Free Strategy Tool · For Savers & Advisors
Annuity Ladder Builder
Enter your savings and when you want income to start. We'll build a visual ladder of staggered MYGA purchases that captures higher long-term yields while keeping money coming free at every rung.
About 9.0 years until your income start date. The ladder staggers MYGA terms so rungs mature in sequence leading up to it — each maturity is a liquidity window.
Your 3-rung ladder
$83,333 per rung · bars show each MYGA's term and maturity. Longer bars lock in higher rates; shorter ones free up cash sooner.
Laddered vs. all-in on the longest term
Same total ($250,000), same end date. The ladder trades a small amount of yield for staggered access to your money.
The ladder gives up roughly $3,198 (0.9%) in projected growth in exchange for 2 earlier maturity points where you can take cash, reinvest into a new MYGA, or start income — without surrender charges.
Rung-by-rung breakdown
| Rung | Product | Term | Rate | Premium | Matures | Value at maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanview Life and Annuity Company Harbourview 3 | 3 yr | 5.20% | $83,333 | Sep 2029 | $97,021 |
| 2 | Nassau Life and Annuity Company MYAnnuity 5X | 5 yr | 5.50% | $83,333 | Sep 2031 | $108,913 |
| 3 | Nassau Life and Annuity Company MYAnnuity 7X | 7 yr | 5.55% | $83,333 | Sep 2033 | $121,626 |
Ready to build this ladder for real?
Compare today's guaranteed MYGA rates side-by-side and apply online — or get a free quote with no signup and no sales call.
How an annuity ladder works
Instead of putting your entire savings into one multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) and locking it all up until the end of the term, you split the total across several MYGAs with staggered terms — for example a 3-year, a 5-year, and a 7-year. Each rung earns a guaranteed rate for its own term, and they mature in sequence. When the shortest rung matures, you can take the cash, start income, or roll it into a new MYGA at the back of the ladder — while the longer rungs keep earning their higher guaranteed rates.
Why ladder instead of one long MYGA
The longest-term MYGA usually pays the highest guaranteed rate, but it locks every dollar away for the full term. Laddering gives up a small amount of that top rate on the shorter rungs in exchange for regular maturity windows — points where you can access cash without surrender charges, reinvest if rates have risen, or begin taking income. You keep most of the yield of an all-in strategy while removing most of the liquidity risk. Every MYGA also permits roughly 10% penalty-free withdrawal each year, so even between maturities you retain some access.
Who an annuity ladder fits
Laddering suits pre-retirees who want guaranteed growth on a portion of their savings but know they'll want staged access as they approach retirement, retirees building an income floor alongside Social Security and a pension, and conservative savers who like CD ladders but want higher tax-deferred rates. It's also a common strategy financial advisors use to manage reinvestment risk — staggering maturities so you're never reinvesting the full balance at whatever rate happens to be available on a single day.
Disclosures: This tool is educational and produces estimates only, not guarantees or offers to sell. Rates shown are current as of today and subject to change. Annuities are issued by licensed insurance companies and guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of the issuing carrier. They are not FDIC insured, not a bank deposit, and may lose value if surrender charges apply. Early withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty on gains. Annuital is a licensed insurance agency — compare current rates and consult a qualified advisor for your specific situation.