The 5-Minute Advisor – September 25, 2026
CareMatters Annuity Just Opened Up in Connecticut
Nationwide’s CareMatters Annuity cleared Connecticut approval on September 14. That’s a dormant annuity or life policy in a client’s file turning into guaranteed, tax-free LTC coverage, with no health interview standing in the way.
If you have a client between 55 and 80 sitting on a nonqualified annuity or life policy they don’t need for income, this is the call to make this week. A tax-free exchange can turn that asset into guaranteed LTC coverage.
It’s a single-premium deferred fixed annuity with cash indemnity LTC benefits. Clients fund it through a 1035 exchange of an existing nonqualified annuity or life policy, or a single payment, and receive 2x to 3x their contract value in LTC benefits depending on underwriting class, five knockout questions plus one rate-class question, no health interview, no para-med exam. Max issue age is 80.
One thing to clear before you write it: Nationwide requires product-specific annuity and LTC training through an approved vendor (RegEd, Kaplan, or iCapital, product code CMANNUITY) before any application goes in.
- Triple tax efficiency — grows tax-deferred, LTC benefits pay out tax-free, funded via tax-free exchange.
- Built-in guarantees — contract value never drops below the client’s initial investment, crediting rate is locked in, unused LTC value passes to beneficiaries.
- Retroactive benefit — once a client qualifies, day 91 pays four months of benefits in one lump sum, covering the elimination period.
- International payability — 100% of the LTC benefit pays out if the client lives abroad.
Have a client with an old annuity or life policy just sitting there? Call us this week. We’ll run the exchange numbers and tell you what LTC benefit they’d actually qualify for.
Learn More About CareMatters!The 72-Hour Clock: An Incident Response Plan for Independent Insurance Agencies
An insurance agency incident response plan gets written in one of two moments. Some agencies write it on a quiet afternoon, with time to think. Others write it in the first hour of a cybersecurity event, while a producer’s mailbox sends fake invoices to clients.
Learn MoreIntroducing Life Uncomplicated—A Client Education Series
When clients know the basics, conversations get simpler. Our new flyer series is designed with that in mind. Share these resources with your clients to help familiarize them with concepts and make your conversations easier.
View Client Education ResourcesHeads up…
Rates pulled back this week. Athene is still leading the 3, 5, and 7-year terms but at lower levels than last week. Integrity Life is back in the 4-year slot, and American National takes the 10-year across all tiers. Check the full sheet below for the details before placing any business this week.
Thompson Agency — Rates Effective 9/24/26 — For Agent Use Only
Highest Rate in Year 1 (Guarantee Years & Surrender Years Match)
| Term | Rating | Carrier | Product | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 3 ($100K+) | 5.10% |
| 4-year | A+ | Integrity Life | MultiVantage 4 ($20K+) | 4.95% |
| 5-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 5 ($100K+) | 5.40%* |
| 6-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 6 ($100K–$249,999) | 9.60% |
| 7-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 7 ($100K+) | 5.50%* |
| 8-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 8 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
| 9-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 9 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
| 10-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 10 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
Highest Average Yield with Equal Surrender & Guarantee Period
| Term | Rating | Carrier | Product | Rate / Avg. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 3 ($5K–$99,999) | 4.70% |
| 3-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 3 ($10K–$99,999) | 4.85% |
| 3-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 3 ($100K+) | 5.10% |
| 4-year | A | Corebridge Financial | AP VisionMYG 4 ($100K+) | 4.65% |
| 5-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 5 ($5K–$99,999) | 5.10% |
| 5-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 5 ($100K+) | 5.40%* |
| 5-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 5 ($250K+) | 5.35% |
| 6-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 6 ($5K–$99,999) | 9.50/4.50 · Avg 5.32% |
| 6-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 6 ($100K–$249,999) | 9.60/4.60 · Avg 5.42% |
| 6-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 6 ($250K+) | 9.75/4.75 · Avg 5.57% |
| 7-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 7 ($5K–$99,999) | 5.20% |
| 7-year | A+ | Athene | MaxRate 7 ($100K+) | 5.50%* |
| 7-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 7 ($250K+) | 5.45% |
| 8-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 8 ($5K–$99,999) | 5.05% |
| 8-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 8 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
| 8-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 8 ($250K+) | 5.30% |
| 9-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 9 ($5K–$99,999) | 5.05% |
| 9-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 9 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
| 9-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 9 ($250K+) | 5.30% |
| 10-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 10 ($5K–$99,999) | 5.05% |
| 10-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 10 ($100K–$249,999) | 5.15% |
| 10-year | A | American National | Palladium MYG 10 ($250K+) | 5.30% |
Disclosure: Add’l details see Fixed Annuities Comparison Spreadsheet.
Rates effective 9/24/26 and subject to change without notice.
For Agent Use Only; Not to be Shared with Public.
*Athene MaxRate — see product rate sheet as some states differ in rate %.
American National (ANICO) offers higher interest rate for the Palladium MYG MAX
(No Liquidity, except RMD’s). Be sure to check ANICO current rate sheet.
Pricing You Can Count On from Banner Life Insurance Company
Starting today, September 22, 2026, you’ll see lower rates from Banner Life.
Giving your clients access to affordable term life insurance isn’t a strategy or a sales plan – it’s business as usual for Banner Life. It’s how we got to be the #1 term life insurance carrier in the U.S., and it’s what you can expect from us day in and day out.
We’re dropping rates on OPTerm, so whether your client needs 10 years of coverage or 40, we’ll be there for them and for you. It’s not about the numbers, but you can expect to see us at the top of the rankings about 88% of the time.
That’s what a trusted partner does. You can count on us to make it easier for you to do business every day, not just when it’s convenient.
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