sagicor Life Insurance Company Sage Accumulator 5 CA), 11.65% for 7 years (Delaware Life Retirement Stages Select 7) and 12.00% for 10 years (Delaware Life Target Growth 10), so the rest of the market moved up modestly.
What This Means If You’re Deciding Now
A higher cap raises the ceiling on what you can be credited, not the floor. Your credited interest each year can be anywhere from 0% up to the cap, depending on the S&P 500. The starting cap is guaranteed only for the first contract year; after that the carrier can lower it, down to the guaranteed minimum. EverGuard Aspire’s minimum is 1.00%, so how Talcott handles renewals matters more than the first-year number. An unusually high first-year cap deserves a close look at the contract before you commit.
If you want a rate you can count on, a MYGA guarantees its rate for the whole term. Compare both on my California fixed annuity rates page.
Rate Changes Coming This Week
These carriers have changes scheduled: Protective Life (Oct 27); Oceanview Life and Annuity (Oct 28); Ibexis (Oct 29); Symetra Life Insurance Company (Oct 30); Pruco Life Insurance Company (Prudential) (Nov 1). If you’re close to applying with one of them, ask about the carrier’s rate-lock rules so your application gets today’s cap if it’s better.
Get a Cap Rate Quote
I compare these products across carriers for your goals, including renewal history, rider costs and surrender terms. Request a free annuity quote and I’ll send you a side-by-side comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest index annuity cap rate in California this week?
As of October 26, 2026, it is 16.00% on Talcott Financial Group EverGuard Aspire 5, 7 and 10, with a guaranteed minimum cap of 1.00%. The next-best 10-year cap is 12.00%.
Did index annuity caps go up or down this week?
Mostly up. Since October 12, 31 products raised their S&P 500 cap and 1 lowered it.
Is a higher cap a guaranteed return?
No. The cap is the most you can be credited in a year. You may earn anywhere from 0% to the cap, and the cap is guaranteed only for the first contract year.
Kevin Edwards, Integrity Now Insurance Brokers. California Insurance License #0D42517. Fixed index annuities are insurance products, not bank deposits, not FDIC insured, and not a direct investment in the stock market or any index. Index-linked interest is subject to caps the insurer may change annually, subject to the guaranteed minimum. Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Withdrawals before the end of the surrender period may be subject to surrender charges and market value adjustments; withdrawals of taxable amounts may be subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken before age 59½, a 10% federal tax penalty. This post is for educational purposes and is not tax or legal advice. Product availability and features vary by state. S&P 500® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.
