Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, better known as TIAA-CREF, is the largest annuity company to receive TheStreet.com Ratings' top ranking of A-plus. It lost $3.3 billion in 2008 but held $17.8 billion in capital at year-end.

And John Hancock Life Insurance of New York, a subsidiary of Manulife Financial(MFC Quote - Cramer on MFC - Stock Picks), maintains an A rating despite the downgrade to B of two affiliates, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Co. and John Hancock Life Insurance Co.

TheStreet.com lists the 20 Strongest Annuity Insurers.