The Pacific Guardian Life Diamond Head 4 is a 4-year multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGAA savings-style annuity that promises one interest rate for a fixed number of years.Full definition →) paying 5.20% a year if held to the end of its term (yield to surrenderWhat you actually earn per year if you hold the annuity to the end of its surrender window.Full definition →), backed by Pacific Guardian Life (A AM Best). The minimum premium is $10,000, with 10% free withdrawal per year. Your principal is protected from market swings and growth is tax-deferred until withdrawal.
| Carrier | Pacific Guardian Life A AM Best |
| Product type | Multi-year guaranteed annuity (MYGA) |
| Guaranteed term | 4 years |
| Yield to surrenderWhat you actually earn per year if you hold the annuity to the end of its surrender window.Full definition → | 5.20% |
| Minimum premium | $10,000 |
| Maximum premium | $1,000,000 |
| Free withdrawalThe slice of your annuity you can take out each year with no exit fee.Full definition → | 10% per year |
| Market value adjustmentA rate-driven bonus or haircut on big early withdrawals from an MVA annuity.Full definition → | No |
| Maximum issue age | 85 |
| Tax treatment | Tax-deferred growth |
Rates are not offers and change often; confirm the current number before applying. Guarantees rest on the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability. Not FDIC insured.
Carrier brochure
Read Pacific Guardian Life's own brochure for the Diamond Head 4 (PDF). It is the carrier's document. The annuity contract, not this brochure, governs. Product features, riders, and availability vary by state; always read the full contract and disclosures before purchasing. Rates are not guaranteed by this brochure; see our dated rates page. Any guarantees are subject to the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability and are not FDIC insured.
Download the Pacific Guardian Life brochure (PDF)Carrier form PGL MYGA 010123, dated 2023-01-01. Last verified July 23, 2026.
Is 5.20% the best 4-year rate you can get? A Certified Annuity Advisor checks the Diamond Head 4 against every carrier we track, free.
Check my best rateA multi-year guaranteed annuity is the insurance industry's version of a CD: you deposit a lump sum, the carrier guarantees one fixed rate for the full term, and your principal never rides the market. The trade is liquidity, since the money is meant to stay put until the term ends. Growth compounds tax-deferred, which is why the same rate often nets more than a CD held in a taxable account. Read the full MYGA guide.
| Year | Rate | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5.20% | $5,200 | $105,200 |
| Year 2 | 5.20% | $5,470 | $110,670 |
| Year 3 | 5.20% | $5,755 | $116,425 |
| Year 4 | 5.20% | $6,054 | $122,479 |
| Total | $22,479 | $122,479 |
Compound-annually projection on the guaranteed rate for the full term. An estimate, not a quote. It assumes no withdrawals and does not model taxes. Rates are compiled from a licensed carrier rate feed and public sources and are examples, not offers.
A CD's interest is typically taxed every year; the Diamond Head 4's growth compounds tax-deferred with the rate locked for the full 4 years. After-tax at a 24% bracket, against an illustrative 3.50% CD:
| Diamond Head 4 at 5.20% | CD at 3.50% | |
|---|---|---|
| After-tax value at year 4 | $117,084 | $111,072 |
| Difference | +$6,012 over 4 years | |
An estimate, not a quote. Assumes no withdrawals, a 24% federal bracket, and an illustrative CD rate; actual CD rates vary. CDs carry FDIC insurance; annuity guarantees rest on the carrier's claims-paying ability. Run your own numbers.
Rates change often and vary by state. A Certified Annuity Advisor confirms the current Pacific Guardian Life number, checks availability where you live, and lines it up against other carriers, at no cost and no obligation.
The Diamond Head 4 is filed and available in 45 states as of the last feed update. Availability is confirmed during the application.
Good news: the Diamond Head 4 is filed in . Availability is confirmed during the application.
The Diamond Head 4 is not filed in . Here are the top MYGAs that are:
This is a 4-year commitment, and the trade for the guaranteed rate is an early-exit fee the industry calls a surrender charge. It only applies to withdrawals above the free amount, it shrinks every year you hold, and it disappears at the end of the term. Our guide to how surrender periods work explains the lock-up in full:
| What works | The honest downsides |
|---|---|
| Savers who can leave money alone for 4 years | Anyone who may need the funds before the term ends |
| People who want a CD-style guarantee at a higher rate | People wanting market upside |
| Anyone tired of watching a balance swing | Savers who need FDIC insurance specifically |
| Non-qualified money seeking tax deferral | Those under 59.5 planning to withdraw soon |
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