American National Annuity Customer Service — Practical Guide for Policyholders and Advisors

Overview and institutional context

American National Insurance Company (founded 1905) is a long-established carrier with a full annuity product line that includes fixed annuities, fixed indexed annuities (FIAs), and guaranteed lifetime income riders. As with any insurer, high-quality customer service is central to policyholder retention; American National publicly emphasizes long-term guarantees, and that focus affects how annuity servicing, surrender processing and income elections are administered.

From a practical perspective, expect service processes that follow industry norms: written election forms for benefit commencement, required verification documents for distributions, surrender schedules tied to contract issue dates, and a formal escalation path for disputes. Knowing the exact steps and required documents in advance can shorten turnaround times from weeks to days.

Contact channels, hours and initial intake

Primary customer service is best started via the company’s official website (https://www.americannational.com) where policyholders can locate phone numbers, secure messaging and downloadable forms. Many annuity matters require signed originals; customer-service representatives will typically instruct you to mail originals to the company’s contract administration office or to fax using a secured, documented channel.

Typical channel hierarchy: phone for immediate status and intake, secure portal for account access and statements, email/secure message for case-specific documentation, and certified mail for original signature forms. If you are calling, have your contract number, Social Security number or tax ID, and a valid government ID ready to verify identity — this reduces verification time from an average 12–18 minutes to under 7 minutes on well-staffed lines.

Policy servicing: common transactions and expected timelines

Common annuity transactions handled by American National customer service include contract issuance, beneficiary updates, 1035 exchange acceptance, annuitization (income commencement), systematic withdrawals, and surrender requests. Processing timelines in the industry standard: beneficiary or address updates processed within 5–10 business days; routine partial withdrawals completed within 3–7 business days after receipt of documentation; full surrenders often require an identity check and can take 10–21 business days depending on whether a market-value adjustment (MVA) or surrender charge applies.

For tax-sensitive actions, such as RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) calculations for IRAs and qualified annuities, request written confirmation and the company’s RMD worksheet. Expect to receive a breakdown showing contract value as of December 31, plan balance aggregation rules used, and the RMD amount — these worksheets typically arrive within 3–5 business days after a request if the company has all year-end valuation data.

Fees, riders, surrender charges and contract nuances

American National annuity contracts commonly include surrender charge schedules and, for certain lifetime income guarantees, an annual rider fee. Industry-typical numbers you will see: surrender schedules of 5–10 years with diminishing percentages (for example: 7% first year down to 0% by year 6–10), and guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) rider fees typically range from 0.90% to 1.50% annually of the contract value. Exact figures must be confirmed on the contract’s policy pages and the illustration you received at issue.

Important contract features to verify immediately upon receipt: free-look period length (usually 10–30 days depending on state law), whether the product is MVA-based, the method used for index crediting in an FIA (point-to-point, annual reset, monthly averaged), and any restrictions on spousal continuation or commutation. These details directly affect taxation, liquidity and estate planning outcomes.

Escalation, complaints and regulatory options

If initial customer-service contacts do not resolve a discrepancy, use the formal escalation path: request a written case number, the name and title of the representative, and escalation to the “Annuity Administration Supervisor” or “Contract Services Manager.” Document dates, representative names, and reference numbers — regulators respond more quickly when an insurer can produce a clear audit trail.

Should the issue remain unresolved, file a complaint with your state insurance department. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides consumer complaint data and complaint ratios by company (see https://content.naic.org). You can also request an internal appeal through American National’s internal grievance process; the company must provide timelines for appeal handling in writing under most state laws (commonly 30–60 days for a substantive reply).

Digital self-service tools and advisor portals

American National offers online account access for contract owners and a separate producer/advisor portal for commission statements, illustrations and transaction initiation. Using the secure policyholder portal accelerates tasks such as requesting statements, initiating transfers, and downloading 1099-R forms — many customers complete routine requests without needing phone support, reducing processing time by up to 50% compared to paper submissions.

Advisors should register for the producer portal to initiate client transactions electronically (where allowed), obtain current product guides and view case status. Electronic submissions require e-signature setup and identity verification; expect initial portal activation to take 2–5 business days once all producer licensing and appointment paperwork are validated.

Quick reference checklist (useful items to have before contacting customer service)

• Contract number, client SSN or tax ID, and current mailing address; have a government ID ready for verification.
• Copy of the annuity contract and most recent statement — these show surrender schedules, riders and the contract anniversary date that determine penalties.
• For tax or RMD inquiries: year-end valuation or 12/31 statement, plan type (IRA, 403(b), qualified), and beneficiary designation paperwork.
• If escalating: written notes of prior contacts with dates, representative names, and any case or confirmation numbers.

Is American National Insurance still in business?

Following its announcement several months ago to leave the homeowners insurance business in nine states including California and Louisiana, American National appears to be exiting the line in all states.

Is American National a good annuity company?

With over a hundred years of history and an A financial strength rating from AM Best, American National is an old and stable annuity provider. The company sells a few different types of annuities, with fixed deferred annuities, index deferred annuities and single premium immediate annuities all on offer.

What is the phone number for American National annuity?

Call (866) 612-6976 to apply now or speak to an agent near you. *Rate is as of 08/01/25 and is subject to change.

Did American National get bought out?

An AI Overview is not available for this searchCan’t generate an AI overview right now. Try again later.AI Overview Yes, American National was bought out by Brookfield Reinsurance in a $5.1 billion all-cash transaction that closed in May 2022. Brookfield Reinsurance acquired all of the issued shares of American National Group, Inc.  Key Details 

• Buyer: Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.
• Target: American National Group, Inc.
• Date of Acquisition: May 2022
• Transaction Value: Approximately $5.1 billion
• Nature of Transaction: An all-cash deal
• Outcome: American National became a subsidiary of Brookfield Reinsurance.

AI responses may include mistakes. Learn moreBrookfield Reinsurance Completes $5.1 Billion Acquisition of American …Search. Search. Brookfield Reinsurance Completes $5.1 Billion Acquisition of American National. May 22, 2022. Key step in executin…American National InsuranceAmerican National to exit the life insurance businessMar 26, 2025 — In May 2022, Brookfield Reinsurance completed the acquisition of American National Group, Inc., the parent company of …InsuranceNewsNet(function(){
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How do I get my money back from an annuity?

4 ways to get out of an annuity

1. Pay the surrender charge. Most annuity companies allow you to cash out, or surrender, the contract for its current value, or withdraw a portion of the accumulated funds before income payments begin.
2. Withdraw options.
3. 1035 exchange.
4. Sell a portion of your payments.

How do I contact AIG customer service?

Or, for more specific needs, please contact us using the options below.

1. Individuals. Private Client Select. U.S. Toll Free: +1 (877) 418-1016. AIG Travel.
2. Businesses (Brokers/Agents, Risk Managers) North America Business Lines. U.S. Toll Free: +1 (877) TO-SERVE.
3. Claims. Business Claims. U.S. Toll Free: +1 (800) 242-2418.