Unstoppable Ascent: Rod Mims on Athene’s Rise to the Top (Ep. 92)

From launching a retail annuity business to becoming the leading annuity distributor, Athene’s journey is a masterclass in growth and adaptability.

This week, Jeremy Houser sits down with Rod Mims, EVP and Head of Retail at Athene USA, to explore the strategies and pivotal decisions that fueled their rapid ascent.

This episode pulls back the curtain on technology breakthroughs, the power of people and culture, and the “silver tsunami” driving unprecedented annuity demand. They also dive into what it truly takes to sustain growth while delivering meaningful value to clients and partners.

Rod discusses:

• The founding story of Athene’s retail business and lessons from scaling up from $10 billion to $36 billion in annual premium
• The role of technology, especially moving from paper applications to 90% electronic processing and piloting paperless carrier-to-carrier transfers
• The importance of building strong strategic partnerships and maintaining operational efficiency to support exponential growth
• The impact of demographic shifts, interest rates, and volatility on the future of the fixed index annuity industry
• How Athene fosters a high-retention, engaged culture through communication, leadership training, and employee feedback
• And more!

Connect With Rod Mims

• LinkedIn: Rod Mims
• Website: Athene

Connect with Jeremy Houser:

• jeremy.houser@simplicitygroup.com
• 713-808-8548
• Schedule a Call
• Our Teams Website
• Connect with Jeremy
• @jeremyhouser_amp
• @jeremyhouserAMP

About Our Guest:

Rod Mims serves as the Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Sales at Athene USA. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing Athene’s retail annuity business and driving continued growth through the development of strong partnerships.

Mr. Mims joined Athene in 2011 and served as Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager until he assumed his current role, bringing extensive institutional experience and strategic initiative to continue the successful execution of the organization’s growth plans.

Prior to joining Athene, he was the National Sales Manager for Genworth Financial, with responsibility spanning its bank, wirehouse, and independent broker-dealer channels.

Mr. Mims received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, accompanied by a degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He graduated from the GE Management Development Institute- Crotonville and completed Executive Education from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

About Athene:

Athene is a leading retirement services company that specializes in helping its customers retire with confidence and is a solutions provider to institutions. As a company, Athene is driven to do more and is never satisfied with the status quo. Athene strives to create innovative financial solutions and has a strong team to serve our policyholders and our communities.