SEC annuity registration refers to the process by which insurers register certain annuity products, such as variable annuities and registered index-linked annuities (RILAs), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as securities. Registration requires filing a prospectus and statement of additional information that disclose fees, investment options, risks, and other material terms. Once registered, these annuities can be sold only by appropriately licensed representatives affiliated with broker-dealers. SEC annuity registration is intended to ensure transparency, standardized disclosures, and investor protections for products that expose owners to market risk.

Product manufacturers, legal teams, and compliance departments manage SEC annuity registration when launching or updating variable annuities and IRAs, working with outside counsel and regulators to finalize prospectus language. Advisors see the results in the form of detailed prospectuses and ongoing supplements. Broker-dealers maintain approved product lists, provide training, and monitor sales for compliance with securities regulations and Reg BI. When advisors reference SEC annuity registration, they usually mean that a product is a security requiring prospectus delivery, securities licensing, and heightened suitability and disclosure standards compared with non-registered fixed annuities.