REC-709 Color Space Screws Up Color In My Renders

Whenever I set my project's Working Color Space to REC-709 Gamma 2.4, the colors and levels I produce in the project never match the render that comes out of After Effects. 

The "darks" never appear as dark, and the "brights" don't look as bright as they do when im working in After Effects. It's as if REC-709 washes out my renders.  So I have to work with VERY extreme levels in the project so my renders look closer to what I want.

I've tried different outputs (Pro Res, H264) and it doesnt make a difference.

Has anyone else experienced this or has a solve for it?

Thanks!