DES MOINES, Iowa — The United States insurance and retirement market experienced a broad-based recovery in the middle of 2026, driven by robust quarterly gains across nearly every major category of fixed and variable retirement products. According to the 116th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, published by Wink, Inc., total worldwide and domestic sales for all annuity product lines reached $112.7 billion during the second quarter of 2026. This performance marks a significant 13.3% rebound compared to the first quarter of the year, demonstrating renewed consumer confidence and increased institutional adoption despite minor year-over-year adjustments.
Wink, Inc., widely recognized as the insurance industry’s premier resource for competitive intelligence and annuity sales data since 1998, compiled the extensive report with data submitted by 143 participating annuity providers. The comprehensive findings illustrate a dynamic marketplace where traditional guarantees, equity-linked growth strategies, and income-generating products continue to compete for the attention of American retirees navigating complex economic conditions.
Comprehensive Market Performance and Segment Breakdown
When evaluating the overarching figures for the second quarter of 2026, the $112.7 billion total encompasses a diverse array of product categories, including multi-year guaranteed (MYG) annuities, traditional fixed annuities, indexed annuities, structured annuities, variable annuities, single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs), and deferred income annuities (DIAs). Although total sales registered a slight 2.4% dip compared to the same period in 2025, the sequential quarter-over-quarter expansion of 13.3% points toward stabilized buyer demand following a period of macroeconomic recalibration.
Deferred annuities dominated the lion’s share of the market activity, pulling in $109.0 billion during the second quarter. This represented a 12.8% increase from the previous quarter, though down 2.8% year-over-year. Within the deferred category, a clear divergence emerged between non-variable and variable offerings. Non-variable deferred annuities—which comprise multi-year guaranteed annuities, traditional fixed options, and indexed annuities—generated $69.0 billion in sales, up 16.6% sequentially. Meanwhile, variable deferred annuities, encompassing structured and traditional variable lines, brought in $39.9 billion, marking a 6.7% quarterly increase and an impressive 19.0% surge compared to the second quarter of 2025.
Income annuities also experienced exceptional momentum. Total sales for immediate and deferred income products hit $3.6 billion, representing a substantial 33.4% spike quarter-over-quarter and a 9.9% gain year-over-year. Industry analysts attribute this surge to retirees prioritizing guaranteed lifetime income streams to hedge against longevity risk and market volatility.
Detailed Analysis by Product Category
Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs)
Multi-year guaranteed annuities, which lock in a fixed interest rate guaranteed for a duration longer than one year, remained a cornerstone of conservative retirement planning. Second-quarter MYGA sales reached $37.5 billion. While this figure was down 18.4% compared to the peak volumes seen during the same period in the previous year, it still represented a healthy 16.8% increase over the first quarter of 2026.
Athene USA maintained its stronghold as the undisputed leader in the MYGA space, capturing a commanding 19.8% market share. New York Life secured the second-ranked position, followed by Nationwide, Massachusetts Mutual Life Companies, and Corebridge Financial to round out the top five. Athene Annuity’s "Athene MYG 3 with MVA" product was recognized as the single best-selling multi-year guaranteed annuity across all distribution channels for the quarter.
Indexed Annuities and New Market Entrants
Indexed annuities recorded $30.9 billion in sales for the second quarter, up 16.4% sequentially while dipping a modest 3.6% year-over-year. These products provide a safety floor of no less than zero percent alongside excess interest tied to the performance of external benchmarks, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500®.
Athene USA led the indexed annuity category with a 12.2% market share, trailed closely by Allianz Life in second place, and Sammons Financial Companies, Corebridge Financial, and Fidelity & Guaranty Life completing the top five. The top-selling individual product in this category was Athene’s "Athene Ascent Pro 10."
Sheryl J. Moore, CEO of Wink, Inc., and Moore Market Intelligence, highlighted the rapid expansion and competitive intensity within this specific sector. “New companies are entering the indexed annuity market like crazy!” Moore stated. “We’ve had five new entrants in the past year, and I am anticipating two others before this year has closed.” This influx of new capital and carrier participation underscores the enduring appeal of index-linked protection in modern retirement portfolios.
Structured Annuities Set All-Time Records
Perhaps the most notable milestone of the quarter belonged to structured annuities—frequently referred to as registered index-linked annuities (RILAs)—which achieved a historic high. Sales reached $22.1 billion, representing an 8.4% increase over the previous quarter and an exceptional 21.4% jump compared to the second quarter of 2025. This performance shattered the prior all-time high set in the fourth quarter of 2025 by 3.5%.
Structured annuities offer consumers a limited negative floor paired with growth tied to external indexes or subaccounts. Equitable Financial captured the #1 position in this booming sector with an 18.7% market share, followed by Allianz Life, Jackson National Life, Prudential, and Brighthouse Financial. Notably, Equitable’s "Structured Capital Strategies Plus 21" reigned as the top-selling structured annuity across all distribution channels for the ninth consecutive quarter.
“It was another record quarter for structured annuities,” Moore remarked. “I am not surprised to see that sales of this product line continue to reach new heights, given the current market environment!”
Traditional Variable and Income Annuities
Traditional variable annuities, which feature no principal floor and expose holders directly to subaccounts invested in equities, bonds, or commodities, recorded $17.8 billion in sales. This represented a 4.7% quarterly gain and a 16.1% annual improvement. Jackson National Life dominated the category with a 22.4% market share, powered by its flagship "Perspective II Flexible Premium Variable & Fixed Deferred Annuity," which secured the title of #1 selling variable annuity for the twenty-ninth consecutive quarter. Nationwide, Equitable Financial, New York Life, and Lincoln National Life completed the top five.
Meanwhile, the income annuity market demonstrated strong demand for foundational cash flows. Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIAs) brought in $2.8 billion (up 28.3% quarter-over-quarter), while Deferred Income Annuities (DIAs) surged to $821.7 million (up 54.6% sequentially). New York Life dominated both income segments, commanding a staggering 48.5% market share in SPIAs and 50.7% in DIAs.
Top Carriers Across the Overall Market
When aggregating all annuity product lines, Athene USA emerged as the preeminent market leader for the second quarter of 2026, capturing an overall market share of 10.8%. New York Life secured the second-place ranking, supported heavily by its dominant performance in income products and traditional fixed portfolios. Jackson National Life, Equitable Financial, and Nationwide rounded out the top five overall carriers.
In the deferred annuity landscape specifically, Athene USA again led the field with an 11.2% market share, followed by New York Life, Jackson National Life, Equitable Financial, and Allianz Life. For non-variable deferred products, Athene captured an impressive 16.3% share, leading New York Life, Corebridge Financial, Nationwide, and Massachusetts Mutual.
Broader Industry Implications and Future Outlook
The Q2 2026 sales data released by Wink, Inc. paints a picture of an insurance and retirement sector that is successfully adapting to evolving consumer demographics and macroeconomic shifts. As baby boomers continue to transition into retirement en masse, the demand for guaranteed income sources and downside protection remains structurally elevated.
The record-breaking performance of structured annuities, alongside the steady influx of new carriers into the indexed annuity space, suggests that financial professionals and insurance manufacturers are aggressively innovating to meet consumer appetites for growth coupled with risk mitigation. Conversely, the normalization of multi-year guaranteed annuity sales from their historic highs reflects a natural market adjustment as interest rate expectations stabilize.
Industry observers note that as regulatory scrutiny evolves and digital distribution channels mature, the competitive landscape among top-tier carriers will likely intensify further. With nearly three decades of historical tracking, Wink’s Sales & Market Report continues to serve as the definitive benchmark for insurers, reinsurers, distributors, and regulators seeking transparency into product trends, crediting methods, distribution dynamics, and surrender charge structures.
For further information regarding the 116th edition of Wink’s Sales & Market Report, or to explore comprehensive due-diligence tools such as AnnuitySpecs and LifeSpecs, stakeholders can visit www.WinkIntel.com or contact Wink, Inc. directly in Des Moines, Iowa.
