AuguStar Retirement expands annuity platform with launch of StarStream Variable Annuity

New variable annuity adds flexible income planning options for financial professionals

AuguStar Retirement has expanded its annuity lineup with the launch of StarStream^® Variable Annuity, a new solution designed to support retirement income planning for clients with varying goals and timelines.

“StarStream reflects our commitment to supporting our clients and financial professionals as a long-term retirement and income planning partner, with a comprehensive lineup and a streamlined, client-focused experience,” said Cliff Jack, president and CEO, AuguStar Retirement.

Designed to support confident retirement income planning, StarStream offers multiple income approaches within a single product framework, allowing clients and financial professionals to align solutions with client priorities such as predictable income, legacy planning or income timing.

“StarStream was developed to offer clients maximum flexibility and choice,” said Marc Socol, chief revenue officer, AuguStar Retirement. “By offering multiple income designs on one chassis, we’re giving clients and their financial professionals the ability to tailor solutions more efficiently while simplifying planning and implementation, all in one product set.”

Four distinct income designs
The StarStream Variable Annuity offers four leading income benefits on a single chassis, allowing financial professionals to select one living benefit at issue, each designed to support a distinct retirement income objective¹:

Level: Designed to provide steady, predictable lifetime income
Protector: Combines steady lifetime income with an enhanced protected death benefit to support legacy goals
Boost: Offers higher withdrawals earlier in retirement, with lower withdrawals later
Daily: Looks back at daily step-ups to capture market gains, allowing a potentially greater benefit base

The four options are available within a single product structure, enabling financial professionals to address a range of client scenarios without changing platforms or contracts.

Designed for flexibility and confidence
StarStream supports both near‑ and long‑term income strategies, including opportunities to increase future withdrawal rates when income is deferred. The product provides access to a diversified investment lineup that includes equity, fixed income and a fixed account, subject to allocation requirements when an optional benefit is elected.

AuguStar Retirement positions StarStream as part of its broader annuity suite, designed to support consultative planning conversations and improve efficiency.

Financial professionals can learn more about how StarStream can be adapted for various client needs by visiting the AuguStar website.

About AuguStar Retirement
AuguStar Retirement markets variable, fixed index and multi-year guaranteed annuities through banks, brokers/dealers, independent marketing organizations and insurance professionals. AuguStar Retirement is a member of the Constellation family of businesses, which also includes AuguStar Life, AuguStar Seguros, Constellation Investments, Constellation Re and Constellation Institutional Markets. Constellation’s investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’, are two of North America’s largest long-term institutional investors, managing CA$796 billion in net assets, including CA$136 billion in private capital investments (as of Dec. 31, 2025). More information is available at augustarfinancial.com.

¹ Optional living benefits are available for an additional cost and subject to specific terms, conditions, and limitations.

Products issued by AuguStar Life Insurance Company. Guarantees are based upon the claims-paying ability of AuguStar Life Insurance Company, a member of the Constellation Insurance, Inc. family of companies. Guarantees do not apply to the investment performance or account value of the variable portfolios. As with any investment, investing in variable portfolios involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Product availability, including features and benefits, varies by state. Issuer is not licensed to conduct business in New York. StarStream variable annuity ICC25-VA-1 and ICC25-VA-1U is distributed by AuguStar Distributors, Inc., Member FINRA.

Fitch upgrades Constellation’s insurance subsidiaries’ rating to ‘A’

Constellation Insurance, Inc., announces today that Fitch Ratings has upgraded its Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating of its insurance subsidiaries, AuguStar® Life Insurance Company, AuguStar Life Assurance Corporation and National Security Life and Annuity Co, to “A” and assigned a stable outlook.

“We are very pleased Fitch has recognized our strategic transformation into a highly-capitalized, well-diversified, retail and institutional franchise with strong market position and substantial growth momentum across each of our six core businesses,” says Anurag Chandra, Constellation founder, chairman and chief executive officer.

In its release, Fitch noted “Constellation, through its rebranded AuguStar Life and Retirement lines of business, has gained good traction in creating market-leading life and annuity businesses that offer a broad array of products distributed through a growing network.” Fitch also notes, “This success is reflected in the company’s increasing sales and core earnings. In addition to life and retirement, the company has enhanced its geographical and business diversification through its expanding operations in LATAM, reinsurance, asset management and institutional sectors, which should further support earnings stability and growth over time.” Additionally, Fitch noted that the rating upgrade reflects “the company’s improved operating scale and lower-risk business profile.”

About Constellation
Constellation is a diversified financial services group offering insurance, reinsurance, asset management and institutional markets solutions through AuguStar Retirement, AuguStar Life, AuguStar Seguros, Constellation Investments, Constellation Re and Constellation Institutional Markets. Constellation’s investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’, are two of the largest long-term institutional investors in North America.

AuguStar Retirement’s Orbiter Growth FIA adds new layer of protection with EGAP

In a significant move to broaden its reach with bank and broker-dealers, AuguStar_® Retirement, a Constellation company, introduces more innovative enhancements to the Orbiter_® family of fixed indexed annuities (FIA). The introduction of the new tiered Enhanced Guaranteed Accumulation Protection (EGAP) option for Orbiter Growth provides a unique feature designed for guaranteed growth potential.

“EGAP for the popular Orbiter Growth FIA is a game changer for financial professionals within banks and broker-dealers,” says Marc Socol, AuguStar Retirement chief revenue officer. “This option is particularly of interest for clients at or nearing retirement and looking to weather market volatility. Adding the EGAP option offers a guaranteed simple interest rate of return every year for the client’s contract term.”

Orbiter Growth and Income annuities are launching five new index options offered in partnership with MerQube, a pioneer in technology for next generation index-linked investing. The full index lineup aims to provide increased diversification through state-of-the-art intraday technology, offering the potential for improved risk-adjusted performance.

“Our commitment to providing institutions with access to some of the most innovative and secure retirement solutions on the market is reflected in the design of the Orbiter Growth annuity,” Socol continued. “This, and other recent product enhancements and distribution expansion efforts are cornerstone to our diversification and growth strategy, offering greater flexibility to financial professionals and their clients.”

Visit the AuguStar website to learn more about AuguStar Retirement fixed indexed annuities.

About AuguStar Retirement
AuguStar Retirement markets fixed indexed annuities and multi-year guaranteed annuities through banks, brokers/dealers, independent marketing organizations and insurance professionals. AuguStar Retirement is a member of the Constellation family of companies, which also includes AuguStar Life, AuguStar Seguros, Constellation Investments, Constellation Re and Constellation Institutional Markets. Constellation’s investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’, are two of North America’s largest long-term institutional investors, managing more than CA$740 billion in net assets, including more than CA$150 billion in private capital investments (as of Dec. 31, 2024). More information is available at augustarfinancial.com.

AuguStar Retirement unveils enhanced OrionShield annuities with new premium bonus options

Innovative features designed to boost client growth potential

AuguStar_® Retirement, a Constellation company, announces today exciting new features of the popular OrionShield^SM annuities, propelling the company’s expansion within the Independent Marketing Organization (IMO) distribution channel. These innovative features are designed to help financial professionals provide security, stability and growth potential for clients, giving them a powerful head start on their financial journey.

The OrionShield 10-year fixed indexed annuity (FIA) offers financial professionals and their clients a new tiered premium bonus structure. This new structure allows clients to select up to a 24% premium bonus credited to their initial premium on day one. The new premium bonus options are also available for ages 81-85, an age group underserved in the industry.

“The premium bonus options have always been popular for OrionShield,” says Marc Socol, AuguStar Retirement’s chief revenue officer. “By featuring five different levels of premium bonuses, OrionShield 10 rises to a new level.”

In addition, AuguStar has a new lineup of index options, including the S&P MARC 5 index and three new options developed in partnership with MerQube, a pioneer in technology for next generation index-linked investing, offering more diversification opportunities for potential returns. The full index lineup features targeted volatility levels to offer faster, more precise risk management, allowing for quicker responses to market fluctuations, enhancing risk-adjusted returns.

Socol continues, “In under two years our products have exceeded expectations with independent marketing organizations, the enhancements launched today position OrionShield among the most competitive in the industry.”

Visit the AuguStar website to learn more about AuguStar Retirement fixed indexed annuities.

About AuguStar Retirement

AuguStar Retirement markets fixed indexed annuities and multi-year guaranteed annuities through banks, brokers/dealers, independent marketing organizations and insurance professionals. AuguStar Retirement is a member of the Constellation family of companies, which also includes AuguStar Life, AuguStar Seguros, Constellation Investments, Constellation Re and Constellation Institutional Markets. Constellation’s investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’, are two of North America’s largest long-term institutional investors, managing more than CA$740 billion in net assets, including more than CA$150 billion in private capital investments (as of Dec. 31, 2024). More information is available at augustarfinancial.com.

Indices available with an OrionShield FIA include S&P 500 Index, Nasdaq Night Owl Index, S&P 500 Dynamic Intraday TCA Index, S&P Marc 5 Index, Dynamic Balanced Asset 10 Index, Strategic Dynamic Balanced Asset 8 Index and Multi-Asset Dynamic Managed 5 Index.

AuguStar Retirement rocketing to success with competitive new products and distribution expansion

AuguStar Retirement, a subsidiary of Constellation, has been making waves in the annuity marketplace since its launch in late July. The company is thrilled to announce the introduction of new and enhanced products, alongside its strategic expansion into the independent marketing organization (IMO) sales channel. This strategic move is in line with AuguStar Retirement’s commitment to providing top-tier products to an ever-widening audience.

Cliff Jack, President and CEO of AuguStar Retirement, stated, “Within the first 60 days of the AuguStar Retirement brand launch, we have made significant progress on our strategy to expand the availability and distribution of our top-tier products.”

AuguStar Retirement’s entry into the IMO channel is accompanied by key product launches with support from Innovation Design Group and exclusive distribution with Advisors Excel, CreativeOne, IAMS, Asset Marketing Systems, Impact Partnership, The Quantum Group, Gradient Insurance Brokerage and Financial Independence Group:

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGA): AuguStar Retirement has introduced MYGA products with flexible growth options, catering to various investment needs. Clients can select from three distinct growth guarantee periods: three, five, or seven years. With investments ranging from $10,000 to $2 million, customers can enjoy guaranteed growth rates for their chosen duration. An exciting feature of these MYGA offerings includes a unique nursing home rider (availability varies by state) and zero annual charges. These are popular products currently available through our traditional sales channel and with our new IMO partners.
Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIA): These top-tier products already available in the traditional distribution marketplace are now available to our IMO channels. The AuguStar Retirement FIA products are offered with payment terms of 5, 7, and 10 years. Additionally, the introduction of a FIA premium bonus rider enhances the value proposition for clients seeking secure even higher guaranteed growth in their investment.

Marc Socol, Executive Vice President, and Chief Revenue Officer of AuguStar Retirement’s distribution company, added, “With the growth of our product lineup, AuguStar Retirement is attractive to many distributors across various channels including independent broker/dealers and banks. In a very short period of time, we have been able to execute on our strategic plan, which is drawing the attention of some of the larger distributors in the marketplace. Advisors are watching us closely, and we are working hard to deliver for them.”

A vibrant new website and welcoming and engaging client materials

We also launched a refreshing client-facing AuguStar website at augustarfinancial.com. This represents a significant step forward in the AuguStar commitment to providing an exceptional experience to our clients. The design embodies the spirit of our reinvigorated brand, radiating energy, simplicity and a warm welcome to all who visit. Whether clients are seasoned investors or just beginning their financial journeys, our website is designed to be a trusted companion, making the world of finance more accessible and engaging.

What to expect from augustarfinancial.com and other client materials:

Simplicity: AuguStar Financial understands that navigating the complexities of finance can be overwhelming. Whether clients are looking for information on retirement income products, life insurance solutions or financial planning in general, they’ll find it easier and more intuitive than ever before.

Fun and engaging: Finance doesn’t have to be boring! Engaging graphics, interactive tools and user-friendly features make learning about financial planning an enjoyable experience.

Warm welcome: The AuguStar companies are committed to making every client feel valued and appreciated, and the website is an extension of that commitment.

“The client information is simplified and made easier to understand with the help of a fun new character we’ve named Aster,” says Cliff Jack. Aster, Greek for ‘star,’ is a fictional guide who helps to simplify the financial planning journey in marketing and sales materials. “We look forward to using Aster to help make retirement conversations more approachable. Ultimately, we believe Aster helps us reduce stress around planning for retirement.”

Multi-year guaranteed annuities (also known as “MYGAs”) are long-term investment vehicles designed to accumulate money on a tax-deferred basis for retirement purposes. Upon retirement, MYGAs may provide an income stream or a lump sum.

If you die during the accumulation or payout phase, your beneficiary may be eligible to receive any remaining Contract Value.

Guarantees are based solely upon the claims-paying ability of AuguStar Life Insurance Company. Not FDIC insured.

Products are issued by AuguStar Life Insurance Company.

Product and product features may vary by state. Issuer not licensed to conduct business in NY.

If you take a withdrawal or surrender during the surrender charge period, it may be subject to a surrender charge and a market value adjustment. Withdrawals are also subject to ordinary income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, a 10% federal tax penalty may apply. Tax rules require that withdrawals be taken first from any unrealized gain in the contract. Federal and state tax laws applicable to this product are subject to change. You are encouraged to consult your personal tax adviser for further information.

There is no additional tax-deferral benefit for contracts purchased in an IRA or other tax-qualified retirement plans because such retirement plans already have tax-deferred status. An annuity should only be purchased in an IRA or qualified plan if the contract owner values some of the other features of the annuity and is willing to incur any additional costs associated with the annuity.

About AuguStar Retirement

AuguStar Retirement markets fixed indexed annuities and multi-year guaranteed annuities through banks, brokers/dealers, independent marketing organizations and insurance professionals. AuguStar Retirement is a member of the Constellation Insurance family of companies. As of December 31, 2022, Constellation’s family of insurance companies has over $34 billion in total assets under management. Constellation’s investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers’, are two of North America’s largest long-term institutional investors, managing over C$649 billion in net assets, including over C$139 billion in private capital investments. More information is available at augustarfinancial.com.