How these estimates are calculated.
Estimates modeled from published carrier quote surveys as of October 1, 2026, and calibrated against live carrier quotes from October 2026; before tax. Exact quotes vary by carrier, state, and premium size.
Modeled estimates — not live quotes and not the survey's published figures for these options. Base data: published carrier quote surveys (LifeAnnuities.us, October 1, 2026 — SPIA payouts on a 5-year period-certain basis, income starting about one month after purchase). Payout options other than 5-year certain are modeled from the survey using published relationships between options, with joint and refund options calibrated against live carrier quotes (October 2026); ages between survey rows are interpolated; joint estimates start from the survey's same-age joint rows, adjusted to live joint quotes, with 100% to the survivor (couples of different ages are priced on the younger-age approximation). A market benchmark — not carriers we represent.
1. Base data
LifeAnnuities.us published rate tables, figures as of October 1, 2026 (retrieved 2026-10-24). The survey publishes single premium immediate annuity payouts on a 5-year period-certain basis, with income starting about one month after purchase, before tax. We use its 8-carrier average and its best quote, per $100,000 of premium:
| Age | Man | Woman | Couple (joint) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | $563 / $616 | $547 / $602 | $512 / $572 |
| 60 | $595 / $649 | $578 / $634 | $530 / $585 |
| 65 | $649 / $693 | $616 / $658 | $563 / $608 |
| 70 | $723 / $767 | $681 / $724 | $620 / $659 |
| 75 | $840 / $893 | $785 / $839 | $699 / $731 |
The surveyed carriers are a market benchmark, not a list of carriers we represent.
2. Payout options are modeled, not published
The survey only publishes the 5-year period-certain option. Every other option is modeled by multiplying the base figure by a factor derived from published relationships between options (Annuity.org quote grid). Factors are set at ages 65 and 75, interpolated linearly between them, and held at the age-65 value below age 65. Joint and refund factors were then calibrated against live carrier quotes (October 25, 2026).
| Payout option | Age 65 | Age 75 | Derivation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life only | ×1.01 (+1.0%) | ×1.035 (+3.5%) | +1% at 65, +3.5% at 75 vs 5-year certain (Sources A + B) |
| Life + 10 years certain | ×0.97 (−3.0%) | ×0.9646 (−3.5%) | -3% vs 5-year certain at 65; at 75, -6.8% vs life only per Source B grid (1.035 x 0.932) |
| Life + 20 years certain (not offered in our tools) | ×0.9343 (−6.6%) | ×0.799 (−20.1%) | -7.5% vs life only at 65 (1.01 x 0.925); -22.8% vs life only at 75 (1.035 x 0.772). Stored; not offered in v1 UI |
| Life + cash refund | ×0.9595 (−4.1%) | ×0.9418 (−5.8%) | -5% vs life only at 65, -9% at 75 (age 70: -7%) — recalibrated 2026-10-25 against live carrier quotes (A3: F70 $100k cash refund) |
| Life + installment refund (not offered in our tools) | ×0.9595 (−4.1%) | ×0.9418 (−5.8%) | Same refund curve as cash refund (moves with it); no direct live observation. Stored; not offered in v1 UI |
| Factor | Age 65 | Age 75 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint market adjustment (all options) | ×0.96 (−4.0%) | ×0.96 (−4.0%) | Applied to joint base payouts (average and best) at all ages, before option factors, so every joint option scales together. Observed at 70/70 only; extrapolated to 55-75. Re-validate at 65/65 and 75/75 in the November refresh. |
| Life only | ×1.000 (no change) | ×1.000 (no change) | Joint life-only factor is 1.000 at all ages (the single-life uplift curve is not applied to joint). |
| Life + 10 years certain | ×0.97 (−3.0%) | ×0.9646 (−3.5%) | Same factor as single life. |
| Life + 20 years certain (not offered in our tools) | ×0.9343 (−6.6%) | ×0.799 (−20.1%) | Same factor as single life. |
| Life + cash refund | ×0.95 (−5.0%) | ×0.91 (−9.0%) | Joint life-only factor (1.000) × the same refund curve as single life. |
| Life + installment refund (not offered in our tools) | ×0.95 (−5.0%) | ×0.91 (−9.0%) | Joint life-only factor (1.000) × the same refund curve as single life. |
3. Ages, premium and range
- Ages between the survey’s 5-year rows are interpolated linearly. Estimates cover ages 55–75.
- Premium scales linearly per $100,000.
- Range: the low end is modeled from the 8-carrier average and the high end from the best quote. In the target-income calculator the range inverts (the best quote needs the least premium).
4. Joint life
Joint estimates start from the survey’s joint rows, reduced by a market adjustment calibrated against live joint quotes, with no life-only uplift. The joint rows assume both spouses are the same age with 100% of the income continuing to the survivor. For couples of different ages, we price at the younger spouse’s age — an approximation that generally understates income somewhat.
5. Start date
Every estimate assumes payments begin about one month after purchase. If you tell us you may start within 12 months, we record that as a planning preference — it does not change the estimate. A later start changes the payout, and your exact quotes will use your chosen start date.
6. Cumulative totals
“Cumulative payments to 95” is the modeled average monthly income × 12 × the years from your current age to 95 — for couples, from the younger spouse’s age to 95. It includes the return of your own premium and is before taxes and inflation. The life-expectancy comparison uses the SSA 2023 period life table (2026 Trustees Report) and is shown for single life only.
7. Validation and refresh
Every estimate is regression-checked against benchmark cases priced with live carrier quotes on October 25, 2026. For example, for a man aged 65 putting in $250,000 with life + 10 years certain, the estimator shows $1,574–$1,681 a month; a published quote for the same case (about $1,564/month) sits within 1% of the range’s low end. The figures are refreshed monthly from the same sources.
8. Growth Calculator (guaranteed-rate MYGA annuities)
Estimated growth using selected published MYGA rate benchmarks reviewed October 25, 2026; before tax. The four-year typical benchmark is interpolated. These are market illustrations, not quotes or confirmation that a product is available to you. Actual rates depend on the carrier, product, state, deposit amount, and eligibility.
Sources (reviewed 2026-10-25): Annuity.com MYGA rate table (2026-10-23); annuities.net MYGA rate table (2026-10-23). Rates are market figures only; no carrier is named. Eligibility threshold: AM Best financial strength rating of B+ or higher.
Inclusion rule: Typical = the published market median for the term. Highest eligible = the highest eligible rate found in our reviewed sources: the top compound-interest rate from carriers with an AM Best financial strength rating of B+ or higher. Simple-interest products and carriers rated below B+ are excluded. Only products that guarantee the rate for the full term are counted.
| Term | Typical (median) | Highest eligible |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 5.05% | 6.10% |
| 4 years | 5.23%* | 5.70% |
| 5 years | 5.40% | 6.40% |
* The four-year typical rate is interpolated between the published three- and five-year medians (5.05% and 5.40%): 5.225%, used as 5.23%.
Calculation: ending value = deposit × (1 + rate)years, compounded annually, at the typical rate (low end) and the highest eligible rate (high end). Total interest is the ending value minus the deposit. Assumes interest is credited annually and left in place, with no withdrawals; before tax. Products have minimum deposits, commonly $10,000–$25,000.
Refresh: monthly with the income estimates, plus a mid-month check of top rates — MYGA rates move faster than income-annuity payouts.