Variable annuity sales for the second half of 2021 were the highest since 2015, according to the Secure Retirement Institute’s U.S. individual annuity sales survey, which also recorded the largest sales for total annuities ($68.2 billion, a 40% increase) for any quarter other than the fourth quarter of 2008 during the Great Recession, SRI said.

Sales of variable annuities jumped 55% from last year’s second quarter, rising to $32.7 billion. Total variable annuity sales year to date rose 33% to $62.7 billion, SRI said.

Variable annuities are sometimes compared to mutual funds because they offer similar investment features. The rate of return changes with the stock, bond and money market funds that you choose as investment options.

The top 10 issuers and their respective second-quarter sales are as follows:

10. RiverSource Life Insurance Company, $3,017,196
RiverSource is a U.S.-based Investment management and life insurance firm, which is a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial Inc. The company, based in Minneaplois, is made up of RiverSource Investments, RiverSource Annuities, and RiverSource Insurance.