The Science of Safe Growth
Three mathematical engines that make the AssetShield Bonus 10 different from any CD, mutual fund, or standard annuity.
Premium Bonus
Instant EquityUnlike any account that starts at $0, this strategy injects 14% “Instant Equity” into your contract on Day 1. That bonus earns index-linked interest immediately — amplifying every gain from the start.
Participation Rate
No CapIf the BlackRock Adaptive 7% Index rises 10%, you’re credited 13.5%. No ceiling. You capture more than 100% of index growth — something no S&P 500 fund offers with principal protection.
The Contractual Floor
Never Lose PrincipalThe most powerful number in retirement is zero. If the market drops 30%, your contract credits 0% — you never lose principal or locked-in gains. Your high-water mark is permanent.
See If AssetShield Fits Your Retirement Picture
The quiz evaluates your timeline, tax situation, and income goals to tell you whether this strategy is a strong fit — or whether something else would serve you better.
⏱ About 60 seconds
Why This Strategy Wins in Volatile Markets
Most retirees fear the “Lost Decade” — where markets go sideways just as withdrawals begin. AssetShield Bonus 10 is built to solve the Sequence of Return Risk.
By combining a 0% contractual floor with a 14% day-one credit, your principal is mathematically ahead of the curve before the first market trade is even made.
The “RMD” Tax Shield
For clients with large IRAs, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can be a tax nightmare. This strategy offers:
- Tax-Deferred Velocity: Growth with no annual 1099-INT tax drag.
- Liquidity for RMDs: The 10% annual penalty-free withdrawal satisfies RMDs without touching principal.
- Probate Avoidance: Assets pass directly to beneficiaries.
Your Personalized Illustration
Enter your premium and age below to see a year-by-year projection based on the most recent 10-year BlackRock index period (1/1/2016–1/1/2026).
(premium + 14% bonus)
at end of year
at end of Year 10
| Yr | Age | Index chg | Credited rate (Idx × 1.35) | PR fee (1.5%) | Interest earned | Contract value | Surrender value | Guar. min. surr. |
|---|
AssetShield Strategy FAQ
Why use the BlackRock Adaptive 7% Index specifically?
What are the surrender charges if I need my money early?
How does 135% participation beat a traditional “cap”?
Does the 1.5% strategy fee eat into my principal?
Is the 14% Premium Bonus real money?
What happens if the stock market drops 30%?
If the index is called “7%” — is that my guaranteed return?
Can I take monthly income from this annuity?
What is the benefit to my heirs if I pass away?
Why should I schedule a session with Dan?
Ready to See What AssetShield
Can Do for Your Retirement?
Take the quiz or book a session with Dan — either way, we’ll show you exactly what this strategy looks like for your specific numbers.
Retirement Quiz
Answer 5 questions and get your personalized strategy fit score instantly. No email required.
Start the Free Quiz →Strategy Interview
Stress-test your numbers with Dan. Get your official 24-page PDF illustration and confirm your 14% bonus eligibility.
Book Session with DanLicensed to serve clients in multiple states · Independent broker · No variable annuities
Meet the Captain of the Ship
You deserve advice from someone who knows Maryland, understands family, and has been protecting retirement income Since 1997. Let me introduce myself.
Dan Walsh
Independent Annuity & Retirement Income Specialist
I was born at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and grew up at Saint Andrew the Apostle, St. John the Evangelist, and Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. I went on to earn my degree from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. I’ve been helping Maryland families answer “How do I make sure my retirement income never runs out?” since 1997 — long before guaranteed lifetime income became a household conversation.
Over the past three decades, I built two other businesses alongside my insurance work — Guardian Funding Inc., one of the top mortgage originator operations in the nation from 1996 to 2008, and Lightning Wear Apparel, one of the only team uniform manufacturers in the country. Both employed over 100 people at their peak. During those mortgage years, I saw firsthand how quickly a family’s financial stability can disappear when income stops. That experience gave me an early and unusually deep view of what happens when retirement savings run out — and why guaranteed income for life is the missing piece for most people.
But my most important job isn’t at the office. It’s at home, where my wife and I are raising our four amazing kids: three daughters and one son. Everything I do, every annuity I recommend, every late-night call I take, is driven by the same question: “Would this protect my own family’s future?”
“I look into the eyes of another parent from St. Andrew’s, another small business owner like those I worked with at Guardian Funding, and I see myself. They want the same things I do: to never outlive their savings, to grow old with financial dignity, to leave something behind for their kids — not the stress of supporting Mom and Dad. Annuities aren’t just products to me. They’re promises. And that’s a promise I make to every family I work with.”
— Dan Walsh, Independent Agent · NPN 3028543
I genuinely love the people I get to work with. My job is simple: listen, understand what keeps you up at night about retirement, and find the annuity solution that lets you sleep again. As an independent broker, I work for you — not an insurance company — and I have access to 20+ A+ rated carriers offering fixed, indexed, and immediate annuities to make sure you get the right fit, not just the first available option. I built everything you see on this site myself. If you’re looking for something you don’t see here, let’s talk. Chances are I can find it, quote it, and help you build reliable lifetime income.
Legal Disclosures & Strategy Assumptions
Simulation Accuracy: This calculator is provided for illustrative and educational purposes only. It is a hypothetical representation of the American Equity AssetShield Bonus 10 based on specific historical index data. Actual results will vary.
Bonus Vesting: The 14% Premium Bonus is credited on Day 1 and earns interest immediately. It is subject to a 10-year vesting schedule. Early surrender may result in partial forfeiture of the bonus.
Guarantees: All guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company®.
Not Investment Advice: MD Life Insurance and its representatives are insurance professionals, not registered investment advisors. This content does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice.
Index Performance: The BlackRock Adaptive 7% Index does not guarantee a specific rate of return. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Strategy Fees: The 1.5% Performance Rate Rider is an optional election that increases the Participation Rate. The Fee Recovery Credit protects principal at Year 10, but fees may reduce Contract Value in flat years.
© 2026 MD Life Insurance · (301) 569-2224 · Licensed in multiple states · AssetShield is a registered trademark of American Equity.
Is AssetShield right
for your retirement?
5 questions · 60 seconds · No email required
- ✓Find out if the 14% bonus actually helps your situation
- ✓See which retirement timeline makes this strategy most powerful
- ✓Get an instant personalized fit score — zero sales pressure