Is Sentinel Security Life a good annuity company?
Not for most new buyers right now. AM Best cut Sentinel Security Life's financial strength rating to B (Fair) from B++ in January 2026, then cut it again to C+ (Marginal) on September 22, 2026, and kept the rating under review with negative implications both times. Most licensed strategists set A- as the floor for new business, so a C+ rating puts this carrier well below what many buyers and advisors will accept. The company has a genuine 75-plus-year track record in the MYGA market through its Personal Choice series, but the rating trend right now matters more than that history. If you already own a Sentinel contract, the guarantee still stands behind the rating on file; if you are shopping for a new policy, compare A- or better carriers first.
Sentinel Security Life at a glance
| Legal name | Sentinel Security Life Insurance Company |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Founded | 1948 |
| AM Best rating | C+ (Marginal), downgraded September 22, 2026 from B (Fair), which itself followed a January 23, 2026 downgrade from B++; under review with negative implications |
| What it sells | Personal Choice MYGA series; other fixed annuities |
| Typical minimum premium | $5,000, varies by product |
| Regulator | Utah Insurance Department |
Where Sentinel Security Life sits on the AM Best scale
C+ is grade 10 of 13. Most buyers look for A- or better for a long-term contract.
- A++
- A+
- A
- A-
- B++
- B+
- B
- B-
- C++
- C+Sentinel Security Life
- C
- C-
- D
Today's rates for Sentinel Security Life
Rates change often and vary by state, term and deposit size. Get today's numbers for your state, side by side with other top-rated carriers. Free, with no obligation.
Sentinel Security Life Insurance Company has sold fixed annuities out of Salt Lake City since 1948, and for most of that history it built a steady, if modest, following among MYGA buyers through its Personal Choice series. Two rating actions in 2026 change how this review needs to be read.
Sentinel Security Life's financial strength
AM Best downgraded Sentinel Security Life to B (Fair) on January 23, 2026, moving it down from B++, and placed the rating under review with negative implications. On September 22, 2026, AM Best cut the rating again, to C+ (Marginal), citing deteriorating capital levels and regulatory capital ratios in the first half of 2026, a trend AM Best says has continued since 2024. The rating remains under review with negative implications. A "C+" rating sits in AM Best's Marginal category, well below the Excellent and Superior tiers most conservative buyers look for, and "under review with negative implications" means AM Best itself flags a real possibility of another downgrade before the review closes. Sentinel remains supervised by the Utah Insurance Department, and a state guaranty association layers additional protection on top of the carrier's own strength, up to a state-specific limit. Confirm the current rating directly with AM Best before relying on any figure here, since rating actions move on their own schedule.
The company's age works in its favor in one sense: more than 75 years of continuous operation through multiple interest rate cycles is a real data point, and it has kept a tight focus on fixed annuities the entire time rather than drifting into unrelated lines. That history does not offset a live downgrade, though, and buyers weighing a new contract should treat the current rating, not the company's age, as the deciding fact.
What types of annuities does Sentinel Security Life offer?
- Personal Choice MYGA series. Sentinel's multi-year guaranteed annuity lineup spans several term lengths, each with one fixed rate locked in for the full term and no market exposure. Terms and rates are revised periodically as the company adjusts to market conditions.
- Other fixed annuities. A smaller shelf of additional fixed products aimed at conservative, tax-deferred accumulation outside the Personal Choice brand.
Who is Sentinel Security Life best for?
Given the two 2026 downgrades, this is a harder recommendation than it would have been a year ago. Buyers who already hold a Sentinel contract are not affected in the sense that the guarantee still runs through the company's current rating, whatever that turns out to be, but anyone shopping for a brand-new policy should treat the C+ rating as a serious factor, not a footnote.
That said, two groups may still have a reason to look. Buyers who already have a long relationship with Sentinel and understand the current rating picture may decide the company's specialized, stable product focus still fits their plan. And buyers deliberately laddering MYGAs across several carriers to diversify credit risk sometimes accept a lower-rated carrier for a small slice of a larger portfolio, in exchange for a potentially higher stated rate, as long as they go in with eyes open about the trade-off.
How does Sentinel Security Life compare to other carriers?
Whenever you are choosing between several MYGA carriers, run each one through the same short checklist:
- Current AM Best rating. Most conservative buyers set A- or better as the minimum; a C+ rating, like Sentinel's current one, falls well outside that range.
- Rate and term together. A modestly higher rate on a shorter or longer term is not automatically better; run the actual dollars for your specific term.
- Surrender schedule. Know exactly how many years your money is locked up and what the surrender charge looks like if you need it early.
- Free withdrawal allowance. Most MYGAs let you pull some percentage of the account value each year without a penalty; confirm the number before you buy.
A licensed strategist can run Sentinel's current numbers next to A- and A-rated carriers so you can see exactly what you would be trading away, or gaining, at each rating level.
Contact Sentinel Security Life
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | www.sentinelsecuritylife.com |
| Customer service | 1-800-645-8265 |
| Mailing address | Sentinel Security Life Insurance Company, 1 Triad Center, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84180 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain |
Other annuity companies to consider
- SILAC: another Utah-market fixed annuity carrier, worth comparing side by side
- Athene: A+ rated, the top seller of fixed annuities nationwide
- MassMutual Ascend: A+ rated, broad MYGA and FIA lineup
- Oceanview: another rate-focused MYGA carrier worth pricing against Sentinel
- Browse all annuity company reviews
Pros and cons
Pros
- More than 75 years of continuous operation as a Utah-chartered carrier
- Personal Choice MYGA rates have historically run competitive against larger carriers
- Long, specialized focus on fixed annuity products rather than a scattered product line
- Overseen by the Utah Insurance Department under the state's solvency framework
Cons
- AM Best downgraded the company to B (Fair) on January 23, 2026, from B++, then cut it again to C+ (Marginal) on September 22, 2026
- The rating remains under review with negative implications, meaning it could fall further
- A C+ rating sits well below the A- floor that most licensed strategists use for new placements
- Narrower product menu than diversified carriers, limited mainly to MYGAs and basic fixed annuities
- Recent rating history makes this a weaker choice for buyers who prioritize long-term financial strength
Frequently asked questions
Should I be concerned about Sentinel Security Life's financial strength?
Yes, it deserves a close look before you commit new money. AM Best moved Sentinel Security Life down to B (Fair) on January 23, 2026, from B++, then cut it again to C+ (Marginal) on September 22, 2026, citing weaker capital levels and regulatory capital ratios through the first half of 2026. The rating is still under review with negative implications, which signals AM Best sees a real chance of a further downgrade. That is well below the A- threshold most strategists treat as a minimum for new business. Your state's guaranty association still provides a backstop up to a set limit, but that coverage is a safety net, not a reason to overlook a weakening rating.
What annuity products does Sentinel Security Life sell?
The Personal Choice series is Sentinel's flagship multi-year guaranteed annuity, sold in several term lengths with a fixed rate locked in at issue and no market exposure. The company also offers a smaller line of other fixed annuities for conservative, tax-deferred accumulation. Terms, minimums and state availability vary, so confirm current details with a licensed strategist before comparing it against other carriers.
How would I purchase a Sentinel Security Life annuity?
Sentinel sells exclusively through licensed insurance agents, not directly to consumers. Given the recent downgrade, most strategists will walk you through Sentinel's numbers alongside A- and A-rated alternatives so you can weigh a potentially higher stated rate against the added rating risk before deciding.
Written and reviewed by
James Forren Warren
Licensed Retirement Income Strategist · License #20551202
James Forren Warren is a licensed Retirement Income Strategist with Tax Free Wealth Plan. For the past five years he has helped individuals and families turn their savings into retirement income they can count on. He writes and reviews the annuity research on this site and keeps it plain: what a product does, what it costs you, and who it actually fits.
Sources
Educational only, not investment, tax or legal advice. Tax Free Wealth Plan LLC is a licensed insurance agency, not a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer. Annuities are not bank deposits, are not FDIC insured and are not guaranteed by any government agency. Guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Features, rates and availability vary by state and change over time; the contract and disclosure documents govern.
