I'm Austin Rhodus, an independent licensed life and annuity agent. Some people come to me for one specific thing and leave with exactly that. Others find out the thing they asked for wasn't the thing they needed. Either way: I shop 20+ A-rated carriers, tell you what the numbers actually say, and point you elsewhere when it's outside what I'm licensed to do.
Credentials
Every legitimate agent has a National Producer Number on file with state regulators. Here's mine — look it up yourself before we ever talk.
NIPR is the national regulatory database — not my website, not my marketing.
Licensed States
AZ · FL · IL · KY · LA · MI · MO · NV · OH · PA · SC · TX · UT · VI · WI
What I place
Nobody needs all of this. Most people arrive with a single question and leave with a single answer. Find the one that sounds like your situation — we start there, and ignore the rest unless you ask.
Ages 50–85 · No medical exam options
Locked-in coverage that pays out fast so your family isn't passing a hat to cover a funeral. Premiums never increase, coverage never expires, and most approvals happen over the phone.
Check your rate →Homeowners · Return-of-premium options
If something happens to you, the house gets paid off — your family keeps the home, not the payment. Many plans refund every premium dollar if you outlive the term.
Protect the house →Income earners · Long-horizon planning
Permanent coverage that builds cash value tied to market index growth, with downside protection floors. Not for everyone — and I'll tell you straight if it's not for you.
See if you qualify →Families · Maximum coverage per dollar
The most coverage for the least money during the years your family depends on your income. Simple, affordable, and shopped across every carrier I represent.
Get a quote →Retirement savers · Principal protection
Interest credited based on the movement of a market index, with a floor so a down year doesn't cost you principal. The trade-off is a cap or participation rate on the upside. Guarantees are backed by the issuing carrier's claims-paying ability.
See current rates →Conservative savers · Fixed rate, fixed term
A set interest rate locked for a set number of years — structurally similar to a CD, but issued by an insurance carrier rather than a bank. You know the rate before you commit. Withdrawals above the free amount trigger surrender charges.
Compare terms →Pre-retirees · 401(k) and IRA transfers
Sitting on an old 401(k) from an employer you left? An annuity can convert a balance into guaranteed lifetime income, subject to rider terms. I'll walk you through when that makes sense — and the situations where leaving it alone is the better move.
Talk it through →Referral partnership · Not handled in-house
For most people, debt is the thing standing between them and everything else on this page. I don't provide debt services myself — I'll introduce you to a vetted partner who's licensed for that work, and pick the conversation back up once it's handled. No cost to you for the introduction.
Ask for the introduction →Any age · No cost, no obligation
A straight look at what you already own: policies, beneficiary designations, and whether any of it still matches what you intend. Wills and trusts belong with an attorney, and I'll tell you when it's time to call one.
Book a review →Scope
Plenty of people in this business blur the line. I'd rather you know exactly what I'm licensed for before you ever get on the phone with me.
The process
Step 01
30 minutes on the phone. Your budget, your timeline, what you're protecting now and what you'll need income from later. No scripts read at you, no pressure.
Step 02
I take your profile to multiple carriers and come back with the real numbers — the rate you'd actually be approved at, or the actual credited rate on a contract.
Step 03
You see the options side by side and pick — or walk away. Either way, you'll know exactly where you stand. If a product isn't right for you, I'll say so.
Next step
Book a free 30-minute call. Bring one question or bring all of them — I'll shop it across every carrier I represent, usually with same-day availability. No pressure, no obligation, and no charge either way.
Prefer to verify before you book? My NPN is 16701028 — look it up on NIPR, then grab a time.