Updated November 2026
Short answer: Athene's top starting comp on our annuity carrier list is 8%, on Performance Elite with the 15-year surrender period for issue ages 0-70. Ascent Pro Bonus, Agility, Aviator and the 10-year Performance Elite reach 7% for ages 0-70, and most Athene grids step down after age 70.
Our job is to beat your current annuity commission.
Stuck at your current commission level, or simply want higher commission? Our sole purpose is to scale your business by beating your current commission levels. No matter your current commission level, if you meet our minimum requirements (solo producers have none), you automatically get higher commission than where you are today. Starting comp is for every producer, including new producers with no experience — there is no production minimum. If you have strong production to show, we contract you above our starting comp. Established agencies, financial advisors and financial firms, and healthcare agencies can earn much higher too. Submit your application, schedule a Zoom, and we review your current commission levels carrier by carrier and contract you above them — with full back office support, case management, carrier contracting and sales tools included.
Athene starting comp by product
Athene's rates depend mostly on two things: the surrender period and the client's issue age. Its 15-year Performance Elite pays the most at 8%, its 10-year products pay 6% to 7%, and its 7-year options pay 2.5% to 5%. The table shows the top starting comp for each Athene product on our annuity carrier list, with rates verified in October 2026. Starting comp is the level every producer starts at, with no experience requirement and no production minimum.
| Product | Top starting comp | Where the top rate applies |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Elite | 8% | 15 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Ascent Pro Bonus | 7% | 10 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Agility | 7% | 10 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Aviator | 7% | 10 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Ascent Accumulator | 6% | 10 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Ascent Pro | 6% | 10 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| AccuMax | 5% | 7 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Protector | 4.5% | 7 Yr · Age 0-70 |
| Activate | 3% | Period Certain 10-14 Yrs · All Ages |
| Max Rate | 2.5% | 7 Yr · Age 0-70 |
See the full Athene grid for every surrender period, issue-age band and payout option.
How to read the Athene grid
Performance Elite shows the pattern clearly. On our grid it pays 8% on the 15-year version for ages 0-70 and 7.5% for ages 71-73, 7% on the 10-year version for ages 0-70, and 5% on the 7-year version for ages 0-70. Longer surrender periods and younger issue ages pay more across the Athene lineup, and most Athene grids step down after age 70.
- Issue age: commission steps down in older age bands, so the same product pays less for an older client.
- Surrender period: longer surrender periods pay more than shorter ones. Never choose a longer period for the commission; it has to fit the client.
- Payout option: heaped options pay the full first-year commission at issue; trail options pay less up front and a percentage in later years. See heaped vs trail commissions.
- Chargebacks: if a contract is surrendered or the owner dies within the carrier's chargeback window, part of the commission can be recovered. Check the current terms in your contract.
How Athene compares with other carriers
Athene's 8% top rate ranks tenth among the 68 carriers on our list, behind Mountain Life (10%), American National, EquiTrust and National Western (9%), F&G, Prosperity Life Group (S.USA) and SILAC (8.5%), and Atlantic Coast Life and Sentinel Security Life (8.25%). The top rate is only one input: compare the products your clients actually buy, the age bands you write most and the chargeback terms. See our ranking of the highest-paying annuity carriers for how the top starting comp compares across all 68 carriers.
Getting contracted with Athene through BetterAnnuityComp.com
We handle Athene contracting and appointments, the carrier's product and AML training requirements, and case management from application to issue. If you already write Athene business elsewhere, share your current level: our job is to beat your current commission level carrier by carrier. Producers with strong production to show are contracted above starting comp.
Frequently asked questions
What is Athene's highest annuity commission?
On our carrier list, Athene's highest starting comp is 8% on Performance Elite with the 15-year surrender period for issue ages 0-70. Rates were verified in October 2026 and can change.
How much does Athene pay on a 10-year annuity?
For issue ages 0-70, Athene's 10-year products pay 6% to 7% on our list: 7% on Ascent Pro Bonus, Agility, Aviator and Performance Elite 10, and 6% on Ascent Accumulator and Ascent Pro.
Do Athene commissions change with the client's age?
Yes. Most Athene grids pay the top rate up to age 70 and step down for older issue ages. Agility 10, for example, pays 7% at ages 0-70, 6.5% at 71-75 and 5.5% at 76-80.
How do I get contracted with Athene through BetterAnnuityComp.com?
Apply online. We handle the Athene contracting paperwork and appointment, point you to the carrier's required product and AML training, and support your cases from application to issue. Starting comp has no experience requirement and no production minimum, and producers with strong production to show are contracted above it.
Can BetterAnnuityComp.com beat my current annuity commission?
That is our sole job: no matter your current commission level, if you meet our minimum requirements (solo producers have none), you automatically get higher commission than where you are today. Starting comp is for every producer, including new producers with no experience, and there is no production minimum. If you have strong production to show, we contract you above our starting comp, and established agencies, financial advisors and financial firms, and healthcare agencies can earn above it too. Submit your application, schedule a Zoom and share your current commission levels by carrier. We compare them carrier by carrier and contract you above them, with full back office support, case management, carrier contracting and sales tools included.
Sources
- BetterAnnuityComp.com annuity carrier list: Athene grid
- NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (#275)
Want to write Athene above starting comp? BetterAnnuityComp.com, powered by BetterLifeQuotes.com, works to beat your current annuity commission — starting comp has no experience requirement and no production minimum, and strong producers are contracted higher — plus case management and carrier contracting. Solo producers and advisors can apply here, agencies can use the agency application, and anyone can browse the annuity carrier list. See how we beat your current commission.