MassMutual Ascend American Freedom Classic — 5-year fixed annuity at 4.60%
- Locks in 4.60% for 5 years
- Open with $25,000 to $2,000,000
- Free withdrawals allowed for:
- 10% of your balance each year
- Required IRA distributions
- Your full investment for terminal illness
Rates as of May 8, 2026
Projected balance
over 5 years
Compounded at 4.60% guaranteed. No market exposure, no fees deducted from your balance.
| Year | Earnings | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,600 | $104,600 |
| 2 | $4,812 | $109,412 |
| 3 | $5,033 | $114,445 |
| 4 | $5,264 | $119,709 |
| 5 | $5,507 | $125,216 |
| Total earnings | $25,216 | $125,216 |
Free-withdrawal allowance: 10% / yr. Withdrawals beyond the allowance trigger the surrender charge below.
- Rank vs. peers
- #154 of 171 (top is 6.35% — Mountain Life Alpine Horizon)
- Top 5-year CD
- 4.20% APY · $122,840 at maturity (taxed annually)
If you withdraw early
Surrender charge schedule
Surrender charges apply to withdrawals beyond the free-withdrawal allowance during the contract term. The charge is a percentage of the amount withdrawn, decreasing each year. They exist because the carrier matches your premium against long-duration assets — early redemption forces them to unwind those positions.
| Contract year | Charge |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8.0% |
| Year 2 | 8.0% |
| Year 3 | 7.0% |
| Year 4 | 6.0% |
| Year 5 | 5.0% |
Contract terms
What else to know
Term
5 years guaranteed at 4.60% APY
Investment range
$25,000 – $2,000,000
Rate banding
Higher investment amounts qualify for higher rates.
| Premium band | Rate |
|---|---|
| $25,000 – $100,000 | 4.40% |
| $100,000 – $2,000,000 | 4.60% |
Funding sources accepted
Roth Conversion (Full), Traditional IRA, Non-Qualified, Inherited IRA, NQ Stretch, SIMPLE IRA, IRA-Roth, TSA 403b, 457 plan, SEP IRA
Owner age
0 to 89 years old
Death benefit
Full accumulated value passes to your beneficiary, no surrender charge.
Riders & waivers
- Terminal Illness Waiver
- RMD-Friendly (RMD withdrawals exempt from surrender charge)
Maturity
30-day window at the end of the term to withdraw, reinvest, or convert to guaranteed income via annuitization.
Tax treatment
Interest accumulates tax-deferred. Personal post-tax funds: only the interest is taxable on withdrawal. Withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.
Source: MassMutual Ascend contract brochure (download PDF). Anything you act on should be confirmed against the carrier's most recent filing.
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