Clear Spring annuity review.
A rate-table regular from the A- tier, formerly Guggenheim Life & Annuity, now part of Group 1001 — which put it at the center of the most consequential annuity rating story of summer 2026. Read this page before chasing the rate.
The issuer behind the guarantee.
An annuity guarantee is a promise from one company, sometimes lasting forty years. The product matters less than the balance sheet standing behind it.
| AM Best rating | A- (Excellent) |
|---|---|
| Outlook | Negative — revised July 31, 2026 |
| Parent | Group 1001 (also Delaware Life, Gainbridge) |
| Formerly | Guggenheim Life & Annuity |
| Total assets | Over $12 billion |
| Products | MYGA, fixed indexed, and SPIA |
Checked against public sources on 19 August 2026. Ratings change without notice — a rating without a date is not a rating.
Two developments in summer 2026 belong in any Clear Spring decision
First: on July 31, 2026, AM Best affirmed Clear Spring's A- rating but revised the outlook to negative, citing the reclassification of a large share of parent Group 1001's private credit investments as affiliated assets — the same action applied to sister companies Delaware Life and Gainbridge. A negative outlook is not a downgrade; it signals elevated probability of one. Second: AM Best's newswire reported in July 2026 that Delaware Life and Clear Spring acknowledged receiving grand jury subpoenas. A subpoena is a request for information, not an accusation or finding of wrongdoing, and no charges have been reported against either company. We state both facts plainly because a buyer comparing rates deserves them, and most rate tables will not mention either. Verify current status at AM Best before purchasing, and size any premium within your state guaranty association limit.
Three things to understand about Clear Spring.
The rate leadership and the rating pressure are the same story
Clear Spring frequently posts among the most competitive MYGA rates in the A- tier, and Group 1001's investment approach — heavier in private credit than traditional carriers — is part of how those rates are funded. The affiliated-asset concentration AM Best flagged is the other face of the same strategy. The yield is real, and so is the reason it exists.
The Guggenheim history explains the paper trail
Clear Spring is the renamed Guggenheim Life & Annuity, and older contracts, reviews, and filings appear under that name. Same Texas-domiciled entity, same book. If you hold a Guggenheim contract, this is your carrier.
The complaint index deserves a look alongside the rating
Industry reviewers have noted Clear Spring's NAIC complaint index running higher than its market share would predict. Complaint indices are noisy for smaller carriers, but paired with a negative outlook, the sensible posture is conservative premium sizing and full use of the free-look period to read the issued contract.
How to read any carrier.
Palm Wealth Capital publishes independent annuity research and education. No carrier pays for placement on this site. Nothing here is individualized investment, tax, or legal advice, and no page on this site is a recommendation to buy or avoid any contract. Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
Holding a Clear Spring contract — or being shown one?
Send the illustration or statement. We will check Clear Spring’s current AM Best rating and outlook against the date on this page, read the surrender schedule and any market value adjustment, price the riders, and tell you what the guaranteed terms are rather than the illustrated ones. If the answer is that you don’t need it, that is the answer you get — there is nothing here for us to sell you.