GALVESTON, Texas, Feb. 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American National Insurance Company (American National) announces the addition of a new indexed strategy for ANICO Strategy Indexed Annuity PLUS (ASIA PLUS), available immediately.  The One-Year Point to Point, 50% Participation Strategy with a 0% Floor, along with other interest crediting strategies, provides clients with the opportunity to earn interest based on increases in an index without the risk of investing directly in the market.

The Point to Point, 50% Participation strategy offers higher cap rates than the 100% Participation strategy, giving clients the potential to receive higher credited indexed interest while still having the protection of a 0% floor.

All One-Year Strategies available on ASIA PLUS:

• Point to Point, 50% Participation (NEW!)
• Point to Point, 100% Participation
• Performance with a Specified Rate
• Total Sum Performance with a Monthly Cap
• Declared Rate

American National believes consumers want the opportunity to allocate their premium among different interest crediting strategies without obtaining multiple contracts.  That is why there are multiple crediting strategies available.  Regardless of the strategy chosen, the premium is never placed directly in the stock market or an indexed fund and is guaranteed to never be charged negative interest, reducing the risk to the client.  ASIA PLUS bases the amount of interest credited to indexed strategies based on the change in the S&P 500^® Index.

ASIA PLUS is an accumulation vehicle that offers tax deferred growth that can provide supplemental retirement income that can help a family maintain their standard of living and provide for the retirement needs of the owner and spouse.

The optional Lifetime Income Rider gives the client the option to receive a stream of income that is guaranteed for life, even if the annuity value drops to zero.  When a client elects the Lifetime Income Rider, they can choose between two interest crediting options.

David A. Behrens, Executive Vice President of American National Insurance Company stated, “American National’s ASIA PLUS annuity provides several one year strategies based upon the change in the S&P 500^® Index that allows additional ways to build value on a tax-deferred basis while also providing the owner the option to select a Lifetime Income Rider that can provide an income stream that is guaranteed for life.”

About the Company 

American National Insurance Company (American National), headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National offers a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance and pension products. 

Financial Strength Ratings

American National Insurance Company (“American National”) has been evaluated and assigned the following ratings by nationally recognized, independent rating agencies. The ratings are current as of October 20, 2016.

Ratings reflect current independent opinions of the financial capacity of an insurance organization to meet the obligations of its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms. They are based on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the company and its management strategy. The rating agencies do not provide ratings as a recommendation to purchase insurance or annuities. The ratings are not a warranty of an insurer’s current or future ability to meet its contractual obligations.

Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time. For the most current ratings view the full rating reports on American National’s Internet site at www.americannational.com.

¹ A.M. Best’s active company rating scale is: A++ (Superior), A+ (Superior), A (Excellent), A- (Excellent), B++ (Good), B+ (Good), B (Fair), B- (Fair), C++ (Marginal), C+ (Marginal), C (Weak), C- (Weak) and D (Poor).

²Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.americannational.com.

Contact our Field Support Center at 888-501-4043

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There is not one particular interest crediting strategy that will deliver the most interest under all economic conditions. The interest credited excludes any dividends generated by the specific stocks in the S&P 500^® Index because your premium payments are not invested in the S&P^® 500 Index. The indexed strategies provide the opportunity for potential increase in the interest earnings that may be greater than those in the Declared Rate Strategy. American National and its agents do not make any recommendations regarding the selection of indexed strategies. American National and its agents do not guarantee the performance of any indexed strategies. The Declared Rate Strategy earns interest at an interest rate we declare at the beginning of each Contract Year and is guaranteed for one year. When a person buys this annuity the person is not buying an ownership interest in any stock or index. Indexed strategies earn interest related to the performance of an Index. Whether an indexed strategy earns interest or not and how much interest is earned is dependent on a number of factors: index performance, participation rate, cap and segment term. The performance of the index cannot be predicted over any given period of time. Past history of the Index is no guarantee of future performance. There is not one particular interest crediting strategy that will deliver the most interest under all economic conditions. All Segment Terms are not available in all states. Availability of strategies and Segment Terms are subject to change monthly.

The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by American National Insurance Company. S&P® and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by American National Insurance Company. American National Insurance Company’s products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500 Index.

Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of American National Insurance Company.

Form Series IA13; LIR14; SRS13; 1YRTS13; PTP13 (Forms may vary by state) 

Contact: Independent Marketing Field Support Center: 888.501.4043

Source: American National Insurance Company