Prospectus by Investment Company (Form 497)

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

May 1, 2026

for

Select Guard Annual Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy (Select Guard)

Issued by

THE GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY, INC. (GIAC)

The following supplemental information should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated May 1, 1998 and supplement dated May 1, 2020 for the Select Guard Annual Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy (the "Policy") issued by The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. ("GIAC") through The Guardian Separate Account C and marketed under the name "Select Guard."

The information below regarding your allocation options replaces the chart of variable investment options in your prospectus, as amended, in the section entitled "Your Allocation Options - The Variable Investment Options."

The following is a list of Funds available under the contract. More information about the Funds is available in the prospectuses for the Funds, which may be amended from time to time and can be found online at: https://Guardianlife.onlineprospectus.net/Guardianlife/selectguard_apvl/?ctype=supplement. You can also request this information at no cost by calling the Customer Service Office Contact Center at 1-888-GUARDIAN (1-888-482-7342) or by sending an email request to [email protected]. Depending on the optional benefits you choose, you may not be able to invest in certain Funds.

The current expenses and performance information below reflects fee and expenses of the Funds, but do not reflect the other fees and expenses that your contract may charge. Expenses would be higher and performance would be lower if these other charges were included. Each Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.

Except as set forth herein, all other provisions of the prospectus and supplement noted above shall remain unchanged.

THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.