As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2023
File
Nos. 333-200261
811-03365
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
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Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
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Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 |
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
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(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)
Brighthouse Separate Account A
(Exact Name of Registrant)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
(Name of Depositor)
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
(Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code
(980) 365-7100
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
c/o The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Corporation Trust Center
New Castle County
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 658-7581
Copies to:
W. Thomas Conner
Carlton Fields
1025 Thomas Jefferson St., N.W.
Suite 400 West
Washington,
DC
20007-5208
Approximate
Date of Proposed Public Offering: On May 1,
2023 or as soon thereafter as practicable.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
☐
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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on
May 1,
2023 pursuant to paragraph (b)
☐
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of rule 485 under the Securities Act.
If appropriate, check the following box:
☐
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed
post-effective amendment.
BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
BRIGHTHOUSE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
A
SUPPLEMENT DATED MAY 1, 2023
TO THE PROSPECTUSES DATED MAY 1, 2023
For contracts issued on or after November 13, 2006 (or a later date, subject to state approval), this
supplement describes the Annuity Date provision under the contract offered by the selling firm to which your account representative is associated. This supplement applies to the following variable
annuity contracts issued by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“we,” “us,” or “our”): Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and
October 7, 2011), Series C (offered between September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011), 3-year Series L, and Series XC. This supplement provides information in addition to that contained in the prospectus dated May 1, 2023 for the contract.
It should be read in its entirety and kept together with your prospectus for future reference. If you would like another copy of the prospectus, write to us at P.O. Box
305075, Nashville, TN 37230-5075 or call us at (888) 243-1932 to request a free copy.
Certain terms used in this supplement have special meanings. If a term is not defined in this
supplement, it has the meaning given to it in the prospectus.
Annuity Date
In the “ANNUITY PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE) — Annuity Date” section of the prospectus, replace the second and third paragraphs with the following:
When you purchase the contract, the Annuity Date will be the later of the first day of the
calendar month after the Annuitant’s 90th birthday or ten (10) years from the date your
contract was issued. You can change or extend the Annuity Date at any time before the
Annuity Date with 30 days prior notice to us. However, if you have bought your contract
through the selling firm to which your account representative is associated, you cannot
extend your Annuity Date to a date beyond age 95 of the Annuitant unless your contract is
held through a custodial account, such as an IRA held in a custodial account (see “Other Information — Annuitant” for the definition of Annuitant and permitted changes of the Annuitant).
Please be aware that once your contract is annuitized, you are ineligible to receive the death benefit you have selected. Additionally, if you have elected a living benefit rider such as a Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit, a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, or the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit, and the rider continues in effect at the time of annuitization, annuitizing your contract terminates the rider, including any death benefit provided by the rider and any Guaranteed Principal Adjustment (for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders, the Guaranteed
Minimum Income Benefit Plus riders, and the GMIB Max I rider) or Guaranteed Accumulation Payment (for the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit rider) that may also be provided by the rider. For a Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit rider
where annuitization must occur no later than age 95 of the Annuitant, there are several
annuity income options to choose from during the Income Phase of which you should be aware.
See “Living Benefits — Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee II — Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee and Annuitization” and “Living Benefits — Description of the Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit — Enhanced GWB and Annuitization” in the prospectus.
THIS SUPPLEMENT SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE
Telephone: 888-243-1932
The
Variable Annuity Contract
issued by
Brighthouse Life Insurance
Company
and
Series C
(offered between September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
May
1, 2023
This prospectus describes the flexible premium deferred variable annuity contract (the “Contract” or “contract”) offered by Brighthouse
Life Insurance Company (“BLIC”, the “Company”, or “we” or “us”). The contract is offered for individuals and some tax qualified and non-tax qualified retirement plans. Currently the contract is
not available for new sales. The annuity contract has a Fixed Account that offers an
interest rate guaranteed by us, and 58 Investment Portfolios. Allocations and/or transfers to
the Fixed Account are not available at this time.
Additional information about certain investment products, including variable annuities, has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff
and is available at Investor.gov.
The contracts:
•are not
bank deposits
•are not FDIC insured
•are not
insured by any federal government agency
•are not guaranteed by any bank or credit union
•may be
subject to loss of principal
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
TABLE OF CONTENTSPage
Page
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD CONSIDER ABOUT THE CONTRACT
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Charges for Early
Withdrawals |
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Fee Table and
Examples
Expenses – Withdrawal Charge |
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You may be charged for the following transactions: transfers of cash
value
Transfer Fee. Currently, we allow unlimited transfers among the investment options without charge. However, we reserve the right to charge for transfers
after the first 12 transfers per year. |
Fee Table and
Examples
Expenses –
Transfer Fee |
Ongoing Fees and
Expenses (annual charges) |
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay
each year,
depending on the options you choose. Please refer to your Contract
specifications page for information about the specific
fees you will pay each year based on the options you have
elected. |
Fee Table and
Examples
Expenses –
Product
Charges
Available
Under the
Contract |
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Investment options
(Portfolio Company fees and
expenses)2 |
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Optional benefits available for
an additional charge (for a
single optional benefit, if
elected) |
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includes the Account Fee.
2 As a percentage of fund assets before temporary expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers.
charge for the least expensive optional benefit.
4 As a percentage of the optional benefit base, which is a value used to calculate your benefit.
This charge is the current charge for the most expensive optional
benefit. |
Because your Contract is customizable, the choices you make affect how
much you will pay. To help you understand the cost of owning your
Contract, the following table shows the lowest and
highest cost you could pay each year, based on current
charges. |
Lowest Annual Cost
$2,072 |
Highest Annual Cost
$6,259 |
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•Least expensive Portfolio Company fees and expenses
transfers, or withdrawals |
•Most expensive combination of optional benefits and Portfolio Company fees and expenses |
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You can lose money by investing in this Contract including loss of
principal. |
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Not a Short-Term
Investment |
This Contract is not a short-term investment and is not appropriate for
an investor who needs ready access to cash.
The benefits of tax deferral and living benefit protection also mean
the Contract is more beneficial to investors with a long
time horizon. |
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Risks Associated
with Investment
Options |
•An investment in this Contract is subject to the risk of poor investment
performance and can vary depending on the performance of the investment
options available under the Contract (e.g., Portfolio
Companies). •Each investment option, including the
Fixed Account, has its own unique
risks.
•You should review the prospectuses for the available funds and the
prospectuses disclosure concerning the
Fixed Account before making an
investment decision. |
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An investment in the Contract is subject to the risks related to us.
Any obligations (including under the
Fixed Account), and guarantees and benefits
our claims-paying ability. If we experience financial distress, we may
not be able to meet our obligations to you. More
information about BLIC, including our financial strength
ratings, is available by contacting us at (888) 243-
1968. |
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•Allocations and/or transfers to the Fixed Account are not available at this
time.
Currently, we allow unlimited transfers without charge among investment
impose a charge for transfers in excess of 12 per
year. •We reserve the right to limit transfers in circumstances of
frequent or large transfers.
•We reserve the right to remove or substitute the Portfolio Companies
available as investment options under the Contract.
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•Certain optional benefits limit or restrict the investment options that you
may select under the Contract. We may change these restrictions in the
future.
•Withdrawals may reduce the value of an optional benefit by an amount
greater than the value withdrawn, which could significantly reduce the
value or even terminate the benefit.
•We may stop offering an optional benefit at any time for new sales.
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Purchase –
Investment
Allocation
Restrictions for
Certain Riders
Living Benefits
Available
Under the
Benefits
Offered Under
the Contract |
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•Consult with a tax professional to determine the tax implications of an
investment in and payments received under this Contract.
•If you purchase the Contract through a tax-qualified plan or individual
retirement account, you do not get any additional tax
benefit. •You will generally not be taxed on increases in the value of
the Contract until they are withdrawn. Withdrawals will
be subject to ordinary income tax, and may be subject to
tax penalties if you take a withdrawal before age
59 1∕2. |
Federal Income Tax Status |
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Investment
Professional
Compensation |
Your investment professional may receive compensation for selling this
Contract to you, in the form of commissions, additional
cash benefits (e.g., bonuses), and non-cash compensation.
This conflict of interest may influence your investment
professional to recommend this Contract over another
investment for which the investment professional is not compensated or
compensated less. |
Other
Information –
Distributor |
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If you already own an insurance Contract, some investment professionals
may have a financial incentive to offer you a new
Contract in place of the one you own. You should only
exchange a Contract you already own if you determine,
after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both Contracts, that it is better for you to purchase the new Contract rather than continue to
own your existing Contract. |
Replacement of Contracts and Other Exchanges |
OVERVIEW OF THE CONTRACT
Purpose. The Contract is a variable annuity contract. It provides a means for investing on a tax-deferred basis in our
Fixed Account(if available) and the
Investment Portfolios
, together “investment options.” The Contract is designed generally for an
investor who intends to hold the contract for a long period of time and then use the Account Value(in the form of either withdrawals or Annuity Payments) for retirement savings or other long-term
investment purposes. The contract has various optional features and benefits that may be
appropriate for you based on your financial situation and objectives. The Contract also
offers certain death benefit features, which can be used to transfer assets to your beneficiaries. Because of the withdrawal charge (which is in effect for many years) and the possibility of income tax and tax
penalties on early withdrawals, the Contract should not be viewed as an investment vehicle
offering low cost liquidity. Your financial goal in acquiring the Contract should focus on a
long-term insurance product, offering the prospect of investment growth.
The Income Phase occurs when you or a designated payee begin receiving regular Annuity Payments from your Contract. All optional benefits, including death
benefits, terminate without value at the start of the Income Phase. In
addition, once the Income
Phase begins you generally may no longer take withdrawals from the Contract. Depending
on the Annuity Option you elect, any remaining guarantee may be paid to your Beneficiary
(or Beneficiaries). Contract Features. The following is a brief description of the contract’s primary features.
Accessing your Money.
Before you Annuitize, you can withdraw money from your Contract at any time. If you
take a withdrawal, you may have to pay a
Withdrawal Charge and/or income taxes, including a tax penalty if you are younger than age
59 1∕2.
Tax Treatment.
You can transfer money among investment options without tax implications, and earnings
(if any) on your investments are generally tax-deferred. You are only subject to tax upon:
(1) making a withdrawal; (2) receiving a payment from us; or (3) payment of a death
benefit.
Death Benefits. The
Contract includes, at no additional cost, a standard death benefit that will pay a death benefit to your Beneficiary(ies) if you die during the Accumulation
Phase.
For an additional charge, you may also select an optional and/or additional death benefit, which may increase the amount of money payable to your designated beneficiaries upon your death. Optional
Benefits. We offer optional living and death benefit riders that, for additional charges,
offer protection against market risk (the risk that your investments may decline in value
or underperform your expectations) and may guarantee a minimum lifetime income.
Additional Services.
•Dollar Cost Averaging Program. This program allows you to systematically transfer a set amount each month between certain Investment Portfolios and the Fixed Account (if available).
•Automatic Rebalancing Program. This program directs us to automatically rebalance your Contract to return to your original percentage investment allocations on a periodic basis.
•Systematic Withdrawal Program. This program allows you to receive regular automatic withdrawals from your Contract either monthly or quarterly, and after the first
Contract Year, annually or semi-annually, provided that each payment must amount to at least $100 (unless we consent otherwise). •Electronic Delivery. As an Owner you may elect to receive electronic delivery of current prospectuses related to this contract, as well as other contract related documents.
FEE TABLE AND EXAMPLES
The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering, or making withdrawals from the Contract. Please refer to your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees you will pay each year based on the options you have selected.
The first table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay at the time that you buy the Contract,
surrender the Contract, make withdrawals from the Contract, or transfer Account Value between investment options. State premium taxes of 0% to 3.5% may also be deducted.
Transaction Expenses
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$25 $0 (First 12 per year) |
Note 1. There is no charge for the first 12 transfers in a Contract Year; thereafter the fee is
$25 per transfer. BLIC is currently waiving the transfer fee, but reserves the right to charge the fee in the future.
The next tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay each year during the time that you
own the Contract, not including Investment Portfolio fees and expenses. If you chose to purchase an optional benefit, you will pay additional charges, as shown below.
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Administrative Expenses (Note 1) |
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Base Contract Expenses (Note 2) |
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(as a percentage of average Account Value) |
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Optional Benefit Expenses (Note 3, Note 4)
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Optional Death Benefit — Annual Step-Up (as a percentage of average Account Value) |
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Optional Death Benefit — Compounded-Plus (as a percentage of average Account Value) |
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Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit |
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(as a percentage of average Account Value) |
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Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) Rider Charges |
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(as a percentage of the Income Base (Note 5)) |
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GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, and GMIB Plus
II — maximum charge
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GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, and GMIB Plus
II — current charge
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GMIB Plus I — maximum charge |
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GMIB Plus I — current charge |
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Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee Rider Charges |
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(as a percentage of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount(Note 6)) |
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Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II |
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Single Life version — maximum charge |
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Single Life version — current charge |
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Joint Life version — maximum charge |
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Joint Life version — current charge |
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Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I |
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Single Life version — maximum charge |
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Single Life version — current charge |
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Joint Life version — maximum charge |
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Joint Life version — current charge |
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Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Rider Charges |
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(as a percentage of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (Note 7)) |
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Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit — maximum charge |
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Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit — current charge |
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Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I — maximum charge |
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Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I — current charge |
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Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit Rider Charge |
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(as a percentage of the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount (Note 8)) |
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Enhanced Death Benefit (EDB) Rider Charges |
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(as a percentage of the Death Benefit Base (Note 9)) |
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EDB Max I and EDB II — maximum charge |
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EDB Max I and EDB II (issue age 69 or
younger) — current
charge |
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EDB Max I and EDB II (issue age 70-75) — current charge |
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EDB I (issue age 69 or younger) — current charge |
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EDB I (issue age 70-75) — current charge |
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Note 1. We call this fee the “Account Fee” in your Contract, as well as in other places in the prospectus. It is charged every Contract Year on your Contract Anniversary if the Account Value is less than $50,000. Different policies apply during the Income Phase of the contract. For instance, if your Account Value on the Annuity Date is at least $50,000, then we will not deduct the account fee. After the Annuity Date, the charge will be collected monthly out of the Annuity Payment, regardless of the size of your contract. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Account Fee”.
In the section entitled “Important Information You Should Consider About Your Contract” earlier in this prospectus, we are required to present this fee as part of the Base Contract.
Note 2. We call these the “Separate Account Charges” in your Contract, as well as in
other places in the prospectus. This charge is deducted solely from Account Value in the Separate Account. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the
sub-heading “Base Contract Expenses” for more information.
Note 3. These charges are deducted solely from Account Value in the Separate
Account. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Optional Benefits” for more information.
Note 4. These charges are deducted solely from Account Value in the Separate Account. You may
only elect one living benefit rider at a time. The GMIB Max I rider is the only living benefit rider that the EDB Max I rider may be elected with. The GMIB Plus III rider
is the only living benefit rider that the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider may be elected with. Certain rider charges for contracts issued before May 4, 2009 are
different.
Note 5. On the issue date, the Income Base is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. The Income Base is adjusted for subsequent Purchase Payments and withdrawals. See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits” for a definition of the term Income Base. The GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III,
GMIB Plus II and GMIB Plus I rider charges may increase upon an Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset, but they will not exceed the maximum charges listed in this table. If, at the time your contract was issued, the current rider charge was equal to the maximum rider charge, that rider charge will not increase upon an Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Optional Benefits” for more information.
Note 6. The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is initially set at an amount equal to your
initial Purchase Payment. The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount may increase with additional Purchase Payments. See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits” for a definition of the term Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider charges may increase upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up, but they will not exceed the maximum charges listed in this table. If, at the time your contract was issued, the current rider charge was equal to the maximum rider charge, that rider charge will not increase upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Optional Benefits” for more information.
Note 7. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is initially set at an amount equal to your initial
Purchase Payment plus the GWB Bonus Amount. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount may increase with additional Purchase Payments. See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits” for definitions of the terms Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and GWB Bonus Amount. The Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I rider charges may increase upon an Optional Reset, but they will not exceed the maximum charges listed in this table. If, at the time your contract was issued, the current rider charge was equal to the maximum rider charge, that rider charge will not increase upon an Optional Reset. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Optional Benefits” for more information.
Note 8. The Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is initially set at an amount equal to a percentage
of your initial Purchase Payment. The Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is adjusted for additional Purchase Payments made during the first 120 days of the contract and for
withdrawals. See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit” for a definition of the term Guaranteed Accumulation Amount.
Note 9. The Death Benefit Base is initially set at an amount equal to your initial Purchase
Payment. The Death Benefit Base is adjusted for subsequent Purchase Payments and withdrawals. For a definition of the term Death Benefit Base, see “Death
Benefit — Optional Death Benefit — EDB Max I” or “Death Benefit — Optional Death Benefit — Enhanced Death Benefit II.” The EDB Max I, Enhanced Death Benefit II, and Enhanced Death Benefit I
rider charges may increase upon an Optional Step-Up, but they will not exceed the maximum charges listed in this table. If, at the time your contract was issued, the current rider charge was equal to the maximum rider charge, that rider charge will not increase upon an Optional Step-Up. See “Expenses” section of the prospectus, under the sub-heading “Optional Benefits” for more information.
The next table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the
Investment Portfolios that you may pay periodically during the time that you own
the Contract. A complete list of Investment Portfolios available under the Contract, including their annual expenses,
may be found in Appendix A.
Annual Investment Portfolio Expenses
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management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other
expenses) |
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Examples
These Examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Contract with the cost of
investing in other variable annuity contracts. These costs include Transaction Expenses, Annual Contract Expenses, and Annual Portfolio Company Expenses.
We have provided two sets of Examples. Both Examples assume that you invest $100,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated. The Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year.
The first Example assumes the most expensive Annual Portfolio Company Expenses and the most expensive optional benefits available for an additional charge (“maximum”). This Example also shows costs assuming the least expensive Annual Portfolio Expenses and the most expensive optional benefits available for an additional charge (“minimum”).
The second Example assumes the most expensive Annual Portfolio Company Expenses and that
you select no optional benefits for an additional charge (“maximum”). This Example also shows costs assuming the least expensive Annual Portfolio Expenses and that you select no optional benefits for an additional charge (“minimum”).
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be
the following:
(1) If you surrender, do not surrender or annuitize your Contract at the end of the applicable time
period:
(2) If
you surrender, do not surrender or annuitize your Contract at the end of the applicable time period:
The Examples should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses or annual rates of return of
any Investment Portfolio. Actual expenses and annual rates of return may be more or less than those assumed for the purpose of
the Examples.
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE CONTRACT
Unsuitable as Short-Term Savings Vehicle. The contract is intended for retirement savings or other long-term investment purposes. The benefits of tax deferral and living benefit protection also mean the contract
is more beneficial to investors with a long time horizon. It is not suitable as a
short-term savings vehicle. This means if you plan to withdraw money or surrender the contract for short-term needs, it may not be the right contract for you. A charge may be assessed on withdrawals and
surrenders, and it could be substantial. Please discuss your insurance needs and financial objectives with your financial representative.
Investment Risk. You bear
the risk of any decline in the Account Value of your contract resulting from the
performance of the Investment Portfolios you have chosen. The Account Value could decline
very significantly, and there is a risk of loss of the entire amount invested. This risk
varies with each Investment Portfolio. This risk could have a significant negative impact on certain benefits and guarantees under the contract. The investment risks are described in the prospectuses for the Investment
Portfolios.
Investment Portfolios That Have A Managed Volatility Strategy. Certain Investment Portfolios are managed in a way that is intended to minimize volatility of returns (referred to as a “managed volatility strategy”). Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes
rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular
industries or sectors or general market conditions. Bond prices may fluctuate because they
move in the opposite direction of interest rates. Foreign investing carries additional
risks such as currency and market volatility. A managed volatility strategy is designed to reduce volatility of returns to these Investment Portfolios from investing in stocks and bonds. This strategy seeks to
reduce such volatility by “smoothing” returns, which may result in an
Investment Portfolio outperforming the general securities market during periods of flat or
negative market performance, and underperforming the general securities market during
periods of positive market performance. This means that in periods of high market volatility, this managed volatility strategy could limit your participation in market gains; this may conflict with your
investment objectives by limiting your ability to maximize potential growth of your Account
Value and, in turn, the value of any guaranteed benefit that is tied to investment
performance. Other Investment Portfolios may offer the
potential for higher returns. If you elect certain optional riders, you will be subject to investment allocation restrictions that include these Investment
Portfolios. This is intended in part to reduce the risk of investment losses that could
require us to use our own assets to make payments in connection with the guarantees under those riders. You pay an additional fee for a guaranteed benefit which, in part, pays for protecting the rider benefit base
from investment losses. Since the rider benefit base does not decrease as a result of
investment losses, a managed volatility strategy might not provide meaningful additional benefit to you. Please see the Investment Portfolio prospectuses for more information in general, as well as more
information about the managed volatility strategy.
Investment Restrictions – Opportunity Risks. Generally, the living benefit riders impose restrictions and limitations on your choices of Investment
Portfolios. These restrictions and requirements are intended to protect BLIC, and reduce
the likelihood that we will have to pay guaranteed benefits under the riders out of our own assets. The restrictions and requirements could result in your missing out on some or all positive investment
performance by certain of the portfolio companies – this means your opportunity for investment gains may be limited.
Insurance Company Risk. It
is possible that we could experience financial difficulty in the future and even become
insolvent, and therefore unable to provide all of the guarantees and benefits that exceed the assets in the Separate Account that we promise. Likewise, our experiencing financial difficulty could impair our
ability to fulfill our obligations under the Fixed Account offered under this
Contract.
Tax Consequences. Withdrawals are generally taxable (to the extent of any earnings in the contract), and prior to age 59 1∕2 a tax penalty may apply. In addition, even if the Contract is held for years before any withdrawal is made, the withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income
rather than capital gains.
Cybersecurity and Certain Business Continuity Risks. Our variable annuity contract business is largely conducted through complex information technology and communications systems operated by us and our service providers or other business partners (e.g., the Investment Portfolios and the firms involved in the
distribution and sale of our variable annuity contracts), and their operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in their
systems and
those of their respective third party service providers. For example, many routine operations, such as processing Owners’ requests and elections and day-to-day
recordkeeping, are all executed through computer networks and systems. We have established
administrative and technical controls and business continuity and resilience plans to
protect our operations against attempts by unauthorized third parties to improperly access, modify, disrupt the operation of, or prevent access to critical networks or systems or data within them (a
“cyber-attack”). Despite these protocols, a cyber-attack could have a material,
negative impact on BLIC and the Separate Account, as well as individual Owners and their contracts. There are inherent limitations in our plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks
have not been identified or that unknown threats may emerge in the future. Unanticipated
problems with, or failures of, our disaster recovery systems and business continuity plans
could have a material impact on our ability to conduct business and on our financial
condition and operations, and such events could result in regulatory fines or sanctions,
litigation, penalties or financial losses, reputational harm, loss of customers, and/or additional compliance costs for us. Our operations also could be negatively affected by a cyber-attack at a third party, such as a service provider, business partner,
another participant in the financial markets, or a governmental or regulatory authority.
Cyber-attacks can occur through unauthorized access to computer systems, networks or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; phishing attacks; account takeover attempts; or
attacks that shut down, disable, slow or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes
or website access or functionality. There may be an increased risk of cyber-attacks during periods of geo-political or military conflict. Disruptions or failures may also result from unintentional causes,
such as market events that trigger a surge of activity that overloads current information
technology and communication systems. Other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters, military actions, and public health crises, may adversely affect our ability to conduct
business, in particular if our employees or the employees of our service providers are
unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Cyber-attacks, disruptions or failures to our business operations can interfere with our processing of contract
transactions, including the processing of transfer orders from our website or with the
Investment Portfolios; impact our ability to calculate Accumulation Unit values; cause the
release and/or possible loss,
misappropriation or corruption of confidential Owner or business information; or impede
order processing or cause other operational issues. Cyber-attacks, disruptions or failures
may also impact the issuers of securities in which the Investment Portfolios invest, and it
is possible the funds underlying your contract could lose value. There can be no assurance that we or our service providers or the Investment Portfolios will avoid losses affecting your contract due to cyber-attacks,
disruptions or failures in the future. Although we continually make efforts to identify and
reduce our exposure to cybersecurity risk, there is no guarantee that we will be able to successfully manage and mitigate this risk at all times. Furthermore, we cannot control the cybersecurity plans and
systems implemented by third parties, including service providers or issuers of securities
in which the Investment Portfolios invest.
COVID-19 and Market Conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has at times resulted in or contributed to significant financial market volatility, travel restrictions and disruptions, quarantines, an uncertain
interest rate environment, elevated inflation, global business, supply chain, and
employment disruptions affecting companies across various industries, government and central bank interventions, wide-ranging changes in consumer behavior, as well as general concern and uncertainty
that has negatively affected the economic environment. COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States has resulted in more flexible quarantine guidelines, increased consumer demand, and resurgence in travel. However,
vaccination rates and vaccine availability abroad, specifically in developing and emerging
market countries, continue to lag, and new COVID-19 variants have led to waves of increased
hospitalizations and deaths. At this time, it continues to not be possible to estimate
the severity or duration of the pandemic, including the severity, duration and frequency of any additional “waves” or emerging variants of COVID-19. It likewise remains not possible to predict or estimate the longer-term effects of the pandemic,
or any actions taken to contain or address the pandemic, on our business and financial
condition, the financial markets, and economy at large. The Company has implemented risk
management and contingency plans and continues to closely monitor this evolving situation,
including the impact on services provided by third-party vendors. However, there can be no
assurance that any future impact from the COVID-19 pandemic will not be
material to the Company and/or with respect to the services the Company or its customers receive from
third-party vendors.
Significant market volatility and negative investment returns in the financial markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and market conditions could have a
negative impact on returns of the underlying mutual funds in which the Separate Account
invests. Depending on market conditions and your individual circumstances (e.g., your
selected investment options and the timing of any transfers or withdrawals), you may
experience (perhaps significant) negative returns under the contract. You should consult
with your financial representative about how the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent market
conditions may impact your future investment decisions related to the contract, such as
making subsequent Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals, based on your individual circumstances.
THE ANNUITY CONTRACT
This prospectus describes the variable annuity contract offered by us.
The variable annuity contract is a contract between you as the Owner, and us, the insurance company, where we promise to pay an income to you, in the form of
Annuity Payments, beginning on a designated date that you select. Until you decide to begin
receiving Annuity Payments, your annuity is in the Accumulation
Phase. If you die during the Accumulation Phase, your Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries)
will receive the death benefit under your contract (see “Death Benefit” for
more information). Once you begin receiving Annuity Payments, your contract switches to the Income Phase. There is no death benefit during the Income Phase; however, depending on the Annuity Option you elect, any remaining guarantee (i.e., cash refund amount or guaranteed Annuity Payments) will be paid to your Beneficiary(ies) (see “Annuity Payments (The
Income Phase)” for more information).
The contract benefits from tax deferral. Tax deferral means that you are not taxed on earnings or appreciation on the assets in your contract until you take money
out of your contract. For any tax qualified account (e.g., an IRA), the tax deferred
accrual feature is provided by the tax qualified retirement plan. Therefore, there should be reasons other than tax deferral for acquiring the contract within a qualified plan. (See “Federal Income Tax
Status.”)
The contract is called a variable annuity because you can choose among the Investment Portfolios and,
depending upon market conditions, you can make or lose money in any of these portfolios. If
you select the variable annuity portion of the contract, the amount of money you are able
to accumulate in your contract during the Accumulation Phase depends upon the investment
performance of the Investment Portfolio(s) you select. The amount of the Annuity Payments
you receive during the Income Phase from the variable annuity portion of the contract also
depends, in part, upon the investment performance of the Investment Portfolio(s) you select
for the Income Phase. We do not guarantee the investment performance of the variable
annuity portion. You bear the full investment risk for all amounts allocated to the variable annuity portion. However, there are certain optional features that provide guarantees that can reduce your investment
risk (see “Living Benefits”).
In most states, the contract also contains a Fixed Account option (not available in Oregon or Washington; contact your financial representative for more
information). Allocations and/or transfers to the Fixed Account are not
available at this time. The Fixed Account is part of our general account and offers an interest rate that is guaranteed by us. The minimum interest rate depends
on the date your contract is issued but will not be less than 1%. Your financial
representative can tell you the current and minimum interest rates that apply. Because of
exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the Fixed Account have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and neither the Fixed Account nor the general
account has been registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940. If you select the Fixed Account, your money will be placed with our other general
account assets, and the amount of money you are able to accumulate in your contract during the Accumulation Phase depends upon the total interest credited to your contract. The Fixed Account is part
of our general account. Our general account consists of all assets owned by us other than
those in the Separate Account and our other separate accounts. We have sole discretion over
the investment of assets in the general account. If you select a fixed Annuity Payment
option during the Income Phase, payments are made from our general account assets. All
guarantees as to Purchase Payments or Account Value allocated to the Fixed Account,
interest credited to the Fixed Account, and fixed Annuity Payments are subject to our
financial strength and claims-paying ability.
The amount of the Annuity Payments you receive during the Income Phase from a fixed Annuity Payment
option of the contract will remain level for the entire Income Phase. (Please see
“Annuity Payments (The Income Phase)” for more information.)
As Owner of the contract, you exercise all interests and rights under the contract. You can change the Owner at any time, subject to our underwriting rules (a
change of ownership may terminate certain optional riders). The contract may be owned
generally by Joint Owners (limited to two natural persons). We provide more information on
this under “Other Information — Ownership.”
All contract provisions will be interpreted and administered in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Any Code
references to “spouses” include those persons who enter into lawful marriages
under state law, regardless of sex.
PURCHASE
The
maximum issue age for the contract and certain of its riders may be reduced in connection with the offer of the contract through certain broker dealers (“selling firms”). In addition, certain riders may
not be available through
certain selling firms. You should discuss this with your financial representative.
We reserve
the right to reject any application.
Purchase Payments
A Purchase
Payment is the money you give us to invest in the contract. The initial Purchase Payment is
due on the date the contract is issued. You may also be permitted to make subsequent
Purchase Payments. Initial and subsequent Purchase Payments are subject to certain
requirements. These requirements are explained below. We may restrict your ability to make
subsequent Purchase Payments. The manner in which subsequent Purchase Payments may be
restricted is discussed below.
General Requirements for Purchase Payments. The following requirements apply to initial and subsequent Purchase Payments:
•The minimum initial Purchase Payment we will accept is $25,000.
•The maximum total Purchase Payments for the contract is $1,000,000, without prior
approval from us.
•The minimum subsequent Purchase Payment is $500 unless you have elected an electronic funds transfer program approved by us, in which case the minimum
subsequent Purchase Payment is $100 per month.
•We will accept a different amount if required by federal tax law.
•We reserve the right to refuse Purchase Payments made via a personal check in excess of $100,000. Purchase Payments over $100,000 may be accepted in other
forms, including, but not limited to, EFT/wire transfers, certified checks, corporate
checks, and checks written on financial institutions. The form in which we receive a
Purchase Payment may determine how soon subsequent disbursement requests may be fulfilled. (See “Access to Your Money.”)
•We will not accept Purchase Payments made with cash, money orders, or travelers
checks.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. We may restrict your ability to make subsequent Purchase Payments. We will notify you in advance if we
impose restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments. You and your financial representative
should carefully consider whether our ability to restrict subsequent Purchase Payments is
consistent with your investment objectives.
•We reserve the right to reject any Purchase Payment and to limit future Purchase
Payments. This means that
we may restrict your ability to make subsequent Purchase Payments for any reason, subject to applicable requirements in your state. We may make certain exceptions to restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments in accordance with our established
administrative procedures.
•Certain riders have current and potential restrictions on
subsequent Purchase Payments that are described in more detail below. For more information,
see these subsections below: “Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment
Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I,” “Investment Allocation and Other
Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II,” and “Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase
Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and
GMAB.”
Termination for Low Account Value
We may terminate your contract by paying you the Account Value in one sum if, prior to the Annuity Date, you do not make Purchase Payments for two
consecutive Contract Years, the total amount of Purchase Payments made, less any partial
withdrawals, is less than $2,000 or any lower amount required by federal tax laws, and the
Account Value on or after the end of such two year period is less than $2,000. (A Contract Year is defined as a one-year period starting on the date the contract is issued and on each contract anniversary thereafter.)
Accordingly, no contract will be terminated due solely to negative investment performance.
Federal tax law may impose additional restrictions on our right to cancel your Traditional
IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA or other Qualified Contract. We will not terminate the contract if it includes a Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider or Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit rider. In
addition, we will not terminate any contract that includes a Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit
or Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit rider or any guaranteed death benefit if at the time
the termination would otherwise occur the Benefit Base/Income Base of the living benefit rider, or the guaranteed amount under any death benefit, is greater than the Account Value. For all other contracts,
we reserve the right to exercise this termination provision, subject to obtaining any
required regulatory approvals.
Allocation of Purchase Payments
When you purchase a contract, we will allocate your Purchase Payment to the Fixed Account (if available) and/or any of the Investment Portfolios you have
selected. You may not choose more than 18 Investment Portfolios
(including the Fixed Account) at the time your initial Purchase Payment is allocated. Each allocation
must be at least $500 and must be in whole numbers. In addition, see Appendix A and B to
this prospectus for more information about available Investment
Portfolios.
We have reserved the right to restrict payments to the Fixed Account if any of the following conditions
exist:
•the credited interest rate on the Fixed Account is equal
to the guaranteed minimum rate indicated in your contract;or
•your Account Value in the Fixed Account equals or exceeds our published maximum for Fixed Account allocation (currently, there is no limit; we will notify
you of any such maximum allocation limit); or
•a transfer was made out of the Fixed Account within the previous 180 days.
Once we receive your Purchase Payment and the necessary information (or a designee receives a payment and the necessary information in accordance with the designee’s administrative procedures), we will issue
your contract and allocate your first Purchase Payment within 2 Business Days. A Business Day is each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. A Business Day closes at the close of normal trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If you do not give us all of the
information we need, we will contact you to get it before we make any allocation. If for some reason we are unable to complete this process within 5 Business Days, we will either send back your money or get your
permission to keep it until we get all of the necessary information. (See “Other
Information — Requests and Elections.”) However, if you allocate Purchase Payments to a discontinued Investment Portfolio (see Appendix A), we will
request reallocation instructions, or if we are unable to obtain such instructions, we will
return your Purchase Payment to you.
We may restrict the investment options available to you if you select certain optional riders. These
restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of investment losses that could require us to
use our own assets to pay amounts due under the selected optional rider.
If you choose the GMIB Max I or EDB Max I riders, we require you to allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value as described below under
“Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB
Max I” until the rider terminates.
If you choose the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
Plus II, Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II,
Enhanced Death Benefit
I, or Enhanced Death Benefit II riders, we require you to allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value as described below under “Investment Allocation
and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II” until the rider terminates.
If you
choose the GMIB Plus I rider or the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider, until the rider terminates, we require you to allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value as described in “Living
Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits — Description of GMIB Plus I” and “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits — Description of Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I.”
If you
choose the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit rider, until the rider terminates, we require you to allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value solely to one Investment Portfolio (see “Living
Benefits — Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit”).
If you make additional Purchase Payments, we will allocate them in the same way as your first Purchase Payment unless you tell us otherwise. However, if you make
an additional Purchase Payment while a Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program is in effect, we
will not allocate the additional Purchase Payment to the DCA program, unless you tell us to
do so. Instead, unless you give us other instructions, we will allocate the additional Purchase Payment directly to the same destination Investment Portfolios you selected under the DCA program. (See
“Investment Options — Dollar Cost Averaging Program.”) You may change your allocation instructions at any time by
notifying us in writing, by calling us or by Internet. You may not choose more than 18
Investment Portfolios (including the Fixed Account) at the time you submit a subsequent
Purchase Payment. If you wish to allocate the payment to more than 18 Investment Portfolios (including the Fixed Account), we must have your request to allocate future Purchase Payments to more than 18
Investment Portfolios on record before we can apply your subsequent Purchase Payment to
your chosen allocation. If there are Joint Owners, unless we are instructed to the contrary, we will accept allocation instructions from either Joint Owner.
We reserve the right to make certain changes to the Investment Portfolios. (See “Investment Options — Substitution of Investment Options.”)
Investment Allocation Restrictions for Certain Riders
Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I
If you
elect the GMIB Max I rider and/or EDB Max I rider, you may allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value among certain Investment Portfolios. Please see “Appendix B – Investment Portfolios
Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.”
Certain Investment Portfolios have investment strategies intended in part to reduce the risk of investment losses that could require us to use our own assets to
make payments in connection with the guarantees under the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders.
For example, certain of the Investment Portfolios are managed in a way that is intended to
minimize volatility of returns and hedge against the effects of interest rate changes.
Other investment options that are available if the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders are not
selected may offer the potential for higher returns. Before you select the GMIB Max I rider
and/or EDB Max I rider, you and your financial representative should carefully consider
whether the investment options available with the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders meet your investment objectives and risk tolerance. See “Investment Options” below for information about
Investment Portfolios that employ a managed volatility strategy.
If you elect the GMIB Max I and/or EDB Max I riders, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
Restrictions on Investment Allocations After Rider
Terminates. If the GMIB Max I rider terminates (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Terminating the GMIB Max I Rider”), or the EDB Max I rider terminates (see “Death Benefits – Enhanced Death Benefits – Terminating the EDB Max I Rider”), or if you elected both the GMIB Max I and the EDB Max I riders and they both terminate, the investment allocation
restrictions will no longer apply and you will be permitted to allocate subsequent Purchase
Payments or transfer Account Value to any of the available Investment Portfolios, but not
to the Fixed Account. However, if you elected both the GMIB Max I and the EDB Max I riders,
and only the GMIB Max I rider has terminated, the investment allocation restrictions
described for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I will continue to apply.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Max I and EDB Max I. The following subsections describe potential and current
restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments for the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders. As of the date of this prospectus, only contracts issued with the GMIB
Max I rider or the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders during the time period specified in the
“Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments” section below are subject
to restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments.
Potential Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. In the future, we may choose not to permit Owners of existing contracts with the GMIB Max I rider to make subsequent Purchase Payments if: (a) the GMIB Max I
rider is no longer available to new customers, or (b) we make certain changes to the terms
of the GMIB Max I rider offered to new customers (for example, if we change the GMIB Max I
rider charge; see your contract schedule for a list of the other changes). Similarly, in the future, we may choose not to permit Owners of existing contracts with the EDB Max I rider to make subsequent Purchase
Payments if: (a) the EDB Max I rider is no longer available to new customers, or (b) we
make certain changes to the terms of the EDB Max I rider offered to new customers (see your
contract schedule for a list of the changes). We will notify Owners of contracts with the
GMIB Max I and/or EDB Max I riders in advance if we impose restrictions on subsequent
Purchase Payments. If we impose restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments, contract Owners will still be permitted to transfer Account Value among the Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B for GMIB Max
I and EDB Max I.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our Annuity Service Center before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011, and you elected the GMIB Max I and/or EDB Max I riders, we will not
accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange
on August 9, 2013. However, we will accept a subsequent Purchase Payment received after
August 9, 2013 if the Purchase Payment was initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer or
an exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which was
received by our Annuity Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York Stock
Exchange on August 9, 2013.
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our
Annuity Service Center after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011 and on or before October 7, 2011, and you elected the GMIB Max I and/or EDB
Max I riders, we will not accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on February 24, 2012. However, we
will accept a subsequent Purchase Payment received after February 24, 2012 if the Purchase
Payment was initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer or an exchange under Section 1035
of the Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which was received by our Annuity
Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on February 24,
2012.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments After GMIB Max I Rider Terminates. If the GMIB Max I rider terminates (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Terminating the GMIB Max I Rider”), or if you elected both the GMIB Max I and the EDB Max I riders and they both terminate, the restrictions on
subsequent Purchase Payments described above will no longer apply. However, if you elected
both the GMIB Max I and the EDB Max I riders, and only the GMIB Max I rider has terminated,
the restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments described above will continue to apply.
California Free Look Requirements for Purchasers Age 60 and Over. If you elect the GMIB Max I rider and/or EDB Max I rider and you are a California purchaser aged 60 or older, you may allocate
your Purchase Payments to the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio during the Free
Look period. (See the “Free Look” section below.) After the Free Look period
expires, your Account Value will automatically be transferred to one or more of the
Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B, according to the allocation instructions you
have given us. If you allocate your Purchase Payments to the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term
Bond Portfolio and the contract is cancelled during the Free Look period, we will give you
back your Purchase Payments. If you do not allocate your Purchase Payments to the BlackRock
Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio and the contract is cancelled during the Free Look period, you will only be entitled to a refund of the contract's Account Value, which may be less than the Purchase
Payments made to the contract.
Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus
III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II
Allocation. If you elect the GMIB Plus II, the GMIB Plus III, the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, the Enhanced Death Benefit I, or the Enhanced Death Benefit
II, you must comply with certain investment allocation
restrictions.Specifically,
you must allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value according to
either Option A or Option B described in Appendix B – Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the
Contract.
You may not allocate Purchase Payments to the Dollar Cost Averaging program under Option B.
Your Purchase Payments and transfer requests must be allocated in accordance with the limitations described in Appendix B. We will
reject any Purchase Payments or transfer requests that do not comply with
these limitations.
Certain selling firms do not offer Option B at the time your initial Purchase Payment is allocated. Please contact our Annuity Service Center if you wish to change
your allocation selection to Option B.
We determine whether an investment option is classified as Platform 1, Platform 2, Platform 3 or Platform 4. We may determine or change the classification of an
investment option in the event that an investment option is added, deleted, substituted,
merged or otherwise reorganized. You will not be required to reallocate Purchase Payments or
Account Value that you allocated to an investment option before we changed its
classification, unless you make a new Purchase Payment or request a transfer among investment
options (other than pursuant to rebalancing). If you make a new Purchase Payment or request
a transfer among investment options, you will be required to take the new classification
into account in the allocation of your entire Account Value. We will provide you with prior written notice of any changes in classification of investment options. See “Investment Options”
below for information about Investment Portfolios that employ a managed volatility
strategy.
Rebalancing. If you choose to allocate according to Option B, we will rebalance your Account Value on a quarterly basis based on your most recent allocation of
Purchase Payments that complies with the allocation limitations described above. We will
also rebalance your Account Value when we receive a subsequent Purchase Payment that is
accompanied by new allocation instructions (in addition to the quarterly rebalancing). We will first rebalance your Account Value on the date that is three months from the rider issue date; provided, however, if a
quarterly rebalancing date occurs on the 29th, 30th or 31st of a month, we will instead
rebalance on the 1st day of the following month. We will subsequently rebalance your
Account Value on each quarter thereafter on the same day.
In addition, if a quarterly rebalancing date is not a Business Day, the reallocation will occur on the
next Business Day. Withdrawals from the contract will not result in rebalancing on the date
of withdrawal.
The rebalancing requirement described above does not apply if you choose to allocate according to Option
A.
Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments must be allocated in accordance with the above limitations. When allocating according to Option
B, it is important to remember that the entire Account Value will be immediately
reallocated according to any new allocation instructions that accompany a subsequent Purchase
Payment, if the new allocation instructions differ from those previously received for the
contract. Allocating according to Option B does not permit you to specify different
allocations for individual Purchase Payments. Due to the rebalancing and reallocation requirements of Option B, the entire account will be immediately reallocated according to the most recently provided allocation
instructions.
Example:
Your Account Value is $100,000 and allocated 70% to the MetLife Stock Index Portfolio and 30% to the
PIMCO Total Return Portfolio using Option B of the Portfolio Flexibility Program.You make a subsequent Purchase Payment of $5,000 and provide instructions to allocate 100% of that payment to the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio. As a result of the new
allocation instructions, your entire Account Value of $105,000 will then be reallocated to
the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio.
Changing Purchase Payment Allocation Instructions. You may change your Purchase Payment allocation instructions under Option B at any time by providing notice to us, at our Annuity Service Center, or by any other
method acceptable to us, provided that such instructions comply with the allocation limits
described above. If you provide new allocation instructions for Purchase Payments and if
these instructions conform to the allocation limits described under Option B, then we will
rebalance in accordance with the revised allocation instructions. Any future Purchase
Payment and quarterly rebalancing allocations will be automatically updated in accordance
with these new instructions.
Transfers.
Please note that any transfer request must result in an Account Value that meets the allocation limits described in Appendix B. Any transfer request will not
cause your allocation instructions to change unless you provide us with a separate instruction at the time of transfer.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB
II
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. If applicable in your state and except as noted below, until further notice we will not accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York
Stock Exchange on August 17, 2012 if your contract was issued with one or more of the
following riders: GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and
EDB II. You still will be permitted to transfer Account Value among the Investment Portfolios available with your contract and rider. If subsequent Purchase Payments will be permitted in the future, we will notify you
in writing, in advance of the date the restriction will end.
We will permit you to make a subsequent Purchase Payment when either of the following conditions apply
to your contract: (a) your Account Value is below the minimum described in the
“Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value” section; or (b) the rider charge is greater than your Account
Value.
In addition, for IRAs (including annuity contracts held under Custodial IRAs), we will permit subsequent Purchase Payments up to your applicable annual IRS
limits, provided the subsequent Purchase Payment is not in the form of a transfer or
rollover from another tax-qualified plan or tax-qualified investment. We will permit subsequent Purchase Payments for Qualified Contracts (other than IRAs and annuity contracts held under Custodial IRAs),
provided the subsequent Purchase Payment is not in the form of a transfer or rollover from
another tax-qualified plan.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for
GMIB Plus II and GMIB Plus III after Rider Terminates. The restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments described above will no longer apply, if:
1)
you elected only the GMIB Plus II rider, and it terminates (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Description of GMIB Plus II”);
2)
you elected both the GMIB Plus II and the EDB I, and both riders terminate (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Description of GMIB Plus II” and “Death Benefit – Description of Enhanced Death Benefit I”);
3)
you elected only the GMIB Plus III rider, and it terminates (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Description of GMIB Plus III - Terminating the GMIB Plus III Rider”); or
4)
you elected both the GMIB Plus III and the EDB II, and both riders terminate (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Description of GMIB Plus III - Terminating the GMIB Plus III Rider” and “Death Benefit
– Optional Death Benefit-Enhanced Death Benefit II - Terminating the EDB II Rider”).
However, if you elected both the GMIB Plus II
and the EDB I riders, and only the GMIB Plus II rider has terminated, or if you elected
both the GMIB Plus III and the EDB II riders, and only the GMIB Plus III rider has terminated, the restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments described above will continue to apply.
If your contract was issued in one of the following states, this restriction on subsequent Purchase Payments does not apply and you may continue to make subsequent Purchase Payments at this time: Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, or Washington.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB,
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and GMAB
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. If applicable in your state and except as noted below, until further notice we will not accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on August 17, 2012 if your contract was
issued with one of the following optional riders: GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB,
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and GMAB. You still will be permitted to transfer Account
Value among the Investment Portfolios available with your contract and rider. If subsequent
Purchase Payments will be permitted in the future, we will notify you in writing, in
advance of the date the restriction will end.
We will permit you to make a subsequent Purchase Payment when either of the following conditions apply to your contract: (a) your Account Value is below the minimum described in the “Purchase – Termination for Low Account Value” section; or (b) the rider charge is greater than your Account Value.
In
addition, for IRAs (including annuity contracts held under Custodial IRAs), we will permit subsequent Purchase Payments up to your applicable annual IRS limits, provided
the subsequent Purchase Payment is not in the form of a transfer or rollover from another tax-qualified plan or tax-qualified investment. We will permit
subsequent Purchase Payments for Qualified Contracts (other than IRAs and annuity contracts
held under Custodial IRAs), provided the subsequent Purchase Payment is not in the form of a
transfer or rollover from another tax-qualified plan.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB Plus I after Rider Terminates. If you elected the GMIB Plus I rider and it terminates (see “Living Benefits – Guaranteed Income Benefits – Description of GMIB Plus I”), the restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments described above will no longer apply.
If your contract was issued in one of the following states, this restriction on subsequent Purchase Payments does not apply and you may continue to make subsequent Purchase Payments at this time: Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, or Washington.
Free Look
If you change your mind about owning this contract, you can cancel it within 10 days after receiving it (or the period required in your state).This period is called the Free Look period. We ask that you submit your request to cancel in writing, signed by you, to our Annuity Service Center. Unless otherwise required by state law, you will
receive back whatever your contract is worth on the day we receive your request. This may
be more or less than your Purchase Payment depending upon the performance of the Investment
Portfolios (and any interest credited by the Fixed Account, if applicable) according to your Purchase Payment allocation during the Free Look period. This means that you bear the risk of any decline in the
value of your contract due to Investment Portfolio performance during the Free Look period.
We do not refund any charges or deductions assessed during the Free Look period. In certain
states, we are required to give you back your Purchase Payment if you decide to cancel your contract during the Free Look period.
Accumulation Units
The portion of your Account Value allocated to the Separate Account will go up or down depending upon the investment performance of the Investment
Portfolio(s) you choose. In order to keep track of this portion of your Account Value, we
use a unit of measure we call an Accumulation Unit. (An Accumulation Unit
works like a share of a mutual fund.) In addition to the investment performance of the
Investment Portfolio, the deduction of
Separate Account charges also affects an Investment Portfolio’s Accumulation Unit value, as
explained below.
Every Business Day as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), we
determine the value of an Accumulation Unit for each of the Investment Portfolios by
multiplying the Accumulation Unit value for the immediately preceding Business Day by a
factor for the current Business Day. The factor is determined by:
1) dividing the net asset value per share of the Investment Portfolio at the end of the current Business
Day, plus any dividend or capital gains per share declared on behalf of the Investment Portfolio as of that day, by the net asset value per share of the Investment
Portfolio for the previous Business Day, and
2) multiplying it by one minus the Separate Account product charges (including any rider charge for the Annual Step-Up Death Benefit, the Compounded-Plus
Death Benefit, and/or the Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit) for each day since the last Business Day and any charges for taxes.
The value of an Accumulation Unit may go up or down from day to day.
When you make a Purchase Payment, we credit your contract with Accumulation Units. The number of Accumulation Units credited is determined by dividing
the amount of the Purchase Payment allocated to an Investment Portfolio by the value of the
Accumulation Unit for that Investment Portfolio.
Purchase Payments and transfer requests are credited to a contract on the basis of the Accumulation Unit value next determined after receipt of a Purchase Payment
or transfer request. Purchase Payments or transfer requests received before the close of the New York Stock Exchange will be credited to your contract that day, after the New York Stock Exchange closes. Purchase Payments or
transfer requests received after the close of the New York Stock Exchange, or on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is not open, will be treated as received on the next day the New York Stock Exchange is open (the next
Business Day).
Example:
On Monday we receive an additional Purchase Payment of $5,000 from you before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You have told us you want this to go to the Victory Sycamore Mid Cap Value Portfolio. When the New York Stock Exchange closes on that Monday, we determine that the
value of an Accumulation Unit for the Victory Sycamore
Mid Cap Value Portfolio is $13.90. We then divide $5,000 by $13.90 and credit your contract on Monday night with 359.71 Accumulation Units for the Victory
Sycamore Mid Cap Value Portfolio.
Account Value
Account Value
is equal to the sum of your interests in the Investment Portfolios and the Fixed Account.
Your interest in each Investment Portfolio is determined by multiplying the number of
Accumulation Units for that portfolio by the value of the Accumulation Unit.
Replacement of Contracts
Exchange Programs. From
time to time we may offer programs under which certain fixed or variable annuity contracts
previously issued by us or one of our affiliates may be exchanged for the contracts offered by this prospectus. Currently, with respect to exchanges from certain of our variable annuity contracts to this
contract, an existing contract is eligible for exchange if a withdrawal from, or surrender
of, the contract would not trigger a withdrawal charge. The Account Value of this contract will not be subject to any withdrawal charge. You should carefully consider whether an exchange is
appropriate for you by comparing the death benefits, living benefits, and other guarantees
provided by the contract you currently own to the benefits and guarantees that would be provided by the new contract offered by this prospectus. Then, you should compare the fees and charges (for
example, the death benefit charges, the living benefit charges, and the mortality and
expense charge) of your current contract to the fees and charges of the new contract, which may be higher than your current contract. The programs we offer will be made available on terms and conditions
determined by us, and any such programs will comply with applicable law. We believe the
exchanges will be tax free for federal income tax purposes; however, you should consult your tax adviser before making any such exchange.
Other Exchanges.
Generally, you can exchange one variable annuity contract for another in a tax-free exchange
under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code. Before making an exchange, you should
compare both annuities carefully. If you exchange another annuity for the one described in
this prospectus, you might have to pay a withdrawal charge on your old annuity, and other charges may be higher (or lower) and the benefits may be different. Also, because we will not issue the contract
until we have received the initial premium from your existing insurance company, the
issuance of the contract may be delayed. Generally, it is not advisable to purchase a contract as a replacement for an existing variable annuity contract.
Before you exchange another annuity for our contract, ask your financial representative whether the
exchange would be advantageous, given the contract features, benefits and
charges.
INVESTMENT OPTIONS
The
Contract currently offers 58 Investment Portfolios. Additional or fewer Investment Portfolios may be available in the future. Information regarding each Investment Portfolio, including its name, its type (e.g. money market fund, bond fund, balanced fund, etc.) or a brief statement concerning
its investment objective, its investment adviser and any subadviser, current
expenses and performance is available in Appendix A to this prospectus. Each
Investment Portfolio has issued a prospectus that contains more detailed
information about the Investment Portfolio.
You should read the prospectuses for these funds carefully before investing. The prospectus and other information can be found online at
https://dfinview.com/BHF/TAHD/BHF153 . You can also request copies of this information at no cost by calling (888) 243-1932 or sending an email request to rcg@brighthousefinancial.com.
The
investment objectives and policies of certain of the Investment Portfolios may be similar to the investment objectives and policies of other mutual funds that certain of the Investment Portfolios' investment
advisers manage. Although the objectives and policies may be similar, the investment
results of the Investment Portfolios may be higher or lower than the results of such other mutual funds. The investment advisers cannot guarantee, and make no representation, that the investment results of
similar funds will be comparable even though the funds may have the same investment
advisers. Also, in selecting your Investment Portfolios, you should be aware that certain
Investment Portfolios may have similar investment objectives but differ with respect to
fees and charges.
Shares of the Investment Portfolios may be offered to insurance company separate accounts of both
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts and to qualified plans. Due to
differences in tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Owners
participating in, and the interests of qualified plans investing in the Investment
Portfolios may conflict. The Investment Portfolios will monitor events in order to identify
the existence of any material irreconcilable conflicts and determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any such conflict.
Certain Payments We Receive with Regard to the Investment Portfolios. An investment adviser (other than our affiliate Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC) or subadviser of an Investment Portfolio, or
its affiliates, may make payments to us and/or certain of our affiliates. These payments
may be used for a variety of purposes, including payment of expenses for certain administrative, marketing, and support services with respect to the contracts and, in our role as an intermediary, with respect to
the Investment Portfolios. We and our affiliates may profit from these payments. These
payments may be derived, in whole or in part, from the advisory fee deducted from Investment
Portfolio assets. Contract Owners, through their indirect investment in the Investment
Portfolios, bear the costs of these advisory fees (see the prospectuses for the Investment
Portfolios for more information). The amount of the payments we receive is based on a
percentage of assets of the Investment Portfolios attributable to the contracts and certain
other variable insurance products that we and our affiliates issue. These percentages differ and some advisers or subadvisers (or their affiliates) may pay us more than others. These percentages currently range up
to 0.50%.
Additionally, an investment adviser (other than our affiliate Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC) or
subadviser of an Investment Portfolio or its affiliates may provide us with wholesaling
services that assist in the distribution of the contracts and may pay us and/or certain of our affiliates amounts to participate in sales meetings. These amounts may be significant and may provide the adviser
or subadviser (or its affiliate) with increased access to persons involved in the
distribution of the contracts.
We and/or certain of our affiliated insurance companies have joint ownership interests in our affiliated
investment adviser, Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC, which is formed as a
“limited liability company.” Our ownership interests in Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC entitle us to profit distributions if the adviser makes a profit with respect to the advisory fees it receives from
the Investment Portfolios. We will benefit accordingly from assets allocated to the
Investment Portfolios to the extent they result in profits to the
adviser.
Certain Investment Portfolios have adopted a Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940. An Investment Portfolio's 12b-1 Plan, if any, is described in more
detail in the Investment Portfolio's prospectus. Any payments we receive pursuant to those
12b-1 Plans are paid to us or our distributor. (See “Other Information — Distributor” for more information.) Payments under an Investment Portfolio's 12b-1 Plan decrease the Investment Portfolio's investment
return.
We select the Investment Portfolios offered through this contract based on a number of criteria,
including asset class coverage, the strength of the adviser's or subadviser's reputation
and tenure, brand recognition, performance, and the capability and qualification of each investment firm. Another factor we consider during the selection process is whether the Investment Portfolio's
adviser or subadviser is one of our affiliates or whether the Investment Portfolio, its
adviser, its subadviser(s), or an affiliate will make payments to us or our affiliates. In this regard, the profit distributions we receive from our affiliated investment adviser are a component of
the total revenue that we consider in configuring the features and investment choices
available in the variable insurance products that we and our affiliated insurance companies
issue. Since we and our affiliated insurance companies may benefit more from the allocation
of assets to portfolios advised by our affiliates than to those that are not, we may be
more inclined to offer portfolios advised by our affiliates in the variable insurance products we issue. We review the Investment Portfolios periodically and may remove an Investment Portfolio or limit its availability to
new Purchase Payments and/or transfers of Account Value if we determine that the Investment
Portfolio no longer meets one or more of the selection criteria, and/or if the Investment
Portfolio has not attracted significant allocations from contract Owners. In some cases, we have included Investment Portfolios based on recommendations made by selling firms. These selling firms may
receive payments from the Investment Portfolios they recommend and may benefit accordingly
from the allocation of Account Value to such Investment Portfolios.
We do not provide any investment advice and do not recommend or endorse any particular Investment Portfolio. You bear the risk of any
decline in the Account Value of your contract resulting from the performance
of the Investment Portfolios you have chosen.
Transfers
General. You can
transfer a portion of your Account Value among the Fixed Account (if available) and the
Investment Portfolios. Allocations and/or transfers to the Fixed Account are not available at this time. The contract provides that you can make a maximum of 12 transfers every year and that each transfer is made without
charge. We measure a year from the anniversary of the day we issued your contract. We
currently allow unlimited transfers but reserve the right to limit this in the future. We
may also limit transfers in circumstances of frequent or large transfers, or other
transfers we determine are or
would be to the disadvantage of other contract Owners. (See “Restrictions on Frequent Transfers” and “Restrictions on Large Transfers”
below.) We also may be required to suspend the right to transfers in certain circumstances
(see “Access to Your Money – Suspension
of Payments or Transfers”). We are not currently charging a transfer fee, but we
reserve the right to charge such a fee in the future. If such a charge were to be imposed, it would be $25 for each transfer over 12 in a year. The transfer fee will be deducted from the Investment
Portfolio or Fixed Account from which the transfer is made. However, if the entire interest
in an account is being transferred, the transfer fee will be deducted from the amount which is transferred.
You can make a transfer to or from any Investment Portfolio or the Fixed Account, subject to the limitations below. All transfers made on the same
Business Day will be treated as one transfer. Transfers received before the close of
trading on the New York Stock Exchange will take effect as of the end of the Business Day. The following apply to any transfer:
•Your request for transfer must clearly state which Investment Portfolio(s) or the Fixed
Account are involved in the transfer.
•Your request for transfer must clearly state how much the transfer is for.
•The minimum amount you can transfer is $500 from an Investment Portfolio, or your entire interest in the Investment Portfolio, if less (this does not
apply to pre-scheduled transfer programs).
•The minimum amount that may be transferred from the Fixed Account is $500, or your
entire interest in the Fixed Account. Transfers out of the Fixed Account during the
Accumulation Phase are limited to the greater of: (a) 25% of the Fixed Account value at the
beginning of the Contract Year, or (b) the amount transferred out of the Fixed Account in
the prior Contract Year. Currently we are not imposing these restrictions on transfers out
of the Fixed Account, but we have the right to reimpose them at any time. You should be
aware that, if transfer restrictions are imposed, it may take a while (even if you make no
additional Purchase Payments or transfers into the Fixed Account) to make a complete
transfer of your Account Value from the Fixed Account. When deciding whether to invest in
the Fixed Account it is important to consider whether the transfer restrictions fit your
risk tolerance and time horizon.
•You may not make a transfer to more than 18 Investment Portfolios (including the Fixed Account) at any time if the request is made by telephone to
our voice response system or by Internet. A request to transfer to more than 18 Investment
Portfolios (including the Fixed Account) may be made by calling or writing our Annuity
Service Center.
•If you have elected to add the GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, GMIB Max I, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II,
Enhanced Death Benefit I, Enhanced Death Benefit II, or EDB Max I rider to your contract,
you may only make transfers between certain Investment Portfolios. Please refer to the
sections “Purchase — Allocation of Purchase Payments” and “Appendix B - Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits
Offered Under the Contract” for more information.
•If you have elected to add the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit rider to your
contract, you may not transfer out of the Investment Portfolio you chose at issue until the
rider terminates. Please refer to the section “Living
Benefits — Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit.”
During the Accumulation Phase, to the extent permitted by applicable law, during times of drastic economic or market conditions, we may suspend the transfer
privilege temporarily without notice and treat transfer requests based on their separate
components (a redemption order with simultaneous request for purchase of another Investment
Portfolio). In such a case, the redemption order would be processed at the source Investment Portfolio's next determined Accumulation Unit value. However, the purchase of the new Investment Portfolio would be
effective at the next determined Accumulation Unit value for the new Investment Portfolio
only after we receive the proceeds from the source Investment Portfolio, or we otherwise
receive cash on behalf of the source Investment Portfolio.
For transfers during the Accumulation Phase, we have reserved the right to restrict transfers to the Fixed Account if any one of the following conditions
exist:
•the credited interest rate on the Fixed Account is equal
to the guaranteed minimum rate indicated in your contract;or
•your Account Value in the Fixed Account equals or exceeds our published maximum for Fixed Account allocation (currently, there is no limit; we will notify
you of any such maximum allocation limit); or
•a transfer was made out of the Fixed Account within the previous 180 days.
During the
Income Phase, you cannot make transfers from a fixed Annuity Payment option to the Investment
Portfolios. You can, however, make transfers during the Income Phase from the Investment
Portfolios to a fixed Annuity Payment option and among the Investment Portfolios.
Transfers by Telephone or Other Means. You may elect to make transfers by telephone, Internet or other means acceptable to us. To elect this option, you must first provide us with a notice or agreement in
Good Order. If you own the contract with a Joint Owner, unless we are instructed otherwise,
we will accept instructions from either you or the other Owner. (See “Other
Information — Requests and Elections.”)
All transfers made on the same day will be treated as one transfer. A transfer will be made as of the end of the Business Day when we receive a notice containing
all the required information necessary to process the request. We will consider telephone
and Internet requests received after the close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), or on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is not open, to be
received on the next day the New York Stock Exchange is open (the next Business
Day).
Pre-Scheduled Transfer Program. There are certain programs that involve transfers that are pre-scheduled. When a transfer is made as a result of such a program, we do not count the transfer in determining the
applicability of any transfer fee and certain minimums do not apply. The current
pre-scheduled transfers are made in conjunction with the following: Dollar Cost Averaging Programs and Automatic Rebalancing Programs.
Restrictions on Frequent Transfers. Frequent requests from contract Owners to transfer Account Value may dilute the value of an Investment Portfolio’s shares if the frequent trading involves an
attempt to take advantage of pricing inefficiencies created by a lag between a change in
the value of the securities held by the portfolio and the reflection of that change in the portfolio's share price (“arbitrage trading”). Frequent transfers involving arbitrage trading may adversely affect
the long-term performance of the Investment Portfolios, which may in turn adversely affect
contract Owners and other persons who may have an interest in the contracts (e.g., Annuitants and Beneficiaries).
We have policies and procedures that attempt to detect and deter frequent transfers in situations where we determine
there is a potential for arbitrage trading. Currently, we believe that such situations may be presented
in the international, small-cap, and high-yield Investment Portfolios. In addition, as
described below, we monitor transfer activity in all American Funds Insurance Series® portfolios. We monitor transfer activity in the following portfolios (the “Monitored
Portfolios”):
Baillie Gifford International Stock Portfolio
BlackRock
High Yield Portfolio
Brighthouse Small Cap Value Portfolio
Brighthouse/abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Brighthouse/Dimensional International Small Company Portfolio
Brighthouse/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio
Brighthouse/Templeton International Bond Portfolio
CBRE
Global Real Estate Portfolio
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio
Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio
Loomis
Sayles Global Allocation Portfolio
MetLife MSCI EAFE® Index Portfolio
MetLife Russell 2000® Index Portfolio
MFS® Research International Portfolio
Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio
VanEck
Global Natural Resources Portfolio
Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio
We employ various means to monitor transfer activity, such as examining the frequency and size of transfers into and out of the Monitored Portfolios within given
periods of time. For example, we currently monitor transfer activity to determine if, for
each category of international, small-cap, and high-yield portfolios, in a 12-month period there were: (1) six or more transfers involving the given category; (2) cumulative gross transfers involving the
given category that exceed the current Account Value; and (3) two or more
“round-trips” involving the given category. A round-trip generally is defined
as a transfer in followed by a transfer out within seven calendar days or a transfer out followed by a transfer in within seven calendar days, in either case subject to certain other criteria. We do not believe that other Investment Portfolios present a significant opportunity to engage in arbitrage trading and therefore do not monitor transfer activity
in those portfolios. We may change the Monitored Portfolios at any time without notice in our sole discretion.
Our policies and procedures may result in transfer restrictions being applied to deter frequent transfers. Currently, when we detect transfer activity in
the Monitored Portfolios that exceeds our current transfer limits, we will impose transfer
restrictions on the entire contract and will require future transfer requests to or from any Investment Portfolio under that contract to be submitted in writing with an original signature. A first occurrence will result in a warning letter; a
second
occurrence will result in the imposition of this restriction for a six-month period; a third occurrence will result in the permanent imposition of the restriction.
Transfers made under a Dollar Cost Averaging Program, a rebalancing program or, if
applicable, any asset allocation program described in this prospectus are not treated as transfers when we monitor the frequency of transfers.
The detection and deterrence of harmful transfer activity involves judgments that are inherently subjective, such as the decision to monitor only those Investment
Portfolios that we believe are susceptible to arbitrage trading or the determination of the
transfer limits. Our ability to detect and/or restrict such transfer activity may be limited by operational and technological systems, as well as our ability to predict strategies employed by Owners
to avoid such detection. Our ability to restrict such transfer activity also may be limited
by provisions of the contract. Accordingly, there is no assurance that we will prevent all
transfer activity that may adversely affect Owners and other persons with interests in the
contracts. We do not accommodate frequent transfers in any Investment Portfolio and there
are no arrangements in place to permit any contract Owner to engage in frequent transfers; we
apply our policies and procedures without exception, waiver, or special arrangement.
The
Investment Portfolios may have adopted their own policies and procedures with respect to frequent transfers in their respective shares, and we reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures. For example,
Investment Portfolios may assess a redemption fee (which we reserve the right to collect)
on shares held for a relatively short period. The prospectuses for the Investment Portfolios
describe any such policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the
policies and procedures we have adopted. Although we may not have the contractual authority
or the operational capacity to apply the frequent transfer policies and procedures of the Investment Portfolios, we have entered into a written agreement, as required by SEC regulation, with each
Investment Portfolio or its principal underwriter that obligates us to provide to the
Investment Portfolio promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of individual contract Owners, and to execute instructions from the Investment Portfolio to restrict or prohibit
further purchases or transfers by specific contract Owners who violate the frequent
transfer policies established by the Investment Portfolio.
In addition, contract Owners and other persons with interests in the contracts should be aware that the purchase and redemption orders received by the
Investment
Portfolios generally are “omnibus” orders from intermediaries, such as retirement plans or
separate accounts funding variable insurance contracts. The omnibus orders reflect the
aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual Owners of variable insurance
contracts and/or individual retirement plan participants. The omnibus nature of these orders may limit the Investment Portfolios in their ability to apply their frequent transfer policies and procedures. In
addition, the other insurance companies and/or retirement plans may have different policies
and procedures or may not have any such policies and procedures because of contractual
limitations. For these reasons, we cannot guarantee that the Investment Portfolios (and
thus contract Owners) will not be harmed by transfer activity relating to other insurance
companies and/or retirement plans that may invest in the Investment Portfolios. If an
Investment Portfolio believes that an omnibus order reflects one or more transfer requests
from contract Owners engaged in frequent trading, the Investment Portfolio may reject the entire omnibus order.
In accordance with applicable law, we reserve the right to modify or terminate the transfer privilege at any time. We also reserve the right to defer or restrict
the transfer privilege at any time that we are unable to purchase or redeem shares of any
of the Investment Portfolios, including any refusal or restriction on purchases or
redemptions of their shares as a result of their own policies and procedures on frequent
transfers (even if an entire omnibus order is rejected due to the frequent transfers of a
single contract Owner). You should read the Investment Portfolio prospectuses for more
details.
Restrictions on Large Transfers. Large transfers may increase brokerage and administrative costs of the Investment Portfolios and may disrupt portfolio
management strategy, requiring an Investment Portfolio to maintain a high cash position and
possibly resulting in lost investment opportunities and forced liquidations. We do not
monitor for large transfers to or from Investment Portfolios except where the portfolio manager of a particular Investment Portfolio has brought large transfer activity to our attention for investigation
on a case-by-case basis. For example, some portfolio managers have asked us to monitor for
“block transfers” where transfer requests have been submitted on behalf of multiple contract Owners by a third party such as an investment adviser. When we detect such large trades, we may impose
restrictions similar to those described above where future transfer requests from that
third party must be submitted in writing with an original signature. A first occurrence will result in a
warning letter; a second occurrence will
result in the imposition of this restriction for a six-month period; a third occurrence
will result in the permanent imposition of the restriction.
Dollar Cost Averaging Program (DCA)
We offer a dollar cost averaging (DCA) program which is described below. By allocating amounts on a regular schedule as opposed to allocating the total amount
at one particular time, you may be less susceptible to the impact of market fluctuations.
The dollar cost averaging program is available only during the Accumulation Phase.
We reserve
the right to modify, terminate or suspend the dollar cost averaging program. There is no additional charge for participating in the dollar cost averaging program. If you participate in the dollar cost
averaging program, the transfers made under the program are not taken into account in
determining any transfer fee. We may, from time to time, offer other dollar cost averaging
programs which have terms different from those described in this prospectus. We will
terminate your participation in a dollar cost averaging program when we receive notification
of your death.
This program allows you to systematically transfer a set amount each month from the Fixed Account or from the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio to any of
the other available Investment Portfolio(s) you select. We provide certain exceptions from
our normal Fixed Account restrictions to accommodate the dollar cost averaging
program. These transfers are made on a date you select or, if you do not select a date, on the date that a Purchase Payment or Account Value is allocated to the
dollar cost averaging program. However, transfers will be made on the 1st day of the
following month for Purchase Payments or Account Value allocated to the dollar cost averaging
program on the 29th, 30th, or 31st day of a month.
If you make an additional Purchase Payment while a Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program is in effect, we will not allocate the additional payment to the DCA
program unless you tell us to do so. Instead, unless you previously provided different
allocation instructions for future Purchase Payments or provide new allocation instructions with the payment, we will allocate the additional Purchase Payment directly to the same destination Investment
Portfolios you selected under the DCA program. Any Purchase Payments received after the DCA
program has ended will be allocated as described in
“Purchase — Allocation of Purchase Payments.” If you make such an addition to your existing DCA program, the DCA transfer amount will
not be increased; however, the number of months over which
transfers are made is increased, unless otherwise elected in writing. You can terminate the program at
any time, at which point transfers under the program will stop. This program is not
available if you have selected the GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, GMIB Max I, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, GMAB, Enhanced Death Benefit I, Enhanced Death Benefit II, or EDB Max I
rider.
Automatic Rebalancing Program
Once your money has been allocated to the Investment Portfolios, the performance of each portfolio may cause your allocation to shift. You can direct us to
automatically rebalance your contract to return to your original percentage allocations by
selecting our Automatic Rebalancing Program. You can tell us whether to rebalance monthly,
quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
An automatic rebalancing program is intended to transfer Account Value from those portfolios that have
increased in value to those that have declined or not increased as much in value. Over
time, this method of investing may help you “buy low and sell high,” although there can be no assurance that this objective will be achieved. Automatic rebalancing does not guarantee profits, nor
does it assure that you will not have losses.
We will measure the rebalancing periods from the anniversary of the date we issued your contract. If the dollar cost averaging program is in effect,
rebalancing allocations will be based on your current DCA allocations. If you are not
participating in the dollar cost averaging program, we will make allocations based upon your
current Purchase Payment allocations, unless you tell us otherwise.
The
Automatic Rebalancing Program is available only during the Accumulation Phase. There is no additional charge for participating in the Automatic Rebalancing Program. If you participate in the Automatic
Rebalancing Program, the transfers made under the program are not taken into account in
determining any transfer fee. We will terminate your participation in the Automatic Rebalancing Program when we receive notification of your death. If you have selected the GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus
III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, Enhanced Death Benefit I, or Enhanced Death Benefit
II riders, the Fixed Account is available for automatic rebalancing. If you have selected
the GMIB Max I or EDB Max I riders, the Fixed Account is not available for automatic
rebalancing. The Automatic Rebalancing Program is not available if you have selected the
GMAB rider.
For example, assume that you want your initial Purchase Payment split between two Investment Portfolios. You
want 40% to be in the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio and 60% to be in the Loomis Sayles Growth Portfolio. Hypothetically, over the next 2 1∕2 months the bond market
does very well while the stock market performs poorly. At the end of the first quarter, the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio now represents 50% of your holdings because of its increase in value. If
you have chosen to have your holdings rebalanced quarterly, on the first day of the next
quarter, we will sell some of your units in the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio to bring its value back to 40% and use the money to buy more units in the Loomis Sayles Growth Portfolio to increase
those holdings to 60%.
Voting Rights
We are the legal owner of the Investment Portfolio shares. However, we believe that when an Investment Portfolio solicits proxies in conjunction with a vote of
shareholders, we are required to obtain from you and other affected Owners instructions as
to how to vote those shares. When we receive those instructions, we will vote all of the shares we own in proportion to those instructions. This will also include any shares that we own on our own
behalf. The effect of this proportional voting is that a small number of contract Owners
may control the outcome of a vote. Should we determine that we are no longer required to
comply with the above, we will vote the shares in our own right.
Substitution of Investment Options
If
investment in the Investment Portfolios or a particular Investment Portfolio is no longer possible, in our judgment becomes inappropriate for purposes of the contract, or for any other reason in our sole discretion, we
may substitute another Investment Portfolio or Investment Portfolios without your consent.
The substituted Investment Portfolio may have different fees and expenses. Substitution may be made with respect to existing investments or the investment of future Purchase Payments, or both.
However, we will not make such substitution without any necessary approval of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable state insurance departments. Furthermore, we may close Investment Portfolios to allocation of Purchase Payments or Account Value, or both, at any time in our
sole discretion.
EXPENSES
There are charges and other expenses associated with the contract that reduce the return on your investment in the contract.These charges and expenses are:
Product Charges
Base Contract Charges
Separate Account Product Charges. Each day, we make a deduction for our Separate Account product charges (which consist of the mortality and expense
charge, the administration charge and the charges related to certain death benefit riders).
We do this as part of our calculation of the value of the Accumulation Units and the Annuity
Units (i.e., during the Accumulation Phase and the Income Phase — although death benefit charges no longer continue in the Income Phase).
Mortality and Expense Charge. We assess a daily mortality and expense charge that is equal, on an annual basis, to 1.50% of the average daily net asset value of each Investment Portfolio.
This charge
compensates us generally for mortality risks we assume, including making Annuity Payments that will not change based on our actual mortality experience and providing a guaranteed minimum death benefit under
the contract. The charge also compensates us generally for expense risks we assume to cover
contract maintenance expenses. These expenses may include issuing contracts, maintaining
records, making and maintaining subaccounts available under the contract and performing accounting, regulatory compliance, and reporting functions. This charge also compensates us generally for costs
associated with the establishment and administration of the contract, including programs
like transfers and dollar cost averaging. If the mortality and expense charge is inadequate to cover the actual expenses of mortality, maintenance, and administration, we will bear the loss. If the charge
exceeds the actual expenses, we will add the excess to our profit and it may be used to
finance distribution expenses or for any other purpose.
Administration Charge. This charge is equal, on an annual basis, to 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of each Investment Portfolio. This charge, together with the account fee (see below), is generally
for the expenses associated with the administration of the contract. Some of these expenses
are: issuing contracts, maintaining records, providing accounting, valuation, regulatory and
reporting services, as well as expenses associated with marketing, sale and distribution of
the contracts.
Administrative Expenses
Account Fee
During the Accumulation Phase, every Contract Year on your contract anniversary (the anniversary of the date when your contract was issued), we will deduct
$30 from your contract as an account fee for the prior Contract Year if your Account Value
is less than $50,000. If you make a complete withdrawal from your contract, the full account
fee will be deducted from the Account Value regardless of the amount of your Account Value.
During the Accumulation Phase, the account fee is deducted pro rata from the Investment
Portfolios. This charge is generally for the administration charge (see above). This charge cannot be increased.
A pro rata portion of the charge will be deducted from the Account Value on the Annuity Date or upon a full withdrawal, if this date is other than a contract
anniversary. If your Account Value on the Annuity Date is at least $50,000, then we will
not deduct the account fee. After the Annuity Date, the charge will be collected monthly
out of the Annuity Payment, regardless of the size of your contract.
Optional Benefits
Death Benefit — Rider Charge
If you select one of the following death benefit riders, we will deduct a charge that compensates us generally for the costs and risks we assume in providing the
benefit. This charge (assessed during the Accumulation Phase) is equal, on an annual basis,
to the percentages below of the average daily net asset value of each Investment
Portfolio:
Annual Step-Up Death Benefit |
|
Compounded-Plus Death Benefit |
|
Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit |
|
*For contracts issued prior to May 1, 2003, the percentage charge for the Annual Step-Up Death Benefit
is 0.10% and for the Compounded-Plus Death Benefit is 0.25% of the average daily net asset
value of each Investment Portfolio.
Please check with your financial representative regarding which death benefits are available in your
state.
If you select the EDB Max I or Enhanced Death Benefit II, and you are age 69 or younger at issue, we
will assess a charge during the Accumulation Phase equal to 0.60% of the Death Benefit
Base. If you are age 70-75 at issue, we will assess a charge during the Accumulation Phase equal to 1.15% of the Death Benefit Base (see “Death
Benefit — Optional
Death Benefit — EDB Max I” and “Death Benefit — Optional Death Benefit — Enhanced Death Benefit II” for a discussion of how the Death Benefit Base is determined).
If your Death Benefit Base is increased due to an Optional Step-Up, we may reset the Enhanced Death Benefit charge applicable beginning after the contract
anniversary on which the Optional Step-Up occurs to a rate that does not exceed the lower
of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would
charge for the same rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional
Step-Up. Starting with the first contract anniversary, the charge is assessed for the prior
Contract Year at each contract anniversary before any Optional Step-Up.
If you: make a full withdrawal (surrender); begin to receive Annuity Payments at the Annuity Date; change the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant, if a
non-natural person owns the contract); or assign the contract, a pro rata portion of the
Enhanced Death Benefit charge will be assessed based on the number of months from the last
contract anniversary to the date of the withdrawal, the beginning of Annuity Payments, the
change of Owner/Annuitant, or the assignment. If an Enhanced Death Benefit rider is
terminated because the contract is terminated; because the death benefit amount is determined; or because there are insufficient funds to deduct the rider charge from the Account Value, no Enhanced Death
Benefit charge will be assessed based on the number of months from the last contract
anniversary to the date the termination takes effect.
The Enhanced Death Benefit charge is deducted from your Account Value pro rata from each Investment Portfolio and the Fixed Account in the ratio each
portfolio/account bears to your total Account Value. We take amounts from the investment
options that are part of the Separate Account by canceling Accumulation Units from the Separate Account.
For
contracts issued from May 4, 2009 through July 16, 2010, the percentage charge for the Enhanced Death Benefit I is 0.75% of the Death Benefit Base if you were age 69 or younger at issue and 0.95% of the
Death Benefit Base if you were age 70-75 at issue.
For contracts issued from February 24, 2009 through May 1, 2009, the percentage charge for the Enhanced Death Benefit I is 0.65% of the Death Benefit Base
if you were age 69 or younger at issue and 0.90% of the Death Benefit Base if you were age
70-75 at issue.
For contracts issued on or before February 23, 2009, the percentage charge for the Enhanced Death
Benefit I is
0.65% of the Death Benefit Base if you were age 69 or younger at issue and 0.85% of the Death Benefit Base if you were age 70-75 at issue.
For
contracts issued on or before May 1, 2009, if you elected both the Enhanced Death Benefit I rider and the GMIB Plus II rider (described below), the percentage charge for the Enhanced Death Benefit is reduced by
0.05%. If you elected both the Enhanced Death Benefit I rider and the GMIB Plus II rider,
and only the GMIB Plus II rider has terminated, the 0.05% reduction will continue to
apply.
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit — Rider Charge
We
offer a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) that you can select when you purchase the contract. There are six different versions of the GMIB under this contract: GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, GMIB Plus II,
GMIB Plus I, GMIB II, and GMIB I.
If you select a GMIB rider, we assess a charge during the Accumulation Phase equal to a percentage of the Income Base at the time the rider charge is assessed.
(See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits” for a description of how the Income Base is determined.) This charge
compensates us generally for the costs and risks we assume in providing the benefit. The
percentage charges for each version of the GMIB rider are listed below.
The GMIB rider charge is assessed at the first contract anniversary, and then at each subsequent contract anniversary, up to and including the anniversary on or
immediately preceding the date the rider is exercised.
If you: make a full withdrawal (surrender); begin to receive Annuity Payments at the Annuity Date; change the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant, if a
non-natural person owns the contract); or assign the contract, a pro rata portion of the
GMIB rider charge will be assessed based on the number of months from the last contract anniversary to the date of the withdrawal, the beginning of Annuity Payments, the change of Owner/Annuitant, or the
assignment.
If a GMIB rider is terminated for the following reasons, no GMIB rider charge will be assessed based on the number of months from the last contract anniversary to
the date the termination takes effect:
•the death of the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns
the contract);
•because it is the 30th day following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner’s 86th birthday (for
GMIB I, GMIB II, or GMIB Plus I) or 91st birthday (for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, or GMIB Max I); or
•the Guaranteed Principal Option is exercised (only applicable to GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus
II, GMIB Plus III, and GMIB Max I).
The GMIB rider charge is deducted from your Account Value pro rata from each Investment Portfolio and the Fixed Account in the ratio each portfolio/account
bears to your total Account Value. We take amounts from the investment options that are
part of the Separate Account by canceling Accumulation Units from the Separate Account.
For
versions of the GMIB rider with an Optional Step-Up feature (GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, GMIB Plus II) or Optional Reset feature (GMIB Plus I), the rider charge is assessed on the Income Base prior to any
Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset. (See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits” for information on Optional Step-Ups.)
We reserve
the right to increase the rider charge upon an Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset, up to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) 1.50% of the Income Base (the Maximum Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset
Charge), or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider available for new
contract purchases at the time of the Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset. The increased rider
charge will apply after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Step-Up or Optional
Reset occurs. (See below for certain versions of the GMIB Plus II and GMIB Plus I riders
for which we are currently increasing the rider charge upon an Optional Step-Up or Optional Reset on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later.)
If you selected the GMIB Max I or GMIB Plus III rider, the rider charge is 1.00% of the Income Base.
If you selected the GMIB Plus II rider with a contract issued on or before February 23, 2009, the rider charge is 0.80% of the Income Base. If you selected the
GMIB Plus II rider with a contract issued on or after February 24, 2009, the rider charge
is 1.00% of the Income Base. For contracts issued with the version of the GMIB Plus II rider with an annual increase rate of 6%, if your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Step-Up on a contract
anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge
to 1.20% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the
Optional Step-Up occurs.
If you selected the GMIB Plus I with a contract issued on or before February 23, 2007, the rider charge is 0.75% of the Income Base. If your Income Base is increased
due to an Optional Reset on a contract anniversary occurring on
July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge to 1.00% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the Optional
Reset occurs.
If you selected the GMIB Plus I with a contract issued on and after February 26, 2007, the rider charge
is 0.80% of the Income Base. If your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Reset on a
contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider
charge to 1.20% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the
Optional Reset occurs.
If you selected the GMIB II rider or the GMIB I rider, the rider charge is 0.50% of the Income Base. For
contracts issued from May 1, 2003 and on or before April 29, 2005 for which the GMIB II or
GMIB I was elected, the rider charge is reduced to 0.45% of the Income Base if you elected
either the optional Annual Step-Up Death Benefit or the Compounded-Plus Death Benefit. (See “Death Benefit.”) For contracts issued on and after May 2, 2005, the rider charge is not reduced if you
elected either the optional Annual Step-Up Death Benefit or the Compounded-Plus Death
Benefit. For contracts issued prior to February 15, 2003, the GMIB I rider charge equals
0.35% of the Income Base.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee and Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit — Rider Charge
There
are two versions of the optional Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider: the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider and the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider (collectively referred to as the Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee riders). There are also two versions of the optional Guaranteed Withdrawal
Benefit (GWB) rider: the Enhanced GWB rider and the GWB I rider (collectively referred to
as the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit riders).
If you elect one of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders or one of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit
riders, we will deduct a charge that compensates us generally for the costs and risks we
assume in providing the benefit. This is a charge deducted from your Account Value during the
Accumulation Phase on each contract anniversary. The percentage charges for each version of
the LWG and GWB riders are listed below.
For the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders, the charge is a percentage of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (see “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits — Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II” and “Description of the Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee I”) on the contract anniversary, prior to taking into account
any Automatic Annual Step-Up occurring on such contract anniversary. For the versions of the Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee riders with Compounding Income Amounts, the charge is calculated after applying the
Compounding Income Amount. (See “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits — Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II” and “Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee I” for information on Automatic Annual Step-Ups and Compounding Income
Amounts.)
For the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit riders, the charge is a percentage of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (see “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits — Description of the Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit”) on the contract anniversary, prior to
taking into account any Optional Reset occurring on such contract anniversary. (See
“Living Benefits — Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits — Description of the Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit” and “Description of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I” for information on Optional Resets.)
If you:
make a full withdrawal (surrender) of your Account Value; you apply all of your Account Value to an Annuity Option: there is a change in Owners, Joint Owners or Annuitants (if the Owner is a non-natural person):
the contract terminates (except for a termination due to death); or (under the Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee II rider) you assign your contract, a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed based on the number of full months from the last contract anniversary to the date of
the change.
If a Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider or Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit rider is terminated because of
the death of the Owner, Joint Owner or Annuitants (if the Owner is a non-natural person),
or if a Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider or Enhanced GWB rider is cancelled pursuant to
the cancellation provisions of each rider, no rider charge will be assessed based on the period from the most recent contract anniversary to the date the termination takes effect.
The
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee and Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit rider charges are deducted from your Account Value pro rata from each Investment Portfolio and the Fixed Account in the ratio each
portfolio/account bears to your total Account Value. We take amounts from the investment
options that are part of the Separate Account by canceling Accumulation Units from the Separate Account.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee Riders — Automatic Annual Step-Up. We reserve the right to increase the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider charge upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up. The increased rider charge will
apply after the contract anniversary on which the Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs.
If an Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II or Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider, we may reset the rider charge
applicable beginning after the contract anniversary on which the Automatic Annual Step-Up
occurs to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Automatic Annual
Step-Up Charge or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider available
for new contract purchases at the time of the Automatic Annual Step-Up.
•For contracts issued with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider on or after
February 24, 2009, the Maximum Automatic Annual Step-Up Charge is 1.60% for the Single Life
version and 1.80% for the Joint Life version.
•For contracts issued with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider on or before
February 23, 2009, the Maximum Automatic Annual Step-Up Charge is 1.25% for the Single Life
version and 1.50% for the Joint Life version.
•For contracts issued with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider, the Maximum
Automatic Annual Step-Up Charge is 0.95% for the Single Life version and 1.40% for the
Joint Life version.
(See below for certain versions of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders for which we are currently
increasing the rider charge upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up on a contract anniversary
occurring on July 1, 2012 or later.)
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee Riders — Rider Charges. For contracts issued with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II on or after February 24, 2009, the rider
charge is 1.25% (Single Life version) or 1.50% (Joint Life version) of the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount.
For contracts issued with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II on or before February 23, 2009, the rider
charge is 0.65% (Single Life version) or 0.85% (Joint Life version) of the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount. If your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is increased due to an
Automatic Annual Step-Up on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge for the Single Life version to 0.95% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount, and we will increase the rider charge for the Joint Life version to 1.20% of the
Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the
Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs.
The rider charge for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I is 0.50% (Single Life version) or 0.70% (Joint
Life version) of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. If your Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount is increased due to an Automatic Annual Step-Up on a contract anniversary
occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge for the
Single Life version to 0.80% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, and we will
increase the rider charge for the Joint Life version to 1.05% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Riders — Optional Reset. We reserve the right to increase the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit rider charge upon an Optional Reset.
The increased rider charge will apply after the contract anniversary on which the Optional
Reset occurs.
•If an Optional Reset occurs under a contract issued with the Enhanced GWB rider on or after July 16, 2007, we may reset the rider charge applicable beginning after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Reset occurs to the rate that would be
applicable to current contract purchases of the same rider at the time of the Optional
Reset, but to no more than a maximum of 1.00% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
•If an Optional Reset occurs under a contract issued with the Enhanced GWB rider on or before July 13, 2007, we may reset the rider charge applicable beginning after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Reset occurs to the rate that would be
applicable to current contract purchases of the same rider at the time of the Optional
Reset, but to no more than a maximum of 0.95% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
•If an Optional Reset occurs under a contract with the GWB I rider, we may reset the rider charge applicable beginning after the contract anniversary on which
the Optional Reset occurs to the rate that would be applicable to current contract
purchases of the same rider at the time of the reset, but to no more than a maximum of
0.95% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Riders — Rider Charges. For contracts issued with the Enhanced GWB rider on or after July 16, 2007, the rider charge is 0.55% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
For contracts issued with the Enhanced GWB rider on or before July 13, 2007, the rider charge is 0.50% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
The rider
charge for the GWB I is 0.50% of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit — Rider Charge
If
you elected the GMAB rider, we will deduct a charge that compensates us generally for the costs and risks we assume in providing the benefit. This charge is deducted from your Account Value during the Accumulation Phase
on each contract anniversary. The charge is equal to 0.75% of the GMAB Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount (see “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit”) at the end of the prior Contract Year. The GMAB rider
charge is deducted from your Account Value. We take amounts from the investment options
that are part of the Separate Account by cancelling Accumulation Units from the Separate
Account. If you make a full withdrawal (surrender) of your Account Value or you apply your
Account Value to an Annuity Option, we will assess a pro rata portion of the GMAB rider
charge based on the number of whole months since the last contract
anniversary.
Withdrawal Charge
During the Accumulation Phase, you can make a withdrawal from your contract (either a partial or a complete withdrawal). This contract has no
withdrawal charge.
Premium and Other Taxes
We reserve the right to deduct from Purchase Payments, account balances, withdrawals, death benefits or income payments any taxes relating to the contracts
(including, but not limited to, premium taxes) paid by us to any government entity.
Examples of these taxes include, but are not limited to, premium tax, generation-skipping transfer tax or a similar excise tax under federal or state tax law which is imposed on payments we make to
certain persons and income tax withholdings on withdrawals and income payments to the
extent required by law. Premium taxes generally range from 0 to 3.5%, depending on the state.
We will, at our sole discretion, determine when taxes relate to the contracts. We may, at
our sole discretion, pay taxes when due and deduct that amount from the account balance at
a later date. Payment at an earlier date does not waive any right we may have to deduct amounts at a later date. It is our current practice not to charge premium taxes until Annuity Payments begin.
Transfer Fee
We currently allow unlimited transfers without charge during the Accumulation Phase. However, we have reserved the right to limit the number of transfers to a
maximum of 12 per year without charge and to charge a transfer fee of $25 for each transfer
greater than 12 in any year. We are currently waiving the transfer fee, but reserve the right to charge it in the future. The transfer fee compensates us generally for the costs of processing
transfers. The transfer fee is deducted from the Investment Portfolio or Fixed Account from
which the transfer is made. However, if the entire interest in an account is being transferred, the transfer fee will be deducted from the amount which is transferred.
If the
transfer is part of a pre-scheduled transfer program, it will not count in determining the transfer fee.
Income Taxes
We
reserve the right to deduct from the contract for any income taxes which we incur because of the contract. In general, we believe under current federal income tax law, we are entitled to hold reserves with respect
to the contract that offset Separate Account income. If this should change, it is possible
we could incur income tax with respect to the contract, and in that event we may deduct such tax from the contract. At the present time, however, we are not incurring any such income tax or making any such
deductions.
Investment Portfolio Expenses
There
are deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of each Investment Portfolio, which are described in the fee table in this prospectus and the Investment Portfolio prospectuses. These deductions and
expenses are not charges under the terms of the contract, but are represented in the share
values of each Investment Portfolio.
ANNUITY PAYMENTS
(THE INCOME PHASE)
Annuity Date
Under
the contract you can receive regular income payments (referred to as
Annuity Payments). You can choose the month and year in which those payments begin. We call that date the Annuity Date. Your Annuity Date must be at least 30 days after we issue the contract and will be the first day of the calendar month
unless, subject to our current established administrative procedures, we allow you to
select another day of the month as your Annuity Date.
When you purchase the contract, the
Annuity Date will be the later of the first day of the calendar month after the
Annuitant’s 90th birthday or 10 years from the date your contract was issued. You can
change or extend the Annuity Date at any time before the Annuity Date with 30 days prior
notice to us (subject to restrictions imposed by your selling firm, and our current established administrative procedures).
Please be aware that once your contract is annuitized, your Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries) is ineligible to receive the death benefit
you have selected. Additionally, if you have selected a living benefit rider
such as a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, a Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit,
or the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit, annuitizing your contract
terminates the rider, including any death benefit provided by the rider and
any Guaranteed Principal Adjustment (for the GMIB Max, GMIB Plus, or Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee riders) or Guaranteed Accumulation Payment (for the
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit rider) that may also be provided by
the rider.
Annuity Payments
You (unless another payee is named) will receive the Annuity Payments during the Income Phase. The Annuitant is the natural person(s) whose life we look to
in the determination of Annuity Payments.
During the Income Phase, you have the same investment choices you had just before the start of the Income Phase. At the Annuity Date, you can choose whether
payments will be:
•fixed
Annuity Payments, or
•variable Annuity Payments, or
•a
combination of both.
If you don’t tell us otherwise, your Annuity Payments will be based on the investment allocations
that were in place just before the start of the Income Phase.
If you choose to have any portion of your Annuity Payments based on the Investment Portfolio(s), the dollar amount of your initial payment will vary and
will depend upon three things:
1) the value of your contract in the Investment Portfolio(s) just before the start of the Income Phase,
2) the assumed investment return (AIR) (you select) used in the annuity table for the contract, and
3) the
Annuity Option elected.
Subsequent variable Annuity Payments will vary with the performance of the Investment Portfolios you
selected. (For more information, see “Variable Annuity Payments” below.)
At the
time you choose an Annuity Option, you select the AIR, which must be acceptable to us. Currently, you can select an AIR of 3% or 4%. You can change the AIR with 30 days’ notice to us prior to the Annuity
Date. If you do not select an AIR, we will use 3%. If the actual performance exceeds the
AIR, your variable Annuity Payments will increase. Similarly, if the actual investment
performance is less than the AIR, your variable Annuity Payments will decrease.
Your
variable Annuity Payment is based on Annuity Units. An Annuity Unit is an accounting device used to calculate the dollar amount of Annuity Payments. (For
more information, see “Variable Annuity Payments” below.)
When selecting an AIR, you should keep in mind that a lower AIR will result in a lower initial variable Annuity Payment, but subsequent variable Annuity
Payments will increase more rapidly or decline more slowly as changes occur in the
investment experience of the Investment Portfolios. On the other hand, a higher AIR will result in a higher initial variable Annuity Payment than a lower AIR, but later variable Annuity Payments will rise
more slowly or fall more rapidly.
A transfer during the Income Phase from a variable Annuity Payment option to a fixed Annuity Payment option may result in a reduction in the amount of
Annuity Payments.
If you choose to have any portion of your Annuity Payments be a fixed Annuity Payment, the dollar amount of each fixed Annuity Payment will not change,
unless you make a transfer from a variable Annuity Payment option to the fixed Annuity
Payment that causes the fixed Annuity Payment to increase. Please refer to the “Annuity
Provisions” section of the Statement of Additional Information for more
information.
Annuity Payments are made monthly (or at any frequency permitted under the contract) unless you have
less than $5,000 to apply toward an Annuity Option. In that case, we may provide your
Annuity Payment in a single lump sum instead of Annuity Payments. Likewise, if your Annuity
Payments would be or become less than $100 a month, we have the right to change the frequency of payments so that your Annuity Payments are at least $100.
Annuity Options
You
can choose among income plans. We call those Annuity Options. You can
change your Annuity Option at any time before the Annuity Date with 30 days’ notice to
us.
If you do not choose an Annuity Option, Option 2, which provides a life annuity with 10 years of guaranteed Annuity Payments, will automatically be
applied.
You can choose one of the following Annuity Options or any other Annuity Option acceptable to us,
subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. After Annuity Payments begin, you
cannot change the Annuity Option.
If more than one frequency is permitted under your contract, choosing less frequent payments will result
in each Annuity Payment being larger. Annuity Options that guarantee that payments will be
made for a certain number of years regardless of whether the Annuitant or joint Annuitant
are alive (such as Options 2 and 4 below) result in Annuity Payments that are smaller than Annuity Options without such a guarantee (such as Options 1 and 3 below). For Annuity Options with a designated period,
choosing a shorter designated period will result in each Annuity Payment being
larger.
Option 1. Life Annuity. Under this option, we will make Annuity Payments so long as the Annuitant is alive. We stop making Annuity Payments after the
Annuitant’s death. It is possible under this option to receive only one Annuity
Payment if the Annuitant dies before the due date of the second payment or to receive only two Annuity Payments if the Annuitant dies before the due date of the third payment, and so on.
Option 2. Life Annuity With 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed. Under this option, we will make Annuity Payments so long as the Annuitant is alive. If, when the Annuitant dies, we have made
Annuity Payments for less than ten years, we will then continue to make Annuity Payments to
the Beneficiary for the rest of the 10 year period.
Option 3. Joint and Last Survivor Annuity. Under this option, we will make Annuity Payments so long as the Annuitant and a second person (joint Annuitant) are both alive. When either Annuitant dies, we will
continue to make Annuity Payments, so long as the survivor continues to live. We will stop
making Annuity Payments after the last survivor’s death.
Option 4. Joint and Last Survivor Annuity with 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed. Under this option, we will make Annuity Payments so long as the
Annuitant and a second person (joint Annuitant) are both alive. When either Annuitant dies, we will
continue to make Annuity Payments, so long as the survivor continues to live. If, at the
last death of the Annuitant and the joint Annuitant, we have made Annuity Payments for less than ten years, we will then continue to make Annuity Payments to the Beneficiary for the rest of the 10 year
period.
Option 5. Payments for a Designated Period. We currently offer an Annuity Option under which fixed or variable monthly Annuity Payments are made for a
selected number of years as approved by us, currently not less than 10 years. This Annuity
Option may be limited or withdrawn by us in our discretion or due to the requirements of
the Code.
The amount of any annuity payments will depend on the amount applied to purchase the annuity and the
applicable annuity rates. The amount of each annuity payment will be less with a greater
frequency of payments (if frequency choices other than monthly are available) and/or with
longer “certain” payment periods and/or with payments with life
contingencies.
We may require proof of age or sex of an Annuitant before making any Annuity Payments under the contract
that are measured by the Annuitant's life. If the age or sex of the Annuitant has been
misstated, the amount payable will be the amount that the Account Value would have provided at the correct age or sex. Once Annuity Payments have begun, any underpayments will be made up in one sum
with the next Annuity Payment. Any overpayments will be deducted from future Annuity
Payments until the total is repaid.
A commutation feature (a feature that allows the Owner to receive a lump sum of the present value of
future Annuity Payments) is available under the variable Payments for a Designated Period
Annuity Option (Option 5). You may not commute the fixed Payments for a Designated Period
Annuity Option or any option involving a life contingency, whether fixed or variable, prior
to the death of the last surviving Annuitant. Upon the death of the last surviving
Annuitant, the Beneficiary may choose to continue receiving income payments (if permitted
by the Code) or to receive the commuted value of the remaining guaranteed payments. For
variable Annuity Options, the calculation of the commuted value will be done using the AIR applicable to the contract. (See “Annuity Payments” above.) For fixed Annuity Options, the calculation
of the commuted value will be done using the then current Annuity Option rates.
There may
be tax consequences resulting from the election of an Annuity Payment option containing a commutation feature (i.e., an Annuity Payment option that permits the
withdrawal of a commuted value). (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”)
Due to underwriting, administrative or Internal Revenue Code considerations, there may be limitations on payments to the survivor under Options 3 and 4 and/or
the duration of the guarantee period under Options 2, 4, and 5.
Tax rules with respect to decedent contracts may prohibit the election of Joint and Last Survivor Annuity Options (or income types) and may also prohibit payments
for as long as the Owner's life in certain circumstances.
In addition to the Annuity Options described above, we may offer an additional payment option that would allow your Beneficiary to take distribution of the
Account Value over a period not extending beyond his or her life expectancy. Under this
option, annual distributions would not be made in the form of an annuity, but would be
calculated in a manner similar to the calculation of required minimum distributions from
IRAs. (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”) We generally intend to make this
payment option available to both Qualified Contracts and Non-Qualified Contracts, to the
extent allowed under the Code; however, such payment option may be limited to certain
categories of beneficiaries.
In the event that you purchased the contract as a Qualified Contract, you must take distribution of the
Account Value in accordance with the minimum required distribution rules set forth in
applicable tax law. (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”) Under certain circumstances, you may satisfy those requirements by electing an Annuity Option. You may choose any death benefit available under a
Qualified Contract, but the death benefit must be paid within the timeframe required by
applicable tax law and certain other contract provisions and programs will not be available.
Upon your death, if Annuity Payments have already begun under a Qualified Contract,
applicable tax law may require that any remaining payments be made over a shorter period
than originally elected or otherwise adjusted to comply with the tax law. If you purchased
the contract as a Non-Qualified Contract, the tax rules that apply upon your death are
similar to the tax rules for Qualified Contracts, but differ in some material respects. For example, if you die after Annuity Payments have already begun under a Non-Qualified Contract, any remaining Annuity Payments
can continue to be paid, provided that they are paid at least as rapidly as under the
method of distribution in effect at the time of your death.
Variable Annuity Payments
The
Adjusted Contract Value (the Account Value, less any applicable premium taxes, account fee, and any prorated
rider charge) is determined on the annuity calculation date, which is a Business Day no more than five
(5) Business Days before the Annuity Date. The first variable Annuity Payment will be based
upon the Adjusted Contract Value, the Annuity Option elected, the Annuitant’s age, the
Annuitant's sex (where permitted by law), and the appropriate variable Annuity Option
table. Your annuity rates will not be less than those guaranteed in your contract at the
time of purchase for the assumed investment return and Annuity Option elected. If, as of the annuity calculation date, the then current variable Annuity Option rates applicable to this class of contracts
provide a first Annuity Payment greater than that which is guaranteed under the same
Annuity Option under this contract, the greater payment will be made.
The dollar amount of variable Annuity Payments after the first payment is determined as follows:
•The dollar amount of the first variable Annuity Payment is divided by the value of an
Annuity Unit for each applicable Investment Portfolio as of the annuity
calculation date. This establishes the number of Annuity Units for each payment. The number
of Annuity Units for each applicable Investment Portfolio remains fixed during the annuity
period, provided that transfers among the Investment Portfolios will be made by converting
the number of Annuity Units being transferred to the number of Annuity Units of the
Investment Portfolio to which the transfer is made, and the number of Annuity Units will be
adjusted for transfers to a fixed Annuity Option. Please see the Statement of Additional
Information for details about making transfers during the Annuity Phase.
•The fixed number of Annuity Units per payment in each Investment Portfolio is
multiplied by the Annuity Unit value for that Investment Portfolio for the Business Day for
which the Annuity Payment is being calculated. This result is the dollar amount of the
payment for each applicable Investment Portfolio, less any account fee. The account fee
will be deducted pro rata out of each Annuity Payment.
•The total dollar amount of each variable Annuity Payment is the sum of all Investment
Portfolio variable Annuity Payments.
Annuity Unit. The initial
Annuity Unit value for each Investment Portfolio of the Separate Account was set by us. The
subsequent Annuity Unit value for each Investment Portfolio is determined by multiplying the Annuity Unit value for the immediately preceding Business Day by the net investment factor (see the Statement of
Additional
Information for a definition) for the Investment Portfolio for the current Business Day and multiplying the result by a factor for each day since the last Business
Day which represents the daily equivalent of the AIR you elected.
Fixed Annuity Payments
The
Adjusted Contract Value (defined above under “Variable Annuity Payments”) is determined on the annuity calculation date, which is a Business Day no more than five (5) Business Days before the Annuity Date.
This value will be used to determine a fixed Annuity Payment. The Annuity Payment will be
based upon the Annuity Option elected, the Annuitant's age, the Annuitant's sex (where
permitted by law), and the appropriate Annuity Option table. Your annuity rates will not be
less than those guaranteed in your contract at the time of purchase. If, as of the annuity
calculation date, the then current Annuity Option rates applicable to this class of contracts provide an Annuity Payment greater than that which is guaranteed under the same Annuity Option under this contract,
the greater payment will be made. You may not make a transfer from the fixed Annuity Option
to the variable Annuity Option.
ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY
You (or in the case of a death benefit, or certain Annuity Options upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant, your Beneficiary) can have access to the money
in your contract:
(1) by making a withdrawal (either a partial or a complete withdrawal);
(2)
by electing to receive Annuity Payments;
(3)
when a death benefit is paid to your Beneficiary; or
(4) under certain Annuity Options described under “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase) — Annuity Options” that provide for continuing Annuity Payments or a cash refund to your Beneficiary upon the death of the last surviving Annuitant.
Under most
circumstances, withdrawals can only be made during the Accumulation
Phase.
You may establish a withdrawal plan under which you can receive substantially equal periodic payments in
order to comply with the requirements of Sections 72(q) or (t) of the Code. Premature
modification or termination of such payments may result in substantial penalty taxes. (See
“Federal Income Tax Status.”) If you own an annuity contract with a Guaranteed
Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) rider and elect to receive distributions in
accordance with substantially equal periodic payments exception, the commencement of income payments
under the GMIB rider if your contract lapses and there remains any Income Base may be
considered an impermissible modification of the payment stream under certain
circumstances.
When you make a complete withdrawal, you will receive the withdrawal value of the contract. The withdrawal value of the contract is the Account Value of the
contract at the end of the Business Day when we receive a written request for a
withdrawal:
•less any premium or other tax;
•less
any account fee; and
•less any applicable pro rata GMIB, GWB, GMAB or Enhanced Death Benefit rider
charge.
Unless you instruct us otherwise, any partial withdrawal will be made pro rata from the Fixed Account
(if available) and the Investment Portfolio(s) you selected. Under most circumstances the
amount of any partial withdrawal must be for at least $500, or your entire interest in the
Investment Portfolio or Fixed Account. We require that after a partial withdrawal is made
you keep at least $2,000 in the contract. If the withdrawal would result in the Account
Value being less than $2,000 after a partial withdrawal, we will treat the withdrawal request as a request for a full withdrawal. (See “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value” for more information.)
We will pay the amount of any withdrawal from the Separate Account within seven days of when we receive the request in Good Order unless the suspension of
payments or transfers provision is in effect.
We may withhold payment of withdrawal proceeds if any portion of those proceeds would be derived from a contract Owner's check that has not yet cleared
(i.e., that could still be dishonored by the contract Owner's banking institution). We may use telephone, fax, Internet or other
means of communication to verify that payment from the contract Owner's check has been or
will be collected. We will not delay payment longer than necessary for us to verify that
payment has been or will be collected. Contract Owners may avoid the possibility of delay in the disbursement of proceeds coming from a check that has not yet cleared by providing us with a certified
check.
How to withdraw all or part of your Account Value:
•You must submit a request to our Annuity Service Center. (See “Other Information — Requests and Elections.”)
•You must state in your request whether you would like to apply the proceeds to a payment option (otherwise you will receive the proceeds in a lump sum and may
be taxed on them).
•We have to receive your withdrawal request in our Annuity Service Center prior to the
Annuity Date or Owner's death; provided, however, that you may submit a written withdrawal
request any time prior to the Annuity Date that indicates that the withdrawal should be
processed as of the Annuity Date. Solely for the purpose of calculating and processing such a
withdrawal request, the request will be deemed to have been received on, and the withdrawal
amount will be priced according to the Accumulation Unit value calculated as of, the
Annuity Date. Your request must be received at our Annuity Service Center on or before the
Annuity Date.
There are limits to the amount you can withdraw from certain qualified plans including Qualified and TSA
plans. (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”)
Income taxes, tax penalties and certain restrictions may apply to any withdrawal you make.
Divorce. A withdrawal
made pursuant to a divorce or separation instrument will reduce the Account Value, the
death benefit, and the amount of any optional living or death benefit (including the
benefit base we use to determine the guaranteed amount of the benefit). The amount
withdrawn could exceed the maximum amount that can be withdrawn without causing a proportionate reduction in the benefit base used to calculate the guaranteed amount provided by an optional rider, as
described in the “Living Benefits” and “Death Benefit” sections.
The withdrawal could have a significant negative impact on the death benefit and on any optional rider benefit.
Systematic
Withdrawal Program
You may elect the Systematic Withdrawal Program at any time. We do not assess a charge for this program.
This program provides an automatic payment to you of up to 20% of your total Purchase
Payments each year. You can receive payments monthly or quarterly, provided that each
payment must amount to at least $100 (unless we consent otherwise). After the first
Contract Year, you can receive
payments annually or semi-annually. We reserve the right to change the required minimum systematic
withdrawal amount. If the New York Stock Exchange is closed on a day when the withdrawal is
to be made, we will process the withdrawal on the next Business Day. While the Systematic
Withdrawal Program is in effect you can make additional withdrawals.
We will
terminate your participation in the Systematic Withdrawal Program when we receive notification of your death.
Income taxes, tax penalties and certain restrictions may apply to systematic withdrawals.
Suspension of Payments or Transfers
We
may be required to suspend or postpone payments for withdrawals or transfers for any period when:
•the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings);
•trading
on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted;
•an emergency exists, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as a result of which disposal of shares of the Investment Portfolios is not
reasonably practicable or we cannot reasonably value the shares of the Investment
Portfolios; or
•during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of Owners.
We have
reserved the right to defer payment for a withdrawal or transfer from the Fixed Account for the period permitted by law, but not for more than six months.
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require us to block an Owner's ability to make certain
transactions and thereby refuse to accept any requests for transfers, withdrawals,
surrenders, or death benefits until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about you and your contract to government
regulators.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACT
The following table summarizes information about the benefits under the Contract.
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions / Limitations |
Dollar Cost
Averaging
Program |
Allows you to systematically
transfer a set amount each
month from Investment
Portfolios or the Fixed
Account (if available) to
other available Investment
Portfolios |
|
|
|
•Available only during the Accumulation phase
•Transfers only available from the Fixed Account or the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio
•Not available with the GWB rider or GLWB rider |
Automatic
Rebalancing
Program |
Allows us to automatically
rebalance your Account
Value to return to your
original percentage
allocations |
|
|
|
•Available only during the Accumulation phase
•If you have selected the GMIB Max I or EDB Max I riders, the Fixed Account is not available for automatic rebalancing.
•The Automatic Rebalancing Program is not available if you have selected the GMAB rider. |
Systematic
Withdrawal
Program |
Allows you to set up an
automatic payment of up to
10% of your total Purchase
Payments each year |
|
|
|
•Each payment must be at least $100 (unless we consent otherwise)
•In the first Contract Year, only monthly or quarterly payments are allowed |
Standard
Death
Benefit –
Principal
Protection |
Pays a minimum death
benefit at least equal to the
greater of the Account Value
or total Purchase Payments
adjusted for any withdrawals |
|
|
|
•Withdrawals may proportionately reduce the benefit, and such reductions could be significant |
Annual
Step-Up
Death
Benefit |
Pays a death benefit equal to
the greater of your Account
Value, your total Purchase
Payments adjusted for any
withdrawals, or your Step-
Up Value |
|
0.20% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
0.20% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
•Must be 79 or younger at the effective date of your contract •Withdrawals may
proportionately reduce the
benefit, and such
reductions could be
significant |
Compounded-
Plus Death
Benefit |
Pays a death benefit equal to
the greater of your Account
Value and your highest
Account Value on a Contract
Anniversary or the Annual
Increase Amount adjusted
for any withdrawals |
|
0.35% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
0.35% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
•Must be 79 or younger at the effective date of your contract •Withdrawals may
proportionately reduce the
benefit, and such
reductions could be
significant and could have
the effect of eliminating
the benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Death
Benefit –
Earnings
Preservation
Benefit |
Pays an additional death
benefit that is intended to
help pay part of the income
taxes due at the time of
death of the Owner or Joint
Owner |
|
0.25% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
0.25% of
average daily
net asset value
of each
Investment
Portfolio |
•Must be 79 or younger at
the effective date of your
contract
•This benefit may not be available for qualified plans •Not available in
Washington |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit Max
I (GMIB Max
I) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
|
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider in effect at the same time
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or terminate the benefit
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday •Exercising option to reset
the Annual Increase
Amount to Account Value
will restart the 10-year
waiting period
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •The Guaranteed Principal
Option may be exercised
on each contract
anniversary starting with
the 10th contract
anniversary through the
contract anniversary prior
to the Owner's 91st
birthday
•Exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option terminates the benefit
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit Plus
III (GMIB
Plus III) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
|
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider in effect at the same time
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday •Exercising option to reset
the Annual Increase
Amount to Account Value
will restart the 10-year
waiting period
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Guaranteed Principal
Option may be exercised
on each contract
anniversary starting with
the 10th contract
anniversary through the
contract anniversary prior
to the Owner's 91
birthday
•Exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option terminates the benefit
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit Plus
II (GMIB
Plus II) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
|
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider in effect at the same time
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday •Exercising option to reset
the Annual Increase
Amount to Account Value
will restart the 10-year
waiting period
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Guaranteed Principal
Option may be exercised
on each contract
anniversary starting with
the 10th contract
anniversary through the
contract anniversary prior
to the Owner's 91
birthday
•Exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option terminates the benefit
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit Plus
I (GMIB Plus
I) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
0.80%% of
the Income
Base |
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period up through age 85, within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 85th birthday
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Benefit may be exercised
after a 10-year waiting
period and then only
within 30 days following a
contract anniversary
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit II
(GMIB II) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
|
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period up through age 85, within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 85th birthday
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Benefit may be exercised
after a 10-year waiting
period and then only
within 30 days following a
contract anniversary
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Income
Benefit I
(GMIB I) |
Provides a specified
guaranteed level of minimum
fixed Annuity Payments
during the Income Phase
regardless of investment
performance |
|
|
|
•Benefit may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period up through age 85, within 30 days following a contract anniversary
•Benefit must be exercised no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 85th birthday
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Benefit may be exercised
after a 10-year waiting
period and then only
within 30 days following a
contract anniversary
•Enhanced Payout Rates, which may be available upon exercise of the benefit, depend on your age at the time you took your first withdrawal and other circumstances |
Lifetime
Withdrawal
Guarantee II
(LWG II) |
Guarantees income for life,
or at least the entire amount
of Purchase Payments you
make will be returned to you
through a series of
withdrawals regardless of
investment performance |
|
1.60% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
single life
version
1.80% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
joint life
version |
1.25% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
single life
version
1.50% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
joint life
version |
•Guarantees income for life, subject to conditions, provided your first withdrawal is on or after the date you reach age 59 1∕2
•You may elect to cancel the rider on the contract anniversary every five Contract Years for the first 15 Contract Years and annually thereafter
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Certain withdrawals could
significantly reduce or
even terminate the benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Lifetime
Withdrawal
Guarantee I
(LWG I) |
Guarantees income for life,
or at least the entire amount
of Purchase Payments you
make will be returned to you
through a series of
withdrawals regardless of
investment performance |
|
0.95% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
single life
version
1.40% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
joint life
version |
0.50% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
single life
version
0.70% of the
Total
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount for
joint life
version |
•Guarantees income for life, subject to conditions, provided your first withdrawal is on or after the date you reach age 59 1∕2
•You may elect to cancel the rider on the contract anniversary every five Contract Years for the first 15 Contract Years and annually thereafter
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Certain withdrawals could
significantly reduce or
even terminate the benefit |
Enhanced
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Benefit
(Enhanced
GWB) |
Guarantees that at least the
entire amount of Purchase
Payments you make will be
returned to you through a
series of withdrawals
regardless of investment
performance |
|
1.00% of the
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount |
0.55% of the
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount |
•You may elect to cancel the rider during the 90-day period following your fifth Contract Year
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •You may elect the
Optional Reset feature at
any contract anniversary
prior to your
86th birthday |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Benefit I
(GWB I) |
Guarantees that at least the
entire amount of Purchase
Payments you make will be
returned to you through a
series of withdrawals
regardless of investment
performance |
|
0.95% of the
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount |
0.50% of the
Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount |
•Certain withdrawals could significantly reduce or even terminate the benefit
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply •Starting with the third
contract anniversary, you
may elect the Optional
Reset feature once every
contract anniversary prior
to the 86th birthday of the
Owner provided that it has
been at least three contract
anniversaries since the last
reset |
Guaranteed
Minimum
Accumulation
Benefit
(GMAB) |
Guarantees that at least the
entire amount of Purchase
Payments you make will be
returned to you through a
series of withdrawals
regardless of investment
performance |
|
0.75% of the
Guaranteed
Accumulation
Amount |
0.75% of the
Guaranteed
Accumulation
Amount |
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•No transfers are permitted while this benefit is in effect •Additional restrictions on
Purchase Payments may
apply
•You may not have this benefit and benefit rider in effect at the same time
•Withdrawals may proportionately reduce the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount, and such reductions could be significant
•You have a one-time right to cancel this benefit on your fifth contract anniversary |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Enhanced
Death
Benefit Max
I (EDB Max
I) |
Pays a death benefit equal to
the greater of your Account
Value or a Death Benefit
Base that provides protection
against adverse investment
experience |
|
1.50% of
Death Benefit
Base |
0.60% of
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 69 or
younger)
1.15% of
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 70-75) |
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider (except the GMIB Max I rider) in effect at the same time
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Withdrawals may proportionately reduce the Death Benefit Base, and such reductions could be significant and could have the effect of eliminating the benefit
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply |
Enhanced
Death
Benefit II |
Pays a death benefit equal to
the greater of your Account
Value or a Death Benefit
Base that provides protection
against adverse investment
experience |
|
1.50% of
Death Benefit
Base |
0.60% of
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 69 or
younger)
1.15% of
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 70-75) |
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider (except the GMIB Plus III rider) in effect at the same time
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Withdrawals may proportionately reduce the Death Benefit Base, and such reductions could be significant and could have the effect of eliminating the benefit
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply |
|
|
|
|
|
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations |
Enhanced
Death
Benefit I
(EDB I) |
Pays a death benefit equal to
the greater of your Account
Value or a Death Benefit
Base that provides protection
against adverse investment
experience |
|
1.50% of the
Death Benefit
Base |
0.75% of the
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 69 or
younger)
0.95% of the
Death Benefit
Base (issue
age 70-75) |
•You may not have this benefit and another living benefit rider (except the GMIB Plus III rider) in effect at the same time
•Benefit subject to Investment Portfolio allocation restrictions
•Withdrawals may proportionately reduce the Death Benefit Base, and such reductions could be significant and could have the effect of eliminating the benefit
•Additional restrictions on Purchase Payments may apply |
Certain rider charges for contracts issued before May 4,
2009 are different. (See “Expenses.”)
LIVING BENEFITS
Overview of Living Benefit Riders
We
offer a suite of optional living benefit riders that, for certain additional charges, offer protection against market risk (the risk that your investments may decline in value or underperform your expectations). Only one
of these riders may be elected, and the rider must be elected at contract issue. These
optional riders are described briefly below. Please see the more detailed description that follows for important information on the costs, restrictions and availability of each optional rider.We have offered three types of living benefit riders — guaranteed income benefits, guaranteed withdrawal benefits, and a guaranteed asset accumulation benefit:
Guaranteed Income Benefits
•GMIB
Max I
•Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Plus (GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus II and GMIB Plus
III)
•Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB I and GMIB II)
Our guaranteed income benefit riders are designed to allow you to invest your Account Value in the market while at the same time assuring a specified guaranteed
level of minimum fixed Annuity Payments if you elect the Income Phase. The fixed Annuity
Payment amount is guaranteed regardless of investment performance or the actual Account
Value at the time you annuitize. Prior to exercising the rider and annuitizing your
contract, you may make withdrawals up to a maximum level specified in the rider and still
maintain the benefit amount.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits
•Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee (LWG I and LWG II)
•Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit (Enhanced GWB)
•Guaranteed
Withdrawal Benefit I (GWB I)
The GWB riders are designed to guarantee that at least the entire amount of Purchase Payments you make
will be returned to you through a series of withdrawals without annuitizing, regardless of
investment performance, as long as withdrawals in any Contract Year do not exceed the
maximum amount allowed under the rider.
With the LWG riders, you get the same benefits, but in addition, if you make your first withdrawal on or after the date you reach age 59 1∕2, you are guaranteed income for your life (and the life of your spouse, if the Joint Life version of the rider was elected, and your
spouse elects to
continue the contract and is at least age 59 1∕2 at continuation), even
after the entire amount of Purchase Payments has been returned.
Guaranteed Asset Accumulation Benefit
On and
before May 1, 2009, we offered the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (GMAB). The GMAB
is designed to guarantee that your Account Value will not be less than a minimum amount at
the end of the 10-year waiting period. The amount of the guarantee depends on which of
three permitted Investment Portfolios you selected at contract issue.
Guaranteed Income Benefits
At the time you buy the contract, you may elect a guaranteed income benefit rider, called a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB), for an additional
charge. Each version of these riders is designed to guarantee a predictable, minimum level
of fixed Annuity Payments, regardless of the investment performance of your Account Value
during the Accumulation Phase. However, if applying your actual Account Value
at the time you annuitize the contract to then current annuity purchase rates
(outside of the rider) produces higher income payments, you will receive the
higher payments, and thus you will have paid for the rider even though it was
not used. Also, prior to exercising the rider, you may make specified withdrawals that reduce your Income Base (as explained below) during the Accumulation
Phase and still leave the rider guarantees intact, provided the conditions of the rider are
met. Your financial representative can provide you an illustration of the amounts you would
receive, with or without withdrawals, if you exercised the rider.
There are six different versions of the GMIB under this contract: GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus I, GMIB II, and GMIB I.
There may
be versions of each rider that vary by issue date and state availability. In addition, a version of a rider may become available (or unavailable) in different states at different times. Please check your contract and
riders for the specific provisions applicable to you.
You may not have this benefit and a GWB or GMAB rider in effect at the same time. Once elected, the rider cannot be terminated except as discussed
below.
Facts About Guaranteed Income Benefit Riders
Income Base and GMIB Annuity Payments. Under the GMIB, we calculate an “Income Base” (as described below) that determines, in part, the minimum amount you receive as an income payment upon exercising the
GMIB rider and annuitizing the contract.It is important to recognize that this Income Base is not available for cash withdrawals and does not
establish or guarantee your Account Value or a minimum return for any
Investment Portfolio. After a minimum 10-year waiting period, and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary, you may exercise the rider. We then will apply the Income Base
calculated at the time of exercise to the conservative GMIB Annuity Table (as described
below) specified in the rider in order to determine your minimum guaranteed lifetime fixed
monthly Annuity Payments (your actual payment may be higher than this minimum if, as
discussed above, the base contract under its terms would provide a higher payment).
The
GMIB Annuity Table. The GMIB Annuity Table is specified in the rider. For GMIB Max I and
GMIB Plus III in contracts issued after February 25, 2011, this table is calculated based
on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with 10 years of mortality improvement based on projection Scale AA and a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.0% per annum. For GMIB Plus III and GMIB Plus II
in contracts issued from May 4, 2009 through February 25, 2011, this table is calculated
based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.5%
per annum. For GMIB Plus II in contracts issued from February 24, 2009 through May 1, 2009, this table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 1.5%
per annum. For GMIB Plus II in contracts issued on or before February 23, 2009, and for
GMIB Plus I, GMIB II and GMIB I, this table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality
Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 2.5% per annum. As with other pay-out
types, the amount you receive as an income payment also depends on the Annuity Option you
select, your age, and (where permitted by state law) your sex. For GMIB Max I, GMIB Plus III, and GMIB Plus II, the annuity rates for attained ages 86 to 90 are the same as those for attained age 85. The annuity rates in the GMIB Annuity Table are conservative, so the amount of guaranteed minimum lifetime income that the GMIB produces may be less than the
amount of annuity income that would be provided by applying your Account
Value on your Annuity Date to then-current annuity purchase rates.
If you exercise the GMIB rider, your Annuity Payments will be the greater of:
•the Annuity Payment determined by applying the amount of the Income Base to the GMIB
Annuity Table, or
•the Annuity Payment determined for the same Annuity Option in accordance with the base
contract. (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”)
If you choose not to receive Annuity Payments as guaranteed under the GMIB, you may elect any of the Annuity Options available under the contract.
Ownership. If you, the
Owner, are a natural person, you must also be the Annuitant. If a non-natural person owns
the contract, then the Annuitant will be considered the Owner in determining the Income
Base and GMIB Annuity Payments. If Joint Owners are named, the age of the older Joint Owner
will be used to determine the Income Base and GMIB Annuity Payments. For the purposes of the
Guaranteed Income Benefits section of the prospectus, “you” always means the
Owner, older Joint Owner or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person.
Taxes. Withdrawals of
taxable amounts will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59 1∕2, a 10% federal tax
penalty may apply.
GMIB and Decedent Contracts. If you are purchasing this contract with a nontaxable transfer of the death benefit proceeds of any annuity contract or IRA (or any other tax-qualified arrangement) of which you were the
Beneficiary and you are “stretching” the distributions under the IRS required
distribution rules, you may not purchase a GMIB rider. Upon your death, however, any remaining benefits may need to be accelerated to comply with IRS rules.
GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus II, GMIB I, GMIB II and Qualified Contracts. The GMIB Plus I, GMIB Plus II, GMIB I, and GMIB II riders may have limited usefulness in connection with a Qualified Contract, such as
an IRA, in circumstances where, due to the ten-year waiting period after purchase (and for
GMIB Plus I and GMIB Plus II, after an Optional Step-Up or Reset) the Owner is unable to
exercise the rider until after the required beginning date of required minimum
distributions under the contract. In such event, required minimum distributions received from the contract during the 10-year waiting period will have the effect of reducing the Income Base either on a
proportionate or dollar-for-dollar basis, as the case may be. This may have the effect of
reducing or eliminating the
value of Annuity Payments under the rider. You should consult your tax adviser prior to electing one of
these riders.
(See Appendix C for examples of the GMIB.)
Description of GMIB Max I
The
GMIB Max I rider is no longer available for purchase. The GMIB Max I rider is available only for Owners up through age 78, and you can only elect the GMIB Max I at the time you purchased the contract. The GMIB Max I rider may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary, provided that the
exercise must occur no later than the 30-day period following the contract
anniversary prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday.
Income
Base. The Income Base is the greater of (a) or (b) below.
(a) Highest Anniversary Value: On the issue date, the “Highest Anniversary Value” is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the
Highest Anniversary Value will be increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced
proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each
subsequent withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 81st birthday, the
Highest Anniversary Value will be recalculated and set equal to the greater of the Highest
Anniversary Value before the recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the
recalculation.
The Highest Anniversary Value does not change after the contract anniversary immediately preceding the
Owner's 81st birthday, except that it is increased for each subsequent Purchase Payment and
reduced proportionally by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each
subsequent withdrawal.
(b) Annual Increase Amount: On the date we issue your contract, the “Annual Increase Amount” is
equal to your initial Purchase Payment. All Purchase Payments received within 120 days of
the date we issue your contract will be treated as part of the initial Purchase Payment for
this purpose. Thereafter, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to (i) less (ii), where:
(i) is Purchase Payments accumulated at the annual increase rate (as defined below) from the date the
Purchase Payment is made; and
(ii) is withdrawal adjustments (as defined below) accumulated at the annual increase rate.
The Highest Anniversary Value and Annual
Increase Amount are calculated independently of each other. When the Highest Anniversary
Value is recalculated and set equal to the Account Value, the Annual Increase Amount is not
set equal to the Account Value. See “Optional Step-Up” below for a feature that
can be used to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value.
Annual Increase Rate. As noted above, we calculate an Income Base under the GMIB Max I rider that helps determine the minimum amount you receive as an income payment upon exercising the rider. One of the
factors used in calculating the Income Base is called the “annual increase
rate.”
Through the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday, the annual
increase rate is the greater of:
(a)
6%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
Item (b) only applies to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for the previous calendar year or for this calendar year (whichever is greater), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year
before the end of the calendar year;
(2a) if you enroll only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year; or
(2b) if you enroll in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum of 6% (item (a) above) of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the Automated Required Minimum Distribution
Program (which can be used to pay out any amount above the Systematic Withdrawal
Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements at
the end of the calendar year), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the
beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during
the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year.
On the first contract anniversary, “at the beginning of the Contract Year” means on the issue date; on a later contract anniversary, “at the beginning
of the Contract Year” means on the prior contract anniversary. All Purchase Payments
received within 120 days of the issue date are treated as part of the initial Purchase
Payment for this purpose, and therefore are included in the Annual Increase Amount on the
issue date, instead of being treated as subsequent Purchase Payments (see “Operation of the GMIB – Income Base”).
See “Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With GMIB Max I” below for more information on the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal
Program.
If item (b) above (the required minimum distribution rate) is greater than item (a) above, and your
total withdrawals during a Contract Year, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase
Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year, exceed the required minimum distribution rate, the required minimum distribution rate is not used to calculate the annual increase rate, and the annual
increase rate will be reduced to 6% (item (a) above). Therefore, the annual increase rate
for that Contract Year will be lower than the required minimum distribution rate, which could have the effect of reducing the value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB rider.
During the
30 day period following the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st
birthday, the annual increase rate is 0%.
Withdrawal Adjustments.
Withdrawal adjustments in a Contract Year are determined according to (a) or (b):
(a) The withdrawal adjustment for each withdrawal in a Contract Year is the value of the Annual Increase Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributed to that withdrawal; or
(b) If total withdrawals in a Contract Year are not greater than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract
Year, and if these withdrawals are paid to you (or to the Annuitant, if the contract is
owned by a non-natural person) or to another payee we agree to, the total withdrawal
adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of total
withdrawals in that Contract Year. These withdrawal adjustments will replace the withdrawal
adjustments defined in (a) immediately above and be treated as though the corresponding
withdrawals occurred at the end of that Contract Year.
As described in (a) immediately above, if in any Contract Year you take cumulative withdrawals that exceed the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual
Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year, the Annual Increase Amount will be
reduced in the same proportion that the entire withdrawal reduced the Account Value. This
reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value is lower than the Annual
Increase Amount, and could have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value of Annuity
Payments under the GMIB rider. Limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a Contract Year to not more than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year will result in dollar-for-dollar treatment of the withdrawals, as described
in (b) immediately above.
(See Appendix C for examples of the calculation of the Income Base, including the Highest Anniversary
Value, the Annual Increase Amount, the annual increase rate, and the withdrawal
adjustments.)
In determining the GMIB annuity income, an amount equal to the amount of any premium and other taxes
that may apply will be deducted from the Income Base.
Optional Step-Up. On
each contract anniversary as permitted, you may elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount
to the Account Value. An Optional Step-Up may be beneficial if your Account Value has grown at a rate above the annual increase rate on the Annual Increase Amount (6%). As described below, an Optional
Step-Up resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. After an Optional Step-Up,
the annual increase rate will be applied to the new, higher Annual Increase Amount and
therefore the amount that may be withdrawn without reducing the Annual Increase Amount on a
proportionate basis will increase. However, if you elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount, we will also restart the 10-year waiting period. In addition, we
may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not
exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current
rate that we would charge for the same rider available for new contract
purchases at the time of the Optional Step-Up.
An Optional Step-Up is permitted only if: (1) the Account Value exceeds the Annual Increase Amount immediately before the reset; and (2) the Owner (or older Joint
Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person) is not older than age
80 on the date of the Optional Step-Up. If your contract has both the GMIB Max I rider and
the EDB Max I rider, and you would like to elect an Optional Step-Up, you must elect an Optional Step-Up for both riders. You may not elect an Optional Step-Up for only one of the two riders. Upon the Optional
Step-Up, we may reset the rider charge, as described above, on one or both riders.
You may
elect either: (1) a one-time Optional Step-Up at any contract anniversary provided the above requirements are met, or (2) Optional Step-Ups to occur under the Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you elect Automatic
Annual Step-Ups, on any contract anniversary while this election is in effect, the Annual
Increase Amount will reset to the Account Value automatically, provided the above
requirements are met. The same conditions described above will apply to each Automatic
Step-Up. You may discontinue this election at any time by notifying us in writing, at our
Annuity Service Center (or by any other method acceptable to us), at least 30 days prior to the contract anniversary on which a reset may otherwise occur. Otherwise, it will remain in effect through
the seventh contract anniversary following the date you make this election, at which point
you must make a new election if you want Automatic Annual Step-Ups to continue. If you
discontinue or do not re-elect the Automatic Annual Step-Ups, no Optional Step-Up will
occur automatically on any subsequent contract anniversary unless you make a new election
under the terms described above. (If you discontinue Automatic Annual Step-Ups, the rider (and the rider charge) will continue, and you may choose to elect a one time Optional Step-Up or reinstate
Automatic Annual Step-Ups as described above.)
We must receive your request to exercise the Optional Step-Up in writing, at our Annuity Service Center, or any other method acceptable to us. We must receive your
request prior to the contract anniversary for an Optional Step-Up to occur on that contract
anniversary.
The Optional Step-Up:
(1) resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value on the contract anniversary following the receipt of an Optional Step-Up election;
(2) resets the waiting period to exercise the rider to the tenth contract anniversary following the date the Optional Step-Up took effect; and
(3) may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional
Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider
available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional
Step-Up.
In the event that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the step-up is higher than
your current rider charge, you will be notified in writing a minimum of 30 days in advance
of the applicable contract anniversary and be informed that you may choose to decline the
Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you must notify us in
accordance with our Administrative Procedures (currently we require you to submit your
request in writing to our Annuity Service Center no less than seven calendar days prior to
the applicable contract anniversary). Once you notify us of your decision to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you will no longer be eligible for future Automatic Annual Step-Ups until you notify us in
writing to our Annuity Service Center that you wish to reinstate the Automatic Annual
Step-Ups. This reinstatement will take effect at the next contract anniversary after we receive your request for reinstatement.
On the date of the Optional Step-Up, the Account Value on that day will be treated as a single Purchase Payment received on the date of the step-up for purposes
of determining the Annual Increase Amount after the reset. All Purchase Payments and
withdrawal adjustments previously used to calculate the Annual Increase Amount will be set
equal to zero on the date of the step-up.
Investment Allocation Restrictions. For a detailed description of the GMIB Max I investment allocation restrictions, see “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I” and see “Appendix B
– Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.”
If you
elect the GMIB Max I, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
If you
elect the GMIB Max I rider, you must allocate 100% of your Purchase Payments and Account Value among the
Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I, and you will not be able to
allocate Purchase Payments or Account Value to the Fixed Account or to an ultra-short term
bond portfolio.
Restrictions on Investment Allocations If the GMIB Max I Rider Terminates. If the GMIB Max I rider terminates (see “Terminating the GMIB Max I Rider”), or if you elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB
Max I rider and both riders terminate, the investment allocation restrictions in Appendix B
will no longer apply and you will be permitted to allocate subsequent Purchase Payments or
transfer Account Value to any of the available Investment Portfolios, but not to the Fixed
Account. However, if you elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB Max I rider, and
only the GMIB Max I rider has terminated, the investment allocation restrictions described in Appendix B for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I will continue to apply.
Potential Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB Max I. In the future, we may choose not to permit Owners of existing contracts with the GMIB Max I rider to make subsequent Purchase
Payments if: (a) the GMIB Max I rider is no longer available to new customers, or (b) we
make certain changes to the terms of the GMIB Max I rider offered to new customers (for
example, if we change the GMIB Max I rider charge; see your contract schedule for a list of
the other changes). We will notify Owners of contracts with the GMIB Max I rider in advance
if we impose restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments. If we impose restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments, contract Owners will still be permitted to transfer Account Value among the
Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB Max I
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our
Annuity Service Center before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011, and you elected the GMIB Max I and/or EDB Max I riders, we will not accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after
the close of the New York Stock Exchange on August 9, 2013. However, we will accept a
subsequent Purchase Payment received after August 9, 2013 if the Purchase Payment was
initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer or an exchange under Section 1035 of the
Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which was received by our Annuity Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on August 9, 2013.
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our
Annuity Service Center after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011 and on or before October 7, 2011, and you elected the GMIB Max I and/or EDB Max I riders, we will not accept subsequent Purchase
Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on February 24, 2012.
However, we will accept a subsequent Purchase Payment received after February 24, 2012 if
the Purchase Payment was initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer or an exchange under
Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which was received by our
Annuity Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on
February 24, 2012.
If we have imposed restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments on your contract, we will permit you to make a subsequent Purchase Payment when either of the
following conditions apply to your contract: (a) your Account Value is below the minimum
described in the “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value” section of the prospectus; or (b) the rider charge is greater
than your Account Value.
Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments If the GMIB Max I Rider Terminates. If the GMIB Max I rider terminates (see “Terminating the GMIB Max I Rider”), or if you elected both the GMIB Max I
rider and the EDB Max I rider and both riders terminate, the subsequent Purchase Payment
restrictions described above will no longer apply. However, if you elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB Max I rider, and only the GMIB Max I rider has terminated, the subsequent Purchase
Payment restrictions described above will continue to apply.
Guaranteed Principal Option. On each contract anniversary starting with the tenth contract anniversary and through the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday, you may exercise the Guaranteed
Principal Option. If the Owner is a non-natural person, the Annuitant's age is the basis
for determining the birthday. If there are Joint Owners, the age of the oldest Owner is used
for determining the birthday. We must receive your request to exercise the Guaranteed
Principal Option in writing, or any other method that we agree to, within 30 days following
the applicable contract anniversary. The Guaranteed Principal Option will take effect at the end of this 30-day period following that contract anniversary.
By exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option, you elect to receive an additional amount to be added to your Account Value intended to restore your initial
investment in the
contract, in lieu of receiving GMIB payments. The additional amount is called the Guaranteed Principal Adjustment and is equal to (a) minus (b) where:
(a) is Purchase Payments credited within 120 days of the date we issued the contract (reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal prior to the exercise of the Guaranteed Principal Option)
and
(b) the Account Value on the contract anniversary immediately preceding exercise of the Guaranteed Principal Option.
The Guaranteed Principal Option can only be exercised if (a) exceeds (b), as defined above. The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment will be added to each applicable
Investment Portfolio in the ratio the portion of the Account Value in such Investment
Portfolio bears to the total Account Value in all Investment Portfolios. It is
important to note that only Purchase Payments made during the first 120 days
that you hold the contract are taken into consideration in determining the
Guaranteed Principal Adjustment. If you anticipate making Purchase Payments
after 120 days, you should understand that such payments will not increase
the Guaranteed Principal Adjustment. However, because Purchase Payments made after 120 days will increase your Account Value, such payments may have a significant
impact on whether or not a Guaranteed Principal Adjustment is due. Therefore, the GMIB Max
I rider may not be appropriate for you if you intend to make additional Purchase Payments
after the 120-day period and are purchasing the rider for this feature.
The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment will never be less than zero. If the Guaranteed Principal Option is exercised, the GMIB Max I rider will terminate as of the date the option takes effect and
no additional GMIB charges will apply thereafter. The variable annuity contract, however, will continue. If you only elected the GMIB Max I, the
investment allocation restrictions and subsequent Purchase Payment restrictions described
herein will no longer apply (except as described above under “Restrictions on Investment Allocations if the GMIB Max I Rider Terminates” and in “Appendix B – Investment
Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract”). If you elected both the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders, the EDB Max I investment allocation restrictions and subsequent
Purchase Payment restrictions described in “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for
GMIB Max I and EDB Max I” and in
Appendix B will continue to apply.
The Guaranteed Principal Option is not available in the state of Washington.
Exercising the GMIB Max I Rider. If you exercise the GMIB Max I, you must elect to receive Annuity Payments under one of the following fixed Annuity Options:
(1) Life annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed.
(2) Joint and last survivor annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed. Based on federal tax rules, this option is not available for Qualified
Contracts where the difference in ages of the joint Annuitants, who are not spouses, is
greater than 10 years. (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”)
These
options are described in the contract and the GMIB Max I rider.
The GMIB Annuity Table is specified in the rider. This table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with 10 years of mortality improvement based on
projection Scale AA and a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.0% per annum. As with
other payout types, the amount you receive as an income payment also depends on the Annuity
Option you select, your age, and (where permitted by state law) your sex. The annuity rates for attained ages 86 to 90 are the same as those for attained age 85. The annuity rates in the GMIB Annuity Table are conservative, so the amount of guaranteed minimum lifetime income that the GMIB produces may be less than the amount of
annuity income that would be provided by applying your Account Value on your
Annuity Date to then-current annuity purchase rates.
If you exercise the GMIB Max I, your Annuity Payments will be the greater of:
•the Annuity Payment determined by applying the amount of the Income Base to the GMIB
Annuity Table, or
•the Annuity Payment determined for the same Annuity Option in accordance with the base
contract. (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”)
If the amount of the guaranteed minimum lifetime income that the GMIB Max I produces is less than the amount of annuity income
that would be provided by applying your Account Value on the Annuity Date to
the then-current
annuity purchase rates, then you would have paid for a benefit that you did not
use.
If you take a full withdrawal of your Account Value, your contract is terminated by us due to its small
Account Value and inactivity (see “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value”), or your contract lapses and there remains any Income Base, we will commence making income payments within 30 days of the date of the full
withdrawal, termination or lapse. In such cases, your income payments under this benefit,
if any, will be determined using the Income Base and any applicable withdrawal adjustment
that was taken on account of the withdrawal, termination or lapse.
Enhanced Payout Rates.
As noted above, the annuity rates in the GMIB Annuity Table are calculated based on the
Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with 10 years of mortality improvement based on projection Scale AA and a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.0% per annum. However, the GMIB Max I payout rates are enhanced
under the following circumstances.
If you select the GMIB Max I rider and if:
•you
take no withdrawals prior to age 62;
•your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero at or after your 62nd birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and
•the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity
with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed;
then the annual Annuity Payments under the GMIB Max I rider will equal or exceed 5% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are
determined).
Alternatively, if you select the GMIB Max I rider and if:
•you
take no withdrawals prior to age 70;
•your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero at or after your 70th birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and
•the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity
with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed;
then the annual Annuity Payments under the GMIB Max I rider will equal or exceed 6% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are
determined).
If an Owner dies and the Owner's spouse (age 89 or younger) is the Beneficiary of the contract, the
spouse may elect to continue the contract and the GMIB Max I rider. If the spouse elects to
continue the contract and the Owner had begun to take withdrawals prior to his or her death,
and the Owner was older than the spouse, the spouse's
eligibility for the enhanced payout rates described above is based on the Owner's age when the withdrawals began. For example, if an Owner had begun to take
withdrawals at age 62 and subsequently died, if that Owner's spouse continued the contract
and the GMIB Max I rider, the spouse would be eligible for the 5% enhanced payout rate
described above, even if the spouse were younger than age 62 at the time the contract was
continued. If the spouse elects to continue the contract and an Owner had not taken any
withdrawals prior to his or her death, the spouse's eligibility for the enhanced payout rates described above is based on the spouse's age when the spouse begins to take withdrawals.
If you
choose not to receive Annuity Payments as guaranteed under the GMIB Max I, you may elect any of the Annuity Options available under the contract.
Terminating the GMIB Max I Rider. Except as otherwise provided in the GMIB Max I rider, the rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
a) The 30th day following the contract anniversary prior to your 91st birthday;
b) The date you make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value (if there is an Income Base remaining you will receive payments based on the remaining Income Base) (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
c) The date you elect to receive Annuity Payments under the contract and you do not elect to receive
payments under the GMIB (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
d) Death of the Owner or Joint Owner (unless the spouse (age 89 or younger) is the Beneficiary and elects to continue the contract), or death of the Annuitant if a non-natural person owns the contract;
e) A change for any reason of the Owner or Joint Owner or the Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns the contract, subject to our administrative procedures (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
f) The effective date of the Guaranteed Principal Option; or
g) The date you assign your contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed).
If an Owner or Joint Owner dies and:
•the spouse elects to continue the contract and the GMIB rider under termination
provision d) above; and
•before the 10-year waiting period to exercise the GMIB rider has elapsed, the GMIB rider will terminate under termination provision a) above (because it is the
30th day following the contract anniversary prior to the spouse’s 91st
birthday);
we will permit the spouse to exercise the GMIB rider within the 30 days following the contract
anniversary prior to his or her 91st birthday, even though the 10-year waiting period has
not elapsed.
Under our current administrative procedures, we will waive the termination of the GMIB Max I rider if
you assign a portion of the contract under the following limited circumstances: if the
assignment is solely for your benefit on account of your direct transfer of Account Value under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code to fund premiums for a long term care insurance policy or
Purchase Payments for an annuity contract issued by an insurance company which is not our
affiliate and which is licensed to conduct business in any state.
When the GMIB Max I rider terminates, the corresponding rider charge terminates and the GMIB Max I investment allocation and subsequent Purchase Payment
restrictions, described herein, will no longer apply (except as described above under
“Restrictions on Investment Allocations If the GMIB Max I Rider Terminates” and in “Appendix B – Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract”). However, if you
elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB Max I rider, and only the GMIB Max I rider
has terminated, the investment allocation restrictions and subsequent Purchase Payment
restrictions described above will continue to apply.
Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With GMIB Max I
For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, when you reach the age at which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, our Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, used with the GMIB Max I rider, can help you fulfill minimum distribution requirements with respect to your contract without reducing the Income Base on a proportionate basis. (Reducing the
Income Base on a proportionate basis could have the effect of reducing or eliminating the
value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB Max I rider.) The Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program calculates minimum
distribution requirements with respect to your contract and makes payments to you on a
monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.
Alternatively, you may choose to enroll in both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal Program (see “Access
to Your Money – Systematic Withdrawal Program”). In order to avoid taking withdrawals that
could reduce the Income Base on a proportionate basis, withdrawals under the Systematic
Withdrawal Program should not exceed 6% of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year. Any amounts above 6% of the Annual Increase Amount that need to be withdrawn
to fulfill minimum distribution requirements can be paid out at the end of the calendar
year by the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program. For example, if you elect the
GMIB Max I and enroll in the Systematic Withdrawal Program and elect to receive monthly payments totaling 6% of the Annual Increase Amount, you should also enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution
Program and elect to receive your Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program payment
on an annual basis, after the Systematic Withdrawal Program monthly payment in
December.
If you enroll in either the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program or both the Automated
Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal Program, you should not
make additional withdrawals outside the programs. Additional withdrawals may result in the
Income Base being reduced on a proportionate basis, and have the effect of reducing or
eliminating the value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB Max I rider.
To enroll
in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and/or the Systematic Withdrawal
Program, please contact our Annuity Service Center.
(See Appendix C for examples illustrating the operation of GMIB Max I.)
Description
of GMIB Plus III
The GMIB Plus III rider is no longer available for purchase. The GMIB Plus III rider is available only
for Owners up through age 78, and you can only elect the GMIB Plus III at the time you
purchase the contract. The GMIB Plus III rider may be exercised after a
10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract
anniversary, provided that the exercise must occur no later than the 30-day period
following the contract anniversary prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday.
Income Base. The Income Base is the greater of (a) or (b) below.
(a) Highest Anniversary Value: On the issue date, the “Highest Anniversary Value” is equal to
your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the Highest Anniversary Value will be increased
by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in
Account Value attributable to each subsequent withdrawal. On each contract anniversary
prior to the Owner's 81st birthday, the Highest Anniversary Value will be recalculated and set equal to the greater of the Highest Anniversary Value before the recalculation or the Account Value on
the date of the recalculation.
The Highest Anniversary Value does not change after the contract anniversary immediately preceding the Owner's 81st birthday, except that it is increased for
each subsequent Purchase Payment and reduced proportionally by the percentage reduction in
Account Value attributable to each subsequent withdrawal.
(b) Annual Increase Amount: On the date we issue your contract, the “Annual Increase Amount” is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. All
Purchase Payments received within 120 days of the date we issue your contract will be
treated as part of the initial Purchase Payment for this purpose. Thereafter, the Annual
Increase Amount is equal to (i) less (ii), where:
(i) is Purchase Payments accumulated at the annual increase rate (as defined below) from the date the Purchase Payment is made; and
(ii) is withdrawal adjustments (as defined below) accumulated at the annual increase rate.
The Highest
Anniversary Value and Annual Increase Amount are calculated independently of each other. When
the Highest Anniversary Value is recalculated and set equal to the Account Value, the
Annual Increase Amount is not set equal to the Account Value. See “Optional Step-Up” below for a feature that can be used to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value.
Annual Increase Rate. As
noted above, we calculate an Income Base under the GMIB Plus III rider that helps determine
the minimum amount you receive as an income payment upon exercising the rider. One of the factors used in calculating the Income Base is called the “annual increase rate.”
Through the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday, the annual increase rate is the greater of:
(a) 5%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
Item (b)
only applies to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The
required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for the previous calendar year or for this calendar year (whichever is greater), divided by the sum of: (i) the
Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent
Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar
year;
(2a) if you enroll only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of
the calendar year; or
(2b) if you enroll in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum of 5% (item (a) above) of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program (which can be used to pay out any amount above the Systematic Withdrawal Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements at the end of the calendar year), divided by the sum of: (i) the
Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent
Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar
year.
On the first contract anniversary, “at the beginning of the Contract Year” means on the
issue date; on a later contract anniversary, “at the beginning of the Contract Year” means on the prior contract anniversary. All Purchase Payments received within 120 days of the issue date are
treated as
part of the initial Purchase Payment for this purpose, and therefore are included in the Annual Increase
Amount on the issue date, instead of being treated as subsequent Purchase Payments (see
“Income Base – Annual Increase Amount”).
See “Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With GMIB Plus III” below for more information on the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal
Program.
If item (b) above (the required minimum distribution rate) is greater than item (a) above, and your
total withdrawals during a Contract Year, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase
Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year, exceed the required minimum distribution rate, the required minimum distribution rate is not used to calculate the annual increase rate, and the annual
increase rate will be reduced to 5% (item (a) above). Therefore, the annual increase rate
for that Contract Year will be lower than the required minimum distribution rate, which could have the effect of reducing the value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider.
During the
30 day period following the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st
birthday, the annual increase rate is 0%.
Withdrawal Adjustments.
Withdrawal adjustments in a Contract Year are determined according to (a) or (b):
(a) The withdrawal adjustment for each withdrawal in a Contract Year is the value of the Annual Increase
Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the percentage reduction in
Account Value attributed to that withdrawal; or
(b) If total withdrawals in a Contract Year are not greater than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract
Year, and if these withdrawals are paid to you (or to the Annuitant, if the contract is
owned by a non-natural person) or to another payee we agree to, the total withdrawal
adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of total
withdrawals in that Contract Year. These withdrawal adjustments will replace the withdrawal
adjustments defined in (a) immediately above and be treated as though the corresponding
withdrawals occurred at the end of that Contract Year.
As described in (a) immediately
above, if in any Contract Year you take cumulative withdrawals that exceed the annual
increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year, the Annual Increase Amount will be reduced in the same proportion that the entire withdrawal reduced the Account
Value. This reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value is lower than
the Annual Increase Amount, and could have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value
of Annuity Payments under the GMIB rider. Limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a Contract Year to not more than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year will result in dollar-for-dollar treatment of the withdrawals, as described
in (b) immediately above.
(See Appendix C for examples of the calculation of the Income Base, including the Highest Anniversary
Value, the Annual Increase Amount, the annual increase rate, and the withdrawal
adjustments.)
In determining the GMIB annuity income, an amount equal to the amount of any premium and other taxes
that may apply will be deducted from the Income Base.
Optional Step-Up. On
each contract anniversary as permitted, you may elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount
to the Account Value. An Optional Step-Up may be beneficial if your Account Value has grown at a rate above the annual increase rate on the Annual Increase Amount (5%). As described below, an Optional
Step-Up resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. After an Optional Step-Up,
the annual increase rate will be applied to the new, higher Annual Increase Amount and
therefore the amount that may be withdrawn without reducing the Annual Increase Amount on a
proportionate basis will increase. However, if you elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount, we will also restart the 10-year waiting period. In addition, we
may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a)
the Maximum Optional Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we
would charge for the same rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional Step-Up.
An Optional Step-Up is permitted only if: (1) the Account Value exceeds the Annual Increase Amount immediately before the reset; and (2) the Owner (or older Joint
Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person) is not older than age
80 on the date of the Optional Step-Up. If your contract has both the GMIB Plus III rider
and the Enhanced Death Benefit II (EDB II) rider, and you would like to elect an Optional
Step-Up, you must elect an
Optional Step-Up for both riders. You may not elect an Optional Step-Up for only one of the two riders.
Upon the Optional Step-Up, we may reset the rider charge, as described above, on one or
both riders.
You may elect either: (1) a one-time Optional Step-Up at any contract anniversary provided the above
requirements are met, or (2) Optional Step-Ups to occur under the Automatic Annual Step-Up.
If you elect Automatic Annual Step-Ups, on any contract anniversary while this election is
in effect, the Annual Increase Amount will reset to the Account Value automatically,
provided the above requirements are met. The same conditions described above will apply to
each Automatic Step-Up. You may discontinue this election at any time by notifying us in
writing, at our Annuity Service Center (or by any other method acceptable to us), at least
30 days prior to the contract anniversary on which a reset may otherwise occur. Otherwise,
it will remain in effect through the seventh contract anniversary following the date you make this election, at which point you must make a new election if you want Automatic Annual Step-Ups to continue.
If you discontinue or do not re-elect the Automatic Annual Step-Ups, no Optional Step-Up
will occur automatically on any subsequent contract anniversary unless you make a new
election under the terms described above. (If you discontinue Automatic Annual Step-Ups,
the rider (and the rider charge) will continue, and you may choose to elect a one time
Optional Step-Up or reinstate Automatic Annual Step-Ups as described above.)
We must
receive your request to exercise the Optional Step-Up in writing, at our Annuity Service Center, or any other method acceptable to us. We must receive your request prior to the contract anniversary for an Optional
Step-Up to occur on that contract anniversary.
The Optional Step-Up:
(1) resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value on the contract anniversary following the receipt of an Optional Step-Up election;
(2) resets the waiting period to exercise the rider to the tenth contract anniversary following the date the Optional Step-Up took effect; and
(3) may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional
Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider
available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional
Step-Up.
In the event that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the step-up is higher than your current rider charge, you will be notified in
writing a minimum of 30 days in advance of the applicable contract anniversary and be
informed that you may choose to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you decline the
Automatic Annual Step-Up, you must notify us in accordance with our Administrative
Procedures (currently we require you to submit your request in writing to our Annuity
Service Center no less than seven calendar days prior to the applicable contract anniversary). Once you notify us of your decision to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you will no longer be eligible for
future Automatic Annual Step-Ups until you notify us in writing to our Annuity Service
Center that you wish to reinstate the Automatic Annual Step-Ups. This reinstatement will take
effect at the next contract anniversary after we receive your request for
reinstatement.
On the date of the Optional Step-Up, the Account Value on that day will be treated as a single Purchase
Payment received on the date of the step-up for purposes of determining the Annual Increase
Amount after the reset. All Purchase Payments and withdrawal adjustments previously used to
calculate the Annual Increase Amount will be set equal to zero on the date of the step-up.
Investment Allocation Restrictions. For a detailed description of the GMIB Plus III investment allocation restrictions, see “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II” and see “Appendix B
– Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.”
If you
elect the GMIB Plus III, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
Guaranteed Principal Option. On each contract anniversary starting with the tenth contract anniversary and through the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday, you may exercise the Guaranteed
Principal Option. If the Owner is a non-natural person, the Annuitant's age is the basis
for determining the birthday. If there are Joint Owners, the age of the older Owner is used
for determining the birthday. We must receive your request to exercise the Guaranteed
Principal Option in writing, or
any other method that we agree to, within 30 days following the applicable contract anniversary. The
Guaranteed Principal Option will take effect at the end of this 30-day period following
that contract anniversary.
By exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option, you elect to receive an additional amount to be added to
your Account Value intended to restore your initial investment in the contract, in lieu of
receiving GMIB payments. The additional amount is called the Guaranteed Principal
Adjustment and is equal to (a) minus (b) where:
(a) is Purchase Payments credited within 120 days of the date we issued the contract (reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value
attributable to each partial withdrawal prior to the exercise of the Guaranteed Principal
Option) and
(b) the Account Value on the contract anniversary immediately preceding exercise of the Guaranteed Principal Option.
The Guaranteed Principal Option can only be exercised if (a) exceeds (b), as defined above. The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment will be added to each applicable
Investment Portfolio in the ratio the portion of the Account Value in such Investment
Portfolio bears to the total Account Value in all Investment Portfolios. It is
important to note that only Purchase Payments made during the first 120 days
that you hold the contract are taken into consideration in determining the
Guaranteed Principal Adjustment. If you anticipate making Purchase Payments
after 120 days, you should understand that such payments will not increase
the Guaranteed Principal Adjustment. However, because Purchase Payments made after 120 days will increase your Account Value, such payments may have a significant
impact on whether or not a Guaranteed Principal Adjustment is due. Therefore, the GMIB Plus
III rider may not be appropriate for you if you intend to make additional Purchase Payments
after the 120-day period and are purchasing the rider for this feature.
The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment will never be less than zero. If the Guaranteed Principal Option is exercised, the GMIB Plus III rider will terminate as of the date the option takes effect
and no additional GMIB charges will apply thereafter. The variable annuity contract, however, will continue. If you only elected the GMIB Plus III, the
investment allocation restrictions and any subsequent Purchase Payment restrictions
described herein will no longer apply. If you elected both the GMIB Plus III and the Enhanced
Death Benefit II, the Enhanced Death
Benefit II investment allocation restrictions and any subsequent Purchase Payment
restrictions described in “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II” and in Appendix B will continue to apply.
The
Guaranteed Principal Option is not available in the state of Washington.
Exercising the GMIB Plus III Rider. If you exercise the GMIB Plus III, you must elect to receive Annuity Payments under one of the following fixed Annuity Options:
(1) Life annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed.
(2) Joint and last survivor annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed. Based on federal tax rules, this option is not available for Qualified
Contracts where the difference in ages of the joint Annuitants, who are not spouses, is
greater than 10 years. (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”)
These
options are described in the contract and the GMIB Plus III rider.
The GMIB Annuity Table is specified in the rider. This table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with 10 years of mortality improvement based on
projection Scale AA and a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.0% per annum. As with
other payout types, the amount you receive as an income payment also depends on the Annuity
Option you select, your age, and (where permitted by state law) your sex. The annuity rates for attained ages 86 to 90 are the same as those for attained age 85. The annuity rates in the GMIB Annuity Table are conservative, so the amount of guaranteed minimum lifetime income that the GMIB produces may be less than the amount of
annuity income that would be provided by applying your Account Value on your
Annuity Date to then-current annuity purchase rates.
If you exercise the GMIB Plus III, your Annuity Payments will be the greater of:
•the Annuity Payment determined by applying the amount of the Income Base to the GMIB
Annuity Table, or
•the Annuity Payment determined for the same Annuity Option in accordance with the base
contract. (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”)
If the amount of the guaranteed minimum lifetime income that the GMIB Plus III produces is
less than the amount of annuity income that would be provided by applying
your Account Value on the Annuity Date to the then-current annuity purchase
rates, then you would have paid for a benefit that you did not
use.
If you take a full withdrawal of your Account Value, your contract is terminated by us due to its small
Account Value and inactivity (see “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value”), or your contract lapses and there remains any Income Base, we will commence making income payments within 30 days of the date of the full
withdrawal, termination or lapse. In such cases, your income payments under this benefit,
if any, will be determined using the Income Base and any applicable withdrawal adjustment
that was taken on account of the withdrawal, termination or lapse.
Enhanced Payout Rates.
As noted above, for the GMIB Plus III rider, the annuity rates in the GMIB Annuity Table
are calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with 10 years of mortality improvement based on projection scale AA and a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.0% per annum. However, the GMIB Plus
III payout rates are enhanced under the following circumstances. If:
•you
take no withdrawals prior to age 62;
•your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero at or after your 62nd
birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and
•the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity
with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed;
then the annual Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider will equal or exceed 5% of the Income
Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined).
If an Owner dies and the Owner's spouse (age 89 or younger) is the Beneficiary of the contract, the
spouse may elect to continue the contract and the GMIB Plus III rider. If the spouse elects
to continue the contract and the Owner had begun to take withdrawals prior to his or her death, and the Owner was older than the spouse, the spouse's eligibility for the enhanced payout rates
described above is based on the Owner's age when the withdrawals began. For example, if an
Owner had begun to take withdrawals at age 62 and subsequently died, if that Owner's spouse
continued the contract and the GMIB Plus III rider, the spouse would be eligible for the 5%
enhanced payout rate described above, even if the spouse were younger than
age 62 at the time the contract was continued. If the spouse elects to continue the contract and the Owner had not taken any withdrawals prior to his or her death,
the spouse's eligibility for the enhanced payout rates described above is based on the
spouse's age when the spouse begins to take withdrawals.
For contracts issued with the GMIB Plus III rider from
July 19, 2010 through February 25, 2011, the following enhanced payout rates apply. If:
•you
take no withdrawals prior to age 62;
•your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero at or after your 62nd
birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and
•the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity
with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed;
then the annual Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider will equal or exceed 5.5% of the Income
Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined). Alternatively, if:
•you
take no withdrawals prior to age 60;
•your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero at or after your 60th
birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and
•the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity
with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed;
then the annual Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider will equal or exceed 5% of the Income
Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined).
If you choose not to receive Annuity Payments as guaranteed under the GMIB Plus III, you may elect any of the Annuity Options available under the
contract.
Terminating the GMIB Plus III Rider. Except as otherwise provided in the GMIB Plus III rider, the rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
a) The 30th day following the contract anniversary prior to your 91st birthday;
b) The date you make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value (if there is an Income Base remaining you will receive payments based on the remaining Income Base) (a pro rata portion of the
rider charge will be assessed);
c) The date you elect to receive Annuity Payments under the contract and you do not elect to receive payments under the GMIB (a pro rata portion of
the rider charge will be assessed);
d) Death of the Owner or Joint Owner (unless the spouse (age 89 or younger) is the Beneficiary and elects to continue the contract), or death of the Annuitant if a non-natural person owns the contract;
e) A change for any reason of the Owner or Joint Owner or the Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns the contract, subject to our administrative procedures (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
f) The effective date of the Guaranteed Principal Option; or
g) The date you assign your contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed).
If an Owner
or Joint Owner dies and:
•the spouse elects to continue the contract and the GMIB rider under termination provision d) above; and
•before the 10-year waiting period to exercise the GMIB rider has elapsed, the GMIB
rider will terminate under termination provision a) above (because it is the 30th day
following the contract anniversary prior to the spouse’s 91st birthday);
we will
permit the spouse to exercise the GMIB rider within the 30 days following the contract anniversary prior to his or her 91st birthday, even though the 10-year waiting period has not elapsed.
Under our
current administrative procedures, we will waive the termination of the GMIB Plus III rider if you assign a portion of the contract under the following limited circumstances: if the assignment is solely for your
benefit on account of your direct transfer of Account Value under Section 1035 of the
Internal Revenue Code to fund premiums for a long term care insurance policy or Purchase
Payments for an annuity contract issued by an insurance company which is not our affiliate
and which is licensed to conduct business in any state.
When the GMIB Plus III rider terminates, the corresponding GMIB Plus III rider charge terminates and the GMIB Plus III investment allocation
restrictions and any subsequent Purchase Payment restrictions, described herein, will no
longer apply. If you elected both the GMIB Plus III and EDB II riders, the EDB II investment allocation restrictions and any subsequent Purchase Payment restrictions described in “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II” will continue to apply.
Use of
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal
Program With GMIB Plus III
For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, when you reach the age at
which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, our Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program,
used with the GMIB Plus III rider, can help you fulfill minimum
distribution requirements with respect to your contract without reducing the Income Base on
a proportionate basis. (Reducing the Income Base on a proportionate basis could have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider.) The Automated Required
Minimum Distribution Program calculates minimum distribution requirements with respect to
your contract and makes payments to you on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual
basis.
Alternatively, you may choose to enroll in both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and
the Systematic Withdrawal Program (see “Access to Your Money – Systematic Withdrawal Program”). In order to avoid taking withdrawals that could reduce the Income Base on a proportionate basis, withdrawals under
the Systematic Withdrawal Program should not exceed 5% of the Annual Increase Amount at the
beginning of the Contract Year. Any amounts above 5% of the Annual Increase Amount that
need to be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements can be paid out at the
end of the calendar year by the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program. For
example, if you elect the GMIB Plus III and enroll in the Systematic Withdrawal Program and
elect to receive monthly payments totaling 5% of the Annual Increase Amount, you should also enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and elect to receive your Automated Required
Minimum Distribution Program payment on an annual basis, after the Systematic Withdrawal
Program monthly payment in December.
If you enroll in either the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program or both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic
Withdrawal Program, you should not make additional withdrawals outside the programs.
Additional withdrawals may result in the Income Base being reduced on a proportionate
basis, and have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value of Annuity Payments under the GMIB Plus III rider.
To enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and/or the Systematic Withdrawal
Program, please contact our Annuity Service Center.
(See Appendix C for examples illustrating the operation of the GMIB.)
Description
of GMIB Plus II
The GMIB Plus II was available with contracts issued on or before July 16, 2010 and is no longer
available for purchase.
GMIB Plus II is identical to GMIB Plus III, with the following exceptions:
(1) The GMIB Plus II Income Base and withdrawal adjustments are calculated as described above for GMIB Plus III, except that the annual increase rate is
5% per year through the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday and 0%
thereafter. Item (b) under “Annual Increase Rate” above (the required minimum
distribution rate) does not apply to the calculation of the Income Base or the withdrawal
adjustments under the GMIB Plus II rider.
(2) The GMIB Annuity Table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 10-year age set back with interest of 1.5% per annum.
(3) The GMIB payout rates are enhanced to be at least (a) 5.5% of the Income Base (calculated on the date
the payments are determined) in the event: (i) you take no withdrawals prior to age 62;
(ii) your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero on or after your 62nd
birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and (iii) the Annuity Option you select is
the single life annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed, or (b) 5% of the
Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined) in the event: (i) you take
no withdrawals prior to age 60; (ii) your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to
zero on or after your 60th birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and (iii) the
Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments
guaranteed.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GMIB Plus II rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
For contracts
issued with the GMIB Plus II rider from February 24, 2009 through May 1, 2009, the following additional differences apply:
(4)
The annual increase rate is 6% through the contract anniversary immediately prior to your 91st birthday, and 0% per year thereafter.
(5)
If total withdrawals in a Contract Year are 6% or less of the Annual Increase Amount on the issue date or on the prior contract anniversary after the
first Contract Year, and if these withdrawals are paid to you (or the Annuitant if the
contract is owned by a non-natural person) or to another payee we agree to, the total
withdrawal adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of
total withdrawals in that Contract Year.
(6)
The fixed Annuity Options are the single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed (if you choose to start the Annuity Option after age 79, the year of the Guarantee Period component of the Annuity Option is reduced to: 9 years at age 80, 8 years at age 81, 7 years at age 82, 6 years at age 83, or 5 years at
ages 84 through 90) or the joint and last survivor annuity with 10 years of Annuity
Payments guaranteed (not available for Qualified Contracts where the difference in ages of
the joint Annuitants is greater than 10 years; this limitation only applies to joint
Annuitants who are not spouses).
(7)
Different investment allocation restrictions apply. (See “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”)
(8)
If your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Step-Up on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge to 1.20% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Step-Up occurs.
(9)
The GMIB Annuity Table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 1.5% per
annum.
(10)
The GMIB payout rates are enhanced to be at least (a) 6% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined) in the event: (i) you
take no withdrawals prior to age 62; (ii) your Account Value is fully withdrawn or
decreases to
zero on or after your 62nd birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and (iii) the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed, or (b) 5% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined) if: (i) you take no withdrawals prior to age 60; (ii) your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero on or after your 60th birthday and there is an Income
Base remaining; and (iii) the Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity with 10
years of Annuity Payments guaranteed.
For contracts issued with the GMIB Plus II rider on or
before February 23, 2009, differences (4) through (8) above
apply, and the following replaces differences (9) and (10):
(9)
The GMIB Annuity Table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 2.5% per
annum.
(10)
The GMIB payout rates are enhanced to be at least 6% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the payments are determined) in the event: (i) you take
no withdrawals prior to age 60; (ii) your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to
zero on or after your 60th birthday and there is an Income Base remaining; and (iii) the
Annuity Option you select is the single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments
guaranteed.
Description
of GMIB Plus I
The GMIB Plus I rider is no longer available for purchase. The GMIB Plus I was available only for Owners
up through age 75, and you could only elect GMIB Plus I at the time you purchased the
contract. GMIB Plus I may be exercised after a 10-year waiting period and then only within
30 days following a contract anniversary, provided that the exercise must occur no later than the 30-day period following the contract anniversary on or following the Owner’s 85th birthday.
GMIB Plus
I is otherwise identical to GMIB Plus II, with the following exceptions:
(1) The GMIB Plus I Income Base is calculated as described above, except that the annual increase rate is 6% per year through the contract anniversary on
or following the Owner’s 85th birthday and 0% thereafter.
(2) An “Optional Step-Up” under the GMIB Plus II rider is referred to as an “Optional
Reset” under the GMIB Plus I rider. An Optional Reset is permitted only if: (a) the
Account Value exceeds the Annual Increase
Amount immediately before the reset; and (b) the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person) is not
older than age 75 on the date of the Optional Reset.
(3) If your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Reset on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider
charge to 1.20% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the
Optional Reset occurs.
(4) The Guaranteed Principal Option may be exercised on each contract anniversary starting with the tenth contract anniversary and through the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 86th birthday.
(5) We reserve the right to prohibit an Optional Reset if we no longer offer this benefit for this class of contract. We are waiving this right with respect to
purchasers of the contract offered by this prospectus who elect or have elected the GMIB
Plus I rider and will allow Optional Resets by those purchasers even if this benefit is no
longer offered for this class of contract.
(6) The fixed Annuity Options are the single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed (if you choose to start the Annuity Option after age 79,
the year of the Guarantee Period component of the Annuity Option is reduced to: 9 years at
age 80, 8 years at age 81, 7 years at age 82, 6 years at age 83, or 5 years at ages 84 and
85) or the joint and last survivor annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed
(not available for Qualified Contracts where the difference in ages of the joint Annuitants is greater than 10 years; this limitation only applies to joint Annuitants who are not spouses).
(7) Termination provision g) above (under “Terminating the GMIB Plus III Rider”) does not apply,
and the following replaces termination provision a), above:
The 30th day following the contract anniversary on or following your 85th birthday.
and the following replaces termination provision d), above:
Death of the Owner or Joint Owner (unless the spouse (age 84 or younger) is the Beneficiary and elects to continue the contract), or death of the Annuitant
if a non-natural person owns the contract.
If an Owner or Joint Owner dies and:
• the spouse elects to continue the contract and the GMIB rider under termination provision d) above;
and
• before the 10-year waiting period to exercise the GMIB rider has elapsed, the GMIB rider will terminate under termination provision a) above (because it is the 30th day following the contract
anniversary on or following the spouse’s 85th birthday);
we will permit the spouse to exercise the GMIB rider within the 30 days following the contract anniversary on or following his or her 85th birthday, even
though the 10-year waiting period has not elapsed.
(8) The GMIB Annuity Table is calculated based on the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 2.5% per annum.
(9) The GMIB payout rates are enhanced to be at least 6% of the Income Base (calculated on the date the
payments are determined) in the event: (i) you take no withdrawals prior to age 60; (ii)
your Account Value is fully withdrawn or decreases to zero on or after your 60th birthday
and there is an Income Base remaining; and (iii) the Annuity Option you select is the
single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed.
(10) If you elect the GMIB Plus I, you are limited to allocating your Purchase Payments and Account Value among the Fixed Account (if available) and certain
Investment Portfolios. Please see “Appendix B - Investment Portfolios Available Under
the Benefits Offered Under the Contract” for the Investment Portfolios that are
classified as permitted investment options.
If you elect the GMIB Plus I, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GMIB Plus I rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and
GMAB.”
For contracts issued before July 16, 2007, the enhanced GMIB payout rates described in item (9) above will not be applied.
For contracts issued before February 26, 2007, we offered a version of the GMIB Plus I that is no longer available. Under this prior version, when we calculate the Annual Increase Amount: (1) the annual increase rate is
5% per
year through the contract anniversary on or following the Owner's 85th birthday; and (2) the amount of total withdrawal adjustments for a Contract Year will be
set equal to the dollar amount of total withdrawals in such Contract Year, provided that
such total withdrawals do not exceed 5% of the Annual Increase Amount on the issue date or
on the prior contract anniversary after the first Contract Year. The rider charge for this prior version of the GMIB Plus I is 0.75% of the Income Base. If your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Reset on a
contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the
rider charge to 1.00% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Reset occurs.
For contracts issued before February 27, 2006, you may elect an Optional Reset under the GMIB Plus I as described above, except that: 1) you may elect an
Optional Reset on any contract anniversary only on or after the third contract anniversary,
and you may then elect an Optional Reset at any subsequent contract anniversary only if it has been at least three years since the last Optional Reset; and 2) you are required to affirmatively elect an
Optional Reset in accordance with the procedures described above; the Automatic Annual
Step-Up feature is not available. By endorsement, we have enhanced your contract to change
the frequency of the Optional Resets from every third contract anniversary to every
contract anniversary. You will also be able to elect Automatic Annual Step-Ups, as
described above. The rider charge for this prior version of the GMIB Plus I is 0.75% of the
Income Base. If your Income Base is increased due to an Optional Reset on a contract
anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge to 1.00% of the Income Base, applicable after the contract anniversary on which the Optional Reset occurs.
Description of GMIB II
The
GMIB II rider is no longer available for purchase. GMIB II was available only for Owners up through age 75, and you could only elect GMIB II at the time you purchased the contract. GMIB II may be exercised after
a 10-year waiting period and then only within 30 days following a contract anniversary,
provided that the exercise must occur no later than the 30-day period following the
contract anniversary on or following the Owner’s 85th birthday.
GMIB II is otherwise identical to the GMIB Plus II, with the following exceptions:
(1) The rider charge for GMIB II is lower (see “Expenses — Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit — Rider
Charge”).
(2) The GMIB II Income Base is calculated as described above, except that, for purposes of calculating the
Annual Increase Amount:
a. the annual increase rate is 5% per year through the contract anniversary on or following the Owner’s 85th birthday and 0% thereafter, and
b. the amount of total withdrawal adjustments for a Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of total withdrawals in such Contract Year provided that such total withdrawals do not exceed 5% of the Annual Increase Amount on the issue date or on the prior contract anniversary after the first Contract Year.
(3)
There is no Guaranteed Principal Option.
(4)
There is no Optional Step-Up feature.
(5) The fixed Annuity Options are the single life annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed (if you choose to start the Annuity Option after age 79,
the year of the Guarantee Period component of the Annuity Option is reduced to: 9 years at
age 80, 8 years at age 81, 7 years at age 82, 6 years at age 83, or 5 years at ages 84 and
85) or the joint and last survivor annuity with 10 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed
(not available for Qualified Contracts where the difference in ages of the joint Annuitants is greater than 10 years; this limitation only applies to joint Annuitants who are not spouses).
(6) The GMIB Annuity Table is the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table with a 7-year age set back with interest of 2.5% per annum and GMIB payout rates are not enhanced.
(7) The following replaces termination provision a), above:
The 30th day following the contract anniversary on or following your 85th birthday.
(8) The following replaces termination provision d), above:
Death of the Owner or Joint Owner (unless the spouse (age 84 or younger) is the Beneficiary and elects
to
continue the contract), or death of the Annuitant if a non-natural person owns the contract.
(9)
If an Owner or Joint Owner dies and:
• the spouse elects to continue the contract and the GMIB rider under termination provision d) above;
and
• before the 10-year waiting period to exercise the GMIB rider has elapsed, the GMIB rider will terminate under termination provision a) above (because it is the 30th day following the contract
anniversary on or following the spouse’s 85th birthday);
we will permit the spouse to exercise the GMIB rider within the 30 days following the contract
anniversary on or following his or her 85th birthday, even though the 10-year waiting
period has not elapsed.
(10) The following replaces termination provision e), above:
A change for any reason of the Owner or Joint Owner or the Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns the
contract. Currently we follow our administrative procedures regarding termination for a
change of Owner or Joint Owner or Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns the
contract.
(11) Termination provisions f) and g), above, do not apply.
(12) There are no limitations to how you may allocate your Purchase Payments and Account Value among the Investment Portfolios, and you may participate in
the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
(13) Subsequent Purchase Payments are not currently restricted under the GMIB II rider.
(See
Appendix C for examples illustrating the operation of GMIB II.)
Description of GMIB I
The GMIB I rider is no longer available for purchase. You could only elect the GMIB I rider at the time you purchased the contract and if you were age 75 or less.
Once elected, the rider cannot be terminated except as described below. GMIB I may be
exercised after a 10-year waiting period, up through age 85, within 30 days following a contract anniversary.
GMIB I is identical to GMIB II, with the following exceptions:
(1) The GMIB I Income Base is calculated as described above for GMIB Plus II, except that:
a) Withdrawals may be payable as you direct without affecting the withdrawal adjustments;
b) The annual increase rate is 6% per year through the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 81st birthday and 0% thereafter; and
c) If total withdrawals in a Contract Year are 6% or less of the Annual Increase Amount on the issue date or previous contract anniversary, if later, the
total withdrawal adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount
of total withdrawals in that Contract Year.
(2) The following replaces termination provision d), above:
Death of the Owner or death of the Annuitant if a non-natural person owns the contract.
(3) If you take a full withdrawal of your Account Value, your contract is terminated by us due to its small Account Value and inactivity (see “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value”), or your contract lapses, the GMIB I rider terminates (even if there remains any Income Base) and no payments will be made under the rider.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GMIB I rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and
GMAB.”
We currently waive the contractual requirement that terminates the GMIB I rider in the event of the
death of the Owner in circumstances where the spouse of the Owner elects to continue the
contract. (See “Death Benefit — General Death Benefit Provisions.”) In such event, the GMIB I rider will automatically continue
unless the spouse elects to terminate the rider. We are permanently waiving this
requirement with respect to purchasers of the contract offered by this prospectus who have elected GMIB I.
Guaranteed Withdrawal
Benefits
We offer optional guaranteed withdrawal benefit riders for an additional charge. There are four
different versions of the GWB under this contract: Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II (LWG
II), Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I (LWG I), Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit
(Enhanced GWB), and Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I (GWB I).
There may be versions of each rider that vary by issue date and state availability. In addition, a version of a rider may become available (or unavailable) in
different states at different times. Please check your contract and riders for the specific
provisions applicable to you.
Each of the guaranteed withdrawal benefit riders guarantees that the entire amount of Purchase Payments
you make will be returned to you through a series of withdrawals that you may begin taking
immediately or at a later time, provided withdrawals in any Contract Year do not exceed the
maximum amount allowed. This means that, regardless of negative investment performance, you
can take specified annual withdrawals until the entire amount of the Purchase Payments you
made during the time period specified in your rider has been returned to you. Moreover, if
you make your first withdrawal on or after the date you reach age 59 1∕2, the Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee riders guarantee income for your life (and the life of your spouse, if the Joint
Life version of the rider was elected, and your spouse elects to continue the contract and
is at least age 59 1∕2 at continuation),
even after the entire amount of Purchase Payments has been returned. (See
“Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II” below.)
If you
purchase a guaranteed withdrawal benefit rider, you must elect one version at the time you purchase the contract, prior to age 86. You may not have this benefit and another living benefit (GMIB or GMAB) or an
Enhanced Death Benefit rider in effect at the same time. Once elected, these riders may not
be terminated except as stated below.
Facts About Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Riders
Managing Withdrawals.
The rider guarantees may be reduced if your annual withdrawals are greater than the maximum
amount allowed, called the Annual Benefit Payment, which is described in more detail below.
The GWB does not establish or guarantee an Account Value or minimum return for any
Investment Portfolio. The Benefit Base (as described below) under the Enhanced GWB and GWB I, and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (as described
below) under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee, cannot be taken as a lump
sum. (However, if you cancel the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders after a waiting period of at least fifteen years, the Guaranteed Principal Adjustment
will increase your Account Value to the Purchase Payments credited within the first 120
days of the date that we issue the contract, reduced proportionately for any withdrawals. See
“Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II — Cancellation and Guaranteed Principal Adjustment” below.) Income taxes and penalties may apply to your withdrawals.
If
in any Contract Year you take cumulative withdrawals that exceed the Annual Benefit Payment, the total payments that the guaranteed withdrawal benefit riders guarantee
that you or your Beneficiary will receive from the contract over time may be
less than the initial Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for the Enhanced GWB and
GWB I or the initial Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for the Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee riders. This reduction may be significant and means that
return of your Purchase Payments may be lost. The rider charge will continue
to be deducted and calculated based on the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for
the Enhanced GWB and GWB I or the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for the
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders until termination of the rider.
Rider Charges. If a
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider is in effect, we will continue to assess the Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee rider charge even in the case where your Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount, as described below, equals zero. However, if the Enhanced GWB or GWB I
rider is in effect, we will not continue to assess the GWB rider charge if your Benefit Base, as described below, equals zero.
Taxes. Withdrawals of
taxable amounts will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59 1∕2, a 10% federal tax
penalty may apply.
Tax Treatment. The tax treatment of withdrawals under the GWB riders is uncertain. It is
conceivable that the amount of potential gain could be determined based on
the Benefit Base for the Enhanced GWB and GWB I or the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee riders at the time
of the withdrawal, if the Benefit Base or Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is greater than the Account Value. This could result in a greater amount of taxable income
reported under a withdrawal and conceivably a limited ability to recover any
remaining basis if there is a loss on surrender of the contract. Consult your
tax adviser prior to purchase.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee, GWB, and Decedent Contracts. If you are purchasing this contract with a nontaxable transfer of the death benefit proceeds of any annuity contract or IRA (or any other
tax-qualified arrangement) of which you were the Beneficiary and you are
“stretching” the distributions under the IRS required distribution rules, you may not purchase the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider. Upon your death, however, any remaining benefits may need to be accelerated
to comply with IRS rules.
If you are purchasing this contract with a nontaxable transfer of the death benefit proceeds of any Non-Qualified annuity contract of which you were the
Beneficiary and you are “stretching” the distributions under the IRS required
distribution rules, you may not purchase the Enhanced GWB or GWB I
rider.
(See Appendix D for examples of the GWB riders.)
Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II
Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. While the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider is in effect, we guarantee that you will receive a minimum amount over time. We refer to this minimum amount as the
Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The initial Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. We increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (up to a maximum of $10,000,000)
by each additional Purchase Payment. If you take a withdrawal that does not exceed the
Annual Benefit Payment (see “Annual Benefit Payment” below), then we will not
reduce the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. We refer to this type of withdrawal as a Non-Excess Withdrawal. If, however, you take a withdrawal that results in cumulative withdrawals for the current
Contract Year that exceed the Annual Benefit Payment, then we will reduce the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount in the same proportion that the entire withdrawal reduced the
Account Value. We refer to this type of withdrawal as an Excess Withdrawal. This reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value is lower than the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (see “Managing Your
Withdrawals” below). Limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a Contract Year to not more than the Annual Benefit Payment will result in dollar-for-dollar treatment of
the withdrawals.
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is the
remaining amount you are guaranteed to receive over time.
The initial Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is equal to the initial Total Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount. We increase the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (up to a maximum of
$10,000,000) by additional Purchase Payments, and we decrease the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount by withdrawals. If you take a Non-Excess Withdrawal, we will decrease the
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of the Non-Excess
Withdrawal. If, however, you take an Excess Withdrawal, then we will reduce the Remaining
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount in the same proportion that the withdrawal reduces the Account
Value. This reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value
is lower than the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (see “Managing
Your Withdrawals” below). Limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a
Contract Year to not more than the Annual Benefit Payment will result in dollar-for-dollar
treatment of the withdrawals. As described below under “Annual Benefit
Payment,” the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is the total amount you are
guaranteed to receive over time if you take your first withdrawal before the Owner or older
Joint Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) is age 59 1∕2. The Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount is also used to calculate an alternate death benefit available under the
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee (see “Additional Information” below).
Automatic Annual
Step-Up. On each contract anniversary prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday, an Automatic Annual Step-Up will occur, provided that the Account Value exceeds the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount (after compounding) immediately before the step-up (and provided that you
have not chosen to decline the step-up as described below).
The Automatic Annual Step-Up:
•resets the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount to the Account Value on the date of the step-up, up to a
maximum of $10,000,000, regardless of whether or not you have taken any withdrawals;
•resets the Annual Benefit Payment equal to 5% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount after the step-up (or 6% if you make your first withdrawal during a
Contract Year in which the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a
non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76 or older); and
•may reset the LWG II rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the
Maximum Automatic
Annual Step-Up Charge (1.60% for the Single Life version or 1.80% for the Joint Life version) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same
rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Automatic Annual
Step-Up.
For contracts issued on or before February 23, 2009, the maximum charge upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up is 1.25% (Single Life version) or 1.50% (Joint Life
version).
In the event that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the step-up is higher than
your current LWG II rider charge, we will notify you in writing a minimum of 30 days in
advance of the applicable contract anniversary and inform you that you may choose to decline
the Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you choose to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you
must notify us in accordance with our Administrative Procedures (currently we require you
to submit your request in writing to our Annuity Service Center no less than seven calendar days prior to the applicable contract anniversary). Once you notify us of your decision to decline the
Automatic Annual Step-Up, you will no longer be eligible for future Automatic Annual
Step-Ups until you notify us in writing to our Annuity Service Center that you wish to reinstate the step-ups. This reinstatement will take effect at the next contract anniversary after we receive your request for
reinstatement. Please note that the Automatic Annual Step-Up may be of limited benefit if
you intend to make Purchase Payments that would cause your Account Value to approach
$10,000,000, because the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount cannot exceed $10,000,000.
For contracts issued on or before February 23, 2009, if your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is increased due to an Automatic Annual Step-Up on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we
currently will increase the rider charge for the Single Life version to 0.95% of the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, and we will increase the rider charge for the Joint Life version to 1.20% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, applicable after the contract anniversary on which
the Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs.
Annual Benefit Payment.
The initial Annual Benefit Payment is equal to the initial Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount multiplied by the 5% Withdrawal Rate (6% Withdrawal Rate if you make your first
withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if
the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76 or older). If the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is later recalculated (for example, because of additional Purchase Payments, the
Automatic Annual Step-Up, or Excess Withdrawals), the Annual Benefit Payment is reset equal to the new
Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount multiplied by the 5% Withdrawal Rate (6% Withdrawal Rate
if you make your first withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner (or older Joint
Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76 or
older).
It is important to note:
•If you take your first withdrawal before the date you reach age 59 1∕2, we will continue
to pay the Annual Benefit Payment each year until the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount is depleted, even if your Account Value declines to zero. This means if your Account Value is depleted due to a Non-Excess Withdrawal or the deduction of the rider charge, and
your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is greater than zero, we will pay you the
remaining Annual Benefit Payment, if any, not yet withdrawn during the Contract Year that
the Account Value was depleted, and beginning in the following Contract Year, we will
continue paying the Annual Benefit Payment to you each year until your Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount is depleted. This guarantees that you will receive your Purchase Payments
even if your Account Value declines to zero due to market performance, so long as you do
not take Excess Withdrawals; however, you will not be guaranteed income for the rest of
your life.
•If you take your first withdrawal on or after the date you reach age 59 1∕2, we will continue
to pay the Annual Benefit Payment each year for the rest of your life (and the life of your
spouse, if the Joint Life version of the rider was elected, and your spouse elects to continue the contract and is at least age 59 1∕2 at continuation),
even if your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and/or Account Value declines to zero.
This means if your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and/or your Account Value is
depleted due to a Non-Excess Withdrawal or the deduction of the rider charge, we will pay
to you the remaining Annual Benefit Payment, if any, not yet withdrawn during that Contract
Year that the Account Value was depleted, and beginning in the following Contract Year, we will continue paying the Annual Benefit Payment to you each year for the rest of your life (and your
spouse’s life, if the Joint Life version of the rider was elected, and your spouse
elects to continue the contract and is at least age
59 1∕2 at continuation). Therefore, you will be guaranteed income for life.
•If you take your first withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner (or older
Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age
76 or older, your Annual Benefit payment will be set equal to a 6% Withdrawal Rate
multiplied by the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
•If you have elected the LWG II, you should carefully consider when to begin taking withdrawals. If you begin taking withdrawals too soon, you may limit the value of the LWG II. For example, if you delay taking withdrawals for too long, you may limit the number of years available for
you to take withdrawals in the future (due to life expectancy) and you may be
paying for a benefit you are not using.
•You have the option of receiving withdrawals under the LWG II rider or receiving
payments under an annuity income option. You should consult with your financial
representative when deciding how to receive income under this contract. In making this
decision, you should consider many factors, including the relative amount of current income
provided by the two options, the potential ability to receive higher future payments
through potential increases to the value of the LWG II (as described below), your potential
need to make additional withdrawals in the future, and the relative values to you of the
death benefits available prior to and after annuitization. (See “Lifetime Withdrawal
Guarantee and Annuitization” below.)
Managing Your
Withdrawals. It is important that you carefully manage your annual withdrawals. To retain
the full guarantees of this rider, your annual withdrawals cannot exceed the Annual Benefit
Payment each Contract Year. In other words, you should not take Excess Withdrawals. If you do take an Excess Withdrawal, we will recalculate the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and reduce the Annual Benefit Payment to the new Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount multiplied by the 5% Withdrawal Rate (6%
Withdrawal Rate if you make your first withdrawal during a Contract Year in
which the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76 or older).
In
addition, as noted above, if you take an Excess Withdrawal, we will reduce the
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount in
the same proportion that the withdrawal reduces the Account Value. These reductions in
the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, Annual Benefit Payment, and Remaining
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount may be significant. You are still eligible to receive either lifetime payments or the remainder of the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount so long as the withdrawal that exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment did
not cause your Account Value to decline to zero. An Excess Withdrawal that reduces the Account Value to zero will terminate the contract.
If
you take an Excess Withdrawal in a Contract Year, you may be able to reduce the impact of the Excess Withdrawal on your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, Annual Benefit Payment,
and Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount by making two separate withdrawals
(on different days) instead of a single withdrawal. The first withdrawal should be equal to your Annual Benefit Payment (or remaining Annual Benefit Payment
if withdrawals have already occurred in the Contract Year); this withdrawal will not reduce
your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (and Annual Benefit Payment) and it will reduce
your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount dollar-for-dollar by the amount of the withdrawal. The second withdrawal (on a subsequent day) should be for the amount in excess of the Annual Benefit
Payment (or remaining Annual Benefit Payment); this withdrawal will reduce your Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, Annual Benefit Payment, and Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount in the same proportion that the withdrawal reduces the Account Value. For an example of taking multiple withdrawals in this situation, see Appendix D, “A. Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee
– 2. When Withdrawals Do Exceed the Annual Benefit Payment – a. Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II – Proportionate Reduction.”
You can always take Non-Excess Withdrawals. However, if you choose to receive only a part of your Annual Benefit Payment in any given Contract Year, your Annual
Benefit Payment is not cumulative and your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and
Annual Benefit Payment will not increase. For example, since your Annual Benefit Payment is
5% of your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (or 6% if you make your first withdrawal
during a Contract Year in which the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76 or older), you cannot withdraw 3% of the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal
Amount in one year and then withdraw 7% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount the next year without making an Excess Withdrawal in the second
year.
Required Minimum Distributions. For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, when you reach the age at which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, those distributions may
be larger than your Annual Benefit Payment. If you enroll in the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program and elect annual withdrawals, after the first Contract
Year, we will increase your Annual Benefit Payment to equal your most recently calculated required minimum distribution amount, if such amount is greater than your Annual
Benefit Payment. Otherwise, any cumulative withdrawals you make to satisfy your required
minimum distribution amount will be treated as Excess Withdrawals if they exceed your
Annual Benefit Payment. You must be enrolled only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program to qualify for this increase in the Annual Benefit Payment.
You may not be enrolled in any other systematic withdrawal program. The
frequency of your withdrawals must be annual. The Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program is based on information relating to this contract
only. To enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, please contact our Annuity Service Center.
Investment Allocation Restrictions. If you elect the LWG II rider, there are certain investment allocation restrictions. Please see “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee
II, EDB I, and EDB II” and see “Appendix B – Investment Portfolios
Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.” If you elect the LWG II,
you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the LWG II rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
Joint Life Version. A
Joint Life version of the LWG II rider is available for a charge of 1.50% (which may
increase upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up to a maximum of 1.80%). (See “Automatic
Annual Step-Up” above.) Like the Single Life version of the LWG II rider, the Joint
Life version must be elected at the time you purchase
the contract, and the Owner (or older Joint Owner) must be age 85 or younger. Under the Joint Life
version, when the Owner of the contract dies (or when the first Joint Owner dies), the LWG
II rider will automatically remain in effect only if the spouse is the primary Beneficiary and elects to continue the contract under the spousal continuation provisions. (See “Death
Benefit — Spousal Continuation.”) This means that if you purchase the Joint Life version and subsequently get
divorced, or your spouse is no longer the primary Beneficiary at the time of your death, he
or she will not be eligible to receive payments under the LWG II rider. If the spouse is younger than age 59 1∕2 when he or she
elects to continue the contract, the spouse will receive the Annual Benefit Payment each year
until the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is depleted. If the spouse is age
59 1∕2 or older when he or she
elects to continue the contract, the spouse will receive the Annual Benefit Payment each
year for the remainder of his or her life. If the first withdrawal was taken before the
contract Owner died (or before the first Joint Owner died), the Withdrawal Rate upon
continuation of the contract and LWG II rider by the spouse will be based on the age of the
contract Owner, or older Joint Owner, at the time the first withdrawal was taken (see “Annual Benefit Payment” above).
In situations in which a trust is both the Owner and Beneficiary of the contract, the Joint Life version of the LWG II would not apply.
For contracts issued on or before February 23, 2009, the current charge for the Joint Life version is 0.85% (which may increase upon an Automatic Annual Step-Up
to a maximum of 1.50%). (See “Automatic Annual Step-Up” above.)
Cancellation and Guaranteed Principal Adjustment. You may elect to cancel the LWG II rider on the contract anniversary every five Contract Years for the first 15 Contract Years and annually
thereafter. We must receive your cancellation request within 30 days following the
applicable contract anniversary in accordance with our Administrative Procedures (currently we require you to submit your request in writing to our Annuity Service Center). The cancellation will take effect upon
our receipt of your request. If cancelled, the LWG II rider will terminate, we will no
longer deduct the LWG II rider charge, and the investment allocation restrictions will no
longer apply. The variable annuity contract, however, will continue.
If you
cancel the LWG II rider on the fifteenth contract anniversary or any contract anniversary thereafter, we will add a Guaranteed Principal Adjustment to your Account
Value. The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment is intended to restore your initial investment in the contract in the case of poor investment performance.The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment is equal to (a) - (b) where:
(a) is Purchase Payments credited within 120 days of the date that we issued the contract, reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to any partial withdrawals
taken and
(b)
is the Account Value on the date of cancellation.
The Guaranteed Principal Adjustment will be added to each applicable Investment Portfolio in the ratio the portion of the Account Value in such Investment
Portfolio bears to the total Account Value in all Investment Portfolios. The Guaranteed
Principal Adjustment will never be less than zero.
Only Purchase Payments made during the first 120 days that you hold the contract are taken into consideration in determining the Guaranteed Principal
Adjustment. Contract Owners who anticipate making Purchase Payments after 120 days should
understand that such payments will not increase the Guaranteed Principal Adjustment.
Purchase Payments made after 120 days are added to your Account Value and impact whether or not a benefit is due. Therefore, the LWG II may not be appropriate for you if you intend to make additional
Purchase Payments after the 120-day period and are purchasing the LWG II for its Guaranteed
Principal Adjustment feature.
Termination of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II Rider. The Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
(1) the date of a full withdrawal of the Account Value (you are still eligible to receive either the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount or lifetime payments, provided the withdrawal did not exceed the Annual Benefit Payment and the provisions and
conditions of the rider have been met) (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be
assessed);
(2) the date all of the Account Value is applied to an Annuity Option (a pro rata portion of the rider
charge will be assessed);
(3) the date there are insufficient funds to deduct the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee rider charge from the Account Value and your contract is thereby terminated (whatever Account Value is available will be applied to pay the rider charge and you are
still eligible to receive either the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount or lifetime payments, provided the provisions and conditions of the rider have been met; however, you will have no other benefits under
the contract);
(4) death of the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person), except where the contract is issued under the Joint Life version
of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee, the primary Beneficiary is the spouse, and the spouse
elects to continue the contract under the spousal continuation provisions of the
contract;
(5) change of the Owner or Joint Owner for any reason, subject to our administrative procedures (a pro rata
portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
(6)
the effective date of the cancellation of the rider;
(7) termination of the contract to which the rider is attached, other than due to death (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed); or
(8) the date you assign your contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed).
Under our
current administrative procedures, we will waive the termination of the LWG II rider if you assign a portion of the contract under the following limited circumstances: if the assignment is solely for your benefit
on account of your direct transfer of Account Value under Section 1035 of the Internal
Revenue Code to fund premiums for a long term care insurance policy or Purchase Payments for an annuity contract issued by an insurance company which is not our affiliate and which is licensed to
conduct business in any state.
Once the rider is terminated, the LWG II rider charge will no longer be deducted and the LWG II investment allocation restrictions will no longer apply.
Additional Information.
The LWG II rider may affect the death benefit available under your contract. If the Owner
or Joint Owner should die while the LWG II rider is in effect, an alternate death benefit amount will be calculated under the LWG II rider that can be taken in a lump sum. The LWG II death benefit amount that
may be taken as a lump sum will be equal to total Purchase Payments less any partial
withdrawals (deducted on a dollar-for-dollar basis). If this death benefit amount is
greater than the death benefit provided by your contract, and if you made no Excess
Withdrawals, then this death benefit amount will be paid instead of the death benefit
provided by the contract. All other provisions of your contract’s death benefit will
apply.
Alternatively, the Beneficiary may elect to receive the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount as a death benefit, in which case we will pay the Remaining
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount on a monthly basis (or any mutually agreed upon frequency, but
no less frequently than annually) until the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is
exhausted. The Beneficiary's withdrawal rights then come to an end. Currently, there is no
minimum dollar amount for the payments; however, we reserve the right to accelerate any payment, in a lump sum, that is less than $500 or if required by applicable tax law (see below). This death benefit will be paid
instead of the applicable contractual death benefit or the additional death benefit amount
calculated under the LWG II as described above. Otherwise, the provisions of those contractual death benefits will determine the amount of the death benefit. Except as may be required by the Internal
Revenue Code, an annual payment will not exceed the Annual Benefit Payment. If your
Beneficiary dies while such payments are made, we will continue making the payments to the
Beneficiary’s estate unless we have agreed to another payee in writing. If the
contract is a Non-Qualified Contract, any death benefit must be paid out over a time period and in a manner that satisfies Section 72(s) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the Owner (or the Annuitant, if the
Owner is not a natural person) of a Non-Qualified Contract dies prior to the “annuity
starting date” (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder), the period over which the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is paid as a death benefit cannot exceed the remaining
life expectancy of the payee under the appropriate IRS tables. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, if the payee is a non-natural person, the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount must be paid out within 5 years from the date of death. Payments under
this death benefit must begin within 12 months following the date of
death.
If the Contract is a Qualified Contract, the tax rules that apply upon your death are similar, but
differ in some material respects, from the tax rules for Non-Qualified Contracts. (See
“Federal Income Tax Status.”)
We reserve the right to accelerate any payment, in a lump sum, that is less than $500 or to comply with
requirements under the Internal Revenue Code (including minimum distribution requirements
for IRAs and other Qualified Contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue
Code and Non-Qualified Contracts subject to Section 72(s)). If you terminate the LWG II rider because (1) you make a total withdrawal of your Account Value; (2) your Account Value is insufficient to pay the
LWG II rider charge; or (3) the contract Owner dies, except where
the Beneficiary or Joint Owner is the spouse of the Owner and the spouse elects to continue the
contract, you may not make additional Purchase Payments under the
contract.
7.25% Compounding Income Amount. For contracts issued prior to July 13, 2009, on each contract anniversary until the earlier of: (a) the date of the second withdrawal from the contract or (b) the tenth contract anniversary, we increase the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount by an amount equal to
7.25% multiplied by the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount before such increase (up to a maximum of $10,000,000). We take the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount as of the last
day of the Contract Year to determine the amount subject to the increase. We may also
increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount
by the Automatic Annual Step-Up, if that would result in a higher Total Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount and Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee and Annuitization. Since the Annuity Date at the time you purchase the contract is the later of age 90 of the Annuitant or 10 years from contract issue, you must
make an election if you would like to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date permitted
(subject to restrictions imposed by your selling firm, and our current established administrative procedures). If you elect to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date permitted, and that date is
reached, your contract must be annuitized (see “Annuity Payments (The Income
Phase)”), or you must make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value. Annuitization may provide higher income amounts than the payments under the LWG II rider, depending on the applicable annuity option
rates and your Account Value on the Annuity Date.
If you annuitize at the latest date permitted, you must elect one of the following options:
(1) Annuitize the Account Value under the contract’s annuity provisions.
(2) If you took withdrawals before age 59 1∕2, and therefore you are
not eligible for lifetime withdrawals under the LWG II rider, elect to receive the Annual
Benefit Payment paid each year until the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is
depleted. These payments will be equal in amount, except for the last payment that will be
in an amount necessary to reduce the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount to zero.
(3) If you are eligible for lifetime withdrawals under the LWG II rider, elect to receive the Annual Benefit Payment paid each year until your death (or the later
of you and your spousal Beneficiary’s death for the Joint Life version). If you (or
you and your spousal Beneficiary for the Joint Life version) die before the Remaining
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is depleted, your Beneficiaries will continue to receive
payments equal to the Annual Benefit Payment each year until the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount is depleted. These payments will be equal in amount, except for the last
payment that will be in an amount necessary to reduce the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount to zero.
If you do not select an Annuity Option or elect to receive payments under the LWG II rider, we will
annuitize your contract under the Life Annuity with 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed
Annuity Option. However, if we do, we will adjust your Annuity Payment or the Annuity
Option, if necessary, so your aggregate Annuity Payments will not be less than what you
would have received under the LWG II rider.
Description of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I
The Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider is identical to the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, with the exceptions described below.
Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The maximum Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider is $5,000,000. If you elect the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I
rider and take an Excess Withdrawal, we will reduce the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount
by an amount equal to the difference between the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount after
the withdrawal and the Account Value after the withdrawal (if lower). On the other hand, if you elect the LWG II rider and take an Excess Withdrawal, we will reduce the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount in
the same proportion that the withdrawal reduces the Account Value.
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The maximum Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider is $5,000,000. If you elect the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee
I rider and take a withdrawal, we will reduce the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount by
the amount of each withdrawal regardless of whether it is an Excess or Non-Excess
withdrawal. However, if the withdrawal is an Excess Withdrawal, then we will additionally reduce the
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount to equal the difference between the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount after the withdrawal and the Account Value after the withdrawal (if
lower). On the other hand, if you elect the LWG II rider and take a withdrawal, we will reduce the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount by the amount of each withdrawal for withdrawals that are
Non-Excess Withdrawals and for Excess Withdrawals, we will reduce the Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount in the same proportion that the withdrawal reduces the Account
Value.
Compounding Income Amount. If you elect the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider, on each contract anniversary until the earlier of: (a) the date
of the first withdrawal from the contract or (b) the tenth contract anniversary, we
increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount by an amount equal to 5% multiplied by the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and
Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount before such increase. We take the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount as of the last day of the
Contract Year to determine the amount subject to the increase.
Annual Benefit Payment. Under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, the Annual Benefit Payment is set equal to the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount multiplied by the 5% Withdrawal Rate (there is no 6%
Withdrawal Rate for taking later withdrawals).
Automatic Annual
Step-Up. If an Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I
rider, we may increase the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider charge to the charge
applicable to current contract purchases of the same rider at the time of the step-up, but
to no more than a maximum of 0.95% (Single Life version) or 1.40% (Joint Life version) of
the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. If your Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is
increased due to an Automatic Annual Step-Up on a contract anniversary occurring on July 1, 2012 or later, we currently will increase the rider charge for the Single Life version to 0.80% of the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, and we will increase the rider charge for the Joint Life
version to 1.05% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, applicable after the contract
anniversary on which the Automatic Annual Step-Up occurs. Automatic Annual Step-Ups may
occur on each contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 86th birthday.
Termination. Termination
provision (8) under “Termination of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II
Rider” does not apply to the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider.
Rider Charge. The charge
for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider is 0.50% (Single Life version) or 0.70%
(Joint Life version) of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (see “Expenses — Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee and Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit — Rider Charge”).
Investment Allocation Restrictions. If you elect the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider, you are limited to allocating your Purchase Payments and Account Value among the Fixed Account (if available) and certain
Investment Portfolios. Please see “Appendix B - Investment Portfolios Available Under
the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.”
You may also elect to participate in the DCA program, provided that your destination Investment
Portfolios are one or more of these Investment Portfolios.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and GMAB.”
Description of the Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit
Benefit Base. The
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is the maximum total amount of money that you are guaranteed to receive over time under the Enhanced GWB rider. At issue, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Benefit Base are both equal to your initial Purchase
Payment plus the GWB Bonus Amount. At any subsequent point in time, the Benefit Base is the remaining amount of money that you are guaranteed to receive through withdrawals under the Enhanced GWB rider. Your Benefit Base will
change with each Purchase Payment, or as the result of an Optional Reset. Also, each
withdrawal will reduce your Benefit Base. If negative investment performance reduces your
Account Value below the Benefit Base, you are still guaranteed to be able to withdraw the entire amount of your Benefit Base.
The Benefit Base is equal to:
•Your initial Purchase Payment, increased by the 5% GWB Bonus Amount;
•Increased by each subsequent Purchase Payment, and by the 5% GWB Bonus Amount;
•Reduced dollar for dollar by Benefits Paid, which are withdrawals and amounts applied
to an Annuity Option (currently, you may not apply amounts less than your entire Account
Value to an Annuity Option); and
•If a Benefit Paid from your contract is not payable to the contract Owner or the
contract Owner’s bank account (or to the Annuitant or the Annuitant’s bank
account, if the Owner is a non-natural person), or results in cumulative Benefits Paid for
the current Contract Year exceeding the Annual Benefit Payment, and the resulting Benefit
Base exceeds the Account Value, an additional reduction in the Benefit Base will be made.
This additional reduction will be equal to the difference between the Benefit Base and your Account Value after the decrease for the Benefits Paid. The Benefit Base will also be reset as a result of an
Optional Reset as described below.
(See section E of Appendix D for examples of how withdrawals affect the Benefit Base.)
Annual Benefit Payment.
The Annual Benefit Payment is the maximum amount of your Benefit Base you may withdraw each Contract Year without adversely
impacting the amount guaranteed to be available to you through withdrawals over time. The
initial Annual Benefit Payment is equal to the initial Benefit Base multiplied by the GWB Withdrawal Rate (7%). The Annual Benefit Payment is reset after each subsequent Purchase Payment to the greater of: (1) the Annual Benefit Payment before
the subsequent Purchase Payment, and (2) the GWB Withdrawal Rate multiplied by the Benefit
Base after the subsequent Purchase Payment. The Annual Benefit Payment will also be reset
as a result of an Optional Reset as described below. You can continue to receive annual withdrawals in an amount equal to or less than your Annual Benefit Payment until your Benefit Base is depleted.
Managing Your
Withdrawals. It is important that you carefully manage your annual withdrawals. To retain
the guarantees of this rider, your annual withdrawals cannot exceed the Annual Benefit
Payment each Contract Year. We refer to withdrawals during a Contract Year that exceed the
Annual Benefit Payment as Excess Withdrawals. You should not take Excess Withdrawals. If you do take an Excess Withdrawal, or if a withdrawal is not payable to the contract Owner
or the contract Owner's bank account (or to the Annuitant or the Annuitant's
bank account, if the Owner is a non-natural person), the Annual Benefit
Payment will be recalculated and may be reduced. This reduction may be significant.
The
new Annual Benefit
Payment will equal the lower of (1) the Annual Benefit Payment before the withdrawal and
(2) your Account Value after the decrease for the withdrawal multiplied by the GWB
Withdrawal Rate. Because the GWB rider charge is assessed as a percentage of the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount, any decrease of the Annual Benefit Payment caused by an Excess
Withdrawal results in an increase in the cost of the rider relative to the benefits you
will receive.
(See sections F and G of Appendix D for examples of how withdrawals and subsequent Purchase Payments
affect the Annual Benefit Payment.)
You can always take annual withdrawals less than the Annual Benefit Payment. However, if you choose to receive only a part of, or none of, your Annual
Benefit Payment in any given Contract Year, your Annual Benefit Payment is not cumulative
and your Benefit Base and Annual Benefit Payment will not increase. For example, if your Annual Benefit Payment is 7% of your Benefit Base and you withdraw only 4% one year, you cannot then withdraw
10% the next year without exceeding your Annual Benefit Payment.
Required Minimum Distributions. For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, when you reach the age at which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, the distributions may
be larger than your Annual Benefit Payment. If you enroll in the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program and elect annual withdrawals, after the first Contract
Year, we will increase your Annual Benefit Payment to equal your most recently calculated required minimum distribution amount, if such amount is greater than your Annual
Benefit Payment. Otherwise, any cumulative withdrawals you make to satisfy your required
minimum distribution amount will be treated as Excess Withdrawals if they exceed your
Annual Benefit Payment. You must be enrolled only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program to qualify for this increase in the Annual Benefit Payment.
You may not be enrolled in any other systematic withdrawal program. The
frequency of your withdrawals must be annual. The Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program is based on information relating to this contract
only. To enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, please contact our Annuity Service Center.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. We assess the GWB rider charge as a percentage of the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount, which is initially set at an amount equal to your initial Purchase Payment plus the GWB Bonus Amount. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount may increase with subsequent Purchase Payments. In this
case, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount will be reset equal to the greater of: (1) the
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount before the Purchase Payment and (2) the Benefit Base after the
Purchase Payment. Withdrawals do not decrease the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount will also be reset as a result of an Optional Reset as described below. If your
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount increases, the amount of the Enhanced GWB rider charge we
deduct will increase because the rider charge is a percentage of your Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount.
Optional Reset. At any contract anniversary prior to the 86th birthday of the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural
person), you may elect an Optional Reset. The purpose of an Optional Reset is to
“lock-in” a higher Benefit Base, which may increase the amount of the Annual Benefit Payment and lengthen the period of time over which these withdrawals can be taken. We reserve the right
to prohibit an Optional Reset election if we no longer offer this benefit.
An
Optional Reset will:
•Reset your Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and Benefit Base equal to the Account Value on the date of the reset;
•Reset your Annual Benefit Payment equal to the Account Value on the date of the reset multiplied by the GWB Withdrawal Rate (7%); and
•Reset the Enhanced GWB rider charge equal to the then current level we charge for the same rider at the time of the reset, up to the maximum charge of
1.00%.
You may elect either a one-time Optional Reset or Automatic Annual Resets. A one-time Optional Reset is
permitted only if: (1) your Account Value is larger than the Benefit Base immediately
before the reset, and (2) the reset occurs prior to the 86th birthday of the Owner (or older
Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person).
We must
receive your request for a one-time Optional Reset in accordance with our administrative procedures (currently we require you to submit your request in writing to our Annuity Service Center) before the
applicable contract anniversary. The Optional Reset will take effect on
the next contract anniversary following our receipt of your written request.
If you elect Automatic Annual Resets, a reset will occur automatically on any contract anniversary if: (1) your Account Value is larger than the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount immediately before the reset, and (2) the contract anniversary is prior
to the 86th birthday of the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person). The same conditions will apply to each Automatic Annual Reset.
In the
event that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the Automatic Annual Reset is higher than your current Enhanced GWB rider charge, we will notify you in writing a minimum of 30 days
in advance of the applicable contract anniversary and inform you that you may choose to
decline the Automatic Annual Reset. You may discontinue Automatic Annual Resets by
notifying us in writing, at our Annuity Service Center (or by any other method acceptable
to us), prior to the contract anniversary on which a reset may otherwise occur. If you
discontinue the Automatic Annual Resets, no reset will occur automatically on any subsequent contract anniversary unless you make a new election under the terms described above. (If you discontinue
Automatic Annual Resets, the Enhanced GWB rider (and the rider charge) will continue, and
you may choose to elect a one-time Optional Reset or reinstate Automatic Annual Resets.)
It is
possible to elect a one-time Optional Reset when the Account Value is larger than the Benefit Base but smaller than the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. (By contrast, an Automatic Annual Reset will never occur if the
the Account Value is smaller than the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.) If you elect a
one-time Optional Reset when the Account Value before the reset was less than the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount, you would lock in a higher Benefit Base, which would increase the total
amount you are guaranteed to receive through withdrawals under the Enhanced GWB rider, and
extend the period of time over which you could make those withdrawals. However, you would
also decrease the Annual Benefit Payment and the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. You should consider electing a one-time Optional Reset when your Account Value is smaller than the Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount only if you are willing to accept the decrease in the Annual Benefit Payment and
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount in return for locking in the higher Benefit Base. Otherwise,
you should only elect a one-time Optional Reset when your Account Value is larger than the
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
Any benefit of a one-time Optional Reset or Automatic Annual Reset also depends on the current Enhanced
GWB rider charge. If the current charge in effect at the time of the reset is higher than
the charge you are paying, it may not be beneficial to elect a reset because we will begin
applying the higher current charge at the time of the reset (even if a one-time Optional
Reset results in a decrease of your Annual Benefit Payment and/or your Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount).
For contracts issued prior to July 16, 2007, you may elect an Optional Reset beginning with the third contract anniversary (as long as it is prior to the Owner's 86th birthday) and at any subsequent contract
anniversary prior to the Owner's 86th birthday as long as it has been at least three years
since the last Optional Reset. Automatic Annual Resets are not
available.
Cancellation of the Enhanced GWB Rider. You may elect to cancel the Enhanced GWB rider in accordance with our Administrative Procedures (currently we
require you to submit your cancellation request in writing to our Annuity Service Center)
during the 90-day period following your fifth contract anniversary. Such cancellation will take effect upon our receipt of your request. If cancelled, the Enhanced GWB rider will terminate and we will no
longer deduct the Enhanced GWB rider charge. The variable annuity contract, however, will
continue. If you cancel the Enhanced GWB rider, you may not re-elect it.
Termination of the Enhanced GWB Rider. The Enhanced GWB rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
(1) the date you make a full withdrawal of your Account Value;
(2) the date you apply all of your Account Value to an Annuity Option;
(3) the date there are insufficient funds to deduct the Enhanced GWB rider charge from your Account Value
(whatever Account Value is available will be applied to pay the annual Enhanced GWB rider
charge);
(4) the date we receive due proof of the Owner's death and a Beneficiary claim form, except where the
Beneficiary or Joint Owner is the spouse of the Owner and the spouse elects to continue the
contract and the spouse is less than 85 years old, or the Annuitant dies if the Owner is a
non-natural person; note: (a) if the spouse elects to continue the contract (so long as the
spouse is less than 85 years old and the Enhanced GWB rider is in effect at the time of
continuation), all terms and conditions of the Enhanced GWB rider will apply to the
surviving spouse; and (b) we will not
terminate the rider until we receive both due proof of the Owner's death and a Beneficiary claim form (from certain Beneficiaries, such as a trust, we may
require additional information, such as the trust document), which means we will continue
to deduct the Enhanced GWB rider charge until we receive this
information;
(5) a change of the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) for
any reason (currently we follow our administrative procedures regarding termination for a
change of Owner or Joint Owner or Annuitant, if a non-natural person owns the
contract);
(6) the effective date of cancellation of the rider; or
(7)
the termination of your contract.
Additional Information.
If you take a full withdrawal of your Account Value and the withdrawal does not exceed the
Annual Benefit Payment, or your Account Value is reduced to zero because you do not have a sufficient Account Value to pay the Enhanced GWB rider charge and your Benefit Base after the withdrawal is greater
than zero, we will commence making payments to the Owner or Joint Owner (or to the
Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) on a monthly basis (or any mutually agreed upon frequency, but not less frequently than annually) until the Benefit Base is exhausted. Your withdrawal
rights then come to an end. Currently, there is no minimum dollar amount for the payments;
however, we reserve the right to accelerate any payment, in a lump sum, that is less than
$500 or if required by applicable tax law (see below). The total annual payments cannot
exceed the Annual Benefit Payment, except to the extent required under the Internal Revenue
Code. If you or the Joint Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) should die while these payments are being made, your Beneficiary will receive these payments. No other death benefit will
be paid.
If the Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) should die while the
Enhanced GWB rider is in effect, your Beneficiary may elect to receive the Benefit Base as
a death benefit in lieu of any other contractual death benefits. Otherwise, the provisions
of those death benefits will determine the amount of the death benefit and no benefit will be payable under the Enhanced GWB rider.
If the Beneficiary elects the Benefit Base as a death benefit, we will pay the remaining Benefit Base on a monthly basis (or any mutually agreed upon frequency, but no
less frequently than annually) until the Benefit Base is exhausted. Except as may be
required by the Internal Revenue Code, an annual payment will not exceed the
Annual Benefit Payment. If your Beneficiary dies while such payments are made, we will continue making
the payments to the Beneficiary's estate unless we have agreed to another payee in writing.
If the contract is a Non-Qualified Contract, any death benefit must be paid out over a time
period and in a manner that satisfies Section 72(s) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the
Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is not a natural person) of a Non-Qualified Contract
dies prior to the “annuity starting date” (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder), the period over which the Benefit Base is paid as a death benefit cannot exceed the
remaining life expectancy of the payee under the appropriate IRS tables. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, if the payee is a non-natural person, the Benefit Base must be paid out within 5 years from the date of death. Payments under this death benefit must begin within 12 months
following the date of death.
If the Contract is a Qualified Contract, the tax rules that apply upon your death are similar, but differ in some material respects, from the tax rules for
Non-Qualified Contracts. (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”)
We reserve the right to accelerate any payment, in a lump sum, that is less than $500 or to comply with requirements under the Internal Revenue Code (including
minimum distribution requirements for IRAs and other Qualified Contracts subject to Section
401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and Non-Qualified Contracts subject to Section
72(s)). If you terminate the Enhanced GWB rider because (1) you make a total withdrawal of your Account Value; (2) your Account Value is insufficient to pay the Enhanced GWB rider charge; or (3) the contract
Owner or Joint Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) dies, except
where the Beneficiary or Joint Owner is the spouse of the Owner and the spouse elects to
continue the contract and the spouse is less than 85 years old, you may not make additional
Purchase Payments under the contract.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the Enhanced GWB rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and
GMAB.”
Enhanced GWB and Annuitization. Since the Annuity Date at the time you purchase the contract is the later of age 90 of the Annuitant or 10 years from
contract issue, you must make an election if you would like to extend your Annuity Date to
the latest date permitted (subject to restrictions imposed by your selling firm, our current
established administrative procedures and
applicable state law). If you elect to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date
permitted, and that date is reached, your contract must be annuitized (see “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase)”), or you must make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value.
If you
annuitize at the latest date permitted, you must elect one of the following options:
(1) Annuitize the Account Value under the contract’s annuity provisions.
(2) Elect to receive the Annual Benefit Payment under the Enhanced GWB rider paid each year until the
Benefit Base is depleted. These payments will be equal in amount, except for the last
payment that will be in an amount necessary to reduce the Benefit Base to zero.
If you do
not select an Annuity Option or elect to receive payments under the Enhanced GWB rider, we will annuitize your contract under the Life Annuity with 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed Annuity Option.
However, if we do, we will adjust your Annuity Payment or the Annuity Option, if necessary,
so your aggregate Annuity Payments will not be less than what you would have received under
the Enhanced GWB rider.
Description of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit I
The GWB I rider is the same as the Enhanced GWB rider described above with the following differences: (1) there is no favorable treatment of required minimum
distributions; (2) the GWB I rider charge continues even if your Benefit Base equals zero;
(3) you may only elect the Optional Reset once every five Contract Years instead of every Contract Year; (4) the GWB I rider charge is 0.50% and the maximum GWB I rider charge upon an Optional Reset is
0.95%; and (5) you do not have the ability to cancel the rider following your fifth
contract anniversary.
By endorsement, the GWB I rider has been enhanced so that items (1) and (2) above no longer apply and the interval between Optional Resets in item (3) has
been decreased to every three Contract Years. You may now elect an Optional Reset under the
GWB I starting with the third contract anniversary (as long as it is prior to the Owner's
86th birthday), and you may elect an Optional Reset at any subsequent contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 86th birthday, as long as it has been at least three years since the last Optional Reset.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GWB I rider are restricted as described in
“Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and GMAB.”
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit
The GMAB guarantees that your Account Value will not be less than a minimum amount at the end of a specified number of years (the “Rider Maturity
Date”). If your Account Value is less than the minimum guaranteed amount at the Rider
Maturity Date, we will apply an additional amount to increase your Account Value so that it
is equal to the guaranteed amount.
If you elected the GMAB rider, we required you to allocate your Purchase Payments and all of your
Account Value to one of three Investment Portfolios. Effective April 28, 2014, the three
original Investment Portfolios merged into two Investment Portfolios. See “Appendix B – Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract” for a list of these Investment
Portfolios. No transfers are permitted while this rider is in effect.
This benefit is intended to protect you against poor investment performance during the Accumulation Phase of your contract. You may not have this benefit and
a GMIB or GWB rider or the Enhanced Death Benefit rider in effect at the same time.
Benefit Description. The
GMAB rider guarantees that at the Rider Maturity Date, your Account Value will at least be
equal to a percentage of the Purchase Payments you made during the first 120 days that you held the contract (the “GMAB Eligibility Period”), less reductions for any withdrawals that you made at any
time before the Rider Maturity Date. The percentage of Purchase Payments made that
determines the guaranteed amount range from 110% to 130%, depending on the Investment Portfolio you selected. This guaranteed amount is the “Guaranteed Accumulation Amount.” The Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is used only to determine the amount of any benefit payable under the GMAB feature and the amount of the annual charge for the GMAB. There is a
maximum Guaranteed Accumulation Amount for your contract that is shown on your contract
schedule page (currently $5 million). Purchase Payments made after this maximum Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount is reached will not increase the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount above the
maximum. However, if you make a withdrawal of Account Value during the GMAB Eligibility
Period that reduces the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount below the maximum, then Purchase
Payments you make after the withdrawal, and during the GMAB Eligibility Period, will increase the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount until it
reaches the
maximum. Only Purchase Payments made during the first 120 days that you hold the contract are taken into consideration in determining the Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount. If you anticipate making Purchase Payments after 120 days, you should
understand that such payments will not increase the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount.
Purchase Payments made after 120 days are added to your Account Value and impact whether or
not a benefit is due under the GMAB feature at the Rider Maturity Date.
On your contract's issue date, the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is equal to a percentage of your initial Purchase Payment. Subsequent Purchase
Payments made during the GMAB Eligibility Period increase the Guaranteed Accumulation
Amount by the percentage amount of the Purchase Payment (subject to the limit described
above) depending on which Investment Portfolio you selected at the time you elected the GMAB. When you make a withdrawal from the contract, the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is reduced in the same
proportion that the amount of the withdrawal bears to the total Account Value.
Example:
Assume your Account Value is $100,000 and your Guaranteed Accumulation Amount is $120,000, prior to making a $10,000 withdrawal from the contract. The withdrawal amount is 10% of the Account Value.
Therefore, after the withdrawal, your Account Value would be $90,000 and your Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount would be $108,000 (90% of $120,000).
The Guaranteed Accumulation Amount does not represent an amount of money available for withdrawal and is not used to calculate any benefits under the contract
prior to the Rider Maturity Date.
At the Rider Maturity Date, after deduction of the annual charge for the GMAB rider, we will compare your contract's Account Value to its Guaranteed Accumulation
Amount. If the Account Value is less than the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount, we will
contribute to your Account Value the amount needed to make it equal the Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount. (This added amount is the “Guaranteed Accumulation
Payment.”) The Guaranteed Accumulation Payment is allocated entirely to the
Investment Portfolio you have selected.
If your Account Value is greater than or equal to the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount at the Rider Maturity Date, then no Guaranteed Accumulation Payment will
be paid into your Account Value. The GMAB rider terminates at the Rider Maturity Date. We
will not deduct the GMAB
rider charge after that date, and the related investment requirements and restrictions will no longer
apply.
If your Account Value is reduced to zero for any reason other than a full withdrawal of the Account
Value or application of the entire Account Value to an Annuity Option, but your contract
has a positive Guaranteed Accumulation Amount remaining, the contract and the GMAB rider
will remain in force. No charge for the GMAB rider will be deducted or accrue while there is insufficient Account Value to cover the deductions for the charge. At the Rider Maturity Date, the Guaranteed
Accumulation Payment will be paid into the Account Value.
Purchase Payments made after the 120 day GMAB Eligibility Period may have a significant impact on whether or not a Guaranteed Accumulation Payment is
due at the Rider Maturity Date. Even if Purchase Payments made during the 120 day GMAB
Eligibility Period lose significant value, if the Account Value, which includes all Purchase Payments, is equal to or greater than the Guaranteed Accumulation Amount, which is a percentage of your
Purchase Payments made during the 120 day period, then no Guaranteed Accumulation Payment
is made. Therefore, the GMAB rider may not be appropriate for you if you intend to make
additional Purchase Payments after the GMAB Eligibility Period.
Example:
Assume that you made one $10,000 Purchase Payment during the 120 day GMAB Eligibility Period and you selected the MetLife Balanced Strategy Portfolio (now merged into the Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio). Therefore, the Guaranteed Accumulation
Amount is $11,000 (110% of your $10,000 Purchase Payment). Assume that at the Rider
Maturity Date, your Account Value is $0. The Guaranteed Accumulation Payment is $11,000
($11,000 - $0 = $11,000).
In contrast, assume that you made one $10,000 Purchase Payment during the 120 day GMAB Eligibility
Period and you selected the MetLife Balanced Strategy Portfolio. Therefore, the Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount is $11,000. Also assume that on the day before the Rider Maturity Date
your Account Value is $0. Assume that you decide to make one Purchase Payment on the day
before the Rider Maturity Date of $11,000. At the Rider Maturity Date, assume there has not
been any positive or negative investment experience for the one day between your Purchase
Payment and the Rider Maturity Date. Consequently, your Account Value is $11,000. We would
not pay a Guaranteed
Accumulation Payment because the Account Value of $11,000 is equal to the Guaranteed
Accumulation Amount of $11,000 ($11,000 - $11,000 = $0).
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the GMAB rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for GMIB I, GMIB Plus I, GWB I, Enhanced GWB, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I, and
GMAB.”
Rider Termination. The GMAB rider will terminate at the earliest of: (1) the Rider Maturity Date; (2) the date you surrender the contract; (3) the date you
cancel the GMAB rider, as described below; (4) the date you apply all of your Account Value
to an Annuity Option; and (5) the date of death of the Owner or Joint Owner (or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person), unless the Beneficiary is the spouse of the Owner and elects to continue
the contract under the spousal continuation provisions of the contract.
Once the rider is terminated, the GMAB rider charge will no longer be deducted and the related investment requirements and limitations will no longer apply. If
the rider is terminated before the Rider Maturity Date, the Guaranteed Accumulation Payment
will not be paid.
Cancellation. You have a one-time right to cancel this optional benefit to take effect on your fifth contract anniversary. We must receive your request in
writing within the 90-day period after your fifth contract anniversary. Such cancellation
will take effect upon our receipt of your request. Once you have cancelled the GMAB rider, you will no longer be eligible to receive the Guaranteed Accumulation Payment or be bound by the investment
requirements and restrictions, and we will no longer deduct the charge for this
rider.
GMAB and Decedent Contracts. If you are purchasing this contract with a nontaxable transfer of the death benefit proceeds of any annuity contract or IRA
(or any other tax-qualified arrangement) of which you were the Beneficiary and you are
“stretching” the distributions under the IRS required distribution rules, you may not purchase the GMAB rider. Upon your death, however, any remaining benefits may need to be accelerated to comply with
IRS rules.
DEATH BENEFIT
Upon Your Death
If you die during the Accumulation Phase, we will pay a death benefit to your Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries). If you
die during the Income Phase (after you begin receiving Annuity Payments), there is no death benefit;
however, depending on the Annuity Option you elect, any remaining guarantee may be paid to
your Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries) (see “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase)”
for more information).
The Principal Protection is the standard death benefit for your contract. At the time you purchase the contract, depending on availability in your state, you can
select the optional Annual Step-Up Death Benefit rider, the Compounded-Plus Death Benefit
rider, the EDB Max I rider, the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider, or the Enhanced Death
Benefit I rider. You can also select the Additional Death
Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit, unless you select the EDB Max I or Enhanced Death Benefit II riders. If you are 80 years old or older at the
effective date of your contract, you are not eligible to select the Annual Step-Up Death
Benefit rider, the Compounded-Plus Death Benefit rider or the Earnings Preservation Benefit. If you are 76 years old or older at the effective date of your contract, you are not eligible to select the EDB Max
I rider, the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider, or the Enhanced Death Benefit I rider.
The death
benefits are described below. There may be versions of each rider that vary by issue date and state availability. In addition, a version of a rider may become available (or unavailable) in different
states at different times. Please check your contract and riders for the specific
provisions applicable to you.
The death benefit is determined as of the end of the Business Day on which we receive both due proof of death and an election for the payment method. Until
the Beneficiary (or the first Beneficiary if there are multiple Beneficiaries) submits the
necessary documentation in Good Order, the Account Value attributable to his/her portion of
the death benefit remains in the Investment Portfolios and is subject to investment risk.
Where
there are multiple Beneficiaries, any guaranteed death benefit will only be determined as of the time the first Beneficiary submits the necessary documentation in Good Order. If the guaranteed death benefit payable
is an amount that exceeds the Account Value on the day it is determined, we will apply to
the contract's Account Value an amount equal to the difference between the death benefit payable and the Account Value, in accordance with the current allocation of the Account Value. The remaining
death benefit amounts are held in the Investment Portfolios until each of the other
Beneficiaries submits the necessary documentation in Good Order to claim his/her death
benefit and are subject to investment risk
until we receive his/her necessary documentation.
If you have a Joint Owner, the death benefit will be paid when the first Owner dies. Upon the death of either Owner, the surviving Joint Owner will be the primary
Beneficiary. Any other Beneficiary designation will be treated as a contingent Beneficiary,
unless instructed otherwise.
If a non-natural person owns the contract, the Annuitant will be deemed to be the Owner in determining
the death benefit. If there are Joint Owners, the age of the older Owner will be used to
determine the death benefit amount.
If we are presented with notification of your death before any requested transaction is completed
(including transactions under a dollar cost averaging program, the Automatic Rebalancing
Program, the Systematic Withdrawal Program, or the Automated Required Minimum Distribution
Program), we will cancel the request. As described above, the death benefit will be
determined when we receive both due proof of death and an election for the payment
method.
Enhanced Death Benefit and Decedent Contracts
If you are purchasing this contract with a nontaxable transfer of the death benefit proceeds of any annuity contract or IRA (or any other tax-qualified
arrangement) of which you were the Beneficiary and you are “stretching” the
distributions under the IRS required distribution rules, you may not purchase an Enhanced Death Benefit rider. Upon your death, however, any remaining benefits may need to be accelerated to comply with IRS
rules.
Standard Death Benefit — Principal Protection
The death benefit will be the greater of:
(1) the Account Value; or
(2) total Purchase Payments, reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal.
If the Owner is a natural person and the Owner is changed to someone other than a spouse, the death benefit amount will be determined as defined above; however,
subsection (2) will be changed to provide as follows: “the Account Value as of the
effective date of the change of Owner, increased by Purchase Payments received after the date of the change of Owner, reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable
to each partial withdrawal made after such date.”
In the event that a Beneficiary who is the spouse of the Owner elects to continue the contract in his or her name
after the Owner dies, the death benefit amount will be determined in accordance with (1) or (2)
above.
(See Appendix E for examples of the Principal Protection death benefit rider.)
Optional Death Benefit — Annual Step-Up
You
may select the Annual Step-Up death benefit rider if you are age 79 or younger at the effective date of your contract.
If you select the Annual Step-Up death benefit rider, the death benefit will be the greatest of:
(1)
the Account Value; or
(2) total Purchase Payments, reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal; or
(3) the highest anniversary value, as defined below.
On the
date we issue your contract, the highest anniversary value is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the highest anniversary value (as recalculated) will be increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and
reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each
subsequent partial withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to your 81st birthday,
the highest anniversary value will be recalculated and set equal to the greater of the
highest anniversary value before the recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the
recalculation.
If the Owner is a natural person and the Owner is changed to someone other than a spouse, the death benefit is equal to the greatest of (1), (2) or (3);however, for purposes of calculating (2) and (3) above:
•Subsection (2) is changed to provide:“The Account Value as of the effective date of the change of Owner, increased by Purchase Payments received after the date of change of Owner, and reduced proportionately
by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal made
after such date.”
•For subsection (3), the highest anniversary value will be
recalculated to equal your Account Value as of the effective date of the change of Owner.
Thereafter, the highest anniversary value (as recalculated) will be increased by subsequent
Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value
attributable to each subsequent partial withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to the
Owner's 81st birthday, the highest anniversary value will be recalculated and set equal to
the greater of the
highest anniversary value before the recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the recalculation.
In the event that a Beneficiary who is the spouse of the Owner elects to continue the contract in his or her name after the Owner dies, the death benefit is
equal to the greatest of (1), (2) or (3).
(See Appendix E for examples of the Annual Step-Up death benefit rider.)
Optional Death Benefit — EDB Max I
You
may select the EDB Max I rider (subject to investment allocation restrictions) if you are age 75 or younger at the effective date of your contract and you either (a) have not elected any living benefit rider or (b) have
elected the GMIB Max I rider. If you select the EDB Max I rider, you may not select the
Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit. The Enhanced Death Benefit (EDB) riders are referred to in your contract and rider
as the “Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit” or GMDB.
Description of EDB Max I. If you select the EDB Max I, the amount of the death benefit will be the greater of:
(1) the Account Value; or
(2) the Death Benefit Base.
The
Death Benefit Base provides protection against adverse investment experience. It guarantees that the death benefit will not be less than the greater of: (1) the highest Account Value on any anniversary (adjusted for
withdrawals), or (2) the amount of your initial investment (adjusted for withdrawals),
accumulated at 6% per year.
The Death Benefit Base is the greater of (a) or (b) below:
(a) Highest Anniversary Value: On the date we issue your contract, the Highest Anniversary Value is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the Highest Anniversary Value will be increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal. The percentage reduction in Account Value is the dollar amount of the withdrawal divided by the Account Value immediately preceding such withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to your 81st birthday, the Highest Anniversary Value will be recalculated to equal the greater of the Highest Anniversary Value before the recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the recalculation.
(b) Annual Increase Amount: On the date we issue your contract, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. All Purchase Payments received within 120 days of the date we issue your contract will be treated as part of the initial Purchase Payment for this purpose. Thereafter, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to (i) less (ii), where:
(i) is Purchase Payments accumulated at the annual increase rate (as defined below) from the date the Purchase Payment is made; and
(ii) is withdrawal adjustments (as defined below) accumulated at the annual increase rate.
The Highest
Anniversary Value and Annual Increase Amount are calculated independently of each other. When
the Highest Anniversary Value is recalculated and set equal to the Account Value, the
Annual Increase Amount is not set equal to the Account Value. See “Optional Step-Up” below for a feature that can be used to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value.
Annual Increase Rate. As
noted above, we calculate a Death Benefit Base under the EDB Max I rider that helps
determine the amount of the death benefit. One of the factors used in calculating the Death
Benefit Base is called the “annual increase rate.”
Through the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday,the annual increase rate is the greater of:
(a)
6%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
Item (b) only applies to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for the previous calendar year or for this calendar year (whichever is greater), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year
before the end of the calendar year;
(2a) if you enroll only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution
Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year; or
(2b) if you enroll in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum of 6% (item (a) above) of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program (which can be used to pay out any amount above the Systematic Withdrawal Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements at the end of the
calendar year), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of
the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract
Year before the end of the calendar year.
On the first contract anniversary, “at the beginning of the Contract Year” means on the issue date; on a later contract anniversary, “at the beginning
of the Contract Year” means on the prior contract anniversary. All Purchase Payments
received within 120 days of the issue date are treated as part of the initial Purchase
Payment for this purpose, and therefore are included in the Annual Increase Amount on the
issue date, instead of being treated as subsequent Purchase Payments (see “Description of EDB Max I – Death Benefit Base”).
See “Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With EDB Max I” below for more information on the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal
Program.
If item (b) above (the required minimum distribution rate) is greater than item (a) above, and your
total withdrawals during a Contract Year, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase
Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year, exceed the required minimum distribution rate, the required minimum distribution rate is not used to calculate the annual increase rate, and the annual
increase rate will be reduced to 6% (item (a) above). Therefore, the annual increase rate
for that Contract Year will be lower than the required minimum distribution rate, which could have the
effect of reducing the value of the death benefit under the Enhanced Death Benefit rider.
After the
contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday, the annual increase rate is 0%.
Withdrawal Adjustments.
Withdrawal adjustments in a Contract Year are determined according to (a) or (b):
(a) The withdrawal adjustment for each withdrawal in a Contract Year is the value of the Annual Increase
Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the percentage reduction in
Account Value attributable to that partial withdrawal; or
(b) (1) if total withdrawals in a Contract Year are not greater than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year; (2) if the withdrawals occur before the contract anniversary immediately
prior to your 91st birthday; and (3) if these withdrawals are payable to the Owner (or the
Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural person) or to another payee we agree to, the total
withdrawal adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of total
withdrawals in that Contract Year. These withdrawal adjustments will replace the withdrawal
adjustments defined in (a) immediately above and will be treated as though the
corresponding withdrawals occurred at the end of that Contract Year.
As described in (a) immediately above, if in any Contract Year you take cumulative withdrawals that exceed the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual
Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year, the Annual Increase Amount will be
reduced in the same proportion that the entire withdrawal reduced the Account Value. This
reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value is lower than the Annual
Increase Amount, and could have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value of the
death benefit under the Enhanced Death Benefit rider. Complying with the three conditions
described in (b) immediately above (including limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a
Contract Year to not more than the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase
Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) will result in dollar-for-dollar treatment of the withdrawals.
The Highest Anniversary Value does not change after the contract anniversary immediately preceding the Owner’s 81st birthday, except that it is increased
for each subsequent Purchase Payment and reduced proportionately by the percentage
reduction in Account Value attributable to each subsequent withdrawal. The Annual Increase
Amount does not change after the contract
anniversary immediately preceding the Owner’s 91st birthday, except that it is
increased for each subsequent Purchase Payment and reduced by the withdrawal adjustments described above.
(See Appendix E for examples of the calculation of the Death Benefit Base, including the Highest Anniversary Value, the Annual Increase Amount, the annual
increase rate, and the withdrawal adjustments.)
Taxes. Withdrawals of
taxable amounts will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59 1∕2, a 10% federal tax
penalty may apply.
Optional Step-Up. On each contract anniversary as permitted, you may elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. An Optional Step-Up
may be beneficial if your Account Value has grown at a rate above the annual increase rate
on the Annual Increase Amount (6%). As described below, an Optional Step-Up resets the
Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. After an Optional Step-Up, the annual increase rate will be applied to the new, higher Annual Increase Amount and therefore the amount that may be withdrawn without
reducing the Annual Increase Amount on a proportionate basis will increase. However, if you elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount, we may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up
Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same
rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional
Step-Up.
An Optional Step-Up is permitted only if: (1) the Account Value exceeds the Annual Increase Amount immediately before the Optional Step-Up; and (2) the Owner (or
older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person) is not
older than age 80 on the date of the Optional Step-Up. If your contract has both a GMIB
rider and an Enhanced Death Benefit rider, and you would like to elect an Optional Step-Up,
you must elect an Optional Step-Up for both riders. You may not elect an Optional Step-Up
for only one of the two riders. Upon the Optional Step-Up, we may reset the rider charge, as
described above, on one or both riders.
You may elect either: (1) a one-time Optional Step-Up at any contract anniversary provided the above requirements are met, or (2) Optional Step-Ups to occur
under the Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you elect Automatic Annual Step-Ups, on any contract
anniversary while this election is in effect, the Annual Increase Amount will reset to the
Account Value automatically, provided the above requirements are met. The same conditions described
above will apply to each Automatic Step-Up. You may discontinue this election at any time
by notifying us in writing, at our Annuity Service Center (or by any other method
acceptable to us), at least 30 days prior to the contract anniversary on which an Optional Step-Up may otherwise occur. Otherwise, it will remain in effect through the seventh contract anniversary following
the date you make this election, at which point you must make a new election if you want
Automatic Annual Step-Ups to continue. If you discontinue or do not re-elect the Automatic
Annual Step-Ups, no Optional Step-Up will occur automatically on any subsequent contract
anniversary unless you make a new election under the terms described above. (If you
discontinue Automatic Annual Step-Ups, the rider (and the rider charge) will continue, and
you may choose to elect a one time Optional Step-Up or reinstate Automatic Annual Step-Ups as
described above.)
We must receive your request to exercise the Optional Step-Up in writing, at our Annuity Service Center, or any other method acceptable to us. We must receive your
request prior to the contract anniversary for an Optional Step-Up to occur on that contract
anniversary.
The Optional Step-Up:
(1) resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value on the contract anniversary following the receipt of an Optional Step-Up election; and
(2) may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional Step-Up.
In the event
that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the step-up is higher than your current rider charge, you will be notified in writing a minimum of 30 days in advance of the applicable
contract anniversary and be informed that you may choose to decline the Automatic Annual
Step-Up. If you decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you must notify us in accordance with
our Administrative Procedures (currently we require you to submit your request in writing to our Annuity Service Center no less than seven calendar days prior to the applicable contract anniversary).
Once you notify us of your decision to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you will no
longer be eligible for future Automatic
Annual Step-Ups until you notify us in writing to our Annuity Service Center that you wish to reinstate the Automatic Annual Step-Ups. This reinstatement will
take effect at the next contract anniversary after we receive your request for
reinstatement.
On the date of the Optional Step-Up, the Account Value on that day will be treated as a single Purchase
Payment received on the date of the step-up for purposes of determining the Annual Increase
Amount after the step-up. All Purchase Payments and withdrawal adjustments previously used
to calculate the Annual Increase Amount will be set equal to zero on the date of the Optional Step-Up.
Investment Allocation Restrictions. For a detailed description of the EDB Max I investment allocation restrictions, see “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I.”
If you elect the EDB Max I, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
If you elect the EDB Max I rider, you must allocate 100% of your Purchase Payments and Account Value among the Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B, and
you will not be able to allocate Purchase Payments or Account Value to the Fixed Account or
to an ultra-short term bond portfolio.
Restrictions on Investment Allocations If the EDB Max I Rider Terminates. If the EDB Max I rider terminates (see “Terminating the EDB Max I Rider” and in “Appendix B – Investment Portfolios
Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract”), or if you elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB Max I rider and both riders terminate, the investment allocation restrictions
will no longer apply and you will be permitted to allocate subsequent Purchase Payments or
transfer Account Value to any of the available Investment Portfolios, but not to the Fixed
Account. However, if you elected both the GMIB Max I rider and the EDB Max I rider, and only the GMIB Max I rider has terminated, the investment allocation restrictions described above under
“Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Max I and EDB Max I” will continue to
apply.
Potential Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for EDB Max I. In the future, we may choose not to permit Owners of existing contracts with the EDB Max I rider to make subsequent Purchase Payments if: (a) the EDB Max I rider is no longer available to
new customers, or (b) we make certain changes to the terms of the EDB Max I rider offered
to new customers (for
example, if we change the EDB Max I rider charge; see your contract schedule for a list of the other
changes). We will notify Owners of contracts with the EDB Max I rider in advance if we
impose restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments. If we impose restrictions on subsequent
Purchase Payments, contract Owners will still be permitted to transfer Account Value among
the Investment Portfolios listed in Appendix B.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments for EDB Max I
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our Annuity Service Center before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011, and you elected the EDB Max I rider, we will not accept subsequent
Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on August 9,
2013. However, we will accept a subsequent Purchase Payment received after August 9, 2013
if the Purchase Payment was initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer or an exchange
under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which was received by
our Annuity Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York Stock Exchange
on August 9, 2013.
•If we received your application and necessary information, in Good Order, at our Annuity Service Center after the close of the New York Stock Exchange on September 23, 2011 and on or before October 7, 2011, and you elected the EDB Max I rider, we will not
accept subsequent Purchase Payments from you after the close of the New York Stock Exchange
on February 24, 2012. However, we will accept a subsequent Purchase Payment received after
February 24, 2012 if the Purchase Payment was initiated by paperwork for a direct transfer
or an exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code that we accepted, and which
was received by our Annuity Service Center in Good Order, before the close of the New York
Stock Exchange on February 24, 2012.
If we have imposed restrictions on subsequent Purchase Payments on your contract, we will permit you to make a subsequent Purchase Payment when either of the
following conditions apply to your contract: (a) your Account Value is below the minimum
described in the “Purchase — Termination for Low Account Value” section of the prospectus; or (b) the rider charge is greater
than your Account Value.
Terminating the EDB Max I
Rider. The rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
a) The date you make a total withdrawal of your Account Value(a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
b) The date there are insufficient funds to deduct the rider charge from your Account Value;
c) The date you elect to receive Annuity Payments under the contract (a pro rata portion of the rider
charge will be assessed);
d) A change of the Owner or Joint Owner (or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person), subject to our administrative procedures (a pro rata portion of
the rider charge will be assessed);
e) The date you assign your contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
f) The date the death benefit amount is determined (excluding the determination of the death benefit amount under the spousal continuation option);
or
g) Termination of the contract to which this rider is attached.
Under our
current administrative procedures, we will waive the termination of the EDB Max I if you assign a portion of the contract under the following limited circumstances: if the assignment is solely for your benefit on
account of your direct transfer of Account Value under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue
Code to fund premiums for a long term care insurance policy or Purchase Payments for an annuity contract issued by an insurance company which is not our affiliate and which is licensed to conduct
business in any state.
The EDB Max I Rider and Annuitization. Since the Annuity Date at the time you purchase the contract is the later of age 90 of the Annuitant or 10 years from contract issue, you must make an election if you would
like to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date permitted (subject to restrictions
imposed by your selling firm, our current established administrative procedures and
applicable state law). If you elect to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date
permitted, and that date is reached, your contract must be annuitized (see “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase)”), or you must make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value. Generally,
once your contract is annuitized, you are ineligible to receive the death benefit selected.
However, for contracts purchased
with an EDB Max I rider, if you annuitize at the latest date permitted,you must elect one of the following options:
(1) Annuitize the Account Value under the contract’s annuity provisions; or
(2) Elect to receive annuity payments determined by applying the Death Benefit Base to the greater of the guaranteed Annuity Option rates for this contract
at the time of purchase or the current Annuity Option rates applicable to this class of
contract. If you die before the complete return of the Death Benefit Base, your Beneficiary
will receive a lump sum equal to the death benefit determined at annuitization less Annuity
Payments already paid to the Owner.
If you fail to select one of the above options, we will annuitize your contract under the Life Annuity with 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed Annuity
Option, unless the payment under option (2) above is greater, in which case we will apply
option (2) to your contract.
(See Appendix E for examples of the Enhanced Death Benefit.)
Use
of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal
Program With EDB Max I
For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code when you reach the age at which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, our Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program,
used with the EDB Max I rider, can help you fulfill minimum distribution requirements with
respect to your contract without reducing the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis.
(Reducing the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis could have the effect of reducing
or eliminating the value of the death benefit provided by the EDB Max I rider.) The Automated
Required Minimum Distribution Program calculates minimum distribution requirements with
respect to your contract and makes payments to you on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or
annual basis.
Alternatively, you may choose to enroll in both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and
the Systematic Withdrawal Program (see “Access to Your Money – Systematic Withdrawal Program”). In order to avoid taking withdrawals that could reduce the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis, withdrawals
under the Systematic Withdrawal Program should not exceed 6% of the Annual Increase Amount
at the beginning of the Contract Year with the EDB Max I. Any amounts above 6% of the
Annual Increase Amount that need to be
withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements can be paid out at the end of the calendar year by the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program.
For example, if you elect EDB Max I, enroll in the Systematic Withdrawal Program, and elect
to receive monthly payments totaling 6% of the Annual Increase Amount, you should also
enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and elect to receive your Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program payment on an annual basis, after the Systematic Withdrawal
Program monthly payment in December.
If you enroll in either the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program or both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic
Withdrawal Program, you should not make additional withdrawals outside the programs.
Additional withdrawals may result in the Death Benefit Base being reduced on a
proportionate basis, and have the effect of reducing or eliminating the value of the death
benefit provided by the EDB Max I rider.
To enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and/or the Systematic Withdrawal Program, please contact our Annuity Service
Center.
Optional Death Benefit — Enhanced Death Benefit II
You
may select the Enhanced Death Benefit II (EDB II) rider (subject to investment allocation restrictions) if you are age 75 or younger at the effective date of your contract and you either (a) have not elected any
living benefit rider or (b) have elected the GMIB Plus III rider. If you select the EDB II
rider, you may not select the Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit. The Enhanced Death Benefit (EDB) riders are referred to in your contract
and rider as the “Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit” or GMDB.
Description of EDB II.
If you select the EDB II, the amount of the death benefit will be the greater of:
(1) the Account Value; or
(2) the Death Benefit Base.
The
Death Benefit Base provides protection against adverse investment experience. It guarantees that the death benefit will not be less than the greater of: (1) the highest Account Value on any anniversary (adjusted for
withdrawals), or (2) the amount of your initial investment (adjusted for withdrawals),
accumulated at 5% per year.
The Death Benefit Base is the greater of (a) or (b) below:
(a) Highest Anniversary Value: On the date we issue your contract, the Highest Anniversary Value is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the Highest Anniversary Value will be increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal. The percentage reduction in Account Value is the dollar amount of the withdrawal divided by the Account Value immediately preceding such withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to your 81st birthday, the Highest Anniversary Value will be recalculated to equal the greater of the Highest Anniversary Value before the recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the recalculation.
(b) Annual Increase Amount: On the date we issue your contract, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. All Purchase Payments received within 120 days of the date we issue your contract will be treated as part of the initial Purchase Payment for this purpose. Thereafter, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to (i) less (ii), where:
(i) is Purchase Payments accumulated at the annual increase rate(as defined below) from the date the Purchase Payment is made; and
(ii) is withdrawal adjustments (as defined below) accumulated at the annual increase rate.
The Highest Anniversary Value and Annual Increase Amount are calculated independently of each other. When the Highest Anniversary Value is recalculated
and set equal to the Account Value, the Annual Increase Amount is not set equal to the
Account Value. See “Optional Step-Up” below for a feature that can be used to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value.
Annual Increase Rate. As
noted above, we calculate a Death Benefit Base under the EDB II rider that helps determine
the amount of the death benefit. One of the factors used in calculating the Death Benefit Base is called the “annual increase rate.”
Through the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday,the annual increase rate is the greater of:
(a)
5%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
Item (b) only applies to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for the previous calendar year or for this calendar year (whichever is greater), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the
Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year
before the end of the calendar year;
(2a) if you enroll only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year; or
(2b) if you enroll in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum of 5% (item (a) above) of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program (which can be used to pay out any amount above the Systematic Withdrawal Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements at the end of the
calendar year), divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of
the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract
Year before the end of the calendar year.
On the first contract anniversary, “at the beginning of the Contract Year” means on the issue date; on a later contract anniversary, “at the beginning
of the Contract Year” means on the prior contract anniversary. All Purchase Payments
received within 120 days of the issue date are treated as part of the initial Purchase
Payment for this purpose, and therefore are included in the Annual Increase Amount on the
issue date, instead of being treated as subsequent Purchase Payments (see “Description of EDB II – Death Benefit Base – Annual Increase Amount”).
See “Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With
EDB II” below for more information on the Automated Required Minimum Distribution
Program and the Systematic Withdrawal Program.
If item (b) above (the required minimum distribution rate) is greater than item (a) above, and your total withdrawals during a Contract Year, divided by the sum
of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any
subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar
year, exceed the required minimum distribution rate, the required minimum distribution rate is not used to calculate
the annual increase rate, and the annual increase rate will be reduced to 5% (item (a)
above). Therefore, the annual increase rate for that Contract Year will be lower than the
required minimum distribution rate, which could have the effect of reducing the value of
the death benefit under the Enhanced Death Benefit rider.
After the contract anniversary immediately prior to the Owner’s 91st birthday, the annual increase rate is 0%.
Withdrawal Adjustments.
Withdrawal adjustments in a Contract Year are determined according to (a) or (b):
(a) The withdrawal adjustment for each withdrawal in a Contract Year is the value of the Annual Increase Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to that partial withdrawal;
or
(b) (1) if total withdrawals in a Contract Year are not greater than the annual increase rate multiplied by
the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year; (2) if the withdrawals
occur before the contract anniversary immediately prior to your 91st birthday; and (3) if
these withdrawals are payable to the Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is a non-natural
person) or to another payee we agree to, the total withdrawal adjustments for that Contract Year will be set equal to the dollar amount of total withdrawals in that Contract Year. These withdrawal
adjustments will replace the withdrawal adjustments defined in (a) immediately above and
will be treated as though the corresponding withdrawals occurred at the end of that
Contract Year.
As described in (a) immediately above, if in any Contract Year you take cumulative withdrawals that
exceed the annual increase rate multiplied by the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning
of the Contract Year, the Annual Increase Amount will be reduced in the same proportion
that the entire withdrawal reduced the Account Value. This
reduction may be significant, particularly when the Account Value is lower than the Annual Increase Amount, and could have the effect of reducing or
eliminating the value of the death benefit under the Enhanced Death Benefit rider.
Complying with the three conditions described in (b) immediately above (including limiting your cumulative withdrawals during a Contract Year to not more than the annual increase rate multiplied by
the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) will result in
dollar-for-dollar treatment of the withdrawals.
The Highest Anniversary Value does not change after the contract anniversary immediately preceding the Owner’s 81st birthday, except that it is increased
for each subsequent Purchase Payment and reduced proportionately by the percentage
reduction in Account Value attributable to each subsequent withdrawal. The Annual Increase
Amount does not change after the contract anniversary immediately preceding the
Owner’s 91st birthday, except that it is increased for each subsequent Purchase Payment
and reduced by the withdrawal adjustments described above.
(See
Appendix E for examples of the calculation of the Death Benefit Base, including the Highest Anniversary Value, the Annual Increase Amount, the annual increase rate, and the withdrawal adjustments.)
Taxes. Withdrawals of
taxable amounts will be subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59 1∕2, a 10% federal tax
penalty may apply.
Optional Step-Up. On each contract anniversary as permitted, you may elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. An Optional Step-Up
may be beneficial if your Account Value has grown at a rate above the annual increase rate
on the Annual Increase Amount (5%). As described below, an Optional Step-Up resets the
Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value. After an Optional Step-Up, the annual increase rate will be applied to the new, higher Annual Increase Amount and therefore the amount that may be withdrawn without
reducing the Annual Increase Amount on a proportionate basis will increase. However, if you elect to reset the Annual Increase Amount, we may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up
Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same
rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional
Step-Up.
An Optional Step-Up is permitted only if: (1) the Account Value exceeds the Annual Increase Amount
immediately before the Optional Step-Up; and (2) the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or
Annuitant if the contract is owned by a non-natural person) is not older than age 80 on the date of the Optional Step-Up. If your contract has both a GMIB rider and an Enhanced Death Benefit rider, and
you would like to elect an Optional Step-Up, you must elect an Optional Step-Up for both
riders. You may not elect an Optional Step-Up for only one of the two riders. Upon the
Optional Step-Up, we may reset the rider charge, as described above, on one or both
riders.
You may elect either: (1) a one-time Optional Step-Up at any contract anniversary provided the above
requirements are met, or (2) Optional Step-Ups to occur under the Automatic Annual Step-Up.
If you elect Automatic Annual Step-Ups, on any contract anniversary while this election is
in effect, the Annual Increase Amount will reset to the Account Value automatically,
provided the above requirements are met. The same conditions described above will apply to
each Automatic Step-Up. You may discontinue this election at any time by notifying us in
writing, at our Annuity Service Center (or by any other method acceptable to us), at least
30 days prior to the contract anniversary on which an Optional Step-Up may otherwise occur.
Otherwise, it will remain in effect through the seventh contract anniversary following the date you make this election, at which point you must make a new election if you want Automatic Annual Step-Ups to
continue. If you discontinue or do not re-elect the Automatic Annual Step-Ups, no Optional
Step-Up will occur automatically on any subsequent contract anniversary unless you make a
new election under the terms described above. (If you discontinue Automatic Annual
Step-Ups, the rider (and the rider charge) will continue, and you may choose to elect a one time Optional Step-Up or reinstate Automatic Annual Step-Ups as described above.)
We must
receive your request to exercise the Optional Step-Up in writing, at our Annuity Service Center, or any other method acceptable to us. We must receive your request prior to the contract anniversary for an Optional
Step-Up to occur on that contract anniversary.
The Optional Step-Up:
(1) resets the Annual Increase Amount to the Account Value on the contract anniversary following the receipt of an Optional Step-Up election; and
(2) may reset the rider charge to a rate that does not exceed the lower of: (a) the Maximum Optional Step-Up Charge (1.50%) or (b) the current rate that we would charge for the same rider available for new contract purchases at the time of the Optional Step-Up.
In the event that the charge applicable to contract purchases at the time of the step-up is higher than your current rider charge, you will be notified in
writing a minimum of 30 days in advance of the applicable contract anniversary and be
informed that you may choose to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up. If you decline the
Automatic Annual Step-Up, you must notify us in accordance with our Administrative
Procedures (currently we require you to submit your request in writing to our Annuity
Service Center no less than seven calendar days prior to the applicable contract anniversary). Once you notify us of your decision to decline the Automatic Annual Step-Up, you will no longer be eligible for
future Automatic Annual Step-Ups until you notify us in writing to our Annuity Service
Center that you wish to reinstate the Automatic Annual Step-Ups. This reinstatement will take
effect at the next contract anniversary after we receive your request for
reinstatement.
On the date of the Optional Step-Up, the Account Value on that day will be treated as a single Purchase
Payment received on the date of the step-up for purposes of determining the Annual Increase
Amount after the step-up. All Purchase Payments and withdrawal adjustments previously used
to calculate the Annual Increase Amount will be set equal to zero on the date of the Optional Step-Up.
Investment Allocation Restrictions. For a detailed description of the EDB II investment allocation restrictions, see “Purchase — Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
If you
elect the EDB II, you may not participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) program.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the EDB II rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
Terminating the EDB II Rider. The rider will terminate upon the earliest of:
a) The date you make a total withdrawal of your Account Value (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
b) The date there are insufficient funds to deduct the rider charge from your Account Value;
c) The date you elect to receive Annuity Payments under the contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
d) A change of the Owner or Joint Owner (or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person), subject to our
administrative procedures (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
e) The date you assign your contract (a pro rata portion of the rider charge will be assessed);
f) The date the death benefit amount is determined (excluding the determination of the death benefit
amount under the spousal continuation option); or
g) Termination of the contract to which this rider is attached.
Under our current administrative procedures, we will waive the termination of the EDB II if you assign a portion of the contract under the following limited
circumstances: if the assignment is solely for your benefit on account of your direct
transfer of Account Value under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code to fund premiums for a long term care insurance policy or Purchase Payments for an annuity contract issued by an insurance company which
is not our affiliate and which is licensed to conduct business in any state.
The
EDB II Rider and Annuitization. Since the Annuity Date at the time you purchase the
contract is the later of age 90 of the Annuitant or 10 years from contract issue, you must
make an election if you would like to extend your Annuity Date to the latest date permitted
(subject to restrictions imposed by your selling firm, our current established
administrative procedures and applicable state law). If you elect to extend your Annuity
Date to the latest date permitted, and that date is reached, your contract must be
annuitized (see “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase)”), or you must make a complete withdrawal of your Account Value. Generally, once your contract is annuitized, you are ineligible to
receive the death benefit selected. However, for contracts purchased
with an EDB II rider, if you annuitize at the latest date permitted,you must elect one of the following options:
(1) Annuitize the Account Value under the contract’s annuity provisions; or
(2) Elect to receive annuity payments determined by applying the Death Benefit Base to the greater of the
guaranteed Annuity Option rates for this contract at the time of purchase or the current
Annuity Option rates applicable to this class of contract. If you die before the complete
return of the Death Benefit Base, your Beneficiary will receive a lump sum equal to the
death benefit determined at annuitization less Annuity Payments already paid to the
Owner.
If you fail to select one of the above options, we will annuitize your contract under the Life Annuity
with 10 Years of Annuity Payments Guaranteed Annuity Option, unless the payment under
option (2) above is greater, in which case we will apply option (2) to your contract.
(See
Appendix E for examples of the Enhanced Death Benefit.)
Use of Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and Systematic Withdrawal Program With EDB II
For IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9)of the Internal
Revenue Code, when you reach the age at which you must begin taking required minimum distributions, our Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program,
used with the EDB II rider, can help you fulfill minimum distribution requirements with
respect to your contract without reducing the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis.
(Reducing the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis could have the effect of reducing
or eliminating the value of the death benefit provided by the EDB II rider.) The Automated
Required Minimum Distribution Program calculates minimum distribution requirements with
respect to your contract and makes payments to you on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or
annual basis.
Alternatively, you may choose to enroll in both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal Program (see “Access
to Your Money – Systematic Withdrawal Program”). In order to avoid taking withdrawals that
could reduce the Death Benefit Base on a proportionate basis, withdrawals under the
Systematic Withdrawal Program should not exceed 5% of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year with the EDB II. Any amounts above 5% of the Annual Increase Amount that need to be
withdrawn to
fulfill minimum distribution requirements can be paid out at the end of the calendar year by the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program. For example, if you elect EDB II, enroll
in the Systematic Withdrawal Program, and elect to receive monthly payments totaling 5% of the Annual Increase Amount, you should also enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program
and elect to receive your Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program payment on an
annual basis, after the Systematic Withdrawal Program monthly payment in December.
If you
enroll in either the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program or both the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and the Systematic Withdrawal Program, you should not make additional
withdrawals outside the programs. Additional withdrawals may result in the Death Benefit
Base being reduced on a proportionate basis, and have the effect of reducing or eliminating
the value of the death benefit provided by the EDB II rider.
To enroll in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and/or the Systematic Withdrawal Program, please contact our Annuity Service
Center.
Description of Enhanced Death Benefit I
The Enhanced Death Benefit I was available with contracts issued before July 19, 2010.
EDB I is identical to EDB II, with the following exceptions:
(1) The EDB I Death Benefit Base and withdrawal adjustments are calculated as described above for EDB II, except that the annual increase rate is 5% per year
through the contract anniversary prior to the Owner's 91st birthday and 0% thereafter. Item
(b) under “Annual Increase Rate” above (regarding the required minimum
distribution rate) does not apply to the calculation of the Death Benefit Base or the
withdrawal adjustments under the EDB I rider.
(2) The rider charges for the EDB I rider are different. See “Expenses — Death Benefit Rider Charges.”
(3) The Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit could be elected with the EDB I rider.
Current Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments. Subsequent Purchase Payments under the EDB I rider are restricted as described in “Purchase — Restrictions on Subsequent Purchase Payments — GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II.”
For contracts issued based on applications and necessary information received in Good Order at our Annuity Service Center on or before May 1, 2009, we offered an earlier version of the Enhanced Death Benefit I rider. The earlier version is the same as the Enhanced Death
Benefit I rider described above except that: (a) the annual increase rate for the Annual
Increase Amount and for withdrawal adjustments is 6%; (b) different investment allocation
restrictions apply (see “Appendix B - Investment Portfolios Available Under the
Benefits Offered Under the Contract”); and (c) different rider charges apply (see
“Expenses — Death Benefit Rider Charges”).
Optional Death Benefit — Compounded-Plus
You
may select the Compounded-Plus death benefit rider if you are age 79 or younger at the effective date of your contract. If you select the Compounded-Plus death benefit rider,the death benefit will be the greater of:
(1)
the Account Value; or
(2)
the greater of (a) or (b) below:
(a) Highest Anniversary Value:On the date we issue your contract, the highest anniversary value is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the highest anniversary value (as recalculated) will be increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each subsequent partial withdrawal. On each contract anniversary prior to your 81st birthday, the highest anniversary value will be recalculated and set equal to the greater of the highest anniversary value before the
recalculation or the Account Value on the date of the recalculation.
(b) Annual Increase Amount: On the date we issue your contract, the annual increase amount is equal to your initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the annual increase amount is equal to (i) less (ii), where:
(i)
is Purchase Payments accumulated at the annual increase rate. The annual increase rate is 5% per year through the contract anniversary immediately prior to your 81st birthday, and 0% per year thereafter; and
(ii)
is withdrawal adjustments accumulated at the annual increase rate. A withdrawal adjustment is equal to the value of the annual
increase amount immediately prior to a withdrawal multiplied by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to that partial withdrawal.
If the Owner
is a natural person and the Owner is changed to someone other than a spouse, the death benefit is equal to the greatest of (1) or (2); however, for purposes of calculating the enhanced death benefit under (2) above:
(a) for the highest anniversary value, the highest anniversary value will be recalculated to equal your Account Value as of the effective date of the Owner change; and
(b) for the annual increase amount, the current annual increase amount will be reset to equal your Account Value as of the effective date of the Owner change. For purposes of the calculation of
the annual increase amount thereafter, the Account Value on the effective date of the Owner
change will be treated as the initial Purchase Payment and Purchase Payments received and
partial withdrawals taken prior to the change of Owner will not be taken into
account.
In the event that a Beneficiary who is the spouse of the Owner elects to continue the contract in his or
her name after the Owner dies, the death benefit amount is equal to the greater of (1) or
(2).
(See Appendix E for examples of the Compounded-Plus death benefit rider.)
Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit
You may select the Additional Death Benefit — Earnings Preservation Benefit if you are age 79 or younger at the effective date of your contract. The Earnings
Preservation Benefit pays an additional death benefit that is intended to help pay part of
the income taxes due at the time of death of the Owner or Joint Owner. In certain situations, this benefit may not be available for qualified plans (check with your financial representative for details).
If you select the Earnings Preservation Benefit, you may not select the EDB Max I or
Enhanced Death Benefit II rider. (The Earnings Preservation Benefit could be elected with the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider in contracts issued before May 1, 2011, and with the Enhanced Death Benefit I
rider.) The Earnings Preservation Benefit is not available in Washington.
Before the
contract anniversary immediately prior to your 81st birthday, the additional death benefit is equal to the
“benefit percentage”
(determined in accordance with the table below)times the result of (a) - (b), where:
(a)
is the death benefit under your contract; and
(b)
is total Purchase Payments not withdrawn. For purposes of calculating this value, partial withdrawals are first applied against earnings in the contract, and then against Purchase Payments not withdrawn.
On or after the contract anniversary immediately prior to your 81st birthday, the additional death
benefit is equal to the “benefit percentage” (determined in accordance with the
table below)times the result of (a) - (b), where:
(a)
is the death benefit on the contract anniversary immediately prior to your 81st birthday, increased by subsequent Purchase Payments and reduced proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each subsequent partial withdrawal; and
(b)
is total Purchase Payments not withdrawn. For purposes of calculating this value, partial withdrawals are first applied against earnings in the contract, and then against Purchase Payments not withdrawn.
If the Owner is a natural person and the Owner is changed to someone other than a spouse, the additional
death benefit is as defined above; however, for the purposes of calculating subsection (b)
above “total Purchase Payments not withdrawn” will be reset to equal the Account Value as of the effective date of the Owner change, and Purchase Payments received and partial withdrawals taken
prior to the change of Owner will not be taken into account.
In the event that a Beneficiary who is the spouse of the Owner elects to continue the contract in his or her name after the Owner dies, the additional death
benefit will be determined and payable upon receipt of due proof of death of the first
spousal Beneficiary. Alternatively, the spousal Beneficiary may elect to have the additional death benefit determined and added to the Account Value upon the election, in which case the additional death benefit
rider will terminate (and the corresponding death benefit rider charge will also
terminate).
General Death Benefit Provisions
As described above, the death benefit is determined as of the end of the Business Day on which we receive both due proof of death and an election for the payment
method. Until a Beneficiary submits the necessary documentation in Good Order, the Account
Value attributable to his/her portion of the death benefit remains in the Investment
Portfolios and is subject to investment risk. This risk is borne by the Beneficiary.
A
Beneficiary must elect the death benefit to be paid under one of the payment options (unless the Owner has previously made the election). All options must comply with applicable federal income tax rules. The tax
rules are complex and differ for Non-Qualified Contracts and Qualified Contracts. As a
general matter, the entire death benefit must be paid within five years (or in some cases
10 years for Qualified Contracts) of the date of death unless the Beneficiary elects to
have the death benefit payable under an Annuity Option. Generally, the payments under such
an Annuity Option must be paid over the Beneficiary's lifetime or for a period not extending beyond the Beneficiary's life expectancy. For Non-Qualified Contracts, payment must begin within one year of
the date of death. For Qualified Contracts, payment must begin no later than the end of the
calendar year immediately following the year of death. However, if the Beneficiary under a
Qualified Contract is the Annuitant's spouse, the tax law generally allows distributions to begin by the later of the year following the Annuitant’s death or the year in which the Annuitant would have been required to begin taking distributions under federal tax law. (See
“Federal Income Tax Status” for a discussion of the tax law requirements applicable to distributions from Qualifed Contracts).
We may also offer a payment option, subject to the requirements of tax law, for both Non-Qualified Contracts and certain Qualified Contracts, under which
your Beneficiary may receive payments, over a period not extending beyond his or her life
expectancy, under a method of distribution similar to the distribution of required minimum
distributions that are taken as withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts. Such
payment option may be limited to certain categories of beneficiaries. If this option is
elected, we will issue a new contract to your Beneficiary in order to facilitate the
distribution of payments. Your Beneficiary may choose any optional death benefit available
under the new contract. Upon the death of your Beneficiary, the death benefit would be
required to be distributed in accordance with applicable tax law requirements. In some cases, this will
require that the proceeds be distributed
more rapidly than the method of distribution in effect at the time of your Beneficiary's
death. (See “Federal Income Tax Status.”) To the extent permitted under the tax law, and in accordance with our procedures, your designated Beneficiary is permitted under our procedures to make additional
Purchase Payments consisting of monies which are direct transfers (as permitted under tax
law) from other Qualified Contracts or Non-Qualified Contracts, depending on which type of
contract you own, held in the name of the decedent. Your Beneficiary is also permitted to choose some of the optional benefits available under the contract, but certain contract provisions or programs may
not be available.
If a lump sum payment is elected and all the necessary requirements are met, the payment will be made within 7 days. Payment to the Beneficiary under an
Annuity Option may only be elected during the 60 day period beginning with the date we
receive due proof of death.
If the Owner or a Joint Owner, who is not the Annuitant, dies during the Income Phase, any remaining
payments under the Annuity Option elected will continue at least as rapidly as under the
method of distribution in effect at the time of the Owner's death. Upon the death of the Owner or a Joint Owner during the Income Phase, the Beneficiary becomes the Owner.
Spousal Continuation
If
the primary Beneficiary is the spouse of the Owner, upon the Owner's death, the Beneficiary may elect to continue the contract in his or her own name to the extent permitted by tax law. Upon such election, the Account
Value will be adjusted upward (but not downward) to an amount equal to the death benefit
amount determined upon such election and receipt of due proof of death of the Owner. Any excess of the death benefit amount over the Account Value will be allocated to each applicable Investment
Portfolio and/or the Fixed Account in the ratio that the Account Value in the Investment
Portfolio and/or the Fixed Account bears to the total Account Value. The terms and conditions of the contract that applied prior to the Owner’s death will continue to apply, with certain exceptions
described in the contract.
For purposes of the death benefit on the continued contract, the death benefit is calculated in the same manner as it was prior to continuation except that
all values used to calculate the death benefit, which may include a highest anniversary
value and/or an annual increase amount (depending on whether you elected an optional death
benefit), are reset on the date the spouse continues the
contract. If the contract includes both the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I riders, the Annual Increase Amount
for the GMIB Max I rider is also reset on the date the spouse continues the contract. If
the contract includes both the GMIB Plus III or GMIB Plus II and Enhanced Death Benefit II
or Enhanced Death Benefit I riders, the Annual Increase Amount for the GMIB Plus III or GMIB Plus II rider is also reset on the date the spouse continues the contract.
Spousal
continuation will not be allowed to the extent it would fail to satisfy minimum required distribution rules for Qualified Contracts (see “Federal Income Tax Status”).
Death of the Annuitant
If
the Annuitant, not an Owner or Joint Owner, dies during the Accumulation Phase, you automatically become the Annuitant. You can select a new Annuitant if you do not want to be the Annuitant (subject to our then
current underwriting standards). However, if the Owner is a non-natural person (for
example, a trust), then the death of the primary Annuitant will be treated as the death of the Owner, and a new Annuitant may not be named.
Upon the death of the Annuitant after Annuity Payments begin, the death benefit, if any, will be as provided for in the Annuity Option selected. Death benefits
will be paid at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in effect at the
Annuitant's death, but in all events in accordance with applicable tax
law.
Controlled Payout
You may elect to have the death benefit proceeds paid to your Beneficiary in the form of Annuity Payments for life or over a period of time that does not exceed
your Beneficiary's life expectancy. This election must be in writing in Good Order. You may
revoke the election only in writing in Good Order. Upon your death, the Beneficiary cannot
revoke or modify your election. The Controlled Payout is only available to Non-Qualified Contracts.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
Introduction
The following information on taxes is a general discussion of the subject. It is not intended as tax advice. The Code and the provisions of the Code that govern
the contract are complex and subject to change. The applicability of federal income tax
rules may vary with your particular circumstances. This discussion does not include all the
federal income tax rules that may affect you and your contract. Nor does this discussion
address other federal tax consequences (such as estate and gift taxes, sales to foreign
individuals or entities), or state or
local tax consequences, which may affect your investment in the contract. As a result, you
should always consult a tax adviser for complete information and advice applicable to your
individual situation.
We are not responsible for determining if your employer’s plan or arrangement satisfies the requirements of the Code and/or the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
We do not expect to incur federal, state or local income taxes on the earnings or realized capital gains attributable to the Separate Account. However, if we do
incur such taxes in the future, we reserve the right to charge amounts allocated to the
Separate Account for these taxes.
To the extent permitted under federal tax law, we may claim the benefit of the corporate dividends
received deduction and of certain foreign tax credits attributable to taxes paid by certain
of the Investment Portfolios to foreign jurisdictions.
For federal tax purposes, the term “spouse” refers to the person to whom you are lawfully married, regardless of sex. The term “spouse” generally will
not include individuals who are in a registered domestic partnership or civil union not
denominated as marriage under state or other applicable law.
Non-Qualified Contracts
Introduction
This
discussion assumes the contract is a “non-qualified” annuity contract for federal income tax purposes, that is, a Contract not held in a tax qualified plan. Tax qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered
annuities (TSA), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 408A or
“Roth IRAs” and 457(b) plans. Contracts owned through such plans are referred to below as “Qualified Contracts.”
Accumulation
Generally, an Owner of a Non-Qualified Contract is not taxed on increases in the value of the contract until there is a distribution from the contract, i.e.
surrender, partial withdrawal, income payment, or commutation. This deferral of taxation on
accumulated value in the contract is limited to contracts owned by or held for the benefit of
“natural persons.” A contract will be treated as held by a natural person if
the nominal Owner is a trust or other entity which holds the contract as an agent for the
exclusive benefit of a natural person.
In contrast, a contract owned by other than a “natural person,” such as a corporation,
partnership, trust, or other entity (other than a trust holding the Contract as an agent
for a natural person), will be taxed currently on the increase in accumulated value in the
contract in the year earned. Note that in this regard, an employer which is the Owner of an
annuity contract under a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for its employees, or others, is considered a non-natural Owner and any annual increase in the Account Value will be subject
to current income taxation.
Surrenders or Withdrawals – Early Distribution
If
you take a withdrawal from your contract, or surrender your contract prior to the date you commence taking annuity or “income” payments (the “Annuity Starting Date”), the amount you
receive will generally be treated first as coming from earnings, if any, (and thus subject to
income tax) and then from your Purchase Payments (which are not subject to income tax). If
the accumulated value is less than your Purchase Payments upon surrender of your contract,
your ability to claim any unrecovered Purchase Payments on your federal income tax return as a miscellaneous itemized deduction is suspended under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act effective for tax
years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026.
The
portion of any withdrawal from an annuity contract that is subject to income tax will also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if such withdrawal is taken prior to
you reaching age 59 1∕2, unless an exception applies. Exceptions include distributions made:
(a) on account of your death or disability,
(b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually payable for your
life (or life expectancy) or joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of you and your
designated Beneficiary, or
(c)
under certain immediate income annuities.
If you receive systematic payments that you intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any
modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 1∕2 or within five years
after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include but are not limited to
additional
Purchase Payments to the contract (including tax-free transfers or rollovers) and additional withdrawals from the contract.
Amounts
received as a partial withdrawal may be fully includible in taxable income to the extent of gain in the contract.
If your contract has been purchased with an Optional Two Year Withdrawal Feature or is for a guaranteed period only (term certain) annuity, and is terminated as
a result of the exercise of the withdrawal feature, the taxable portion of the payment will
generally be the excess of the proceeds received over your remaining after-tax Purchase Payment.
Treatment of Separate Account Charges
It is
possible that at some future date the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may consider that contract charges attributable to certain guaranteed death benefits and certain living benefits are to be treated as
distributions from the contract to pay for such non-annuity benefits. Currently, these
charges are considered to be an intrinsic part of the contract and we do not report these as taxable income. However, if this treatment changes in the future, the charge could also be subject to a 10%
federal income tax penalty as an early distribution, as described above.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits
If you have purchased the GWB I, Enhanced GWB or Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee, where otherwise made available, note the following:
The tax treatment of withdrawals under such a benefit is uncertain. It is conceivable that the amount of potential gain could be determined based on the
remaining amount guaranteed to be available for withdrawal at the time of the withdrawal if
greater than the Account Value (prior to withdrawal charges). This could result in a greater amount of taxable income in certain cases. In general, at the present time, we intend to report such
withdrawals using the Account Value rather than the remaining benefit to determine gain.
However, in cases where the maximum permitted withdrawal in any year under any version of the
GWB exceeds the Account Value, the portion of the withdrawal treated as taxable gain (not
to exceed the amount of the withdrawal) should be measured as the difference between the
maximum permitted withdrawal amount under the benefit and the remaining after-tax basis
immediately preceding the withdrawal. Consult your tax adviser.
In the event that the Account Value goes to zero, and either the Benefit Base (for GWB I and Enhanced GWB) or the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (for
Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee) is paid out in fixed installments, or the Annual Benefit Payment (for Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee) is paid for life, we will treat such payments as income Annuity
Payments under the tax law and allow recovery of any remaining basis ratably over the expected number of payments.
We reserve
the right to change our tax reporting practices where we determine that they are not in accordance with IRS guidance (whether formal or informal).
Aggregation
If
you purchase two or more deferred annuity contracts after October 21, 1988, from us (or our predecessors or affiliates) during the same calendar year, the law requires that all such contracts must be treated as a
single contract for purposes of determining whether any payments not received as an annuity
(e.g., withdrawals) will be includible in income. Aggregation could affect the amount of a
withdrawal that is taxable and subject to the 10% federal income tax penalty described
above. Since the IRS may require aggregation in other circumstances as well, you should
consult a tax adviser if you are purchasing more than one annuity contract from the same insurance company in a single calendar year. Aggregation does not affect distributions paid in the form of an
annuity (see “Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form” below).
Exchanges/Transfers
The
annuity contract may be exchanged in whole or in part for another annuity contract or a long-term care insurance policy. An exchange in whole of an annuity contract for another annuity contract or for a qualified
long-term care insurance policy will generally be a tax-free transaction under Section 1035
of the Code. The partial exchange of an annuity contract may be a tax-free transaction provided that, among other prescribed IRS conditions, no amounts are distributed from either contract involved in
the exchange for 180 days following the date of the exchange – other than Annuity Payments made for life, joint lives, or for a term of 10 years or more. If a distribution is made from either contract within
the 180-day period after the exchange or the exchange otherwise fails to satisfy other IRS
prescriptions, the IRS reserves the right to characterize the exchange in a manner consistent
with its substance, based on general tax principles and all the facts and circumstances.
For instance, such distribution from either contract may be taxable to the extent of the
combined gain attributable to both contracts, or only to the extent of your gain in the
contract from which the distribution is paid. Some of the ramifications of a partial
exchange remain unclear. You should consult your tax
adviser concerning potential tax consequences prior to any partial exchange or split of annuity contracts.
A transfer of ownership of the contract, or the designation of an Annuitant or other Beneficiary who is not also the contract Owner, may result in income or gift
tax consequences to the contract Owner. You should consult your tax adviser if you are
considering such a transfer or assignment.
Death Benefits
For
Non-Qualified Contracts, the death benefit is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the contract Owner (under the rules for withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
After your
death, any death benefit determined under the contract must be distributed according to certain rules. The method of distribution that is required depends on whether you die before or after the Annuity Starting
Date.
If you die on or after the Annuity Starting Date, the remaining portion of the interest in the contract
must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as
of the date of death.
If you die before the Annuity Starting Date, the entire interest in the contract must be distributed
within five (5) years after the date of death, or as periodic payments over a period not
extending beyond the life or life expectancy of the designated Beneficiary (provided such
payments begin within one year of your death) and the Beneficiary must be a natural
person.
Additionally, if the annuity is payable to (or for the benefit of) your surviving spouse, that portion
of the contract may be continued with your spouse as the Owner.
For contracts owned by a non-natural person, the required distribution rules apply upon the death of the Annuitant. If there is more than one Annuitant of a
contract held by a non-natural person, then such required distributions will be triggered
by the death of the first co-Annuitant.
Investor Control
In certain circumstances, Owners of Non-Qualified variable annuity contracts have been considered to be the owners of the assets of the underlying
Separate Account for federal income tax purposes due to their ability to exercise
investment control over those assets. When this is the case, the contract Owners have been
currently taxed on income and gains attributable to the variable account assets. There is
little guidance in this area, and some features of the contract, such as the number of Investment Portfolios
available and the flexibility of the contract Owner to allocate Purchase Payments and transfer amounts
among the Investment Portfolios have not been addressed in public rulings. While we believe
that the contract does not give the contract Owner investment control over Separate Account
assets, we reserve the right to modify the contract as necessary to prevent a contract
Owner from being treated as the owner of the Separate Account assets supporting the
contract.
Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form
Payments received from the contract in the form of an annuity are taxable as ordinary income to the extent they exceed the portion of the payment determined
by applying the exclusion ratio to the entire payment. The exclusion ratio is determined at
the time the contract is annuitized (i.e., the accumulated value is converted to an annuity form of distribution). Generally, the applicable exclusion ratio is your investment in the contract divided
by the total payments expected to be received based on IRS factors, such as the form of
annuity and mortality. The excludable portion of each Annuity Payment is the return of
investment in the contract and it is excludable from your taxable income until your
investment in the contract is fully recovered. We will make this calculation for you. However, it is possible that the IRS could conclude that the taxable portion of income payments under a
Non-Qualified Contract is an amount greater – or less — than the taxable amount determined by us and reported by us to you and the IRS.
Once you have recovered the investment in the contract, further Annuity Payments are fully taxable.
If you die before your investment in the contract is fully recovered, the balance of your investment may be deducted on your last tax return, or if Annuity
Payments continue after your death, the balance may be recovered by your
Beneficiary.
The IRS has not furnished explicit guidance as to how the excludable amount is to be determined each year under variable income annuities that permit transfers
between a fixed annuity option and variable investment options, as well as transfers
between investment options after the Annuity Starting Date.
Once Annuity Payments have commenced, you may not be able to transfer to another Non-Qualified Contract or a long-term care contract as part of a tax-free
exchange.
If the contract allows, you may elect to convert less than the full value of your contract to an annuity
form of pay-out (i.e., “partial annuitization”). In this case, your
investment in the contract will be pro-rated between the annuitized portion of the contract and the deferred portion. An exclusion ratio will apply to the
Annuity Payments as described above, provided the annuity form you elect is payable for at
least 10 years or for the life of one or more individuals.
3.8% Tax on Net Investment Income
Federal tax law imposes a 3.8% Net Investment Income tax on the lesser of:
(1) the taxpayer’s “net investment income,” (from
non-qualified annuities, interest, dividends, and other investments, offset by specified
allowable deductions), or
(2) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income in excess of a specified income threshold ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly and qualifying
surviving spouses, $125,000 for married couples filing separately, and $200,000 for single filers).
“Net investment income” in Item 1 above does not include distributions from tax qualified plans (i.e., arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 403(a),
403(b), 408, 408A, or 457(b)), but such income will increase modified adjusted gross income
in Item 2 above.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding the applicability of this tax to income under your annuity
contract.
Puerto Rico Tax Considerations
The
Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011 (the “2011 PR Code”) taxes distributions from Non-Qualified Contracts differently than in the U.S.
Distributions that are not in the form of an annuity (including partial surrenders and period certain payments) are treated under the 2011 PR Code first as a
return of investment. Therefore, a substantial portion of the amounts distributed generally
will be excluded from gross income for Puerto Rico tax purposes until the cumulative amount
paid exceeds your tax basis.
The amount of income on annuity distributions in annuity form (payable over your lifetime) is also calculated differently under the 2011 PR Code. Since the U.S.
source income generated by a Puerto Rico bona fide resident is subject to U.S. income tax
and the IRS issued guidance in 2004 which indicated that the income from an annuity
contract issued by a U.S. life insurer would be considered U.S. source income, the timing
of recognition of income from an annuity contract could vary between the two
jurisdictions. Although the 2011 PR Code provides a credit against the Puerto Rico income tax for U.S.
income taxes paid, an individual may not get full credit because of the timing
differences.
You should consult with a personal tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of purchasing an annuity
contract and/or any proposed distribution, particularly a partial distribution or election
to annuitize if you are a resident of Puerto Rico.
Qualified Contracts
Introduction
The
contract may be purchased through certain types of retirement plans that receive favorable treatment under the Code (“tax qualified plans” or “qualified plans”). Tax-qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered
annuities (TSA), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 408A or
“Roth IRAs” and 457(b) plans. Extensive special tax rules apply to qualified plans and to the annuity contracts used in connection with these plans. Therefore, the following discussion provides
only general information about the use of the contract with the various types of qualified
plans. Adverse tax consequences may result if you do not ensure that contributions, distributions and other transactions with respect to the contract comply with the law.
The rights
to any benefit under the plan will be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan itself as well as the terms and conditions of the contract.
We exercise no control over whether a particular retirement plan or a particular contribution to the plan satisfies the applicable requirements of the Code, or
whether a particular individual is entitled to participate or benefit under a plan.
All
qualified plans and arrangements receive tax deferral under the Code. Since there are no additional tax benefits in funding such retirement arrangements with an annuity, there should be reasons other than tax deferral
for acquiring the annuity within the plan. Such non-tax benefits may include additional
insurance benefits, such as the availability of a guaranteed income for life.
A contract
may also be available in connection with an employer’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan or qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement to provide benefits to certain employees in the plan.
The tax rules regarding these plans are complex. Please consult your tax adviser about your
particular situation.
Accumulation
The
tax rules applicable to qualified plans vary according to the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. Both the amount of the contribution that may be made and the tax deduction or exclusion that you
may claim for that contribution under qualified plans are limited under the Code. See the
SAI for a description of qualified plan types and annual current contribution limitations,
which are subject to change from year-to-year.
Purchase payments or contributions to IRAs or tax qualified retirement plans of an employer may be taken
from current income on a before tax basis or after tax basis. Purchase payments made on a
“before tax” basis entitle you to a tax deduction or are not subject to current
income tax. Purchase payments made on an “after tax” basis do not reduce your
taxable income or give you a tax deduction. Contributions may also consist of transfers or
rollovers as described below and are not subject to the annual limitations on
contributions.
An IRA Contract will accept as a single Purchase Payment a transfer or rollover from another IRA
(including a SEP or SIMPLE IRA) or rollover from an eligible retirement plan of an employer
(i.e., 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b), or governmental 457(b) plan). A rollover or transfer from a SIMPLE IRA is allowed provided that the taxpayer has participated in such arrangement for at least two
years. As part of the single Purchase Payment, the IRA contract will also accept an IRA
contribution subject to the Code limits for the year of purchase.
For income annuities established as “pay-outs” of SIMPLE IRAs, the contract will only accept a single Purchase Payment consisting of a transfer or rollover from
another SIMPLE IRA. For income annuities established in accordance with a distribution
option under a retirement plan of an employer (e.g., 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b), or
457(b) plan), the contract will only accept as its single Purchase Payment a transfer from such employer retirement plan.
Taxation of Annuity Distributions
If
contributions are made on a “before tax” basis, you generally pay income taxes on the full amount of money you receive under the contract. Withdrawals attributable to any after-tax contributions are basis in the
contract and not subject to income tax (except for the portion of the withdrawal allocable
to earnings, if any).
Under current federal income tax rules, the taxable portion of distributions under annuity contracts and
qualified plans (including IRAs) is not eligible for the reduced tax rate
applicable to long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends.
If you meet
certain requirements, your Roth IRA, Roth 403(b) and Roth 401(k) earnings can be received free of federal income taxes.
With respect to IRA contracts, we will withhold a portion of the taxable amount of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless you elect otherwise. The amount we
will withhold is determined by the Code.
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefits
If you have purchased the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee benefit (LWG), where otherwise made available, note the following:
In the event that the Account Value goes to zero, and either the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is paid out in fixed installments or the Annual Benefit
Payment is paid for life, we will treat such payments as income Annuity Payments under the
tax law and allow recovery of any remaining basis ratably over the expected number of
payments.
In
determining your required minimum distribution each year, the actuarial value of this benefit as of the prior December 31 must be taken into account in addition to the Account Value of the contract.
If you have purchased the GWB I, Enhanced GWB or LWG, where otherwise made available, note the following:
The tax treatment of withdrawals under such a benefit is uncertain. It is conceivable that the amount of
potential gain could be determined based on the remaining amount guaranteed to be available
for withdrawal at the time of the withdrawal if greater than the Account Value (prior to
withdrawal charges). This could result in a greater amount of taxable income in certain
cases. In general, at the present time, we intend to report such withdrawals using the
Account Value rather than the remaining benefit to determine gain. However, in cases where
the maximum permitted withdrawal in any year under any version of the Guaranteed Withdrawal
Benefit exceeds the Account Value, the portion of the withdrawal treated as taxable gain (not
to exceed the amount of the withdrawal) should be measured as the difference between the
maximum permitted withdrawal amount under the benefit and the remaining after-tax basis
immediately preceding the withdrawal. Consult your tax adviser.
In the event that the Account Value goes to zero, and either the Benefit Base (for the GWB I or Enhanced
GWB) or the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (for the LWG)
is paid out in fixed installments or the Annual Benefit Payment (for the LWG) is paid for life, we will treat such payments as income Annuity Payments under the
tax law and allow recovery of any remaining basis ratably over the expected number of
payments.
We reserve the right to change our tax reporting practices where we determine that they are not in accordance with IRS guidance (whether formal or
informal).
Withdrawals Prior to Age 59 1∕2
A
taxable withdrawal from a Qualified Contract which is subject to income tax may also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if taken prior to age 59 1∕2, unless an exception described below applies. The penalty rate is 25% for SIMPLE IRA plan contracts if the withdrawal occurs within the first 2 years of
your participation in the plan.
Exceptions to the early distribution penalty for qualified plans include withdrawals or distributions made:
(a)
on account of your death or disability,
(b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments payable for your life (or life expectancy) or joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of you
and your designated Beneficiary and (in the case of certain employer-sponsored qualified
plans) you are separated from employment,
(c) on separation from service after age 55. This rule does not apply to IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs).
(d) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”). This rule does not apply to IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs).
(e) to pay IRS levies (and made after December 31, 1999),
(f) to pay deductible medical expenses, or
(g) in the case of IRAs only, to pay for medical insurance (if you are unemployed), qualified higher
education expenses, or for a qualified first-time home purchase up to $10,000.
Other exceptions may be applicable under certain circumstances and special rules apply or may become applicable in connection with the exceptions
enumerated above. Other exceptions include certain provisions under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 which may provide the ability to recontribute an “early”
distribution to an IRA or employer sponsored qualified plan (subject to the provisions of
the Code, the qualified plan/IRA, the Contract and our administrative rules). You should
consult your tax adviser to confirm whether an exception applies.
If you receive systematic payments or any other payments that you intend to qualify for the
“substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any
modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 1∕2 or within five years after
beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of
the 10% federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include but are
not limited to additional Purchase Payments to the contract (including tax-free transfers or rollovers) and additional withdrawals from the contract.
The 10% federal income tax penalty on early distribution does not apply to governmental 457(b) plan contracts. However, it does apply to distributions from
457(b) plans of employers which are state or local governments to the extent that the
distribution is attributable to rollovers accepted from other types of eligible retirement plans.
Commutation Features Under Income Payment Types
Please be advised that the tax consequences resulting from the election of income payment types containing a commutation feature (a feature that allows the Owner
to receive a lump sum of the present value of future Annuity Payments) are uncertain and
the IRS may determine that the taxable amount of income payments and withdrawals received
for any year could be greater than or less than the taxable amount reported by us. The exercise of the commutation feature also may result in adverse tax consequences including:
•The imposition of a 10% federal income tax penalty on the taxable amount of the commuted value, if the taxpayer has not attained age 59 1∕2 at the time the
withdrawal is made. This 10% federal income tax penalty is in addition to the ordinary
income tax on the taxable amount of the commuted value.
•The retroactive imposition of the 10% federal income tax penalty on income payments
received prior to the taxpayer attaining age 59 1∕2.
•The possibility that the exercise of the commutation feature could adversely affect the amount excluded from federal income tax under any income payments
made after such commutation.
A payee should consult with his or her own tax adviser prior to electing to annuitize the contract and prior to exercising any commutation feature under an
income payment type.
Rollovers and Transfers
Your
contract is non-forfeitable (i.e., not subject to the claims of your creditors) and non-transferable (i.e., you may not transfer it to someone else).
Nevertheless, contracts held in certain employer plans subject to ERISA may be transferred in part pursuant to a QDRO.
Under
certain circumstances, you may be able to transfer amounts distributed from your contract to another eligible retirement plan or IRA. For 457(b) plans maintained by non-governmental employers, if certain conditions
are met, amounts may be transferred into another 457(b) plan maintained by a
non-governmental employer.
You may make rollovers and direct transfers into your SIMPLE IRA annuity contract from another SIMPLE
IRA annuity contract or account. Rollovers from another qualified plan can generally be
made to your SIMPLE IRA after you have participated in the SIMPLE IRA for at least two
years.
Rollovers and direct transfers from a SIMPLE IRA can only be made to another SIMPLE IRA or account
during the first two years that you participate in the SIMPLE IRA plan. After this two-year
period, rollovers and transfers may be made from your SIMPLE IRA into a Traditional IRA or
account, as well as into another SIMPLE IRA.
Federal income tax law allows you to make only one rollover from an IRA to another (or the same) IRA in
any 12-month period, regardless of the number of IRAs you own. Generally, this limit does
not apply to trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs. Because the rollover rules are
complex, please consult with your tax advisor before making an IRA rollover.
Generally,
a distribution may be eligible for rollover but certain types of distributions cannot be rolled over, such as distributions received on account of:
(a)
minimum distribution requirements,
(b)
financial hardship; or
(c)
for a period of ten or more years or for life.
20% Withholding on Eligible Rollover Distributions
For certain qualified employer plans, we are required to withhold 20% of the taxable portion of your withdrawal that constitutes an “eligible rollover
distribution” for federal income taxes. The amount we withhold is determined by the
Code. You may avoid withholding if you directly transfer a withdrawal from this contract to another
IRA or other qualified plan. Similarly, you may be able to avoid withholding on a transfer into this
contract from an existing qualified plan you may have with another provider by arranging to
have the transfer made directly to us. For taxable withdrawals that are not “eligible rollover distributions,” the Code imposes different withholding rules to determine the withholding
percentage.
Death Benefits
The death benefit in a Qualified Contract is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the contract Owner or plan participant (under the rules for
withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) amounts are required to be distributed from a Qualified annuity Contract (including a contract issued as a Roth IRA)
following your death. Congress recently changed the RMD rules for individuals who die after
2019. The after-death RMD rules are complex, and you should consult your tax adviser about
how they may apply to your situation.
Effective January 1, 2020, when an IRA owner or participant in a defined contribution plan dies, any
remaining interest generally must be distributed within 10 years (or in some cases five
years) after his or her death, unless an exception applies. An exception permits an
“eligible designated beneficiary” to take distributions over life or a period
not exceeding life expectancy, subject to special rules and limitations. An “eligible designated beneficiary” includes: the IRA owner/participant’s spouse or minor child (until the child
reaches age of majority), certain disabled or chronically ill individuals, and an
individual who is not more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner/participant. We may
limit any payment option over life, or a period not exceeding life expectancy, to certain
categories of eligible designed beneficiary.
Generally, distributions under this exception must start by the end of the year following your death.
However, if your surviving spouse is the sole designated beneficiary, distributions may
generally be delayed until December 31 of the year you would have attained the Applicable Age
(as defined in the chart below), if your contract permits.
If you die after Annuity Payments have already begun under a Qualified Contract, any remaining payments under the contract also must be made in accordance
with the RMD rules. In some cases, those rules may require that the remaining payments be
made over a shorter period than originally elected or otherwise adjusted to comply with the
tax law.
Regardless of whether you die before or
after your Required Beginning Date, the following will be applicable:
If your surviving spouse is the sole designated beneficiary of your Traditional or Roth IRA, then your surviving spouse may elect to treat the Traditional or Roth
IRA as his or her own.
Your designated Beneficiary is the person to whom benefit rights under the contract pass by reason of death. The Beneficiary generally must be a natural person in
order to elect a periodic payment option based on life expectancy or a period exceeding
five years. Different tax rules may apply if your Beneficiary is not a natural person, such as your estate.
Your spouse may be able to rollover the death proceeds into another eligible retirement plan in which he or she participates, if permitted under the receiving
plan, or he or she may elect to rollover the death proceeds into his or her own IRA, or he
or she may elect to transfer the death proceeds into an inherited IRA.
If your Beneficiary is not your spouse and your plan and contract permit, your Beneficiary may be able to rollover the death proceeds via a direct
trustee-to-trustee transfer into an inherited IRA. However, a non-spouse Beneficiary may
not treat the inherited IRA as his or her own IRA.
Additionally, for contracts issued in connection with qualified plans subject to ERISA, the spouse or
ex-spouse of the participant may have rights in the contract. In such a case, the
participant may need the consent of the spouse or ex-spouse to change annuity options or make a withdrawal from the contract.
Applicable Age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)
As
used in the prospectus, “Applicable Age” means the
following:
|
Your “Applicable
Age” is.. |
When born on or before June 30,
1949 |
|
When born on or after July 1,
1949 (and attain age 72 prior to
January 1, 2023) |
|
Attain age 72 on or after
January 1, 2023 (and attain
age 73 on or before December 31,
2032) |
|
Attain age 74 on or after
January 1, 2033 |
|
*If you were born in 1959, you should consult your tax
adviser regarding your “Applicable Age,” because it is
not clear under the SECURE 2.0 Act whether your
Applicable Age is age 73 or age 75. |
Required Minimum Distributions
Generally, you must begin receiving RMD amounts from your Qualified Contract by the Required Beginning Date. Generally, for retirement plans, the
“Required Minimum Date” is April 1 following the later of:
(a) the calendar year in which you reach the Applicable Age,
or
(b) the calendar year you retire, provided you do not own more than 5% of the outstanding stock, capital, or profits of your employer.
For
IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLEs), the Required Beginning Date by which you must begin receiving withdrawals is the year in which you attain the Applicable Age, even if you have not
retired, taking your first distribution no later than April 1 of the year after you reach
the Applicable
Age.
For all
subsequent years, including the first year in which you took your RMD by April 1, you must take the required minimum distribution for the year by December 31st. This will require you to take two distributions in the same calendar year if you wait to take your first distribution until April 1 of the year after attaining
the Applicable
Age.
A tax
penalty (an excise tax) of up to 25% applies to the
shortfall of any required minimum distribution you fail to receive.
You may not satisfy minimum distributions for one employer’s qualified plan (e.g., 401(a), 403(a), 457(b)) with distributions from another qualified
plan of the same or a different employer. However, an aggregation rule does apply in the
case of IRAs (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) or 403(b) plans. The minimum required distribution is calculated with respect to each IRA, but the aggregate distribution may be taken from any one or more
of your IRAs/SEPs. Similarly, the amount of required minimum distribution is calculated
separately with respect to each 403(b) arrangement, but the aggregate amount of the
required distribution may be taken from any one or more of your 403(b) plan contracts. For
SIMPLE IRAs, the aggregate amount of the required distribution may be taken from any one or
more of your SIMPLE IRAs.
The regulations also require that the value of benefits under a deferred annuity including certain death
benefits in excess of contract value must be added to the amount credited to your account
in computing the amount required to be distributed over the applicable period. We will provide you with additional information regarding the amount that is subject to minimum distribution under this
rule. You should consult your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect your own
distribution under this rule.
If you intend to receive your minimum distributions in the form of Annuity Payments that are payable
over the joint lives of you and a Beneficiary or over a guaranteed duration of more than 10
years, be advised that federal tax law may require that, after your death, any remaining
payments be made over a shorter period or be reduced after your death to satisfy the RMD
rules and avoid the up to 25% excise tax. Other complex rules also apply to RMDs taken in the form of Annuity Payments. You should
consult your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect your own contract.
Required minimum distribution rules that apply to other types of IRAs while you are alive do not apply to Roth IRAs. However, in general, the IRA post-death
rules with respect to minimum distributions apply to beneficiaries of Roth IRAs.
Additional Information Regarding TSA (ERISA and Non-ERISA) 403(b)
Special Rules Regarding Exchanges. In order to satisfy tax regulations, contract exchanges within a 403(b) plan after September 24, 2007, must, at a
minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) the plan must allow the exchange; (2) the
exchange must not result in a reduction in a participant’s or a Beneficiary’s
accumulated benefit: (3) the receiving contract includes
distribution restrictions that are no less stringent than those imposed on the contract being exchanged;
and (4) if the issuer receiving the exchanges is not part of the plan, the employer enters
into an agreement with the issuer to provide information to enable the contract provider to
comply with Code requirements. Such information would include details concerning severance
from employment, hardship withdrawals, loans and tax basis. You should consult your tax or
legal counsel for any advice relating to contract exchanges or any other matter relating to these regulations.
Withdrawals. If you are
under age 59 1∕2, you generally cannot
withdraw money from your TSA contract unless the withdrawal:
(a)
related to Purchase Payments made prior to 1989 and pre-1989 earnings on those Purchase Payments;
(b)
is exchanged to another permissible investment under your 403(b) plan;
(c)
relates to contributions to an annuity contract that are not salary reduction elective deferrals, if your plan allows it;
(d)
occurs after you die, leave your job or become disabled (as defined by the Code);
(e)
is for financial hardship (but only to the extent of elective deferrals), if your plan allows it;
(f)
relates to distributions attributable to certain TSA plan terminations, if the conditions of the Code are met;
(g)
relates to rollover or after-tax contributions; or
(h)
is for the purchase of permissive service credit under a governmental defined benefit plan.
In addition, a Section 403(b) contract is permitted to distribute retirement benefits attributable to pre-tax contributions other than elective deferrals to
the participant no earlier than upon the earlier of the participant’s severance from
employment or upon the prior occurrence of some event, such as after a fixed number of years, the attainment of a stated age or disability.
Additional Information Regarding IRAs
Purchase Payments.
Traditional IRA Purchase Payments (except for permissible rollovers and direct transfers)
are limited in the aggregate to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the deductible amount established each year under the Code.A Purchase Payment up to the deductible amount can also be made for a non-working
spouse provided the couple’s compensation is at least equal to their aggregate contributions. Individuals age 50 and older are permitted to make additional
“catch-up” contributions if they have sufficient compensation. If you or your
spouse are an active participant in a retirement plan of an employer, your deductible contributions may be limited. If you exceed Purchase Payment limits you may be subject to a tax penalty.
Roth IRA
Purchase Payments for individuals are non-deductible (made on an “after tax” basis) and are limited to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the annual deductible IRA amount. Individuals age 50 and older
can make an additional “catch-up” Purchase Payment each year (assuming the
individual has sufficient compensation). You may contribute up to the annual Purchase Payment
limit if your modified adjusted gross income does not exceed certain limits. If you exceed
Purchase Payment limits, you may be subject to a tax penalty.
Withdrawals. If and to
the extent that Traditional IRA Purchase Payments are made on an “after tax” basis, withdrawals would be included in income except for the portion that represents a return of
non-deductible Purchase Payments. This portion is generally determined based upon the ratio
of all non-deductible Purchase Payments to the total value of all your Traditional IRAs (including SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs). We withhold a portion of the amount of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless
you elect otherwise. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code.
Generally,
withdrawal of earnings from Roth IRAs are free from federal income tax if: (1) they are made at least five taxable years after the tax year for which you made your first Purchase Payment to a Roth IRA; and (2)
they are made on or after the date you reach age
59 1∕2 or upon your death,
disability or for a qualified first-home purchase (up to $10,000). Withdrawals from a Roth IRA are made first from Purchase Payments and then from earnings. We may be required to withhold a portion of your
withdrawal for income taxes, unless you elect otherwise. The amount will be determined by
the Code.
Conversion. Traditional IRAs may be converted to Roth IRAs. Except to the extent you have non-deductible contributions, the amount converted from an existing
Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA is taxable. Generally, the 10% federal income tax penalty
does not apply. However, the taxable amount to be converted must be based on the fair
market value of the entire annuity contract being converted into a Roth IRA. Such fair market value, in general, is to be determined by taking into account the value of all benefits (both living benefits and
death benefits)
in addition to the Account Value; as well as adding back certain loads and charges incurred during the
prior twelve month period. Your contract may include such benefits and applicable charges.
Accordingly, if you are considering such conversion of your annuity contract, please consult your tax adviser. The taxable amount may exceed the Account Value at the date of conversion.
Prior to
2018, contributions made to a Traditional IRA that were converted to a Roth IRA could be recharacterized as made back to the Traditional IRA, if certain conditions were met. Under a provision of the Tax Cuts
and Jobs Act, recharacterization cannot be used to unwind a conversion from a Traditional
IRA to a Roth IRA for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. For conversions made
to a Roth IRA in 2017, the IRS has issued guidance allowing recharacterizations to be made
in 2018.
Distinction for Puerto Rico Code
An annuity contract may be purchased by an employer for an employee under a qualified pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, annuity, or a “cash or
deferred” arrangement plan established pursuant to Section 1081.01 of the 2011 PR
Code. To be tax qualified under the 2011 PR Code, a plan must comply with the requirements
of Section 1081.01(a) of the 2011 PR Code which includes certain participation
requirements, among other requirements. A trust created to hold assets for a qualified plan
is exempt from tax on its investment income.
Contributions. The employer is entitled to a current income tax deduction for contributions made to a qualified plan, subject to statutory limitations on the
amount that may be contributed each year. The plan contributions by the employer are not
required to be included in the current income of the employee.
Distributions. Any amount received or made available to the employee under the qualified plan is includible in the
gross income of the employee in the taxable year in which received or made available. In
such case, the amount paid or contributed by the employer shall not constitute
consideration paid by the employee for the contract for purposes of determining the amount
of Annuity Payments required to be included in the employee’s gross income. Thus,
amounts actually distributed or made available to any employee under the qualified plan will be included in their entirety in the employee’s gross income. The value of accrued benefits in a qualified
retirement plan with respect to which the special 8% tax under Puerto Rico Act No. 77-2014
was prepaid will be considered as part of the participant’s tax basis in his retirement plan account. Thus, any distributions attributable to the benefits for which such
taxes were prepaid will not be subject to income taxes when the same are subsequently received by the participant. However, the investment income and the
appreciation in value, if any, accrued on the benefits with respect to which the special
tax was prepaid, will be taxed as provided by the tax rules in effect at the time of
distribution. Lump-sum proceeds from a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan due to
separation of employment or termination of a retirement plan will generally be treated as
ordinary income but will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 20%.A special withholding
tax rate of 10% may apply instead, if the plan satisfies the following requirements:
(1) the plan’s trust is organized under the laws of Puerto Rico, or has a Puerto Rico resident trustee
and uses such trustee as paying agent; and
(2) 10% of all plan’s trust assets (calculated based on the average balance of the investments of the trust) attributable to participants who are Puerto Rico
residents must be invested in “property located in Puerto Rico” for a
three-year period.
If these two requirements are not satisfied, the distribution will generally be subject to the 20% tax
rate. The three-year period includes the year of the distribution and the two immediately
preceding years. In the case of a defined contribution plan that maintains separate accounts for each participant, the described 10% investment requirement may be satisfied in the accounts of a participant
that chooses to invest in such fashion rather than at the trust level. Property located in
Puerto Rico includes shares of stock of a Puerto Rico registered investment company, fixed
or variable annuities issued by a domestic insurance company or by a foreign insurance corporation that derives more than 80% of its gross income from sources within Puerto Rico, and bank deposits. The 2011 PR Code
does not impose a penalty tax in cases of early (premature) distributions from a qualified
plan.
In the case of distributions from a qualified plan in the form of annuity or installments as a result of
termination of employment, amounts received are taxable in an amount equal to 3% of the
after-tax contributions not previously distributed, which would be considered the tax cost. The remaining portion is not taxable until you have recovered the total after-tax contributions made to the
qualified plan. You may be able to exclude from gross income up to $11,000, if you are less
than 60 years of age, or up to $15,000, if you are at least 60 years of age, of the taxable
portion of the installment payments received every year. The above-described distributions
that exceed the amount of $35,000 during a taxable year (amount which includes
the annual exclusion of $15,000) for retirees that are 60 years old or older, and $31,000 (amount which
includes the annual exclusion of $11,000) for other retirees plus the recovery of the
consideration paid for the annuity following the 3% recognition of income rule described
above, will generally constitute ordinary income subject to a 10% withholding tax.
Upon the
occurrence of a “Declared Disaster”, like a hurricane, Retirement Plans are allowed to make Eligible Distributions to a participant resident of Puerto Rico who requests the same. The Eligible Distribution
may not exceed $100,000, be made during a period of time to be identified by the Puerto
Rico Treasury through administrative guidance and be used to cover damages or losses
suffered, and extraordinary expenses incurred by the individual as a result of the Declared Disaster. The first $10,000 will be exempted from income taxation, including the alternate basic tax, and amounts exceeding
$10,000 will be subject to a 10% income tax to be withheld at the source, in lieu of any
other income tax, including the alternate basic tax.
You should consult with a personal tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of purchasing an annuity contract and/or any proposed distribution if you
are a resident of Puerto Rico.
In contrast,
if qualified retirement income, as defined in 4 U.S.C. Section 114(a), is distributed by a dual qualified plan (i.e.,
a plan qualified under Code Section 401 and under Section 1081.01 of the 2011 PR Code that is funded through a
U.S. trust) to a
non-Puerto Rico resident, such
distribution is not subject to Puerto Rico income tax. The individual must not be a Puerto
Rico resident at the time of the distribution and certain requirements must be satisfied by
him/her for the distribution to receive this tax treatment.
Rollover. Deferral of the recognition of income continues upon the receipt of a distribution by a participant
from a qualified plan, if the distribution is contributed to another qualified retirement
plan or traditional individual retirement account for the employee’s benefit no later than sixty (60) days after the distribution.
ERISA Considerations. In
the context of a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan trust, the IRS has held that the
transfer of assets and liabilities from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to
that type of plan would generally be treated as a distribution includible in gross income
for U.S. income tax purposes even if the Puerto Rico retirement plan is a plan described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1). By contrast, a transfer from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to a
Puerto Rico
qualified retirement plan trust that has made an election under ERISA Section 1022(i)(2) is not treated as a distribution from the transferor plan for U.S. income
tax purposes because a Puerto Rico retirement plan that has made an election under ERISA
Section 1022(i)(2) is treated as a qualified retirement plan for purposes Code Section
401(a). The IRS has determined that the above described rules prescribing the inclusion in income of transfers of assets and liabilities to a Puerto Rico retirement plan trust described in ERISA Section
1022(i)(1) would be applicable to transfers taking effect after December 31, 2012.
Notwithstanding the above, the IRS has held that a Puerto Rico retirement plan described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1) may participate in a 81-100 group trust because it permits said plan to diversify its
investments without adverse tax consequences to the group trust or its
investors.
OTHER INFORMATION
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is a stock life insurance company originally chartered in Connecticut in 1863 and currently subject to the laws of the State of Delaware. Prior to March 6, 2017, BLIC was known
as MetLife Insurance Company USA. BLIC is licensed to conduct business in all states of the
United States (except New York), the District of Columbia,
the Bahamas, Guam, Puerto Rico, the British
Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. BLIC is
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of, and ultimately controlled by, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (“BHF”), a publicly-traded company. BHF, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of
the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S. BLIC’s executive offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
The Separate Account
We have established a Separate Account, Brighthouse Separate Account A (Separate Account), to hold the assets that underlie the contracts. The Board of
Directors of our predecessor, MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (MetLife Investors),
adopted a resolution to establish the Separate Account under Delaware insurance law on May
29, 1980. We have registered the Separate Account with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Separate Account is divided into subaccounts.
The
Separate Account’s assets are solely for the benefit of those who invest in the Separate Account and no one else, including our creditors. The assets of the Separate Account
are held in our name on behalf of the Separate Account and legally belong to us. All the income, gains
and losses (realized or unrealized) resulting from these assets are credited to or charged
against the contracts issued from this Separate Account without regard to our other business.
We reserve
the right to transfer assets of the Separate Account to another account, and to modify the structure or operation of the Separate Account, subject to necessary regulatory approvals. If we do so, we will
notify you of any such changes and we guarantee that the modification will not affect your
Account Value.
We are obligated to pay all money we owe under the contracts — such as death benefits and income payments — even if that amount exceeds the assets in the Separate Account. Any such amount that exceeds the assets
in the Separate Account is paid from our general account. Any amount under any optional
death benefit, optional Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, optional Guaranteed Withdrawal
Benefit, or optional Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit that exceeds the assets in the
Separate Account is also paid from our general account. Benefit amounts paid from the general account are subject to our financial strength and claims paying ability and our long term ability to make such payments. We
issue other annuity contracts and life insurance policies where we pay all money we owe
under those contracts and policies from our general account. BLIC is regulated as an insurance company under state law, which generally includes limits on the amount and type of investments in our
general account. However, there is no guarantee that we will be able to meet our claims
paying obligations; there are risks to purchasing any insurance product.
The investment advisers to certain of the Investment Portfolios offered with the contracts or with other variable annuity contracts issued through the
Separate Account may be regulated as Commodity Pool Operators. While it does not concede
that the Separate Account is a commodity pool, BLIC has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA), and is not
subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.
Distributor
We
have entered into a distribution agreement with our affiliate, Brighthouse Securities, LLC (Distributor), 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, for the distribution of the contracts. Both the Company
and Distributor are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of BHF. Distributor is a member of
the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA provides background information about broker-dealers and their registered representatives through FINRA
BrokerCheck. You may contact the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline at 1-800-289-9999, or log on to
www.finra.org. An investor brochure that includes information describing FINRA BrokerCheck
is available through the Hotline or on-line.
Distributor, and in certain cases, we, have entered into selling agreements with unaffiliated selling
firms for the sale of the contracts. No selling firms are affiliated with us or
Distributor. We pay compensation to Distributor for sales of the contracts by selling firms. We also pay amounts to Distributor that may be used for its operating and other expenses, including the following sales
expenses: compensation and bonuses for Distributor’s management team and other
expenses of distributing the contracts. Distributor’s management team and registered
representatives also may be eligible for non-cash compensation items that we may provide
jointly with Distributor. Non-cash items include conferences, seminars and trips (including
travel, lodging and meals in connection therewith), entertainment, merchandise and other similar items.
All of the Investment Portfolios make payments to Distributor under their distribution plans in consideration of services provided and expenses incurred
by Distributor in distributing shares of the Investment Portfolios. (See the Investment
Portfolio prospectuses for more information.) These payments range up to 0.55% of Separate Account assets invested in the particular Investment Portfolio.
Selling Firms
As
noted above, Distributor, and in certain cases, we, have entered into selling agreements with unaffiliated selling firms for the sale of the contracts. All selling firms receive commissions, and they may also receive
some form of non-cash compensation. Certain selected selling firms receive additional
compensation (described below under “Additional Compensation for Selected Selling Firms”). These commissions and other incentives or payments are not charged directly to contract Owners or the
Separate Account. We intend to recoup commissions and other sales expenses through fees and
charges deducted under the contract or from our general account. A portion of the payments
made to selling firms may be passed on to their sales representatives in accordance with the selling firms' internal compensation programs. Those programs may also include other types of cash and non-cash
compensation and other benefits. Financial representatives of the selling firms
may also receive non-cash compensation, pursuant to their firm’s guidelines, directly from us or
Distributor.
Compensation Paid to Selling Firms. Distributor pays compensation to all selling firms in the form of commissions and may also provide certain types of
non-cash compensation. The maximum commission payable for contract sales and additional
Purchase Payments by selling firms is 2.8% of Purchase Payments, along with annual trail
commissions beginning in year two up to 1.25% of Account Value (less Purchase Payments received within the previous 12 months) for so long as the contract remains in effect or as agreed in the selling agreement.
Distributor also pays commissions when a contract Owner elects to begin receiving regular
income payments (referred to as “Annuity Payments”). (See “Annuity Payments (The Income Phase).”) Distributor may also provide non-cash compensation items that we may provide jointly
with Distributor. Non-cash items may include expenses for conference or seminar trips,
certain gifts, prizes, and awards.
Ask your financial representative for further information about what payments your financial representative and the selling firm for which he or she works may
receive in connection with your purchase of a contract.
Additional Compensation for Selected Selling Firms. Distributor has entered into distribution arrangements with certain selected unaffiliated selling firms. Under these arrangements, Distributor may
pay additional compensation to selected selling firms, including marketing allowances,
introduction fees, persistency payments, preferred status fees and industry conference
fees. Marketing allowances are periodic payments to certain selling firms, the amount of
which may be an annual flat fee or, in many cases, depends on cumulative periodic (usually
quarterly) sales of our insurance contracts (including the contracts offered by this prospectus) and may also depend on meeting thresholds in the sale of certain of our insurance contracts (other than the
contracts offered by this prospectus). They may also include payments we make to cover the
cost of marketing or other support services provided for or by registered representatives
who may sell our products. Introduction fees are payments to selling firms in connection with the addition of our products to the selling firm’s line of investment products, including expenses
relating to establishing the data communications systems necessary for the selling firm to
offer, sell and administer our products. Persistency payments are periodic payments based on
Account Values of our variable insurance contracts (including Account Values of the
contracts) or other
persistency standards. Preferred status fees are paid to obtain preferred treatment in selling firms’ marketing programs, which may include marketing
services, participation in marketing meetings, listings in data resources and increased
access to their sales representatives. Industry conference fees are amounts paid to cover in part the costs associated with sales conferences and educational seminars for selling firms’ financial
representatives. Distributor has entered into such distribution agreements with the selling
firms identified in the Statement of Additional Information.
The additional types of compensation discussed above are not offered to all selling firms. The terms of any particular agreement governing compensation may vary
among selling firms and the amounts may be significant. The prospect of receiving, or the
receipt of, additional compensation as described above may provide selling firms and/or their sales representatives with an incentive to favor sales of the contracts over other variable annuity contracts
(or other investments) with respect to which selling firm does not receive additional
compensation, or lower levels of additional compensation. You may wish to take such payment
arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendation relating to the contracts. For more information about any such additional compensation arrangements, ask your financial representative. (See the Statement of Additional Information — “Distribution” for a list of selling firms that received compensation during 2021, as well as the range of additional compensation paid.)
Requests and Elections
We
will treat your request for a contract transaction, or your submission of a Purchase Payment, as received by us if we receive a request conforming to our administrative procedures or a payment at our Annuity Service
Center before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on that day
(generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time). We will treat your submission of a Purchase Payment as
received by us if we receive a payment at our Annuity Service Center (or a designee
receives a payment in accordance with the designee's administrative procedures) before the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on that day. If we receive the request, or if we (or our designee) receive the payment, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on that
day, or if the New York Stock Exchange is not open that day, then the request or payment
will be treated as received on the next day when the New York Stock Exchange is open. Our Annuity Service Center is located at P.O. Box 305075, Nashville, TN 37230-5075. If you send your Purchase
Payments or transaction requests to an address other than the one we have designated for receipt of such
Purchase Payments or requests, we may return the Purchase Payment to you, or there may be a
delay in applying the Purchase Payment or transaction to your contract.
Requests for service may be made:
•Through
your financial representative
•By telephone at (888) 243-1932, between the hours of 7:30AM and 5:30PM Central Time Monday through Friday
•In
writing to our Annuity Service Center
•By fax at Brighthouse Policy Holder Services, (877) 246-8424 or
•By
Internet at www.brighthousefinancial.com
Some of the requests for service that may be made by telephone or Internet include transfers of Account
Value (see “Investment Options – Transfers – Transfers By Telephone or Other Means”) and changes to the allocation of future Purchase Payments (see “Purchase – Allocation of Purchase Payments”). We may from time to time permit requests for other types of transactions to be made by telephone or Internet. All transaction requests
must be in Good Order. Contact us for further information. Some selling firms may restrict
the ability of their financial representatives to convey transaction requests by telephone
or Internet on your behalf.
We will use reasonable procedures such as requiring certain identifying information, tape recording the telephone instructions, and providing written confirmation
of the transaction, in order to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone, fax,
Internet or other means are genuine. Any telephone, fax or Internet instructions reasonably
believed by us to be genuine will be your responsibility, including losses arising from any errors in the communication of instructions. As a result of this policy, you will bear the risk of loss. If we do
not employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone,
fax or Internet are genuine, we may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent transactions. All other requests and elections under your contract must be in
writing signed by the proper party, must include any necessary documentation and must be
received at our Annuity Service Center to be effective. If acceptable to us, requests or elections relating to Beneficiaries and Ownership will take effect as of the date signed unless we have already acted in
reliance on the prior status. We are not responsible for the validity of any written
request or action.
We are not a fiduciary and do not
give advice or make recommendations regarding insurance or investment products. Ask your
financial representative for guidance regarding any requests or elections and for information
about your particular investment needs. Please bear in mind that your financial
representative, or any financial firm or financial professional you consult to provide
advice, is acting on your behalf. We are not a
party to any agreement between you and your financial professional. We do not recommend and
are not responsible for any securities transactions or investment strategies involving
securities (including account recommendations).
Good Order. A request or
transaction generally is considered in Good Order if it complies with our administrative procedures and the required information is complete and accurate. A request or transaction may be rejected or delayed if not in Good Order. Good
Order generally means the actual receipt by us of the instructions relating to the
requested transaction in writing (or, when permitted, by telephone or Internet as described above) along with all forms, information and supporting legal documentation necessary to effect the
transaction. This information and documentation generally includes to the extent applicable
to the transaction: your completed application; your contract number; the transaction amount
(in dollars or percentage terms); the names and allocations to and/or from the Investment
Portfolios affected by the requested transaction; the signatures of all contract Owners
(exactly as indicated on the contract), if necessary; Social Security Number or Tax I.D.;
and any other information or supporting documentation that we may require, including any
spousal or Joint Owner’s consents. With respect to Purchase Payments, Good Order also generally includes receipt by us of sufficient funds to effect the purchase. We may, in our sole discretion, determine
whether any particular transaction request is in Good Order, and we reserve the right to
change or waive any Good Order requirement at any time. If you have any questions, you
should contact us or your financial representative before submitting the form or
request.
Telephone and Computer Systems. Telephone and computer systems may not always be available. Any telephone or computer system, whether it is yours,
your service provider's, your agent's, or ours, can experience outages or slowdowns for a
variety of reasons. These outages or slowdowns may delay or prevent our processing of your
request. Although we have taken precautions to help our systems handle heavy use, we cannot promise complete reliability under all circumstances. If you experience technical difficulties or problems, you
should
make your transaction request in writing to our Annuity Service Center.
Confirming Transactions.
We will send out written statements confirming that a transaction was recently completed.
Unless you inform us of any errors within 60 days of receipt, we will consider these communications to be accurate and complete.
Ownership
Owner. You, as the
Owner of the contract, have all the interest and rights under the contract.
These rights include the right to:
•change
the Beneficiary.
•change the Annuitant before the Annuity Date (subject to our underwriting and administrative rules).
•assign
the contract (subject to limitation).
•change the payment option.
•exercise all other rights, benefits, options and privileges
allowed by the contract or us.
The Owner is as designated at the time the contract is issued, unless changed. Any change of Owner is subject to our underwriting rules in effect at the time
of the request.
Joint Owner. The contract can be owned by Joint Owners, limited to two natural persons. Upon the death of either Owner, the surviving Owner will be the
primary Beneficiary. Any other Beneficiary designation will be treated as a contingent
Beneficiary unless otherwise indicated.
Beneficiary. The Beneficiary is the person(s) or entity you name to receive any death benefit. The Beneficiary is named at the time the contract is issued unless
changed at a later date. Unless an irrevocable Beneficiary has been named, you can change
the Beneficiary at any time before you die. If Joint Owners are named, unless you tell us
otherwise, the surviving Joint Owner will be the primary Beneficiary. Any other Beneficiary
designation will be treated as a contingent Beneficiary (unless you tell us
otherwise).
Abandoned Property Requirements. Every state has unclaimed property laws which generally declare non-ERISA annuity contracts to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of three to five years from the
contract’s maturity date (the latest day on which annuity payments may begin under
the contract), the date the death benefit is due and payable, or such other date as required by state law. Contracts purchased through certain qualified plans,
including IRAs and Roth IRAs, may
be subject to special or additional abandoned property rules under state law. For example, if the payment of a death benefit has been triggered, but, if after a thorough search, we are
still unable to locate the Beneficiary of the death benefit, or the Beneficiary does not
come forward to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, the death benefit will be paid to
the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the state in which the
Beneficiary or the Owner last resided, as shown on our books and records, or to our state
of domicile. (Escheatment is the formal, legal name for this process.) However, the state is obligated to pay the death benefit (without interest) if your Beneficiary steps forward to claim it with the proper
documentation. To prevent your contract's proceeds from being paid to the state's abandoned
or unclaimed property office, it is important that you update your Beneficiary designations,
including addresses, if and as they change. Please call (888) 243-1932 to make such changes.
Annuitant. The Annuitant is the natural person(s) on whose life we base Annuity Payments. You can change the Annuitant at any time prior to the Annuity Date,
unless an Owner is not a natural person. Any reference to Annuitant includes any joint
Annuitant under an Annuity Option. The Owner and the Annuitant do not have to be the same
person except as required under certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code or under a
GMIB rider (see “Living Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits”).
Assignment. You can
assign a Non-Qualified Contract at any time during your lifetime. We will not be bound by the
assignment until the written notice of the assignment is recorded by us. We will not be
liable for any payment or other action we take in accordance with the contract before we
record the assignment. An assignment may be a taxable event.
If the
contract is issued pursuant to a qualified plan, there may be limitations on your ability to assign the contract.
Legal Proceedings
In
the ordinary course of business, BLIC, similar to other life insurance companies, is involved in lawsuits (including class action lawsuits), arbitrations and other legal proceedings. Also, from time to time, state and
federal regulators or other officials conduct formal and informal examinations or undertake
other actions dealing with various aspects of the financial services and insurance
industries. In some legal proceedings involving insurers, substantial damages have been
sought and/or material settlement payments have been made.
It is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of any pending legal proceeding or
regulatory action. However, BLIC does not believe any such action or proceeding will have a
material adverse effect upon the Separate Account or upon the ability of Brighthouse
Securities, LLC to perform its contract with the Separate Account or of BLIC to meet its
obligations under the contracts.
Financial Statements
Our financial statements and the financial statements of the Separate Account have been included in the SAI.
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APPENDIX A
The following is a list of Investment Portfolios under the Contract. More information about the
Investment Portfolios is available in the prospectuses for the Investment Portfolios, which may be amended from time to time and can be found online at https://dfinview.com/BHF/TAHD/BHF153 . You can also request this information at no cost by calling (888) 243-1932 or sending an email request
to rcg@brighthousefinancial.com. Depending on the optional benefits you choose, you may not be able to invest in certain
Investment Portfolios. See Appendix B:
Investment Portfolios Available Under the Benefits Offered Under the Contract.
The current expenses and performance information below reflects fees and expenses of the
Investment Portfolio, 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 Investment Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation and
current income. |
AB Global Dynamic Allocation
Portfolio — Class B#*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:AllianceBernstein L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital
appreciation. |
Allspring Mid Cap Value
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Allspring Global
Investments, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a balance between a high level
of current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. |
American Funds® Balanced
Allocation Portfolio — Class C‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
American Funds® Growth
Allocation Portfolio — Class C‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to achieve growth of capital. |
American Funds® Growth
Portfolio — Class C
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC; Capital Research and
Management CompanySM |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high total return in the form
of income and growth of capital,
with a greater emphasis on income. |
American Funds® Moderate
Allocation Portfolio — Class C‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation and
current income. |
BlackRock Global Tactical
Strategies Portfolio — Class B#*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:BlackRock Financial
Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks to maximize total return,
consistent with income generation
and prudent investment
management. |
BlackRock High Yield
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:BlackRock Financial
Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 100
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a balance between a high level
of current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. |
Brighthouse Balanced Plus
Portfolio — Class B*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Overlay Portion: Pacific
Investment Management Company
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital
appreciation. |
Brighthouse Small Cap Value
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Delaware Investments
Fund Advisers, a series of
Macquarie Investment Management
Business Trust, and Allspring
Global Investments, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation. |
Brighthouse/abrdn Emerging
Markets Equity
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:abrdn Investments
Limited |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high level of current income. |
Brighthouse/Eaton Vance Floating
Rate Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Eaton Vance
Management |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high level of current income,
while seeking preservation of
shareholders’ capital. |
Brighthouse/Franklin Low Duration
Total Return Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Franklin Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks current income with capital
appreciation and growth of income. |
Brighthouse/Templeton
International Bond
Portfolio — Class B
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Franklin Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks total return through
investment in real estate securities,
emphasizing both capital
appreciation and current income. |
CBRE Global Real Estate
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:CBRE Investment
Management Listed Real Assets
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital
appreciation. |
Harris Oakmark International
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Harris Associates L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation
Portfolio — Class B#*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Invesco Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital growth and income. |
Invesco Comstock
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Invesco Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
Invesco Small Cap Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Invesco Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks to maximize total return. |
JPMorgan Core Bond
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation and
current income. |
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation
Portfolio — Class B#*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:J.P. Morgan Investment
Management Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks high total investment return
through a combination of capital
appreciation and income. |
Loomis Sayles Global Allocation
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Loomis, Sayles &
Company, L.P. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
Loomis Sayles Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Loomis, Sayles &
Company, L.P. |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks a balance between growth of
capital and current income, with a
greater emphasis on growth of
capital. |
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk
Portfolio — Class B*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Overlay Portion:
MetLife Investment Management,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation. |
MFS® Research International
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Massachusetts Financial
Services Company |
|
|
|
|
|
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk
Portfolio — Class B#*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:PanAgora Asset
Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks maximum real return,
consistent with preservation of
capital and prudent investment
management. |
PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond
Portfolio — Class B
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Pacific Investment
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks maximum total return,
consistent with the preservation of
capital and prudent investment
management. |
PIMCO Total Return
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Pacific Investment
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation and
current income. |
Schroders Global Multi-Asset
Portfolio — Class B*
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Schroder Investment
Management North America Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks growth of capital and income. |
SSGA Growth and Income ETF
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:SSGA Funds
Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
SSGA Growth ETF
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:SSGA Funds
Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital appreciation
by investing in common stocks
believed to be undervalued. Income
is a secondary objective. |
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc.
Sub-Subadviser: T. Rowe Price
Investment Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks high total return by investing
in equity securities of mid-sized
companies. |
Victory Sycamore Mid Cap Value
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Victory Capital
Management Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high level of current income,
consistent with preservation of
principal. |
Western Asset Management
Government Income
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Western Asset
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
Baillie Gifford International Stock
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Baillie Gifford Overseas
Limited |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high level of current income
consistent with prudent investment
risk and preservation of capital. |
BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:BlackRock Advisors,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a high level of current income,
with growth of capital as a
secondary objective. |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 20
Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks high total return in the form
of income and growth of capital,
with a greater emphasis on income. |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks a balance between a high level
of current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 80
Portfolio — Class B‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital growth. |
Brighthouse/Artisan Mid Cap Value
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Artisan Partners Limited
Partnership |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital
appreciation. |
Brighthouse/Dimensional
International Small Company
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Dimensional Fund
Advisors LP |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to provide a growing stream
of income over time and,
secondarily, long-term capital
appreciation and current income. |
Brighthouse/Wellington Core Equity
Opportunities Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Wellington Management
Company LLP |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to provide a growing stream
of income over time and,
secondarily, long-term capital
appreciation and current income. |
Brighthouse/Wellington Core Equity
Opportunities
Portfolio — Class E††
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Wellington Management
Company LLP |
|
|
|
|
Seeks maximum capital
appreciation. |
Frontier Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Frontier Capital
Management Company, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
Jennison Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Jennison Associates LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Seeks to track the performance of
the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond
Index. |
MetLife Aggregate Bond Index
Portfolio — Class G#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:MetLife Investment
Management, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to track the performance of
the Standard & Poor’s MidCap
400® Composite Stock Price
Index. |
MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index
Portfolio — Class G
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:MetLife Investment
Management, LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks to track the performance of
the MSCI EAFE® Index.
|
MetLife MSCI EAFE® Index
Portfolio — Class G
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:MetLife Investment
Management, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to track the performance of
the Russell 2000® Index.
|
MetLife Russell 2000® Index
Portfolio — Class G
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:MetLife Investment
Management, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to track the performance of
the Standard & Poor’s 500®
Composite Stock Price Index. |
MetLife Stock Index
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:MetLife Investment
Management, LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks capital appreciation. |
MFS® Value Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Massachusetts Financial
Services Company |
|
|
|
|
Seeks high total return, consisting
principally of capital appreciation. |
Neuberger Berman Genesis
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Neuberger Berman
Investment Advisers LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term growth of capital. |
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Seeks long-term capital appreciation
with income as a secondary
consideration. |
VanEck Global Natural Resources
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Van Eck Associates
Corporation |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to maximize total return
consistent with preservation of
capital. |
Western Asset Management
Strategic Bond Opportunities
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Western Asset
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
|
Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2022) |
|
|
|
Seeks to maximize total return
consistent with preservation of
capital. |
Western Asset Management
Strategic Bond Opportunities
Portfolio — Class E††
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Western Asset
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
Seeks to maximize total return
consistent with preservation of
capital and maintenance of liquidity. |
Western Asset Management
U.S. Government
Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers,
LLC
Subadviser:Western Asset
Management Company LLC |
|
|
|
|
#
Certain Investment Portfolios
and their investment advisers have entered into temporary expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers, which are reflected in the Current Expenses. Please see the Investment Portfolios' prospectuses for additional information regarding these arrangements.
*
This Investment
Portfolio is managed in a way that is intended to minimize volatility of returns (referred to as a “managed volatility strategy”). See “Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract.”
‡
This
Investment
Portfolio is a fund of funds and invests substantially all of its assets in other underlying funds. Because the
Investment Portfolio invests in other funds, it will bear its pro rata portion of the operating expenses of those underlying funds, including the management fee.
††
Closed to new investments except under dollar cost averaging and rebalancing programs in
existence at the time of closing.
APPENDIX B
If you
have elected an optional benefit under the contract, your contract may be subject to investment allocation restrictions, as reflected in the following table. See
“Investment Allocation Restrictions for Certain Riders” for more details. If your optional benefit is not included in the table below, your contract is not
currently subject to any investment allocation restrictions.
|
|
|
|
|
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II* (LWG
II) |
Life Withdrawal Guarantee I (LWG
I) |
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit Rider*
(GMAB) |
|
Enhanced Death Benefit II* (EDB
II) |
Enhanced Death Benefit I* (EDB I)
|
*You may not allocate
Purchase Payments to the Standard Dollar Cost Averaging Program if you elect any of these
optional benefits. Investment Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for the GMIB Max I and EDB Max I
AB Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio |
BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio |
Brighthouse Balanced Plus Portfolio |
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio |
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio |
MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio |
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio |
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio |
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio |
Western Asset Management Government Income Portfolio |
Investment
Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I,
and EDB II GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, EDB I, and EDB II. If you elect
the GMIB Plus II, GMIB Plus III, Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II, Enhanced Death Benefit I, or Enhanced Death Benefit II, you must allocate your investments according to either Option A or Option B below.
AB Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio |
American Funds® Balanced Allocation Portfolio |
American Funds® Growth Allocation Portfolio1
|
American Funds® Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio |
BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio1 |
Brighthouse Balanced Plus Portfolio |
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio |
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio |
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio |
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio |
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio |
SSGA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio |
SSGA Growth ETF Portfolio1
|
1 Only
available for contracts issued based on applications and necessary information received in Good Order before the close of the New York Stock Exchange on May 1,
2009.
OR
For contracts issued based on applications and necessary information received in Good Order before the close of
the New York Stock Exchange on May 1, 2009, the following investment allocation restrictions apply under Option B. You must allocate at least 15% of Purchase Payments
and Account Value
to Platform 1 portfolios and/or the Fixed Account(if
available) ; up to 85% of Purchase Payments
or Account
Value to Platform 2 portfolios; (the percentages of Platforms 3 and 4 are the same as
those listed above). We will automatically rebalance your allocations quarterly. The investment options in each Platform are:
|
|
|
|
BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio |
AB Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio |
Brighthouse/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio
|
American Funds® Balanced Allocation
Portfolio |
JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio |
American Funds® Growth Allocation
Portfolio |
MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio |
American Funds® Growth Portfolio
|
PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio |
American Funds® Moderate Allocation
Portfolio |
PIMCO Total Return Portfolio |
Baillie Gifford International Stock Portfolio |
Western Asset Management Government Income Portfolio
|
BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio |
Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio
|
BlackRock High Yield Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse Balanced Plus Portfolio |
|
Brighthouse/Wellington Core Equity Opportunities
Portfolio |
|
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio |
|
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio |
|
Invesco Comstock Portfolio |
|
Jennison Growth Portfolio |
|
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio |
|
Loomis Sayles Global Allocation Portfolio |
|
|
A minimum of 30% of Purchase Payments or
Account Value |
A maximum of 70% of Purchase Payments or
Account Value |
|
Loomis Sayles Growth Portfolio |
|
MetLife MSCI EAFE® Index Portfolio
|
|
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio |
|
MetLife Stock Index Portfolio |
|
MFS® Research International
Portfolio |
|
|
|
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio |
|
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio |
|
SSGA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio |
|
SSGA Growth ETF Portfolio |
|
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth Portfolio |
|
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio |
|
Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio |
|
|
|
|
Allspring Mid Cap Value Portfolio |
Brighthouse Small Cap Value Portfolio |
Brighthouse/Artisan Mid Cap Value Portfolio |
Brighthouse/abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
|
Frontier Mid Cap Growth Portfolio |
Brighthouse/Dimensional International Small Company
Portfolio |
MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index Portfolio |
Brighthouse/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio |
T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio |
Brighthouse/Templeton International Bond Portfolio
|
Victory Sycamore Mid Cap Value Portfolio |
CBRE Global Real Estate Portfolio |
|
Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio |
|
MetLife Russell 2000® Index Portfolio
|
|
Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio |
|
VanEck Global Natural Resources Portfolio |
Investment Allocation and Other
Purchase Payment Restrictions for the GMIB Plus I and Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I Riders
AB Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio |
American Funds® Balanced Allocation Portfolio |
American Funds® Growth Allocation Portfolio |
American Funds® Moderate Allocation Portfolio |
BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio |
BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Balanced Plus Portfolio |
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio |
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio |
MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio |
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio |
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio |
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio |
SSGA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio |
SSGA Growth ETF Portfolio |
Western Asset Management Government Income Portfolio |
Investment
Allocation and Other Purchase Payment Restrictions for the Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit.
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio |
Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio |
APPENDIX C
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
Examples
The purpose of these examples is to illustrate the operation of the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit.
(These examples use the annual increase rate for the GMIB Plus III rider, 5%. If a contract
was issued with the GMIB Max I rider, or if a contract was issued with certain versions of the GMIB Plus II or GMIB Plus I riders, the annual increase rate is 6% instead of 5%. See “Living
Benefits — Guaranteed Income Benefits.”) Example (7) shows how required minimum distributions affect the
Income Base when the GMIB Plus III is elected with an IRA contract (or another contract
subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code).
The investment results shown are hypothetical and are not representative of past or future performance. Actual investment results may be more or less than those
shown and will depend upon a number of factors, including investment allocations and the
investment experience of the Investment Portfolios chosen. The examples do not
reflect the deduction of fees and expenses, or income taxes and tax
penalties.
(1) Withdrawal Adjustments to Annual Increase Amount
Dollar-for-dollar adjustment when withdrawal is less
than or equal to 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary
Assume the initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and the GMIB Plus III is selected. Assume that during the first Contract Year, $5,000 is withdrawn. Because
the withdrawal is less than or equal to 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior
contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the withdrawal on a
dollar-for-dollar basis to $100,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded
annually, less $5,000 = $100,000). Assuming no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are
made before the second contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount at the second
contract anniversary will be $105,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded
annually).
Proportionate adjustment when withdrawal is greater
than 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary
Assume the initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and the GMIB Plus III is selected. Assume the Account Value at the first contract anniversary is $100,000.
The Annual Increase Amount at the first contract anniversary will be $105,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume that on
the first contract anniversary, $10,000 is withdrawn (leaving an account balance of
$90,000). Because the withdrawal is greater than 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the
prior contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the value of the
Annual Increase Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal ($105,000) multiplied by the
percentage reduction in the Account Value attributed to that entire withdrawal: 10% (the
$10,000 withdrawal reduced the $100,000 Account Value by 10%). Therefore, the new Annual
Increase Amount is $94,500 ($105,000 x 10% = $10,500; $105,000 - $10,500 = $94,500). (If
multiple withdrawals are made during a Contract Year — for example, two $5,000 withdrawals instead of one $10,000 withdrawal — and those withdrawals total more than 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced proportionately by each of the withdrawals
made during that Contract Year and there will be no dollar-for-dollar withdrawal adjustment
for the Contract Year.) Assuming no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are made before
the second contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount at the second contract
anniversary will be $99,225 ($94,500 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually).
(2) The Annual Increase Amount
Example
Assume the Owner of the contract is a male, age 55 at issue, and he elects the GMIB Plus III
rider. He makes an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000, and makes no additional Purchase Payments or partial withdrawals. On the contract issue date, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to $100,000 (the initial Purchase Payment). The Annual Increase Amount is
calculated at each contract anniversary (through the contract anniversary prior to the
Owner’s 91st birthday). At the tenth contract anniversary, when the Owner is age 65,
the Annual Increase Amount is $162,889 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded
annually). See section (3) below for an example of the calculation of the Highest Anniversary
Value.
Graphic Example: Determining a value upon which
future income payments can be based
Assume that you make an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000.Prior to annuitization, your Account Value
fluctuates above and below your initial Purchase Payment depending on the investment performance of
the investment options you selected. Your Purchase Payments accumulate at the annual
increase rate of 5%, until the contract anniversary prior to the contract Owner's 91st
birthday. Your Purchase Payments are also adjusted for any withdrawals made during this
period. The line (your Purchase Payments accumulated at 5% a year adjusted for withdrawals
and charges “the Annual Increase Amount”) is the value upon which future income
payments can be based.
Graphic Example: Determining your guaranteed lifetime income stream
Assume that you decide to annuitize your contract and begin taking Annuity Payments after 20 years. In this example, your Annual Increase Amount is higher than the Highest Anniversary Value and will produce a
higher income benefit. Accordingly, the Annual Increase Amount will be applied to the
annuity pay-out rates in the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Annuity Table to determine
your lifetime Annuity Payments. The Income Base is not available for cash
withdrawals and is only used for purposes of
calculating the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
payment and the charge for the benefit.
(3) The Highest Anniversary Value (HAV)
Example
Assume, as in the example in section (2) above, the Owner of the contract is a male,age 55 at issue, and he
elects the GMIB Plus III
rider. He makes an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000, and makes no additional Purchase
Payments or partial withdrawals. On the contract issue date, the Highest Anniversary Value
is equal to $100,000 (the initial Purchase Payment). Assume the Account Value on the first
contract anniversary is $108,000 due to good market performance. Because the Account Value
is greater than the Highest Anniversary Value ($100,000), the Highest Anniversary Value is
set equal to the Account Value ($108,000). Assume the Account Value on the second contract
anniversary is $102,000 due to poor market performance. Because the Account Value is less
than the Highest Anniversary Value ($108,000), the Highest Anniversary Value remains
$108,000.
Assume this process is repeated on each contract anniversary until the tenth contract anniversary, when
the Account Value is $155,000 and the Highest Anniversary Value is $150,000. The Highest
Anniversary Value is set equal to the Account Value ($155,000). See section (4) below for
an example of the exercise of the GMIB Plus III rider.
Graphic Example: Determining a value upon which
future income payments can be based
Prior to annuitization, the Highest Anniversary Value begins to lock in growth.The Highest Anniversary Value is adjusted upward each contract anniversary if the Account Value at that time is greater than the
amount of the current Highest Anniversary Value. Upward adjustments will continue until the
contract anniversary immediately prior to the contract Owner's 81st birthday. The Highest
Anniversary Value also is adjusted for any withdrawals taken or any additional
payments made. The Highest Anniversary Value line is the value upon which future income payments can be based.
Graphic Example: Determining your guaranteed lifetime income stream
Assume that you decide to annuitize your contract and begin taking Annuity Payments after 20 years. In this example, the Highest Anniversary Value is higher
than the Account Value. Accordingly, the Highest Anniversary Value will be applied to the
annuity payout rates in the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Annuity Table to determine
your lifetime Annuity Payments. The Income Base is not available for cash withdrawals and is only used for purposes of calculating
the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit payment and the charge for the benefit.
(4) Putting It All Together
Example
Continuing the examples in sections (2) and (3) above, assume the Owner chooses to exercise the GMIB Plus III rider at the tenth contract anniversary and elects a
life annuity with 5 years of Annuity Payments guaranteed. Because the Annual Increase Amount ($162,889) is greater than the Highest Anniversary
Value ($155,000), the Annual Increase Amount ($162,889) is used as the Income Base. The
Income Base of $162,889 is applied to the GMIB Annuity Table. This yields Annuity Payments
of $533 per month for life, with a minimum of 5 years guaranteed. (If the same Owner were
instead age 70, the Income Base of $162,889 would yield monthly payments of $611; if the
Owner were age 75, the Income Base of $162,889 would yield monthly payments of $717.)
The above example does not take into account the impact of premium and other taxes. As with other
pay-out types, the amount you receive as an income payment depends on the income type you
select, your age, and (where permitted by state law) your sex. The
Income Base is not available for cash withdrawals and
is only used for purposes of calculating the Guaranteed
Minimum Income Benefit payment and the charge for the benefit.
Graphic Example
Prior to annuitization, the two calculations (the Annual Increase Amount and the Highest Anniversary Value) work together to protect your future income.
Upon annuitization of the contract, you will receive income payments for life and the
Income Bases and the Account Value will cease to exist. Also, the GMIB Plus III may only be
exercised no later than the contract anniversary prior to the contract Owner's 91st
birthday, after a 10 year waiting period, and then only within a 30 day period following the contract anniversary. (The GMIB II may only be exercised no later than the contract anniversary on or following the contract Owner's 85th birthday, after a 10 year
waiting period, and then only within a 30 day period following the contract
anniversary.)
With the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, the Income Base is applied to special, conservative Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit annuity purchase factors, which are guaranteed at the time the contract is issued. However, if then-current annuity purchase factors applied to the Account Value would
produce a greater amount of income, then you will receive the greater amount. In other
words, when you annuitize your contract you will receive whatever amount produces the
greatest income payment. Therefore, if your Account Value would provide greater income than
would the amount provided under the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit, you will have paid
for the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit although it was never used.
(5)
The Guaranteed Principal Option — GMIB Plus III
Assume your initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and no withdrawals are taken.Assume that the Account Value at the 10th contract anniversary is $50,000 due to poor market performance, and you exercise the
Guaranteed Principal Option at this time.
The effects of exercising the Guaranteed Principal Option are:
1) A Guaranteed Principal Adjustment of $100,000 - $50,000 = $50,000 is added to the Account Value 30 days after the 10th contract anniversary bringing the Account Value back up to $100,000.
2) The GMIB Plus III rider and rider fee terminates as of the date that the adjustment is made to the
Account Value; the variable annuity contract continues.
3) The GMIB Plus III allocation and transfer restrictions terminate as of the date that the adjustment is made to the Account Value.
*Withdrawals reduce the original Purchase Payment (i.e. those payments credited within 120 days of contract issue date) proportionately and therefore, may have a significant impact on the amount of the
Guaranteed Principal Adjustment.
(6) The Optional Step-Up: Automatic Annual Step-Up — GMIB Plus III
Assume your
initial investment is $100,000 and no withdrawals are taken.The Annual Increase Amount
increases to $105,000 on the first anniversary ($100,000 increased by 5% per year,
compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the first contract anniversary is
$110,000 due to good market performance, and you elected Optional Step-Ups to occur under
the Automatic Annual Step-Up feature prior to the first contract anniversary. Because your
Account Value is higher than your Annual Increase Amount, an Optional Step-Up will
automatically occur.
The effect of the Optional Step-Up is:
(1) The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets from $105,000 to $110,000;
(2) The 10-year waiting period to annuitize the contract under the GMIB Plus III is reset to 10 years from
the first contract anniversary;
(3) The GMIB Plus III rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the same GMIB Plus III rider at that time; and
(4) The Guaranteed Principal Option can still be elected on the 10th contract anniversary.
The Annual
Increase Amount increases to $115,500 on the second anniversary ($110,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the second contract anniversary is $120,000 due to
good market performance, and you have not discontinued the
Automatic Annual Step-Up feature. Because your Account Value is higher than your Annual Increase Amount,
an Optional Step-Up will automatically occur.
The effect of the Optional Step-Up is:
(1) The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets from $115,500 to $120,000;
(2) The 10-year waiting period to annuitize the contract under the GMIB Plus III is reset to 10 years from
the second contract anniversary;
(3) The GMIB Plus III rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the same GMIB Plus III rider at that time; and
(4) The Guaranteed Principal Option can still be elected on the 10th contract anniversary.
Assume your
Account Value increases by $10,000 at each contract anniversary in years three through seven. At each contract anniversary, your Account Value would exceed the Annual Increase Amount and an Optional Step-Up
would automatically occur (provided you had not discontinued the Automatic Annual Step-Up
feature, and other requirements were met).
The effect of each Optional Step-Up is:
(1) The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets to the higher Account Value;
(2) The 10-year waiting period to annuitize the contract under the GMIB Plus III is reset to 10 years from
the date of the Optional Step-Up;
(3) The GMIB Plus III rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the same GMIB Plus III rider at that time; and
(4) The Guaranteed Principal Option can still be elected on the 10th contract anniversary.
After the
seventh contract anniversary, the initial Automatic Annual Step-Up election expires. Assume you do not make a new election of the Automatic Annual Step-Up.
The Annual Increase Amount increases to $178,500 on the eighth anniversary ($170,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value
at the eighth contract anniversary is $160,000 due to poor market performance. An Optional
Step-Up is NOT permitted because your Account Value is lower than your Annual Increase Amount. However, because the
Optional Step-Up has locked-in previous gains, the Annual Increase
Amount remains at $178,500 despite poor market performance, and, provided the rider continues in effect, will continue to grow at 5% annually (subject
to adjustments for additional Purchase Payments and/or withdrawals) through the contract
anniversary prior to your 91st birthday.Also, please note:
(1) The 10-year waiting period to annuitize the contract under the GMIB Plus III remains at the 17th contract anniversary (10 years from the date of the last Optional Step-Up);
(2) The GMIB Plus III rider charge remains at its current level; and
(3) The Guaranteed Principal Option can still be elected on the 10th contract anniversary.
(7) Required Minimum Distribution Examples — GMIB Plus III
The following examples only apply to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9)of the Internal Revenue Code. Assume an IRA contract is issued on September 1, 2016 and the GMIB Plus III rider is
selected. Assume that on the first contract anniversary (September 1, 2017), the Annual
Increase Amount is $100,000. Assume the required minimum distribution amount for 2017 with
respect to this contract is $6,000, and the required minimum distribution amount for 2018
with respect to this contract is $7,200. Assume that on both the first contract anniversary
(September 1, 2017) and the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018) the Account Value is $100,000.On the second contract anniversary, the annual increase rate is the greater of:
(a)
5%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
The required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for 2017 ($6,000)or for 2018 ($7,200), whichever is greater, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount as of September 1, 2017 ($100,000) and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year ($0);
(2a) if the contract Owner enrolls only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of
the calendar year; or
(2b) if the contract Owner enrolls in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum
of 5% of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program (which can be used to pay out any amount
above the Systematic Withdrawal Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill
minimum distribution requirements at the end of the calendar year), divided by the sum of:
(i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any
subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the
calendar year.
Because $7,200 (the required minimum distribution amount for 2018) is greater than $6,000 (the required
minimum distribution amount for 2017), (1) is equal to $7,200 divided by $100,000, or
7.2%.
Withdrawals Through the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program
If the contract Owner enrolls in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and elects monthly withdrawals, the Owner will receive $6,800 over the second Contract Year (from September 2017 through August 2018). Assuming the Owner makes no
withdrawals outside the Automated Required
Minimum Distribution Program, on September 1, 2018, the Annual Increase Amount will be increased to $100,400. This is calculated by increasing the
Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%)
and subtracting the total amount withdrawn through the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program ($6,800): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200; $107,200 - $6,800 =
$100,400.
(Why does the contract Owner receive $6,800 under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program in this example? From September through December 2017, the Owner receives $500 per month ($500 equals the $6,000 required minimum distribution amount for 2017 divided by 12). From January through August 2018, the Owner receives $600 per month ($600 equals the $7,200 required minimum distribution amount for 2018 divided by 12). The Owner receives $2,000 in 2017 and $4,800
in 2018, for a total of $6,800.)
Withdrawals Outside the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program
If the contract Owner withdraws the $6,000 required minimum distribution amount for 2017 in December 2017 and makes no other withdrawals from September 2017 through August 2018, the Annual Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $101,200. This is calculated by increasing the Annual
Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%) and
subtracting the total amount withdrawn ($6,000): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200;
$107,200 - $6,000 = $101,200.
If the contract Owner withdraws the $7,200 required minimum distribution amount for 2018 in January
2018 and makes no other withdrawals from September 2017 through August 2018, the Annual
Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $100,000. This is calculated by increasing the
Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%)
and subtracting the total amount withdrawn ($7,200): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200;
$107,200 - $7,200 = $100,000.
Withdrawals in Excess of the Required Minimum
Distribution Amounts
Assume the contract Owner withdraws $7,250 on September 1, 2017 and makes no other withdrawals before the second contract anniversary. Because the
$7,250 withdrawal exceeds the required minimum distribution amounts for 2017 and 2018, the
annual
increase rate will be 5% and the Annual Increase Amount on the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018) will be $97,387.50. On September 1, 2017, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the value of the Annual Increase Amount
immediately prior to the withdrawal ($100,000) multiplied by the percentage reduction in
the Account Value attributed to the withdrawal (7.25%). Therefore, the new Annual Increase
Amount is $92,750 ($100,000 × 7.25% = $7,250; $100,000 - $7,250 = $92,750). Assuming
no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are made before the second contract anniversary,
the Annual Increase Amount on the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018)
will be $97,387.50
($92,750 increased by 5% per year compounded annually).
No Withdrawals
If the contract Owner fulfills the minimum distribution requirements by making withdrawals from other IRA accounts and does not make any withdrawals from
this contract, the Annual Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $107,200. This is
calculated by increasing the Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by
the annual increase rate (7.2%) and subtracting the total amount
withdrawn from the contract ($0).
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APPENDIX D
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit Examples
The
purpose of these examples is to illustrate the operation of the Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit (GWB) rider. (Examples A and B are for the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I
and Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II riders. Examples C and D are for a previous version of the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider. Examples E through L are for
Enhanced GWB and GWB I.) The investment results shown are hypothetical and are not representative of past or future performance. Actual investment results may be more or less than those shown and will depend upon a number of factors, including investment allocations and the investment experience of the Investment Portfolios chosen. The examples do
not reflect the deduction of fees and expenses, or income taxes and tax penalties.
The GWB rider does not establish or guarantee an Account Value or minimum return for any Investment Portfolio. The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee) and the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Benefit Base (under the Enhanced GWB and GWB I) cannot be taken as a lump sum.
A. Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee
1.
When Withdrawals Do Not Exceed the Annual Benefit Payment
Assume that a contract had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. The initial Account Value would be $100,000,
the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000, the initial Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $5,000 ($100,000 x 5%).
Assume that $5,000 is withdrawn each year, beginning before the contract Owner attains age
59 1∕2. The Remaining
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is reduced by $5,000 each year as withdrawals are taken (the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is not reduced by these withdrawals). The Annual Benefit Payment of $5,000 is guaranteed to be received until the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is depleted, even if the Account Value is reduced to zero.
If the first
withdrawal is taken after age 59 1∕2, then the Annual Benefit Payment of $5,000 is guaranteed to be received for the Owner’s lifetime, even if the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Account Value are reduced to zero. (Under the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider, if the contract Owner makes the first withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner (or older Joint Owner, or Annuitant if the Owner is a non-natural person) attains or will attain age 76, the Withdrawal Rate is 6% instead of 5% and the Annual Benefit Payment is $6,000.)
2.
When Withdrawals Do Exceed the Annual Benefit Payment
a.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II — Proportionate Reduction
Assume that a contract with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider had an initial Purchase Payment of
$100,000. The initial Account Value would be $100,000, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000, the initial Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $5,000 ($100,000 × 5%). (If the contract Owner makes the first withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner attains or
will attain age 76, the Withdrawal Rate is 6% instead of 5% and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $6,000. For the purposes of this example, assume the contract Owner makes the first withdrawal before the Contract Year in which the Owner attains or will attain age 76 and the Withdrawal Rate is therefore 5%.)
Assume that the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is reduced to $95,000 due to a withdrawal of
$5,000 in the first year. Assume the Account Value was further reduced to $80,000 at year two due to poor market performance. If you withdrew $10,000 at this time, your Account Value would be reduced to $80,000
– $10,000 = $70,000. Since the withdrawal of $10,000 exceeded the
Annual Benefit Payment of $5,000, there would be a proportional reduction to the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The
proportional reduction is equal to the withdrawal ($10,000) divided by the Account Value before the withdrawal ($80,000), or 12.5%. The Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount after the withdrawal would be $83,125 ($95,000 reduced by 12.5%). This new Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount of $83,125 would now be the amount guaranteed to be available to be
withdrawn over time. The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be reduced to $87,500 ($100,000 reduced by 12.5%). The Annual Benefit Payment would be set equal to 5% × $87,500 = $4,375.
(Assume instead that you withdrew $10,000 during year two in two separate withdrawals of $5,000 on
different days. Since the first withdrawal of $5,000 did not exceed the Annual Benefit Payment of $5,000, there would be no proportional reduction to the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount at the time of that withdrawal. The second withdrawal of $5,000, however, results in cumulative withdrawals of $10,000 during year two and causes a proportional reduction to the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Total Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount. The proportional reduction would be equal to the entire amount of the second withdrawal ($5,000) divided by the Account Value before that withdrawal.)
b.
Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I — Reduction to Account Value
Assume that a contract with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee I rider had an initial Purchase Payment of
$100,000. The initial Account Value would be $100,000, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000, the initial Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $5,000 ($100,000 × 5%).
Assume that the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is reduced to $95,000 due to a withdrawal of $5,000 in the
first year. Assume the Account Value was further reduced to $75,000 at year two due to poor market performance. If you withdrew $10,000 at this time, your Account Value would be reduced to $75,000
– $10,000 = $65,000. Your Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount
would be reduced to $95,000 – $10,000 = $85,000.
Since the withdrawal of $10,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment of $5,000 and the resulting Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be greater than the resulting Account Value, there would be an additional reduction to the Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount. The Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount after the withdrawal would be set equal to the Account Value after the withdrawal ($65,000). This new Remaining Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount of $65,000 would now be the amount guaranteed to be available to be withdrawn over time. The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would also be reduced to $65,000. The Annual Benefit Payment would be set equal to 5% × $65,000 = $3,250.
B. Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II — Automatic Annual Step-Ups (No Withdrawals)
Assume that a
contract with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000 and the contract Owner was age 67 at the time the contract was
issued. Assume that no withdrawals are taken.
At the first contract anniversary, assume the Account Value has increased to $110,000 due to good market performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $100,000 to $110,000 and reset the Annual Benefit Payment to $5,500 ($110,000 × 5%).
At the second contract anniversary, assume the Account Value has increased to $120,000 due to good market
performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $110,000 to $120,000 and reset the Annual Benefit Payment to $6,000 ($120,000 × 5%).
Assume that on the third through the eighth contract anniversaries the Account Value does not exceed the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount due to poor market performance. No Automatic Annual Step-Up will take place on the third through
the
eighth contract anniversaries and the Annual Benefit Payment will remain $6,000 ($120,000 × 5%). Assume the Account Value at the ninth contract anniversary has
increased to $150,000 due to good market performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $120,000 to $150,000. Because
the contract Owner is now age 76 and did not take any withdrawals before the Contract Year in which he or she attained age 76, the Withdrawal Rate will also reset from 5% to 6%. The Annual Benefit Payment will be reset to $9,000 ($150,000 × 6%).
C. For Contracts Issued Before July 13, 2009 — Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II — Compounding Income Amount
Assume that a
contract issued before July 13, 2009 with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. The initial Remaining Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $100,000, and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $5,000 ($100,000 × 5%). (If
the contract Owner makes the first withdrawal during a Contract Year in which the Owner attains or will attain age 76, the Withdrawal Rate is 6% instead of 5% and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $6,000. For the purposes of this example, assume the contract Owner makes the first withdrawal before the Contract Year in which the Owner attains or will attain age 76 and the Withdrawal Rate is therefore 5%.)
The Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount will increase by 7.25% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount on each
contract anniversary until the earlier of the second withdrawal or the 10th contract anniversary. The Annual Benefit Payment will be recalculated as 5% of the new Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.
If the second withdrawal is taken in the first Contract Year, then there would be no increase: the Total
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would remain at $100,000 and the Annual Benefit Payment will remain at $5,000 ($100,000 × 5%).
If the second
withdrawal is taken in the second Contract Year, then the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would increase to $107,250 ($100,000 × 107.25%), and the Annual Benefit
Payment would increase to $5,362 ($107,250 × 5%).
If the second withdrawal is taken in the third Contract Year, then the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would increase to $115,025 ($107,250 × 107.25%), and the Annual Benefit Payment would increase to $5,751 ($115,025 × 5%).
If the second withdrawal is taken after the 10th Contract Year, then the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would increase to $201,360 (the initial
$100,000, increased by 7.25% per year, compounded annually for 10 years), and the Annual Benefit Payment would increase to $10,068 ($201,360 × 5%).
(The Lifetime
Withdrawal Guarantee I rider has a 5% Compounding Income Amount
and the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is increased by 5% on each contract anniversary until the earlier of the date of the first withdrawal or the tenth contract anniversary.)
D. For Contracts Issued Before July 13, 2009 — Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II — Automatic Annual Step-Ups and 7.25% Compounding Income Amount (No Withdrawals)
Assume that a
contract issued before July 13, 2009 with the Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee II rider had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. Assume that no withdrawals are
taken.
At the first contract anniversary, assuming that no withdrawals are taken, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is increased to $107,250 ($100,000 increased by 7.25%, compounded annually). Assume the Account Value has increased to $110,000 at the first contract anniversary due to good market performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $107,250 to $110,000 and reset the Annual Benefit Payment to $5,500 ($110,000 × 5%).
At the second contract anniversary, assuming that no withdrawals are taken, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal
Amount is increased to $117,975 ($110,000 increased by 7.25%, compounded annually). Assume the Account Value has increased to $120,000 at the second contract anniversary due to good market performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $117,975 to $120,000 and reset the Annual Benefit Payment to $6,000 ($120,000 × 5%).
Assuming that no withdrawals are taken, each year the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would increase by 7.25%,
compounded annually, from the second contract anniversary through the ninth contract anniversary, and at that point would be equal to $195,867. Assume that during these Contract Years the Account Value does not exceed the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount due to poor market performance. Assume the Account Value at the ninth contract anniversary has increased to $200,000 due to good market performance. The Automatic Annual Step-Up will increase the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount from $195,867 to $200,000 and reset the Annual Benefit Payment to $10,000 ($200,000 × 5%).
At the 10th contract anniversary, assuming that no withdrawals are taken, the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount is increased to $214,500 ($200,000 increased by 7.25%, compounded annually). Assume the Account Value is less than $214,500. There is no Automatic Annual Step-Up since the Account Value is below the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount; however, due to the 7.25% increase in the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, the Annual Benefit Payment is increased to $10,725 ($214,500 × 5%).
E.
Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and GWB I — How Withdrawals Affect the Benefit Base
1. An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would
be $105,000 ($100,000 + 5% GWB Bonus Amount). Assume that the Account Value grew to $110,000 because of market performance. If a subsequent withdrawal of $10,000 were made, the Benefit Base would be reduced to $105,000 - $10,000 =
$95,000. Assume the withdrawal of $10,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment. Since the Account Value of $100,000 exceeds the Benefit Base of $95,000, no further reduction to the Benefit Base is made.
2. An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would be $105,000. Assume that the Account Value shrank to $90,000 because of market performance. If a subsequent withdrawal of $10,000 were
made, the Benefit Base would be reduced to $95,000 and the Account Value would be reduced to $80,000. Assume the withdrawal of $10,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment. Since the Account Value of $80,000 is less than the Benefit Base of $95,000, a further reduction of the $15,000 difference is made, bringing the Benefit Base to $80,000.
F. Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and GWB I — How Withdrawals and Subsequent Purchase Payments Affect the Annual Benefit Payment
An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would be $105,000 and the initial
Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350 ($105,000 x 7%). If $7,000 withdrawals were then made for each of the next five years, the Benefit Base would be decreased to $70,000. If a subsequent Purchase Payment of $10,000 were made the next day, the Benefit Base would be increased to $70,000 + $10,000 + (5% x $10,000) = $80,500. The Annual Benefit Payment would be reset to the greater of a) $7,350 (the Annual Benefit Payment before the second Purchase Payment) and b) $5,635 (7% multiplied by the Benefit Base after the second Purchase Payment). In this case, the Annual Benefit Payment would remain at $7,350.
G. Enhanced
Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and GWB I — How Withdrawals Affect the
Annual Benefit Payment
1. An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would be $105,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350. If a withdrawal of $9,000 was made the next day, and negative market performance reduced the Account Value by an additional $1,000, the Account Value would be reduced to $100,000 - $9,000 - $1,000 = $90,000. Since the withdrawal of $9,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment of $7,350, the Annual Benefit Payment would be reset to the lower of a) $7,350 (the Annual Benefit Payment before the
withdrawal) and b) $6,300 (7% multiplied by the Account Value after the withdrawal). In this case the Annual Benefit Payment would be reset to $6,300.
2. An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would
be $105,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350. If a withdrawal of $10,000 was made two years later after the Account Value had increased to $150,000, the Account Value would be reduced to $140,000. Since the withdrawal of
$10,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment of $7,350, the Annual Benefit Payment would be reset to the lower of a) $7,350 (the Annual Benefit Payment before the withdrawal) and b) $9,800 (7% multiplied by the Account Value after the withdrawal). In this case the Annual Benefit Payment would remain at $7,350.
H. Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and GWB I — How Withdrawals and Subsequent Purchase Payments Affect the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount
An initial
Purchase Payment is made of $100,000 and the initial Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and initial Benefit Base would both be $105,000. Assume that over the next five years,
withdrawals reduced the Benefit Base to $70,000. If a subsequent Purchase Payment of $10,000 was made, the Benefit Base would be increased to $70,000 + $10,000 + (5% x
$10,000) = $80,500. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be reset to the greater of a) $105,000 (the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount before the second Purchase Payment) and b) $80,500 (the Benefit Base after the second Purchase Payment). In this case, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would remain at $105,000.
I. Enhanced Guaranteed Withdrawal Benefit and GWB I — Putting It All Together
1.
When Withdrawals Do Not Exceed the Annual Benefit Payment
An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would be $105,000, the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount would be $105,000, and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350. Assume that the Benefit Base was reduced to $82,950 due to 3 years of withdrawing $7,350 each year and assume that the Account Value was further reduced to $50,000 at year four due to poor market performance. If you withdrew $7,350 at this time, your Account Value would be
reduced to $50,000 - $7,350 = $42,650. Your Benefit Base would be reduced to $82,950 - $7,350 = $75,600.
Since the withdrawal of $7,350 did not exceed the Annual Benefit Payment, there would be no additional reduction to the Benefit Base. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would remain at $105,000 and the Annual Benefit Payment would remain at $7,350.
2. When Withdrawals Do Exceed the Annual Benefit Payment
An initial Purchase Payment is made of $100,000. The initial Benefit Base would be $105,000, the Guaranteed
Withdrawal Amount would be $105,000, and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350. Assume that the Benefit Base was reduced to $82,950 due to 3 years of withdrawing $7,350 each year. Assume the Account Value was further reduced to $50,000 at year four due to poor market performance. If you withdrew $10,000 at this time, your Account Value would be reduced to $50,000 - $10,000 = $40,000. Your Benefit Base would be reduced to $82,950 - $10,000 = $72,950. Since the withdrawal of $10,000 exceeded the Annual Benefit Payment of $7,350 and the resulting Benefit Base would be greater than the resulting Account Value, there would be an additional reduction to the Benefit Base. The Benefit Base after the withdrawal would be set equal to the Account Value after the withdrawal = $40,000. The Annual Benefit Payment would be set equal to the lesser of $7,350 and 7% x $40,000 = $2,800. The Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would remain at $105,000, but this amount now no longer would be guaranteed to be received over time. The new Benefit Base of $40,000 would be now the amount guaranteed to be available to be withdrawn over time.
J. Enhanced GWB — How the Optional Reset Works (may be elected prior to age 86)
Assume that a contract had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000 and the fee is 0.55%. The initial Account
Value would be $100,000, the initial Benefit Base would be $105,000, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $105,000 and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350 (assuming you began withdrawing in your first year).
The Account
Value on the third contract anniversary grew due to market performance to $148,350. Assume the fee remains at 0.55%. If an Optional Reset is elected or Automatic Annual
Resets are in effect, the charge would remain at 0.55%, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Benefit Base would both be reset to $148,350, and the Annual Benefit
Payment would become 7% x $148,350 = $10,385.
The Account Value on the sixth contract anniversary grew due to market performance to $179,859. Assume the fee
has been increased to 0.60%. If an Optional Reset is elected or Automatic Annual Resets are in effect, the charge would increase to 0.60%, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Benefit Base would both be reset to $179,859, and the Annual Benefit Payment would become 7% x $179,859 = $12,590.
The Account Value on the ninth contract anniversary grew due to market performance to $282,582. Assume the fee is still 0.60%. If an Optional Reset is elected or Automatic Annual Resets are in effect, the charge would remain at 0.60%, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and the Benefit Base would both be reset to $282,582, and the Annual Benefit Payment would become 7% x $282,582 = $19,781.
The period of time over which the Annual Benefit Payment may be taken would be lengthened.
K. Enhanced GWB — How a One-Time Optional Reset May Increase the Benefit Base While Decreasing the
Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount and Annual Benefit Payment
Assume that a contract had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. The initial Account Value would be $100,000,
the initial Benefit Base would be $105,000, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be $105,000 and the Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350.
Assume that the Benefit Base is reduced to $70,000 due to 5 years of withdrawing $7,000 each year, but also
assume that, due to positive market performance, the Account Value at the end of 5 years is $80,000. If a one-time Optional Reset is elected, the Benefit Base would be reset from $70,000 to $80,000, the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount would be reduced from $105,000 to $80,000, and the Annual Benefit Payment would be reduced from $7,350 to $5,600 ($80,000 x 7%). (If you elect Automatic Annual Resets, a reset will not occur if the Account Value is lower than the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount.)
Under these circumstances, the one-time Optional Reset increases the Benefit Base (the remaining amount of money you are guaranteed to receive) by $10,000, but also reduces the Annual Benefit Payment, thereby lengthening the period of time over which you will receive the money. This Optional Reset also reduces the Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount, against which the GWB rider charge is calculated. If the GWB rider charge fee rate does not increase in connection with the Optional Reset, the reduced Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount will result in a reduction in the amount of the annual GWB rider charge.
L. Enhanced
GWB and GWB I — Annual Benefit Payment Continuing When Account Value
Reaches Zero
Assume that a contract had an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. The initial Account Value would be $100,000, the initial Benefit Base would be $105,000 and the initial Annual Benefit Payment would be $7,350 ($105,000 x 7%).
Assume that the
Benefit Base was reduced to $31,500 due to 10 years of withdrawing $7,350 each year and assume that the Account Value was further reduced to $0 at year 11 due to poor
market performance. We would commence making payments to you (equal, on an annual basis, to the Annual Benefit Payment) until the Benefit Base is exhausted.
In this
situation (assuming monthly payments), there would be 51 payments of $612.50 and a final payment of $262.50, which, in sum, would deplete the $31,500 Benefit Base. The
total amount withdrawn over the life of the contract would then be
$105,000.
APPENDIX E
Death Benefit Examples
The
purpose of these examples is to illustrate the operation of the Principal Protection death benefit, the Annual Step-Up death benefit, the Compounded-Plus death benefit,
and the Enhanced Death Benefit riders. The investment results shown are hypothetical and are not representative of past or future performance. Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown and will depend upon a number of factors, including the investment allocation made by a contract Owner and the investment experience of the Investment Portfolios chosen. The examples do not reflect the
deduction of fees and expenses, or income taxes and tax penalties.
Principal Protection Death Benefit
The
purpose of this example is to show how partial withdrawals reduce the Principal Protection death benefit proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value
attributable to each partial withdrawal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/1/2024
(First Contract Anniversary) |
|
|
|
|
$104,000
(= greater of A and B) |
|
|
9/1/2025
(Second Contract Anniversary) |
|
|
|
|
$100,000
(= greater of A and D) |
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Reduction in Account
Value |
|
|
|
Account Value after Withdrawal |
|
|
|
Purchase Payments Reduced for
Withdrawal |
|
|
|
|
|
$90,000
(= greater of H and I) |
Notes to Example
Purchaser is
age 60 at issue.
The Account Values on 9/1/2025 and 9/2/2025 are assumed
to be equal prior to the withdrawal.
Annual Step-Up Death Benefit
The purpose of this example is to show how partial withdrawals reduce the Annual Step-Up death benefit
proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/1/2024
(First Contract Anniversary) |
|
|
Death Benefit (Highest Anniversary
Value) |
|
$104,000
(= greater of A and B) |
|
|
9/1/2025
(Second Contract Anniversary) |
|
|
Death Benefit (Highest Contract Year
Anniversary) |
|
$104,000
(= greater of B and D) |
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Reduction in Account
Value |
|
|
|
Account Value after Withdrawal |
|
|
|
Highest Anniversary Value Reduced
for Withdrawal |
|
|
|
|
|
$93,600
(= greater of H and I) |
Notes to Example
Purchaser is
age 60 at issue.
The Account Values on 9/1/2025 and 9/2/2025 are assumed
to be equal prior to the withdrawal.
Compounded-Plus Death Benefit
The purpose of this example is to show how partial withdrawals reduce the Compounded-Plus death benefit
proportionately by the percentage reduction in Account Value attributable to each partial withdrawal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/1/2024 (First Contract
Anniversary) |
|
|
Account Value (Highest Anniversary
Value) |
|
$104,000
(= greater of A and B) |
|
5% Annual Increase Amount |
|
|
|
|
|
$105,000
(= greater of C1 and C2) |
|
|
9/1/2025 (Second Contract
Anniversary) |
|
|
Highest Anniversary Value |
|
$104,000
(= greater of C1 and D) |
|
5% Annual Increase Amount |
|
$110,250
(= A × 1.05 × 1.05) |
|
|
|
$110,250
(= greater of E1 and E2) |
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage Reduction in Account
Value |
|
|
|
Account Value after Withdrawal |
|
|
|
Highest Anniversary Value Reduced
for Withdrawal |
|
|
|
5% Annual Increase Amount Reduced
for Withdrawal |
|
$99,238
(= E2-(E2 × G). Note: E2
includes additional
day of interest at 5%) |
|
|
|
$99,238
(= greatest of H, I1 and I2) |
Notes to Example
Purchaser is
age 60 at issue.
The Account Values on 9/1/2025 and 9/2/2025 are assumed
to be equal prior to the withdrawal.
Enhanced Death Benefit
The purpose of these examples is to illustrate the operation of the Death Benefit Base under the Enhanced Death
Benefit. (These examples use the annual increase rate for the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider, 5%. If a contract was issued with the EDB Max I rider or certain versions of the Enhanced Death Benefit I rider, the annual increase rate is 6% instead of 5%. See “Death Benefit — Optional Death Benefit — EDB Max I” and “Death Benefit — Description of Enhanced Death Benefit I.”) Example (7) shows how required minimum distributions
affect the Death Benefit Base when the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider is elected with an IRA contract (or another contract subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal
Revenue Code).
(1) Withdrawal Adjustments to Annual Increase Amount
Dollar-for-dollar adjustment when withdrawal is less
than or equal to 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary
Assume the initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and the Enhanced Death Benefit II is selected. Assume that during the first Contract Year, $5,000 is withdrawn. Because the withdrawal is less than or equal to 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the withdrawal on a dollar-for-dollar basis to $100,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually, less $5,000 = $100,000).
Assuming no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are made before the second contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount at the second contract anniversary will be $105,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year,
compounded annually).
Proportionate adjustment when withdrawal is greater
than 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary
Assume the initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and the Enhanced Death Benefit II is selected. Assume the Account Value at the first contract anniversary is $100,000. The Annual Increase Amount at the first contract anniversary will be $105,000 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume that on the first contract anniversary, $10,000 is withdrawn (leaving an account balance of $90,000). Because the withdrawal is greater than 5% of the Annual Increase Amount from the prior contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the value of the Annual Increase Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal ($105,000) multiplied by the percentage reduction in the Account Value attributed to that withdrawal (10%). Therefore, the new Annual Increase Amount is $94,500 ($105,000 x 10% = $10,500; $105,000 - $10,500 = $94,500). Assuming no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are made before the second contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount at the second contract anniversary will be $99,225 ($94,500 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually).
(2) The Annual Increase Amount
Example
Assume the contract Owner is a male, age 55 at issue, and he elects the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider. He makes an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000, and makes no additional Purchase Payments or partial withdrawals. On the contract issue date, the Annual Increase Amount is equal to $100,000 (the initial Purchase Payment). The Annual Increase Amount is calculated at each contract anniversary (through the contract anniversary on or following the contract Owner's 90th birthday). At the tenth contract anniversary, when the contract Owner is age 65, the Annual Increase Amount is $162,889 ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). See section (3) below for an example of the calculation of the Highest Anniversary Value.
Determining a death benefit based on the Annual
Increase Amount
Assume that you make an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000. Prior to annuitization, your Account Value fluctuates above and below your initial Purchase Payment depending on the investment performance of the subaccounts you selected. The Annual Increase Amount, however, accumulates an amount equal to your Purchase Payments at the Annual Increase Rate of 5% per year, until the contract anniversary on or following the contract Owner's 90th birthday. The Annual Increase Amount is also adjusted for any withdrawals made during this period. The Annual Increase Amount is the value upon which a future death benefit amount can be based (if it is greater than the Highest Anniversary Value and Account Value on the date the death benefit amount is
determined).
(3) The Highest Anniversary Value (HAV)
Example
Assume, as in the example in section (2) above, the contract Owner is a male, age 55 at issue, and he elects the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider. He makes an initial Purchase Payment of $100,000, and makes no additional Purchase Payments or partial withdrawals. On the contract issue date, the Highest Anniversary Value is equal to $100,000 (the initial Purchase Payment). Assume the Account Value on the first contract anniversary is $108,000 due to good market performance. Because the Account Value is greater than the Highest Anniversary Value ($100,000), the Highest Anniversary Value is set equal to the Account Value ($108,000). Assume the Account Value on the second contract anniversary is $102,000 due to poor market performance. Because the Account Value is less than the Highest
Anniversary Value ($108,000), the Highest Anniversary Value remains
$108,000.
Assume this process is repeated on each contract anniversary until the tenth contract anniversary, when the Account Value is $155,000 and the Highest Anniversary Value is $150,000. The Highest Anniversary Value is set equal to the Account Value ($155,000).
Determining a death benefit based on the Highest
Anniversary Value
Prior to annuitization, the Highest Anniversary Value begins to lock in growth. The Highest Anniversary Value is adjusted upward each contract anniversary if the Account Value at that time is greater than the amount of the current Highest Anniversary Value. Upward adjustments will continue until the contract anniversary immediately prior to the contract Owner's 81st birthday. The Highest Anniversary Value also is adjusted for any withdrawals taken or any additional payments made. The Highest Anniversary Value is the value upon which a future death benefit amount can be based (if it is greater than the Annual Increase Amount and Account Value on the date the death benefit amount is determined).
(4) Putting It All Together
Example
Continuing the examples in sections (2) and (3) above, assume the contract Owner dies after the tenth contract anniversary but prior to the eleventh contract anniversary, and on the date the death benefit amount is determined, the Account Value is $150,000 due to poor market performance. Because the Annual Increase Amount ($162,889) is
greater than the Highest Anniversary Value ($155,000), the Annual Increase Amount ($162,889) is used as the Death Benefit Base. Because the Death Benefit Base ($162,889) is greater than the Account Value ($150,000), the Death Benefit Base will be the death benefit amount.
The above example does not take into account the impact of premium and other
taxes. The Death Benefit Base is not available for cash
withdrawals and is only used for purposes of calculating the death benefit amount and the charge for the benefit.
(5) The Optional Step-Up
Assume your
initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and no withdrawals are taken. The Annual Increase Amount increases to $105,000 on the first anniversary ($100,000 increased by 5% per
year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the first contract anniversary is $110,000 due to good market performance, and you elect an Optional
Step-Up.
The effect of the Optional Step-Up election is:
(1)
The Annual Increase Amount resets from $105,000 to $110,000; and
(2) The Enhanced Death Benefit II rider charge may be reset to the fee we would
charge new contract Owners for the Enhanced Death Benefit II at that time.
The Annual Increase Amount increases to $115,500 on the second anniversary ($110,000 increased by
5% per year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the second contract anniversary is $112,000 due to poor market performance. You may NOT elect an Optional Step-Up at this time, because the Account Value is less than the Annual Increase
Amount.
(6) The Optional Step-Up: Automatic Annual Step-Up
Assume your initial Purchase Payment is $100,000 and no withdrawals are taken. The Annual Increase Amount
increases to $105,000 on the first anniversary ($100,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the first contract anniversary is $110,000 due to good market performance, and you elected Optional Step-Ups to occur under the Automatic Annual Step-Up feature prior to the first contract anniversary. Because your Account Value is higher than your Annual Increase Amount, an Optional Step-Up will automatically occur.
The effect of the Optional Step-Up is:
(1)
The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets from $105,000 to $110,000; and
(2) The Enhanced Death Benefit II rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the Enhanced Death Benefit II at that time.
The Annual Increase Amount increases to $115,500 on the second anniversary ($110,000 increased by 5% per year,
compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the second contract anniversary is $120,000 due to good market performance, and you have not discontinued the Automatic Annual Step-Up feature. Because your Account Value is higher than your Annual Increase Amount, an Optional Step-Up will automatically occur.
The effect of the Optional Step-Up is:
(1)
The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets from $115,500 to $120,000; and
(2) The Enhanced Death Benefit II rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the Enhanced Death Benefit II at that time.
Assume your Account Value increases by $10,000 at each contract anniversary in years three through seven. At each
contract anniversary, your Account Value would exceed the Annual Increase Amount and an Optional Step-Up would automatically occur (provided you had not discontinued the Automatic Annual Step-Up feature, and other requirements were met).
The effect of the Optional Step-Up is:
(1)
The Annual Increase Amount automatically resets to the higher Account Value; and
(2) The Enhanced Death Benefit II rider charge may be reset to the fee we would charge new contract Owners for the Enhanced Death Benefit II at that time.
After the seventh contract anniversary, the initial Automatic Annual Step-Up election expires. Assume you do not
make a new election of the Automatic Annual Step-Up. The Annual Increase Amount increases to $178,500 on the eighth anniversary ($170,000 increased by 5% per year, compounded annually). Assume your Account Value at the eighth contract anniversary is $160,000 due to poor market performance. An Optional Step-Up is
NOT permitted because your Account Value is lower than your Annual Increase Amount. However, because the Optional Step-Up has locked-in previous gains, the Annual Increase Amount remains at $178,500 despite poor market performance, and, provided the rider continues in effect, will continue to grow at 5% annually (subject to adjustments for additional Purchase Payments and/or withdrawals) through the contract anniversary on or after your 90th birthday. Also, note the Enhanced Death Benefit II rider charge remains at its current level.
(7) Required Minimum Distribution Examples — Enhanced Death Benefit II
The following
examples only apply to IRAs and other contracts subject to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. Assume an IRA contract is issued on September 1, 2016 and the
Enhanced Death Benefit II rider is selected. Assume that on the first contract anniversary (September 1, 2017), the Annual Increase Amount is $100,000. Assume the
required minimum distribution amount for 2017 with respect to this contract is $6,000, and the required minimum distribution amount for 2018 with respect to this contract is $7,200. Assume that on both the first contract anniversary (September 1, 2017) and the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018) the Account Value is $100,000. On the second contract anniversary, the annual increase rate is the greater of:
(a) 5%; or
(b) the required minimum distribution rate (as defined below).
The required minimum distribution rate equals the greater of:
(1) the required minimum distribution amount for 2017 ($6,000) or for 2018 ($7,200), whichever is greater, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount as of September 1, 2017 ($100,000) and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year ($0);
(2a) if the contract Owner enrolls only in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, the total
withdrawals during the Contract Year under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, divided by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year; or
(2b) if the contract Owner enrolls in both the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program, the total withdrawals during the Contract Year under (I) the Systematic Withdrawal Program (up to a maximum of 5% of the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year) and (II) the
Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program (which can be used to pay out any amount above the Systematic Withdrawal Program withdrawals that must be withdrawn to fulfill minimum distribution requirements at the end of the calendar year), divided by by the sum of: (i) the Annual Increase Amount at the beginning of the Contract Year and (ii) any subsequent Purchase Payments received during the Contract Year before the end of the calendar year.
Because $7,200 (the required minimum distribution amount for 2018) is greater than $6,000 (the required minimum
distribution amount for 2017), (1) is equal to $7,200 divided by $100,000, or 7.2%.
(i)
Withdrawals Through the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program
If the contract
Owner enrolls in the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program and elects monthly withdrawals, the Owner will receive $6,800 over the second Contract Year (from
September 2017 through August 2018). Assuming the Owner makes no withdrawals outside the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program, on September 1, 2018, the
Annual Increase Amount will be increased to $100,400. This is calculated by increasing the Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%) and subtracting the total amount withdrawn through the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program ($6,800): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200; $107,200 - $6,800 = $100,400.
(Why does the contract Owner receive $6,800 under the Automated Required Minimum Distribution Program in this
example? From September through December 2017, the Owner receives $500 per month ($500 equals the $6,000 required minimum distribution amount for 2017 divided by 12). From January through August 2018, the Owner receives $600 per month ($600 equals the $7,200 required minimum distribution amount for 2018 divided by 12). The Owner receives $2,000 in 2017 and $4,800 in 2018, for a total of $6,800.)
(ii) Withdrawals Outside the Automated Required Minimum
Distribution Program
If the contract Owner withdraws the $6,000 required minimum distribution amount for 2017 in December 2017 and makes no other withdrawals from September 2017 through August 2018, the Annual Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $101,200. This is calculated by increasing the Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%) and subtracting the total amount withdrawn ($6,000): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200; $107,200 - $6,000 = $101,200.
If the contract Owner withdraws the $7,200 required minimum distribution amount for 2018 in January 2018 and
makes no other withdrawals from September 2017 through August 2018, the Annual Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $100,000. This is calculated by increasing the Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual increase rate (7.2%) and subtracting the total amount withdrawn ($7,200): $100,000 increased by 7.2% = $107,200; $107,200 - $7,200 = $100,000.
(iii) Withdrawals in Excess of the Required Minimum Distribution Amounts
Assume the
contract Owner withdraws $7,250 on September 1, 2017 and makes no other withdrawals before the second contract anniversary. Because the $7,250 withdrawal exceeds the
required minimum distribution amounts for 2017 and 2018, the annual increase rate will be 5% and the Annual Increase Amount on the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018) will be $97,387.50. On September 1, 2017, the Annual Increase Amount is reduced by the value of the Annual Increase Amount immediately prior to the withdrawal ($100,000) multiplied by the percentage reduction in the Account Value attributed to the withdrawal (7.25%). Therefore, the new Annual Increase Amount is $92,750 ($100,000 × 7.25% = $7,250; $100,000 - $7,250 = $92,750). Assuming no other Purchase Payments or withdrawals are made before the second contract anniversary, the Annual Increase Amount on the second contract anniversary (September 1, 2018) will be $97,387.50 ($92,750 increased by 5% per year compounded annually).
(iv) No Withdrawals
If the contract
Owner fulfills the minimum distribution requirements by making withdrawals from other IRA accounts and does not make any withdrawals from this contract, the Annual
Increase Amount on September 1, 2018 will be $107,200. This is calculated by increasing the Annual Increase Amount from September 1, 2017 ($100,000) by the annual
increase rate (7.2%) and subtracting the total amount withdrawn from the contract ($0).
The statement of additional information (“SAI”) dated May 1, 2023 includes additional information about the Separate Account. The SAI is incorporated by reference. The
SAI is available, without charge, upon request. For a free copy of the SAI, or to request other information about the Contract, and to make investor inquiries, call us at
(888) 243-1932.
Reports and other information about the Separate Account are available on the SEC’s website at
https://www.sec.gov/, and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
EDGAR Contract Identifier No. is C000151853
Statement of Additional Information
Individual Variable Deferred Annuity Contract
issued by
Brighthouse Separate Account A
and
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
Series C
(offered between September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus but relates to, and
should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus dated May 1,
2023. A copy of the Individual Variable Deferred Annuity Contract Prospectus may be obtained by writing to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 305075, Nashville, TN 37230-5075, or by calling (888) 243-1932, by visiting https://dfinview.com/BHF/TAHD/BHF153 or by accessing the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov/.
The SAI contains information in addition to the information described in the Prospectus for the Individual Variable Deferred Annuity Contract (the “Contract”) offered by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“we”, “our”, or the “Company”).The Prospectus concisely sets forth information that a prospective investor ought to know before investing.
This Statement of Additional Information is dated May 1,
2023.
THE COMPANY
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“BLIC” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation originally incorporated in Connecticut in 1863. Prior
to March 6, 2017, BLIC was known as MetLife Insurance Company USA. BLIC is licensed to
conduct business in all U.S. states (except New York), the District of Columbia, the Bahamas,
Guam, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. BLIC is an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of, and ultimately controlled by, Brighthouse Financial,
Inc. (“BHF”), a publicly-traded company. The Company was an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. until August 4, 2017, when BHF became an independent, publicly-traded company following
the completion of a separation transaction. BHF, through its subsidiaries and affiliates,
is one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S. BLIC’s executive
offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company History
MetLife Insurance Company USA: From the close of business on November 14, 2014 to March 6, 2017, BLIC was called MetLife Insurance Company USA (“MetLife USA”). MetLife USA was established following the close of business on November 14, 2014, when MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, MetLife Investors Insurance Company and Exeter
Reassurance Company, Ltd. were merged into MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, and
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut was then renamed MetLife Insurance Company USA.
Simultaneously, MetLife USA changed its domicile from Connecticut to the state of Delaware.
As a result of this merger, MetLife USA assumed legal ownership of all of the assets of
these predecessor companies, including assets held in the separate accounts, and became responsible for administering the contracts and paying any benefits due under all contracts issued by each of its
corporate predecessors. These predecessor companies that issued contracts on and prior to
November 14, 2014 were the following:
•MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut: MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (“MICC”), originally chartered in Connecticut in 1863, was known as Travelers Insurance Company prior to May 1,
2006.
MICC
changed its name to MetLife Insurance Company USA and its state of domicile to Delaware
after November 14, 2014 as described under “MetLife Insurance Company USA”
above.
•MetLife Life and Annuity Company of
Connecticut: MetLife Life and Annuity Company of Connecticut (MLAC), originally chartered in Connecticut in 1973, was known as Travelers Life and Annuity Company prior to May 1, 2006. On or about December 7, 2007, MLAC merged with and into MICC.
•MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company: MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (MLI USA), originally chartered in Delaware in 1960, was known as Security First Life Insurance Company prior to January 8, 2001. MLI USA was merged into BLIC after
the close of business on November 14, 2014, as described under “MetLife Insurance
Company USA” above.
•MetLife Investors Insurance Company: MetLife Investors Insurance Company (MLI), originally chartered in Missouri in 1981, was known as Cova Financial Services Life Insurance Company prior to February 12, 2001. MLI was merged into BLIC after
the close of business on November 14, 2014, as described under “MetLife Insurance
Company USA” above.
•MetLife Investors Insurance Company of California: MetLife Investors Insurance Company of California (MLI-CA), originally chartered in California in 1972, was known as Cova Financial Life Insurance Company prior to February 12, 2001. On November 9, 2006 MLI-CA merged with and into MLI.
THE
SEPARATE ACCOUNT
We have established a Separate Account, Brighthouse Separate Account A (the “Separate Account”), to hold the assets that underlie the contracts. The Board of Directors of our predecessor, MetLife Investors USA
Insurance Company (MLI USA), adopted a resolution to establish the Separate Account under
Delaware insurance law on May 29, 1980. We have registered the Separate Account
with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Separate Account
is divided into subaccounts.
SERVICES
BLIC maintains certain books and records of the Separate Account and provides certain issuance and other administrative services for the Contracts. Pursuant to a
services agreement, Computer Sciences Corporation, through its affiliate Alliance-One
Services, Inc. provides certain other administrative and recordkeeping services for the
Contracts as well as other contracts and policies issued by BLIC. The amount paid to Computer Sciences Corporation for the period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 was $18,839,325, for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 was $20,238,936 and for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 was $17,646,514.
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The financial statements comprising each of the Sub-Accounts of Brighthouse Separate Account A, and the financial statements of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information, have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The principal business address of Deloitte & Touche LLP is 650 South Tryon Street, Suite 1800, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-3512.
CUSTODIAN
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, is the custodian of the assets of the Separate Account. The
custodian has custody of all cash of the Separate Account and handles the collection of
proceeds of shares of the underlying funds bought and sold by the Separate Account.
DISTRIBUTION
Information about the distribution of the contracts is contained in the prospectus. (See “Other Information.”) Additional information is provided
below.
Currently the contract is not available for new sales.
Brighthouse Securities, LLC (Distributor) serves as principal underwriter for the contracts. Distributor and the Company are affiliates because they are both under
common control of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Distributor’s home office is located at
11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277. Distributor is registered as a
broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Distributor
has entered into selling agreements with other broker-dealers (“selling firms”) and compensates them for their services.
The
following table shows the amount of commissions paid to and the amount of commissions retained by the principal underwriter.
|
Aggregate Amount
of Commissions Paid to Distributor |
Aggregate Amount of Commissions Retained by Distributor
After Payments to Selling Firms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributor passes through commissions to selling firms for their sales. In addition we pay compensation
to Distributor to offset its expenses, including compensation costs, marketing and
distribution expenses, advertising, wholesaling, printing, and other expenses of distributing
the contracts.
As noted in the prospectus, we and Distributor pay compensation to all selling firms in the form of commissions and certain types of non-cash compensation.
We and Distributor may pay additional compensation to selected firms, including marketing
allowances, introduction fees, persistency payments, preferred status fees and industry
conference fees. The terms of any particular agreement governing compensation may vary
among selling firms and the amounts may be significant. The amount of additional
compensation (non-commission
amounts) paid to selected selling firms during 2022 ranged from $100 to $11,992,537.* The
amount of commissions paid to selected selling firms during 2022 ranged from
$7,977 to
$69,782,731. The amount of total compensation (includes non-commission as well as commission amounts) paid to selected selling firms during 2022 ranged from $7,977 to
$74,538,028.*
* For
purposes of calculating this range, the additional compensation (non-commission) amounts received by a selling firm includes additional compensation received by the firm for the sale of insurance products
issued by our affiliate Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY.
The following list sets forth the names of selling firms that received additional compensation in 2022 in connection with the sale of our variable annuity contracts, variable life policies and other insurance products (including the contracts offered by the prospectus). The selling
firms are listed in alphabetical order.
Advisor Group, Inc.
American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.
Ameriprise Financial
Services, Inc.
Ameritas Investment Corp.
Arvest
Investments, Inc.
Avantax Investment Services, Inc.
Brokers International Financial Services, LLC
Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc.
Cabot Lodge Securities LLC
Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc.
Cambridge Investment Research,
Inc.
Capital Investment Brokerage, Inc.
Capital
Investments Group, Inc.
Centaurus Financial, Inc.
Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
Cetera Advisors LLC
Cetera Financial Group, Inc.
Cetera Financial Specialists LLC
Cetera Investment Services LLC
CFD Investments, Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Commonwealth Financial Network
Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc.
Copper Financial
CUSO Financial Services, L.P.
Equitable Advisors, LLC
Equity Services, Inc.
First Command Financial Planning, Inc.
First Heartland
Capital, Inc.
First Horizon Advisors, Inc.
Founders
Financial Securities LLC
FSC Securities Corporation
Geneos Wealth Management, Inc.
Gradient Securities, LLC
Grove Point Investments, LLC
Hazard & Siegel, Inc.
Independent Financial Group, LLC
Infinex Investments, Inc.
Investacorp, Inc.
J.W. Cole Financial, Inc.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
KMS Financial Services, Inc.
Kestra Investment Services, LLC
Key Investment Services LLC
LifeMark Securities Corp.
Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.
Lion Street Financial,
LLC
LPL Financial LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Inc
MML Investors Services, LLC
Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney LLC
NEXT Financial Group, Inc.
OneAmerica Securities, Inc.
Oppenheimer & Co.
Inc.
Park Avenue Securities LLC
PFS Investments Inc.
Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
SagePoint Financial, Inc.
SCF Securities,
Inc.
Securities America, Inc.
Securities Service Network, LLC
Sigma Financial Corporation
Signator Investors, Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Synovus Securities,
Inc.
TFS Securities, Inc.
The Investment Center,
Inc.
The Leaders Group, Inc.
The O.N. Equity Sales
Company
Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
Triad
Advisors, LLC
UBS Financial Services Inc.
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC
United Planners Financial Services
USA Financial Securities
Corporation
ValMark Securities, Inc.
Voya Financial
Advisors, Inc.
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Wescom
Financial Services
Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
Western International Securities, Inc.
There are other broker dealers who receive compensation for servicing our contracts, and the Account Value of the contracts or the amount of added Purchase
Payments received may be included in determining their additional compensation, if
any.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Historical Unit Values
The
Company may show historical Accumulation Unit values in certain advertisements containing illustrations. These illustrations will be based on actual Accumulation Unit values.
In addition,
the Company may distribute sales literature which compares the percentage change in Accumulation Unit values for any of the against established market indices such as the Standard & Poor’s
500 Composite Stock Price Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average or other management
investment companies which have investment objectives similar to the Investment Portfolio being compared. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index is an unmanaged, unweighted
average of 500 stocks, the majority of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The
Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged, weighted average of thirty blue chip industrial
corporations listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Both the Standard & Poor’s
500 Composite Stock Price Index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average assume quarterly
reinvestment of dividends.
Reporting Agencies
The
Company may also distribute sales literature which compares the performance of the Accumulation Unit values of the contracts with the unit values of variable annuities issued by other insurance companies. Such
information will
be derived from the
Lipper Variable Insurance Products Performance Analysis Service, the VARDS Report or from
Morningstar.
The Lipper Variable Insurance Products Performance Analysis Service is published by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., a publisher of statistical data which
currently tracks the performance of thousands of investment companies. The rankings
compiled by Lipper may or may not reflect the deduction of asset-based insurance charges. The
Company’s sales literature utilizing these rankings will indicate whether or not such
charges have been deducted. Where the charges have not been deducted, the sales literature
will indicate that if the charges had been deducted, the ranking might have been lower.
The VARDS
Report is a monthly variable annuity industry analysis compiled by Variable Annuity Research & Data Service. The VARDS rankings may or may not reflect the deduction of asset-based insurance charges. In
addition, VARDS prepares risk adjusted rankings, which consider the effects of market risk
on total return performance. This type of ranking may address the question as to which funds
provide the highest total return with the least amount of risk. Other ranking services may
be used as sources of performance comparison, such as CDA/Weisenberger.
Morningstar rates a variable annuity against its peers with similar investment objectives. Morningstar does not rate any variable annuity that has less than three
years of performance data.
ANNUITY PROVISIONS
Variable Annuity
A
variable annuity is an annuity with payments which: (1) are not predetermined as to dollar amount; and (2) will vary in amount in proportion to the amount that the net investment factor exceeds the assumed investment
return selected.
The Adjusted Contract Value (the Account Value, less any applicable premium taxes, account fee, and any prorated rider charge) will be applied to the applicable
Annuity Table to determine the first Annuity Payment. The Adjusted Contract Value is
determined on the annuity calculation date, which is a Business Day no more than five (5)
Business Days before the Annuity Date. The dollar amount of the first variable Annuity
Payment is determined as follows: The first variable Annuity Payment will be based
upon the Annuity Option elected, the Annuitant’s age, the Annuitant's sex (where permitted by
law), and the appropriate variable Annuity Option table. Your annuity rates will not be
less than those guaranteed in your contract at the time of purchase for the assumed investment return and Annuity Option elected. If, as of the annuity calculation date, the then current variable Annuity
Option rates applicable to this class of contracts provide a first Annuity Payment greater
than that which is guaranteed under the same Annuity Option under this contract, the greater
payment will be made.
The dollar amount of variable Annuity Payments after the first payment is determined as follows:
1.
the dollar amount of the first variable Annuity Payment is divided by the value of an Annuity Unit for each applicable Investment Portfolio as of the annuity
calculation date. This establishes the number of Annuity Units for each monthly payment.
The number of Annuity Units for each applicable Investment Portfolio remains fixed during
the annuity period, unless you transfer values from the Investment Portfolio to another
Investment Portfolio;
2.
the fixed number of Annuity Units per payment in each Investment Portfolio is multiplied by the Annuity Unit value for that Investment Portfolio for the
Business Day for which the Annuity Payment is being calculated. This result is the dollar
amount of the payment for each applicable Investment Portfolio, less any account fee. The
account fee will be deducted pro rata out of each Annuity Payment.
The total dollar amount of each
variable Annuity Payment is the sum of all Investment Portfolio variable Annuity
Payments.
Annuity
Unit — The initial Annuity Unit value for each Investment Portfolio of the Separate Account was set by us.
The subsequent Annuity Unit value for each Investment Portfolio is determined by multiplying the Annuity Unit value for the immediately preceding Business Day
by the net investment factor for the Investment Portfolio for the current Business Day and
multiplying the result by a factor for each day since the last Business Day which represents
the daily equivalent of the AIR you elected.
(1) the dollar amount of the first Annuity Payment is divided by the value of an Annuity Unit as of the Annuity
Date. This establishes
the number of Annuity Units for each monthly payment. The number of Annuity Units remains
fixed during the Annuity Payment period.
(2) the fixed number of Annuity Units is multiplied by the Annuity Unit value for the last valuation period of the month preceding the month for which the payment
is due. This result is the dollar amount of the payment.
Net Investment
Factor — The net investment factor for each Investment Portfolio is determined by dividing A by B and multiplying by (1-C) where:
A is (i)
the net asset value per share of the portfolio at the end of the current Business Day; plus
(ii)
any dividend or capital gains per share declared on behalf of such portfolio that has an ex-dividend date as of the current Business Day.
B is
the net asset value per share of the portfolio for the immediately preceding Business Day.
C is (i)
the Separate Account product charges and for each day since the last Business Day. The daily charge is equal to the annual Separate Account product
charges divided by 365; plus
(ii)
a
charge factor, if any, for any taxes or any tax reserve we have established as a result of the operation of the Separate Account.
Transfers During the Annuity Phase:
•You may not make a transfer from the fixed Annuity Option to the variable Annuity Option;
•Transfers among the subaccounts will be made by converting the number of Annuity Units
being transferred to the number of Annuity Units of the subaccount to which the transfer is
made, so that the next Annuity Payment if it were made at that time would be the same
amount that it would have been without the transfer. Thereafter, Annuity Payments will
reflect changes in the value of the new Annuity Units; and
•You may make a transfer from the variable Annuity Option to the fixed Annuity Option. The amount transferred from a subaccount of the Separate Account
will be equal to the product of “(a)” multiplied by “(b)”
multiplied by “(c)”, where (a) is the number of Annuity Units representing your interest in the
subaccount per Annuity Payment; (b) is the Annuity Unit value for the subaccount; and (c) is the present
value of $1.00 per payment period for the remaining annuity benefit period based on the
attained age of the Annuitant at the time of transfer, calculated using the same actuarial
basis as the variable annuity rates applied on the Annuity Date for the Annuity Option
elected. Amounts transferred to the fixed Annuity Option will be applied under the Annuity
Option elected at the attained age of the Annuitant at the time of the transfer using the
fixed Annuity Option table. If at the time of transfer, the then current fixed Annuity
Option rates applicable to this class of contracts provide a greater payment, the greater
payment will be made. All amounts and Annuity Unit values will be determined as of the end
of the Business Day on which the Company receives a notice.
Fixed Annuity
A fixed
annuity is a series of payments made during the Annuity Phase which are guaranteed as to dollar amount by the Company and do not vary with the investment experience of the Separate Account. The Adjusted
Contract Value is determined on the annuity calculation date, which is a Business Day no
more than five (5) Business Days before the Annuity Date. This value will be used to
determine a fixed Annuity Payment. The monthly Annuity Payment will be based upon the
Annuity Option elected, the Annuitant's age, the Annuitant's sex (where permitted by law),
and the appropriate Annuity Option table. Your annuity rates will not be less than those guaranteed in your contract at the time of purchase. If, as of the annuity calculation date, the then current Annuity
Option rates applicable to this class of contracts provide an Annuity Payment greater than
that which is guaranteed under the same Annuity Option under this contract, the greater
payment will be made.
Mortality and Expense Guarantee
The
Company guarantees that the dollar amount of each Annuity Payment after the first Annuity Payment will not be affected by variations in mortality or expense experience.
LEGAL OR REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSACTIONS
If mandated under applicable law, the Company may be required to reject a Purchase Payment. The Company may
also be required to
block a contract Owner’s account and thereby refuse to pay any request for transfers,
withdrawals, surrenders, death benefits or continue making Annuity Payments until
instructions are received from the appropriate regulator.
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Non-Qualified Contracts
Diversification. In order
for your Non-Qualified Contract to be considered an annuity contract for federal income tax
purposes, we must comply with certain diversification standards with respect to the investments underlying the contract. We believe that we satisfy and will continue to satisfy these diversification
standards. Failure to meet these standards would result in immediate taxation to contract
Owners of gains under their contracts. Inadvertent failure to meet these standards may be correctable.
Changes
to Tax Rules and Interpretations
Changes to applicable tax rules and interpretations can adversely affect the tax treatment of your
contract. These changes may take effect retroactively.
We reserve the right to amend your contract where necessary to maintain its status as a variable annuity contract under federal tax law and to protect you
and other contract Owners in the Investment Portfolios from adverse tax
consequences.
Qualified Contracts
Annuity contracts purchased through tax qualified plans are subject to limitations imposed by the Code and regulations as a condition of tax qualification.
There are various types of tax qualified plans which have certain beneficial tax
consequences for contract Owners and plan participants.
Types of Qualified Plans
The following
list includes individual account-type plans which may hold an annuity contract as described in the Prospectus. Except for Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, they are established by an employer for
participation of its employees.
IRA
A traditional IRA is
established by an individual under Section 408(a) or 408(b) of the Code. See also Roth IRAs
below.
SIMPLE IRA
Established by a for-profit employer with 100 or fewer employees that does not maintain another retirement plan. A SIMPLE IRA, established under section 408(p)
of the Code, is based on IRA accounts for each participant.
SEP
Established by a for-profit
employer under Section 408(k) of the Code, based on IRA accounts for each participant.
Generally, only employers make contributions. If the SEP IRA permits non-SEP contributions,
an employee can make regular IRA contributions (including IRA catch up contributions) to
the SEP IRA, up to the maximum annual limit.
401(k), 401(a)
Established by for-profit
employers, Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt and non-tax exempt entities, Indian Tribes.
403(b) or Tax Sheltered Annuity (“TSA”)
Established by Section
501(c)(3) tax exempt entities, public schools (K-12), public colleges, universities, churches, synagogues and mosques.
457(b) - Governmental Sponsor
Established by state and local
governments, public schools (K-12), public colleges and universities.
457(b) - Non-Governmental Sponsor
Established by a tax-exempt
entity. Under a non-governmental plan, which must be a tax-exempt entity under Section
501(c) of the Code, all investments of the plan are owned by and are subject to the claims of the general creditors of the sponsoring employer. In general, all amounts received under a non-governmental
Section 457(b) plan are taxable and are subject to federal income tax withholding as
wages.
Additional Information Regarding 457(b) Plans
A 457(b) plan may provide a one-time election to make special one-time “catch-up” contributions in one or more of the participant’s last
three taxable years ending before the participant’s normal retirement age under the plan. Participants in governmental 457(b) plans may make two types of catch up contributions, the age 50 or
older catch-up and the special one-time catch-up contribution. However, both catch up
contribution types cannot be made in the same taxable year. In general, contribution limits with respect to elective deferral and to age 50 plus catch-up contributions are not aggregated with
contributions under the other types of qualified plans for the purposes of
determining the
limitations applicable to participants.
403(a) Annuity Plans
Similar in structure to 401(a) plans except that, instead of trusts, annuity contracts are the funding vehicle.
Roth Accounts
Individual or employee plan
contributions made to certain plans on an after-tax basis. An IRA may be established as a
Roth IRA under Section 408A, and 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans may provide for Roth
accounts. Contributions to a Roth IRA are limited based on the level of your modified
adjusted gross income.
Comparison of Plan Limits for Individual Contributions:
(1)
IRA: elective contribution to all traditional and Roth IRAs: $6,500; catch-up contribution: $1,000
(2)
SIMPLE IRA: elective contribution: $15,500; catch-up contribution:
$3,500
(3)
401(k): elective contribution: $22,500; catch-up contribution:
$7,500
(4)
SEP/401(a): (employer contributions only)
(5)
403(b) (TSA): elective contribution: $22,500; catch-up
contribution: $7,500
(6)
457(b): elective contribution: $22,500; catch-up contribution:
$7,500
Dollar limits are for
2023 and subject to cost-of-living adjustments in future years. Employer-sponsored individual account plans (other than 457(b) plans) may
provide for additional employer contributions such that total annual plan contributions do
not exceed the lesser of $66,000 and 100% of an employee’s compensation for 2023.
ERISA
If your plan is subject to ERISA and you are married, the income payments, withdrawal provisions, and methods of payment of the death benefit under your contract
may be subject to your spouse’s rights as described below.
Generally, the spouse must give qualified consent whenever you:
(a)
choose income payments other than on a qualified joint and survivor annuity basis (“QJSA”) (one under which we make payments to you during your
lifetime and then make payments reduced by no more than 50% to
your spouse for his or her remaining life, if any): or choose to waive the qualified pre-retirement
survivor annuity benefit (“QPSA”) (the benefit payable to the surviving spouse
of a participant who dies with a vested interest in an accrued retirement benefit under the plan before payment of the benefit has begun);
(b)
make certain withdrawals under plans for which a qualified consent is required;
(c)
name someone other than the spouse as your Beneficiary; or
(d)
use your accrued benefit as security for a loan, if available, exceeding $5,000.
Generally, there is no limit to the number of your
elections as long as a qualified consent is given each time. The consent to waive the QJSA
must meet certain requirements, including that it be in writing, that it acknowledge the
identity of the designated Beneficiary and the form of benefit be selected, dated, signed
by your spouse, witnessed by a notary public or plan representative, and that it be in a
form satisfactory to us. The waiver of the QJSA generally must be executed during the 180
day period (90 days for certain loans) ending on the date on which income payments are to
commence, or the withdrawal or the loan is to be made, as the case may be. If you die before benefits commence, your surviving spouse will be your Beneficiary unless he or she has given a qualified consent
otherwise.
The qualified consent to waive the QPSA benefit and the Beneficiary designation must be made in writing
that acknowledges the designated Beneficiary, dated, signed by your spouse, witnessed by a
notary public or plan representative and in a form satisfactory to us. Generally, there is
no limit to the number of Beneficiary designations as long as a qualified consent accompanies each designation. The waiver of, and the qualified consent for, the QPSA benefit generally may not be given
until the plan year in which you attain age 35. The waiver period for the QPSA ends on the
date of your death.
If the present value of your benefit is worth $5,000 or less, your plan generally may provide for
distribution of your entire interest in a lump sum without spousal
consent.
Federal Estate
Taxes
While no attempt is being made to discuss the federal estate tax implications of the contract, you should bear in mind that the value of an annuity contract owned by
a decedent and payable to a Beneficiary by virtue of surviving the decedent is included in
the decedent’s gross estate. Depending on the terms of the annuity contract, the value
of the annuity included in the gross estate may be the value of the lump sum payment
payable to the designated Beneficiary or the actuarial value of the payments to be received
by the Beneficiary. Consult an estate planning adviser for more
information.
Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
Under certain circumstances, the Code may impose a “generation-skipping transfer tax” when all or part of an annuity contract is transferred
to, or a death benefit is paid to, an individual two or more generations younger than the
contract Owner. Regulations issued under the Code may require us to deduct the tax from
your contract, or from any applicable payment, and pay it directly to the IRS.
SECURE 2.0 Act Considerations
As part of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023, Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (the “Act”)
which was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The Act includes many provisions updating
the Code affecting employer sponsored qualified plans and IRAs, including provisions that
become effective immediately and provisions which become effective in later years through
2033. For example, the Act includes provisions affecting required minimum distribution
(RMD), certain contribution and other limits affecting IRAs and qualified plans, as well as
provisions providing new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for “early” distributions which may also provide for the ability to recontribute such early distributions to an IRA or qualified
plan (subject to the provisions of the Code, the qualified plan/IRA, the Contract and our
administrative rules). This prospectus does not attempt to provide a complete discussion of the Act and its provisions. Individuals should consult with a qualified tax adviser.
Annuity Purchase Payments By Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities
The discussion
above provides general information regarding U.S. federal income tax consequences to annuity
purchasers that are U.S. citizens or residents. Purchasers that are not U.S. citizens or
residents will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on taxable
distributions from annuity contracts at a 30% rate, unless a lower treaty rate applies. In
addition, purchasers may be subject to state and/or municipal taxes and taxes that may be
imposed by the purchaser’s country of citizenship or residence. Prospective purchasers are advised to consult with a qualified tax adviser regarding U.S., state and foreign taxation with respect to an annuity
contract purchase.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
financial statements of the Company should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of the Company to meet its obligations under the contract.
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DEPOSITOR
The following are the Officers and Directors who are engaged
directly or indirectly in activities relating to the Registrant or the variable annuity contracts offered by the Registrant and the executive officers of the Company:
Name and Principal Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Depositor |
Eric Steigerwalt
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director |
Myles Lambert
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Director and Vice President |
|
David A. Rosenbaum
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Director and Vice President |
Jonathan Rosenthal
334 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960 |
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer |
|
Edward A. Spehar
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Michele Abate
125 High Street, Suite 732
Boston, MA 02110 |
|
Devon Arendosh
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer |
David Chamberlin
12802 Tampa Oaks Boulevard, Suite 447
Temple Terrace, FL 33637 |
|
Patrisha Cox
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Andrew DeRosa
334 Madison Avenue, Floor 3
Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
|
David Dooley 334
Madison Avenue, Floor 3 Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
Meghan Doscher
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Micah Dowling
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Lynn Dumais
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Tara Figard
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling 11225 North Community House Road Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Controller |
Kevin Finneran
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Illustration Officer |
Jason Frain
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Tyler Gates
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Appointed Actuary |
James Grady 334
Madison Avenue, Floor 3 Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
|
Jeffrey Halperin
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
Christopher Hartsfield 11225 North Community House Road Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
James Hoffman
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Illustration Actuary |
Jeffrey Hughes
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer |
Jacob Jenkelowitz
285 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10017 |
Vice President and Secretary |
Donald Leintz
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
John Lima 334
Madison Avenue, Floor 3 Morristown, NJ 07960 |
Chief Derivatives Officer |
Allie Lin 11225
North Community House Road Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Philip Melville
334 Madison Avenue, Floor 3
Morristown, NJ 07960 |
Vice President and Chief Risk Officer |
|
Janet Morgan
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Treasurer |
Gerard Nigro
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Alan Otis 125
High Street, Suite 732 Boston, MA 02110 |
|
James Painter
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
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Melissa Pavlovich
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Tax Director |
Phillip Pfotenhauer 12802 Tampa Oaks Boulevard, Suite 447 Temple Terrace, FL 33637 |
|
Marc Pucci 334
Madison Avenue, Floor 3 Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
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Kristi Slavin
125 High Street, Suite 732
Boston, MA 02110 |
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Gregor Speakman
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
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Marcy Thailer
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President – Dividend Actuary |
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Kristine Toscano
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
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Julienne Warr
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
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Natalie Wright
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277 |
|
Item 29.
Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor or the
Registrant
The Registrant is a separate account of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“BLIC” or the
“Company”) under Delaware insurance law. BLIC is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc., a publicly-traded company. The following outline indicates those entities that are controlled by Brighthouse Financial, Inc. or are under the
common control of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
No person is controlled by the Registrant, and none of the entities listed below files financial statements that are
consolidated with the Registrant's financial statements. The Registrant does not have any subsidiaries.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022
The following is
a list of subsidiaries of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. as of December 31, 2022.
The entity which is listed at the left margin (labeled with a capital letter) is a direct subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial,
Inc. (DE)
Each entity which is indented under another entity is a subsidiary of such other entity and, therefore, an indirect subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
The voting securities of the
subsidiaries listed are 100% owned by their respective parent companies. The jurisdiction of domicile of each subsidiary listed is set forth in the parenthetical following the name of such subsidiary. All of the entities listed below are included in the consolidated financial statements of Brighthouse
Financial, Inc. Each of the entities listed under Section 2 is included in the consolidated financial statements of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company. Both Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company file consolidated financial statements with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
|
Brighthouse Holdings, LLC (DE) |
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New England Life Insurance Company (MA) |
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Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (DE) |
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Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware (DE) |
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Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY (NY) |
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BLICNY Property Ventures, LLC
(DE) |
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Brighthouse Connecticut Properties Ventures, LLC (DE) |
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Brighthouse Renewables Holdings, LLC (DE) |
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Greater Sandhill I, LLC (DE)
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Daniel/Brighthouse Midtown Atlanta Master Limited Liability Company (DE) |
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Brighthouse Assignment Company (CT) |
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TIC European Real Estate LP, LLC (DE) |
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Euro TL Investments LLC (DE) |
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The Prospect Company, LLC (DE)
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Euro TI Investments LLC (DE) |
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BLIC Property Ventures, LLC (DE) |
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Brighthouse Securities, LLC (DE) |
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Brighthouse Services, LLC (DE) |
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Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC (DE) |
Pursuant to applicable provisions of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s by-laws or internal corporate policies
adopted by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company or Brighthouse Financial, Inc., its ultimate parent, the directors,
officers and other controlling persons of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and of Brighthouse Life Insurance
Company’s affiliate and the underwriter, Brighthouse Securities, LLC, who are made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, may be eligible to obtain indemnification against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement
and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred as a result of such action or proceeding. Under the principal underwriting agreement between Brighthouse Life
Insurance Company and Brighthouse Securities, LLC, the parties have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities and expenses from legal proceedings arising out of Brighthouse Securities LLC’s distribution of the Contracts.
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. also maintains directors and officers and professional liability insurance policies under
which the Registrant, the Depositor and the Underwriter, as well as certain other Brighthouse subsidiaries, are
covered. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. also has secured a financial institutions bond.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31.
Principal Underwriters
(a)
Brighthouse
Securities, LLC is the principal underwriter for the following investment companies (including the Registrant):
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life
Insurance
Brighthouse Funds Trust I
Brighthouse Funds Trust II
Brighthouse Separate Account A
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable
Annuities
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account B
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account
C
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One
New England Variable Annuity Separate Account
New England Variable Life Separate
Account
(b)
Brighthouse Securities, LLC is the principal underwriter for the Contracts. The following persons are the officers and
managers of Brighthouse Securities, LLC. The principal business address for Brighthouse Securities, LLC is 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Name and Principal Business Address |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Myles Lambert
11225 North Community House Road |
Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Philip Beaulieu
11225 North Community House Road |
Manager and Vice President |
Melissa Cox
11225 North Community House Road |
Manager and Vice President |
Amy Cusson 11225
North Community House Road |
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Michael Davis
11225 North Community House Road |
Manager and Vice President |
Meghan Doscher
11225 North Community House Road |
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Kevin Macilvane, Jr. 11225 North Community House Road |
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Gerard Nigro
11225 North Community House Road |
Manager and Vice President |
Jeffrey Halperin
11225 North Community House Road |
Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer |
Christopher Hartsfield 11225 North Community House Road |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Jacob Jenkelowitz
285 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400 |
Vice President and Secretary |
John John Martinez
11225 North Community House Road |
Principal Financial Officer |
Donald Leintz
11225 North Community House Road |
|
John Lima 334
Madison Avenue, Floor 3 |
Vice President and Chief Derivatives Officer |
Janet Morgan
11225 North Community House Road |
Vice President and Treasurer |
Melissa Pavlovich
11225 North Community House Road |
Vice President and Tax Director |
(c)
Compensation to the Distributor. The following aggregate amount of commissions and other compensation was received by the
Distributor, directly or indirectly, from the Registrant and the other separate accounts of the Depositor, which also issue variable annuity contracts, during their last fiscal
year:
(1) Name of Principal Underwriter |
(2) Net Underwriting Discounts
And Commissions |
(3) Compensation On
Redemption |
(4) Brokerage Commissions
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Brighthouse Securities, LLC |
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Item 32.
Location of Accounts and Records
Omitted.
Item 33.
Management Services
Not Applicable.
Item 34.
Fee Representation
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (the "Company") hereby represents that the fees and charges deducted under the Contracts,
in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses to be incurred, and the risks assumed by the Company.
The Company hereby represents that
it is relying upon the Securities and Exchange Commission No-Action Letter issued to the American Council of Life Insurance dated November 28, 1988 (Commission ref. IP-6-88) and
that the following provisions have been complied with:
1.
Include appropriate disclosure regarding the redemption restrictions imposed by Section
403(b)(11) in each registration statement, including the prospectus, used in connection with the offer of the contract;
2.
Include appropriate disclosure regarding the redemption restrictions imposed by Section 403(b)(11) in any sales literature
used in connection with the offer of the contract;
3.
Instruct sales representatives who solicit participants to purchase the contract specifically
to bring the redemption restrictions imposed by Section 403(b)(11) to the attention of the potential participants;
4.
Obtain from each plan participant who purchases a Section 403(b) annuity contract, prior to or at the time of such purchase,
a signed statement acknowledging the participant's understanding of (1) the restrictions on redemption imposed by Section 403(b)(11), and (2) other investment alternatives
available under the employer's Section 403(b) arrangement to which the participant may elect to transfer his contract value.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, and State of North Carolina, on this 13th day of April,
2023.
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BRIGHTHOUSE SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
(Registrant) |
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BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
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Donald A. Leintz Vice President |
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BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
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Donald A. Leintz Vice President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 13, 2023.
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Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer
and a Director |
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Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
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/s/ Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling* |
Vice President and Controller |
Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling |
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Michele H. Abate, Attorney-In-Fact April 13, 2023 |
*
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company. Executed by Michele H. Abate, Esquire on behalf of those indicated pursuant to powers of attorney filed herewith.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
(c)(v)
Form of Brighthouse Securities, LLC Sales Agreement
(l)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Deloitte & Touche
LLP)
BRIGHTHOUSE SECURITIES, LLC
SALES AGREEMENT
This
agreement, including the exhibits attached hereto (collectively the Agreement) is made, entered into and effective as of , (Effective Date)
by and among Brighthouse Securities, LLC, a Delaware corporation (the Principal Underwriter), and (the
Broker) that is registered as a broker dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the 1934 Act) and a member of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and is also either licensed as an insurance agency or is affiliated with one or more validly licensed insurance agencies.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates (as hereafter defined) issue or provide access to certain insurance and financial
products;
WHEREAS, Broker sells and services insurance and financial products and wishes to sell and service certain of Principal
Underwriters and its Affiliates insurance and financial products;
WHEREAS, Principal Underwriter proposes to compensate
Broker for such sales and servicing;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth in this Article I. Other terms may be
defined throughout this Agreement. Definitions shall be deemed to refer to the singular or plural as the context requires:
|
(a) |
Affiliate - Any entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with Principal Underwriter or Broker, as applicable, including, without limitation, any entity that owns 25% or more of the voting securities of any of the foregoing and any entity that is a subsidiary of any of the foregoing. |
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(b) |
Agency - Those agencies identified in Exhibit C hereto, which are properly licensed to participate in the
business of insurance. |
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(c) |
Applicable Law - Shall have the meaning given to such term in Article IV of this Agreement.
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|
(d) |
Business Day - Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a federal legal holiday. |
Page 1 of
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Sales Agreement 7-19 NY
(e) Confidential Information - Includes without
limitation, (i) statistical, premium rate and other information that is identified by Principal Underwriter as commercially valuable, confidential, proprietary or a trade secret, including but not limited to information regarding Principal
Underwriters systems and rating methodology; and (ii) any information identified in writing by a party as confidential at the time the information is divulged to the other party.
Confidential Information does not include any information, written or oral, which (i) at the time of disclosure or
thereafter is generally available in the public domain (other than as a result of a disclosure in violation of this Agreement), (ii) has been received, obtained, developed or created by the receiving party independently from the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) was made available to the receiving party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the disclosing party, provided that such source is not and was not
bound by an independent obligation of confidentiality.
|
(f) |
Contracts - Those contracts and policies that are identified on Exhibits A and B attached hereto, which
Exhibits may be amended at any time by Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion. |
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(g) |
Customer Complaint - Shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.2 of this Agreement.
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(h) |
Customer Information - Information in electronic, paper or any other form that Broker or its representatives
obtained, had access to or created in connection with its obligations under this Agreement regarding individuals who applied for or purchased Principal Underwriters products. Customer Information includes Nonpublic Personal Information, as
defined below in paragraph (j), and Protected Health Information, as defined in paragraph (m). Customer Information may also include, but is not limited to, information such as the individuals name, address, telephone number, social security
number, as well as the fact that the individual has applied for, is insured under, or has purchased a Principal Underwriter product. Customer Information does not, however, include information that is (i) generally available in the public
domain (other than as a result of a disclosure in violation of this Agreement) and is derived or received from such public sources by Broker; (ii) received, obtained, developed or created by the Broker independently from the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement; (iii) disclosed to the Broker by a Third Party, provided such disclosure was made to Broker without any violation of an independent obligation of confidentiality or Applicable Law. |
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(i) |
HIPAA - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as now in force or hereafter
amended, and all related regulations. |
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(j) |
Nonpublic Personal Information - Nonpublic personal information means financial or health related
information by which a financial institutions consumers and customers are individually identifiable, including but not limited to nonpublic personal information as defined by Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and regulations adopted
pursuant to the Act. |
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(k) |
Non-variable Contracts - Those Contracts that include, without
limitation, non-variable rate annuity contracts, non-variable life insurance policies, long term care insurance and other fixed insurance contracts, issued by Principal
Underwriter or its Affiliates, as identified in Exhibit B, which Exhibit may be amended at any time by Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion. |
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(l) |
Prospectus - The prospectuses and statements of additional information included within the Registration
Statements referred to herein or filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
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(m) |
Protected Health Information (PHI) - Information related to individuals who have applied for,
have purchased or are insured under Principal Underwriter products that are considered to be health plans |
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Sales Agreement 7-19 NY
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subject to HIPAA, such as Principal Underwriters long-term care insurance policies and riders, for the purposes of this Agreement and, consistent with regulations issued pursuant to HIPAA.
PHI is defined as individually identifiable information that is transmitted or maintained in any medium and relates to: the past, present or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; the provision of health care to an
individual; or future payment for the provision of health care to the individual. This definition of PHI includes demographic information about the individual, including, but not limited to, names, geographic subdivisions smaller than a state
(including but not limited to street addresses and ZIP codes); all elements of dates (except year) for dates directly related to an individual, including but not limited to birth date; telephone numbers; fax numbers; electronic mail (E-mail) addresses; Social Security numbers; medical record numbers; health plan beneficiary numbers; account numbers; certificate/license numbers; vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate
numbers; device identifiers and serial numbers; Web Universal Resource Locators; Internet Protocol address numbers; biometric identifiers, including finger and voice prints; full face photographic images and any comparable images; and any other
unique identifying number, characteristic, or code. |
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(n) |
Registration Statements - Registration statements and amendments thereto filed with the SEC relating to the
Variable Contracts, including those for any underlying investment vehicle or variable insurance rider. |
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(o) |
Representatives - Those individuals, accepted by Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates to solicit and sell
Contracts under the terms of this Agreement, who are licensed and appointed as a life insurance agent of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates, and with respect to registered products, are also registered with Broker in compliance with the 1934
Act. |
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(p) |
Security Incident - The attempted or successful unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or
destruction of information or interference with system operations in an information system. |
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(q) |
Third Party - A party that is not a signatory to this Agreement. |
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(r) |
Unsecured Protected Health Information - Shall have the meaning assigned to such term in 45 CFR §
164.402, limited however, to the information that Broker creates, accesses, or receives on behalf of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates. |
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(s) |
Variable Contracts - Those Contracts that include variable life insurance policies, variable annuity
contracts, variable insurance riders and other variable insurance contracts, issued by Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates, as identified in Exhibit A, which Exhibit may be amended at any time by Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion.
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(t) |
1933 Act - The Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
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(u) |
1934 Act - The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
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Sales Agreement 7-19 NY
ARTICLE II
AUTHORIZATIONS, REPRESENTATIONS, AND COVENANTS OF PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Section 2.1. Authorization. Principal Underwriter represents that it is duly authorized, on behalf of itself and each Affiliate
that issues or provides access to the Contracts, to enter into this Agreement with Broker to distribute such Contracts.
Section 2.2.
Solicitation of Applications.
|
(a) |
Solicit Non-variable Contract Applications. Principal Underwriter authorizes Broker through its
Representatives to solicit applications for the Non-variable Contracts, provided that (i) Broker shall not solicit applications for Non-variable Contracts except in
those states where it and its Representatives are appropriately licensed; (ii) in which the Non-variable Contracts are qualified for sale under Applicable Law; and (iii) Broker complies in all other
respects with the published policies and procedures of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates, as applicable, and with the terms of this Agreement. |
|
(b) |
Solicit Variable Contract Applications. Principal Underwriter authorizes Broker through its Representatives
to offer and sell the Variable Contracts, provided that (i) Broker shall not solicit applications for Variable Contracts except in those states where it is and its Representatives are appropriately licensed; (ii) there is an effective
Registration Statement relating to such Variable Contracts; (iii) such Variable Contracts are qualified for sale under Applicable Law in such state in which the sale or solicitation is to take place; and (iv) Broker complies in all other
respects with the published policies and procedures of Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates, and with the terms of the Agreement. |
Section 2.3. Required Notices to Broker. Principal Underwriter shall notify Broker or its designee of the issuance by the SEC of
any stop order with respect to a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceeding by the SEC relating to the registration and/or offering of Variable Contracts and of any other action or circumstances that makes it no longer lawful for
Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates to offer or issue one or more of Variable Contracts. Principal Underwriter shall advise Broker of any revision of or supplement to any Prospectus related to the Variable Contracts or underlying investments of
such Variable Contracts.
Section 2.4. Rights of Principal Underwriter. Without limiting Principal Underwriter and its
Affiliates absolute control of their business and operations or other rights under this Agreement, Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates shall specifically retain authority to:
|
a) |
refuse for any reason to appoint a Representative and cancel any existing appointment at any time;
|
|
b) |
direct the marketing of its financial and insurance products and services; |
|
c) |
refuse to issue any Product; |
|
d) |
underwrite all insurance policies issued by it; |
|
f) |
handle all matters involving claims adjusting and payment; |
|
g) |
prepare all policy forms and amendments; |
|
h) |
maintain custody of, responsibility for and control of all investments; and |
Page 4 of
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Sales Agreement 7-19 NY
|
i) |
withdraw a Contract from sale or change or amend a Contract at Principal Underwriters discretion.
|
Section 2.5. Brokers Access to Copies of Documents. During the term of this Agreement, Principal
Underwriter shall provide Broker, without charge and when applicable, with as many copies of the Contract prospectus(es), current underlying mutual fund prospectus(es), statements of additional information and applications for the Contracts, as
Broker may reasonably request. Upon receipt from Principal Underwriter of updated copies of the Contract prospectus(es), current underlying mutual fund prospectus(es), statements of additional information and applications for the Contracts, Broker
shall promptly discard or destroy all copies of such documents previously provided to them, except such copies as are needed for purposes of maintaining records as may be required in Article VII and by Applicable Law. Upon termination of this
Agreement, Broker shall promptly return to Principal Underwriter all Contract prospectus(es), current underlying mutual fund prospectus(es), statements of additional information, Contract applications and other materials and supplies furnished by
Principal Underwriter to Broker or to its Representatives, except for copies required for maintaining records as may be required in Article VII and by Applicable Law.
Section 2.6. Advertising Material. During the term of this Agreement, Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates shall be responsible
for providing and approving all promotional, sales and advertising material to be used by Broker. Principal Underwriter shall file such materials or shall cause such materials to be filed with the SEC, FINRA, and any state securities or insurance
regulatory authorities, as required by Applicable Law.
Section 2.7. Marketing Reports. Principal Underwriter or its Affiliate
shall compile periodic marketing reports summarizing sales results to the extent reasonably requested by Broker.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF BROKER
Section 3.1. Appointment of Broker. Broker shall solicit, sell and service the Contracts and shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to find suitable purchasers for the Contracts. Broker represents and warrants that it shall only offer Contracts in those states where it or its Agency is appropriately licensed and has obtained any other appointments, approvals, licenses,
authorizations, orders or consents which are necessary to enter into this Agreement and to perform its duties hereunder.
Section 3.2. Licenses, Appointments and Approvals. Broker represents and warrants that it is a registered broker-dealer under the
1934 Act, has all necessary broker-dealer licenses, is a member in good standing with the FINRA, and is licensed as an insurance broker and has obtained any other approvals, licenses, authorizations, orders or consents which are necessary to enter
into this Agreement and to perform its duties hereunder. Broker further represents that its Representatives who shall be soliciting applications for the Contracts, whether alone or jointly with representatives of Principal
Underwriter or its designee, shall at all times be appropriately registered and/or licensed as required by Applicable Law and shall comply with all requirements of Applicable Law. Broker further represents that neither it nor any of its
Representatives are currently under investigation by any insurance regulator, FINRA, any other self-regulatory organization or other governmental authority, including but not limited to the SEC and Departments of Insurance (except for any
investigations of which it has notified Principal Underwriter in writing). Broker further represents that it shall notify Principal Underwriter of the existence and subject matter of any formal or informal investigation of Broker or any of its
agents that is commenced by any insurance regulator, FINRA or SEC, any other self-regulatory organization or other governmental authority, in connection with the sale of the Contracts. Broker further represents that it shall immediately notify
Principal Underwriter in writing if it or any of its Representatives have any of their respective licenses, which are required under this Agreement for the solicitation of, sale of or provision of services to the Contracts, surrendered, removed,
revoked, cancelled or suspended, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
Section 3.3. Policies and Procedures. Broker shall
comply with the policies and procedures of Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates with respect to the solicitation, sales and administration of Contracts and services Broker and Representatives are authorized to sell and service under the
Agreement, including, but not limited to, privacy policies
Page 5 of
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Sales Agreement 7-19 NY
and procedures, as those policies and procedures may be provided to Broker by Principal Underwriter from time to time.
Section 3.4. Disclosure of Relationship with Principal Underwriter and Disclosure of Compensation. If and as required by
Applicable Law, Broker shall disclose in writing to each applicant for a Contract Brokers relationship with Principal Underwriter and the compensation, and anything of value, Broker receives from Principal Underwriter for the services
performed under this or any other Agreement. Principal Underwriter reserves the right to disclose to its purchasers of Contracts, and potential purchasers of Contracts, details regarding compensation, and anything of value, it, and any Principal
Underwriter affiliate, may pay to Broker, or any of its affiliates, under this Agreement and any other agreement.
Section 3.5.
Education, Training, Supervision and Control of Representatives. Broker shall train, supervise and be solely responsible for the conduct of its Representatives in their solicitation and servicing activities in connection with the Contracts,
and shall supervise Representatives strict compliance with Applicable Law, as well as the rules and procedures of Principal Underwriter pertaining to the solicitation, sale and submission of applications for the Contracts and the provision of
services relating to the Contracts. Broker shall conduct background investigations of its current and proposed new Representatives to determine their qualifications, good character and moral fitness to sell the Contracts and shall provide Principal
Underwriter with copies of such investigations upon Principal Underwriters written request. Likewise, Broker is solely liable for the acts and omissions of its Representatives in the course of conducting its business.
Section 3.6. Broker/Representative Communications. Neither Broker nor any of its Representatives, are authorized by Principal
Underwriter or its Affiliates to give any information or make any representation in connection with this Agreement or the offering of the Contracts other than those contained in the Contract, Prospectus, or promotional material authorized for use in
writing by Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates. Broker shall not make any representations or give information that is not contained in the Contract, Prospectus or promotional material of the Contracts.
Section 3.7. Suitability Requirements. Broker shall establish and maintain a system to supervise its Representatives reasonably
designed to ensure that, in making a recommendation to purchase a Contract (including as a part of an exchange), the Representative has reasonable grounds to believe that, based on facts disclosed by the purchaser, the purchase of the Contract is
suitable for the purchaser as and to the extent required by Applicable Law. As part of the supervisory system, Broker shall maintain written procedures and conduct periodic reviews of its records that are reasonably designed to achieve compliance
with these requirements. Broker shall be solely responsible for determining the suitability of recommendations to purchase a Contract made by its Representatives in accordance with Applicable Law, and shall, upon a reasonable written request from
Principal Underwriter, provide written documentation of such process, including without limitation the certifications required in Section 4.3. To the extent required by Applicable Law and upon written request from Principal Underwriter, Broker
shall promptly provide documentation and other information reasonably necessary to allow Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates to determine that Broker is performing the required functions described above.
Section 3.8. Application Review. Broker shall review diligently all Contract applications for accuracy and completeness and for
compliance with the conditions herein, including the suitability and prospectus delivery requirements, and shall take all reasonable and appropriate measures to ensure that applications submitted to Principal Underwriter are accurate, complete,
compliant with the conditions herein, and approved by a qualified registered principal.
Section 3.9. Replacement. Broker
certifies on behalf of itself, its Representatives and its Agencies that it shall adhere to Applicable Law before it receives or solicits any applications for Contracts. In addition to the conditions and limitations elsewhere contained in this
Agreement and the Compensation Schedules, no first year commission shall be payable on replacements or switches of any Contract with another Contract, which are undisclosed, and which require disclosure by Applicable Law or Principal
Underwriters or its Affiliates rules on replacement transactions. Specific replacement or switching rules of each applicable Affiliate are described in Principal Underwriters Rewritten
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Business Rules, which shall be made available to Broker and which may be amended at any time by Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion.
Principal Underwriter shall make available written guidelines of Principal Underwriters position with respect to the acceptability of
replacements (the Replacement Guidelines), which Replacement Guidelines may be amended at any time by Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion. Broker shall provide each of its Representatives with a copy of the Replacement
Guidelines. Broker shall establish and maintain a system to supervise its Representatives reasonably designed to review the appropriateness of each replacement transaction and each transactions conformity with the Replacements Guidelines. As
part of its supervisory system, Broker shall implement procedures that are reasonably designed to detect transactions that are replacements of existing policies or contracts, but that have not been reported as such by the Representative making the
sale. These procedures must include, but are not limited to, systematic customer surveys and interviews, confirmation letters and programs of internal monitoring. Broker shall be solely responsible for determining that a replacement transaction by
any of its Representatives is in compliance with Principal Underwriters Replacement Guidelines and with Applicable Law. To the extent required by Applicable Law and upon written request from Principal Underwriter, Broker shall promptly provide
documentation and other information reasonably necessary to allow Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates to determine that Broker is performing the required functions described in this Section 3.9.
Section 3.10. Audit of Representatives. Broker shall maintain reasonable procedures for its periodic audit of its
Representatives sales practices and shall, upon a reasonable written request from Principal Underwriter, provide a written report to Principal Underwriter on the results of such audits; provided, however, that Broker shall retain sole
responsibility for the supervision, inspection and control of its Representatives.
Section 3.11. Collection of Payments. Only
the initial purchase payments for the Contracts shall be collected by Representatives of Broker. All such purchase payments shall be remitted promptly in full (and in no event later than the time permitted under Applicable Law) together with any
related application, forms and any other required documentation to Principal Underwriter or the appropriate Affiliate. The Broker shall make such remittances in accordance with any and all policies and procedures described in the Contract,
prospectus, if appropriate, or as otherwise adopted by Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates.
Section 3.12. Contract
Delivery. Unless otherwise requested by Broker and agreed to by Principal Underwriter, once a Contract has been issued, it shall be delivered to Broker and, after review by Broker, shall be timely delivered by Broker to the applicant,
accompanied by any documents required to be delivered by Applicable Law and any additional appropriate documents. In the case of long-term care insurance, Broker shall ensure delivery of each new long-term care insurance contract within thirty
(30) days of the contracts approval date. Principal Underwriter shall confirm or cause to be confirmed to customers all Contract transactions, to the extent required by Applicable Law, and shall administer the Contracts after they have
been delivered, but may from time to time require assistance from Broker. If a purchaser exercises the free look rights under a Contract, Broker shall indemnify Principal Underwriter for any loss incurred by Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates
that results from Brokers failure to promptly deliver such Contract to its purchaser.
Section 3.13. Rejection of
Applications and Return of Contracts. Broker acknowledges that Principal Underwriter, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, shall have the unconditional right to reject, in whole or in part, any application for a Contract. If Principal
Underwriter rejects an application, Principal Underwriter or its Affiliate shall immediately return any purchase payments received directly to the Broker, and Broker shall be responsible for promptly returning such payments to the purchaser. If any
purchaser of a Contract elects to return such Contract pursuant to any law or contractual provision, any purchase payment made or such other amount, as the Contract or Applicable Law shall specify, shall be returned by Principal Underwriter or its
Affiliates to the Broker and the Broker shall be responsible for promptly returning such payments to the purchaser.
Section 3.14.
Independent Contractor. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, Broker is not a principal, underwriter or agent of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates, or any separate account of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates. It is
understood and acknowledged that Broker, its agents, designees or Representatives are independent contractors and not employees of Principal Underwriter or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. None of the terms of
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this Agreement shall be construed as creating an employer-employee relationship between Broker, its agents, designees or Representatives, on the one hand, and Principal Underwriter, on the other
hand. Broker, its agents and its other representatives, shall not hold themselves out to be employees of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates in this connection or in any dealings with the public. Neither Broker nor its agents, designees or other
representatives shall have authority on behalf of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates to alter or amend any Contract or any form related to a Contract to adjust or settle any claim or commit Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates with respect
thereto, or bind Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates in any way; or enter into legal proceedings in connection with any matter pertaining to Principal Underwriters business without its prior written consent. Broker shall not expend, nor
contract for the expenditure of, funds of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates nor shall Broker possess or exercise any authority on behalf of Principal Underwriter other than that expressly conferred on Broker by this Agreement.
Section 3.15. Promotional Materials. To the extent that Broker uses brochures, other promotional materials and literature, and
training material in connection with marketing or servicing Contracts, or that mention Principal Underwriter, its products or services in any way (collectively referred to herein as Principal Underwriter Materials), such Principal
Underwriter Materials shall only be used with the prior written approval of Principal Underwriter. Similarly, Broker shall not use any information related to Principal Underwriter or Contracts on any Web site without the prior written consent of
Principal Underwriter. Any requests for written approval of materials for use by Broker shall be submitted in writing by Broker to the individual and offices as directed by Principal Underwriter.
Section 3.16. Instructions by Representative. Broker and Agency shall be solely responsible for the accuracy and propriety of any
(i) instruction given to Principal Underwriter by a Representative on behalf of an owner or prospective owner of a Contract, or (ii) action taken by a Representative on behalf of an owner or prospective owner of a Contract. Principal
Underwriter shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance on or by acceptance of such an instruction or action.
Section 3.17. Furnishing Information. Broker shall furnish Principal Underwriter and any regulatory authority with jurisdiction
over the subject matter of this Agreement with any information, documentation, or reports prepared in connection with or related to this Agreement which may be requested by Principal Underwriter or such a regulatory authority in order to ascertain
whether the operations of Principal Underwriter or Broker related to the Contracts are being conducted in a manner consistent with Applicable Law.
Section 3.18. Authority. Broker represents that it has full authority to enter into this Agreement and that by entering into this
Agreement it shall not impair any other of its contractual obligations with respect to sales of any Contract.
Section 3.19.
Insurance Coverage.
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a) |
Fidelity Bond. Broker shall secure and maintain a fidelity bond (including coverage for larceny and
embezzlement), issued by a bonding company acceptable to Principal Underwriter, covering all of its directors, officers, agents, Representatives, associated persons and employees who have access to funds of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates.
This bond shall be maintained at Brokers expense in at least the amount prescribed under Rule 3020 of the FINRA Conduct Rules or future amendments thereto. Broker shall provide Principal Underwriter with satisfactory evidence of said bond upon
Principal Underwriters reasonable request. Broker hereby assigns any proceeds received from a fidelity bonding company, or other liability coverage, to Principal Underwriter, for itself or on behalf of its Affiliates, as their interest may
appear, to the extent of its loss due to activities covered by the bond, policy or other liability coverage. |
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b) |
Plan of Insurance. Broker shall maintain in full force and effect during the term of this Agreement a plan
of insurance (which may be a plan of self-insurance if agreed to in writing in advance by Principal Underwriter) which shall provide coverage for errors and omissions of Broker and its directors, officers, employees, agents, Agencies and
Representatives, in such amounts and scope of coverage as are acceptable to Principal Underwriter in its sole discretion. If requested by Principal |
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Underwriter, Broker shall provide evidence of coverage under an insurance policy, or a plan of self-insurance, satisfactory to Principal Underwriter showing the amount and scope of coverage
provided. If such insurance plan terminates for any reason during the term of this Agreement, Broker shall immediately notify Principal Underwriter in writing of such termination and Principal Underwriter shall have the right to immediately
terminate this Agreement. |
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c) |
Loss of coverage. The authority of any Representative to solicit and procure Contracts hereunder
shall terminate automatically upon the termination of such Representatives coverage under the Brokers fidelity bond or plan of insurance referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above. |
Section 3.20. Agency Distribution of Variable Contracts. In such cases where Broker intends to distribute the Variable Contracts
through an Agency, Broker further represents that Agency shall engage in the offer or sale of Variable Contracts only through persons who are Representatives of the Broker. Broker shall further ensure that unregistered employees shall not engage in
any securities activities requiring registration, nor receive any compensation based on transactions in securities or the provision of securities advice.
Section 3.21. Market Timing.
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(a) |
Broker shall not, and Broker shall take all steps necessary to ensure that its Representatives and any
Agency shall not (i) solicit, offer or sell Variable Contracts in connection with or to facilitate any program, plan or arrangement involving market timing transactions in underlying mutual funds within Variable Contracts, or (ii) take any
other actions that would promote, encourage or facilitate market timing transactions in the underlying mutual funds within Variable Contracts. |
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(b) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Broker and its Representatives may provide incidental services in the form of
guidance to applicants and owners of Variable Contracts regarding the allocation of premium and Variable Contract value, provided that such services are (i) solely incidental to Brokers activities in connection with the sales of the
Variable Contracts, (ii) subject to the supervision and control of Broker, (iii) furnished in accordance with any rules and procedures that may be prescribed by Principal Underwriter, and (iv) not promoting, encouraging or
facilitating market timing transactions in the underlying mutual funds within Variable Contracts. |
Section 3.22.
Prohibited Solicitation With Contract Holders. For a period of 12 months after termination of the Agreement, the Broker and Agency shall not, directly or indirectly, and on a systematic basis, contact the contract holders of Principal
Underwriter or its Affiliates or condone such contact for the purpose of inducing any such contract holders to lapse, cancel, and fail to renew or replace any Contract. If the Broker or Agency, in the judgment of Principal Underwriter is determined
to have engaged in such prohibited activity, then Principal Underwriter shall have the right to declare the Brokers and Agencys claims for compensation or any other benefit under the Agreement to be forfeited and void. Principal
Underwriter, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, may also pursue all remedies, including injunction, to assure compliance with the covenants in this Section 3.22 and shall, if successful, be entitled to recover from the Broker and Agency
all costs and expenses incurred in pursuing such remedies, including reasonable attorneys fees.
ARTICLE IV
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW
Section 4.1. Applicable Law. Principal Underwriter and Broker shall comply with all applicable state and federal statutes, laws,
rules, and regulations including without limitation, state insurance laws, rules and regulations, and federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (Applicable Law). Applicable Law also includes applicable guidelines,
policies, and rulings of federal and state regulatory organizations and agencies, including without limitation state insurance departments, the SEC and the FINRA, consumer privacy laws, HIPAA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and
Clinical Health Act (the HITECH Act), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and related federal regulations, and any other state or federal laws, rules
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or regulations and decisions, orders and rulings of state and federal regulatory agencies that are now or may hereafter become applicable to the parties hereto and the transactions that are the
subject of this Agreement.
Section 4.2. Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Identification.
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a) |
Broker shall comply with all applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, rules and government
guidance, including the reporting, recordkeeping and compliance requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), as amended by The International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, Title III of the USA PATRIOT
Act (the Act), its implementing regulations, and related SEC and SRO rules. These requirements include requirements to identify and report currency transactions and suspicious activity, to implement a customer identification program to
verify the identity of customers, and to implement an anti-money laundering compliance program. As required by the Act, Broker certifies that it has: a comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance program that includes, policies, procedures and
internal controls for complying with the BSA; policies, procedures and internal controls for identifying, evaluating and reporting suspicious activity; a designated compliance officer or officers; training for appropriate persons; and an independent
audit function. |
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b) |
Further Broker certifies, and shall certify to Principal Underwriter annually hereafter, that it has
established and implemented a training program for appropriate persons, including appropriate employees and all Representatives registered with Broker, and that such program includes training on the requirements of Brokers anti-money
laundering compliance program and on the identification of red flags associated with money laundering risks related to Principal Underwriters covered products, as they are defined in the regulations promulgated under
Section 352 of the Act in accordance with the definitions provided in Section 103.37(a)(4). |
Broker shall provide training to all appropriate persons, including its appropriate employees and all Representatives
registered with Broker concerning their responsibilities under the companys anti- money laundering program, and that such training shall include instruction on the identification of red flags associated with money laundering risks
related to Principal Underwriters covered products, as they are defined in the regulations promulgated under Section 352 of the Act in accordance with the definitions provided in Section 103.37(a)(4).
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c) |
Further Broker certifies, and shall certify to Principal Underwriter annually hereafter, that it has
established and implemented a Customer Identification Program, in compliance with applicable regulations, as part of its anti-money laundering compliance program that, at a minimum, requires: (i) the verification of the identity of any customer
seeking to open an account; (ii) the retention of a record of the information used to verify each customers identity; and (iii) the determination, within a reasonable time before or after the account is opened, as to whether the
customer appears on any lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations as provided to it by any government agency. |
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d) |
Broker shall verify the identity of each customer that it introduces to Principal Underwriter, whether
through documentary or non-documentary means, and that Principal Underwriter shall rely upon such verification, as prescribed by the regulations promulgated under Section 326 of the Act in accordance with
the safe-harbor provided in Section 103.122(b)(6) of the regulations under the Act. |
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e) |
Broker shall immediately notify Principal Underwriter of any activity, behavior, or transaction that results
in Broker filing a suspicious activity report and that it shall share information to the extent permissible under the regulations promulgated under Section 314 of the Act in accordance with the safe harbor provided in Section 103.110(b)(5)
of the regulations under the Act. |
Section 4.3. Suitability Certification. To the extent required by
Applicable Law and in accordance with Section 3.7, Broker hereby certifies, and shall hereafter annually certify in writing to Principal Underwriter, to the following:
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With respect to the solicitation and sale of fixed and variable annuity
Contracts offered by Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates, Broker has in place a system to supervise recommendations made for the Contracts that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with state insurance laws or regulations regarding
suitability and, with respect to variable annuities, to comply with applicable FINRA Conduct Rules, including Rule 2310, regarding suitability. As part of this supervisory system Broker maintains written procedures and conducts periodic reviews of
its records that are reasonably designed to achieve compliance with these requirements.
Annual certificates shall be signed by an
authorized senior officer or manager of the Broker with responsibility for overseeing annuity sales practices and who has a reasonable basis on which to make the certification on behalf of the Broker.
Section 4.4. New York Products.
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a) |
With respect to recommendations as defined in New York Insurance Regulation 187, at 11 NYCRR 224.0 et
seq., (Amended Reg. 187) involving both new and in-force Annuity Contracts and Life Insurance Policies delivered or issued for delivery in the state of New York (NY Products) Broker
shall comply with, and ensure that the Representatives comply with, the requirements of Amended Reg. 187 applicable to producers, including without limitation compliance with all applicable best interest, suitability, training, disclosure,
information collection, documentation and determination requirements as in effect as of the Annuities Effective Date with respect to NY Products that are annuity contracts, as of the Life Effective Date with respect to NY Products that are life
insurance policies, and as of the effective date(s) of any subsequent amendments to Amended Reg. 187 that become effective after the date of this Amendment. Broker acknowledges and agrees that the submission of an application or transaction request
with respect to a NY Product by Broker or a Representative to Principal Underwriter shall be deemed to be a representation that Broker and Representative in connection therewith complied with all requirements of Amended Reg. 187 as in effect at the
time of such submission applicable to Broker and Representatives as producers. |
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b) |
Delegation to Broker. Pursuant to Amended Reg. 187, Principal Underwriter hereby delegates to Broker the
obligation to establish and maintain a system of supervision for recommendations of sales transactions (as such term is defined in Amended NY Ins. Reg. 187, herein sales transactions) involving NY Products, and Broker hereby accepts such
delegation. |
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c) |
Broker Performance of Delegated Functions. Broker shall establish and maintain a supervision system for the
supervision of sales transactions recommended by the Representatives that meets the requirements of 11 NYCRR 224.6(b) of Amended Reg. 187, which shall include, but not be limited to, standards and procedures for: (i) the collection of a
consumers suitability information with respect to sales transactions involving NY Products; (ii) the documentation and disclosure of the basis for any recommendation with respect to sales transactions involving NY Products; and
(iii) the auditing and/or contemporaneous review of recommendations of sales transactions involving NY Products to monitor Representatives compliance with the obligation to act in the best interest of consumers. |
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i. |
Broker hereby certifies, and shall hereafter annually certify in writing, the following: Broker has
established and maintains a system of supervision for recommendations of sales transactions involving both new and in-force annuity and life insurance products issued by Principal Underwriter that are or were
delivered or issued for delivery in the state of New York (NY Products), and such system of supervision includes, but is not limited to, standards and procedures for: (i) the collection of a consumers suitability information
with respect to sales transactions involving NY Products; (ii) the documentation and disclosure |
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of the basis for any recommendation with respect to sales transactions involving NY Products; and (iii) the auditing and/or contemporaneous review of recommendations of sales transactions
involving NY Products to monitor Representatives compliance with the obligation to act in the best interest of consumers. It is understood and agreed by the parties that Principal Underwriter, at its election, may rely upon the written
certification Broker provides pursuant to this section to satisfy Principal Underwriters supervision and audit obligations with respect to sales transactions that result from the exercise of contractual rights under NY Products.
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ii. |
Certifications provided pursuant to this Paragraph 4 shall be signed by an authorized senior officer or
manager of Broker with responsibility for overseeing NY Product sales practices and who has a reasonable basis on which to make the certification on behalf of Broker. |
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e) |
Audit of Delegated Supervision Functions. |
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i. |
Broker shall cooperate with Principal Underwriter in connection with Principal Underwriters audits of
supervision functions delegated to Broker by Principal Underwriter under Amended Reg. 187. |
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ii. |
Broker shall maintain and make available upon reasonable request by Principal Underwriter records relating
to supervision functions delegated to Broker pursuant to this Amendment. Principal Underwriter may audit such records during regular business hours upon at least thirty (30) days advance written notice to Broker. |
ARTICLE V
COMPENSATION
Section 5.1. Payment Under Compensation Schedules. Principal Underwriter shall pay Broker compensation for the sale of each
Contract sold by Representatives of Broker as set forth in Exhibits A and B. Principal Underwriter shall identify to Broker with each such payment the name or names of the Representative(s) of Broker who solicited each Contract covered by the
payment. Broker shall be responsible for issuing checks, statements or forms for tax purposes and other administrative duties connected with compensation of such Representatives. Unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, Principal Underwriter
shall have no obligation to any of the employees, agents or Representatives of Broker or Agency for the payment of any compensation. Unless otherwise provided in Exhibits A and B, compensation on the Contracts, including the commissions and fees
therein, may be amended by Principal Underwriter at any time, in any manner, and without prior notice. If Broker or its Representatives replace an existing Product issued by any of Principal Underwriters Affiliates in whole or in part, the
compensation set forth in Exhibits A or B is inapplicable and Principal Underwriter, in its sole discretion, shall determine what, if any, commissions shall be payable in accordance with Principal Underwriters Rewritten Business Rules in
effect at the time of such replacement.
Section 5.2. Sole Discretion to Refund Premiums. Broker recognizes that Principal
Underwriter and its Affiliates have sole discretion to refund or return purchase payments paid by applicants.
Section 5.3.
Chargeback of Compensation. Except as otherwise may be provided in Exhibit A and B, no compensation shall be payable in connection with a purchase payment, and any compensation already paid shall be promptly returned to Principal Underwriter
on request, under each of the following conditions:
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a) |
if Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates, in their sole discretion, determine not to issue the Contract
applied for; |
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b) |
if Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates refund or return the purchase payment paid by the applicant for
any reason, in whole or in part; or |
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c) |
Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates determine that any person signing an application who is required to
be registered and/or licensed or any other person or entity receiving compensation for soliciting purchases of the Contracts is not duly registered and/or licensed to sell the Contracts in the jurisdiction of such attempted sale.
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Section 5.4. Offset. When commission has been paid to a Broker hereunder for a purchase payment that has
since been refunded or returned to the purchaser, Principal Underwriter may, at its option, offset the amount of that commission against any other amounts payable to Broker by Principal Underwriter or any one or more of its Affiliates. In addition,
Principal Underwriter may at any time offset against any compensation payable to the Agency or its successors or assigns, any indebtedness due from the Agency to Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as
giving Broker, Agency or Representative the right to incur any indebtedness on behalf of Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates. Any remaining indebtedness of Broker to Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates arising under this Agreement shall be a
first lien against any monies payable hereunder. The right of Broker, or any person claiming through Broker to receive any compensation provided by this Agreement shall be subordinate to the right of Principal Underwriter to offset such compensation
against any such indebtedness of the Broker to Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates.
Section 5.5. No Right to Withhold.
Neither Broker nor any of its Representatives shall have any right to withhold or deduct any part of any premium or other purchase payment it shall receive with respect to the Contracts covered by this Agreement for purposes of payment of commission
or for any other purpose.
Section 5.6. Impact on Termination. Principal Underwriter shall pay compensation to Broker for
Contracts credited to an Agency prior to the termination date of this Agreement, as set forth in Exhibits A and B. Such compensation shall be payable when the premium is due and paid to Principal Underwriter subject to the provisions of this
Agreement and of the Compensation Schedule(s).
Section 5.7. Principal Underwriter Payment of Compensation; Discharge of
Obligation. Agency and Broker hereby acknowledge that compensation attributable to the sale of any Contract issued by an Affiliate may be payable directly by Principal Underwriter, in its discretion, to Agency or Broker where permitted, and not
by the Affiliate. Agency and Broker further acknowledge that such payment of compensation by Principal Underwriter attributable to the sale of such Contracts shall constitute a complete discharge of the obligation to pay compensation by the
Affiliate issuer under this Agreement. The foregoing manner of payment shall not affect the right of offset or chargeback as referred to in Sections 5.3 and 5.4 of this Agreement, or other compensation rules as may be set forth in this Agreement,
Exhibits A and B, or rules of the Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates.
Section 5.8. Expenses. Broker is responsible for
all expenses incurred by the Broker, except as may be agreed to in writing by Principal Underwriter prior to the Broker incurring such expenses. Additionally, Principal Underwriter shall, at its expense, provide its standard advertising and
promotional material to the Broker when deemed appropriate by Principal Underwriter.
Section 5.9. Conflict. With respect to
compensation under this Agreement, in the event that anything contained in this Article 5 conflicts with the terms of the compensation described in the attached Exhibits A and B, the terms contained in Exhibits A and B shall prevail.
ARTICLE VI
COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS
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Section 6.1. Investigation by Regulator. Broker and Principal Underwriter shall
cooperate fully in any regulatory investigation or proceeding or judicial proceeding arising in connection with the offer, sale, and/or servicing of the Contracts.
Section 6.2. Customer Complaints. The term Customer Complaint shall mean an oral or written communication either directly from the
purchaser of or applicant for a Contract covered by this Agreement or his/her legal representative, or indirectly from a regulatory agency to which he/she or his/her legal representative has expressed a grievance.
Section 6.3. Notice and Handling of Customer Complaints.
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a) |
Principal Underwriter shall promptly notify Broker of Principal Underwriters receipt of notice of any
Customer Complaints relating to sales practices or marketing issues relating to the Contracts by forwarding to Broker a copy of any written materials in connection with such Customer Complaint and any additional information as may be necessary to
furnish a complete understanding of same. Broker shall be responsible for resolving Customer Complaints involving sales practices or marketing issues. Principal Underwriter shall cooperate with Broker and provide information to Broker related to
sales practices and marketing Customer Complaints that is reasonably required by Broker to facilitate the resolution of such Customer Complaints. During the resolution of a sales practices or marketing related Customer Complaint, Broker shall
provide Principal Underwriter with a copy of all correspondence sent and received regarding that Customer Complaint. Nothing contained in this Section 6.3 (a) shall limit Principal Underwriters right to settle as described in
Section 6.4. |
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b) |
Broker shall promptly notify Principal Underwriter of Brokers receipt of notice of any Customer
Complaint by forwarding to Principal Underwriter a copy of any written materials in connection with the Customer Complaint and such additional information as may be necessary to furnish a complete understanding of same. Principal Underwriter shall
be responsible for resolving Customer Complaints involving administrative issues. Broker shall cooperate with Principal Underwriter and provide information to Principal Underwriter related to administrative Customer Complaints that is reasonably
required by Principal Underwriter to facilitate the resolution of such Customer Complaints. |
Section 6.4. Right
to Settle. Principal Underwriter reserves the right to settle on behalf of itself, and on behalf of itself and Broker collectively if Broker agrees, any claims, complaints or grievances made by applicants, contract holders or others in
connection with the Contracts, and concerning any conduct, act or omission by the Broker or its agents or representatives with respect to the Contracts or any transactions arising out of this Agreement. If Broker does not agree to a collective
settlement with Principal Underwriter and Principal Underwriter, on behalf of itself, settles the matter, Broker shall indemnify and hold harmless Principal Underwriter from any and all claims, complaints or grievances made by Broker or any
applicant, contract holder or other person or entity made in connection with such matter.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND ADMINISTRATION
Section 7.1. Books and Records. Broker shall maintain all books and records as required by Rules
17a-3 and 17a-4 under the 1934 Act, except to the extent that Principal Underwriter may agree in writing to maintain any such records on Brokers behalf. Records
subject to any such agreement shall be maintained by Principal Underwriter as agent for Broker in compliance with said rules, and such records shall be and remain the property of Broker and be at all times subject to inspection by the SEC in
accordance with Section 17(a) of that Act. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to affect Principal Underwriters or its Affiliates right to ownership and control of all records and documents pertaining to its business
operations including, without limitation, its operations relating to the Contracts. Principal Underwriter and Broker shall each retain all records related to this Agreement as required by the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and by
any other Applicable Law, as Confidential Information.
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ARTICLE VIII
CUSTOMER INFORMATION AND PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
Section 8.1. Treatment of Customer Information. Broker shall treat Customer Information confidentially as required by Applicable
Law and by Principal Underwriter, as described in Principal Underwriters privacy notices and in accordance with Principal Underwriter policies and procedures. Broker shall also establish and implement administrative, physical and technical
procedures to ensure the confidentiality, security and integrity of Customer Information in accordance with Applicable Law. Broker shall comply with Principal Underwriters terms of use, policies and procedures with respect to use of Principal
Underwriter electronic systems and databases providing access to Customer Information by Broker, its employees and Representatives, and shall promptly report to Principal Underwriter any actual or suspected breach of security related to such systems
and databases of which it becomes aware. To the extent that Broker becomes aware of any actual or suspected security breach or unauthorized use, disclosure, acquisition or access to any Customer Information, Broker shall: (i) promptly notify
Principal Underwriter, (ii) take all necessary and advisable corrective actions, and (iii) cooperate fully with Principal Underwriter in all reasonable and lawful efforts to prevent, mitigate or rectify such security breach or unauthorized
use, disclosure, acquisition, or access to the Customer Information. Broker may use Customer Information only for the purpose of fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement. Broker shall limit access to Customer Information to its employees,
Representatives and other Third Parties who need to know such Customer Information to permit Broker to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement and who have agreed to treat such Customer Information in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Broker shall not disclose or otherwise make accessible Customer Information to anyone other than to the individual to whom the information relates (or to his or her legally authorized representative) or to other persons pursuant to a
valid authorization signed by the individual to whom the information relates (or by his or her legally authorized representative), except as required for Broker to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, as otherwise directed by Principal
Underwriter, or as expressly required by Applicable Law. Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates may market, offer, sell or distribute insurance products, including, but not limited to, the Contracts, or any of their other products and related
services, outside of this Agreement to customers of Broker provided they do not use Nonpublic Personal Information regarding Brokers customers provided by Broker to specifically target those customers, and such marketing, offering, selling or
distributing by Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates of insurance (including but not limited to the Contracts) or any of their other products or services shall not be subject to the terms of this Agreement.
Section 8.2. Protected Health Information.
(a) Use and Disclosure. Broker: (a) shall not use or disclose PHI except as necessary to provide the services
contemplated by this Agreement or as required by law; (b) shall limit the use and disclosure of PHI to the minimum required to accomplish the intended purpose of such use or disclosure and shall comply with any guidance issued by the Department
of Health and Human Services regarding what constitutes minimum necessary with respect to the use or disclosure of PHI; (c) shall use appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent use or disclosure of PHI
except as permitted by this Agreement; (d) shall require that any of its Brokers or independent contractors to whom PHI is disclosed or made accessible or who uses PHI has agreed in writing to the same restrictions and conditions that apply to
Broker with respect to PHI pursuant to this Agreement; (e) shall, within fifteen (15) days of Principal Underwriters request, provide to Principal Underwriter any PHI or information relating to PHI as deemed necessary by Principal
Underwriter to provide individuals with access to, amendment of, and an accounting of disclosures of their PHI, and to incorporate any amendments of the PHI as requested by Principal Underwriter; (f) shall make its internal practices, books and
records relating to its use or disclosure of PHI available to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services at his/her request to determine Principal Underwriters and its Affiliates compliance with Applicable
Law; and (g) shall comply with the applicable standards of 45 CFR §§ 164.306, 164.308, 164.310, 164.312, 164.314, and 164.316 with respect to electronic PHI. Broker shall not use or disclose PHI in any manner that violates HIPAA, the
HITECH Act, GINA, or any other applicable federal or state laws and regulations relating to the privacy and security of PHI.
(b) Breach of Unsecured PHI. Broker shall report to Principal Underwriter without unreasonable delay any acquisition,
access, use or disclosure of Unsecured Protected Health Information not permitted by this Agreement at
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the following e-mail address: securitybreach@brighthousefinancial.com. In no case shall such notification occur later than two (2) calendar days of Brokers discovery of the impermissible acquisition, access, use or disclosure of Unsecured PHI. Discovery will be deemed to
occur on the date that Broker actually became aware or, by exercising reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the impermissible acquisition, access, use or disclosure of Unsecured PHI. Such notification shall include an assessment of whether
the incident constitutes a Breach under 45 CFR § 164.402.
(i) To the extent such assessment
concludes that a Breach has occurred, or as requested by Principal Underwriter, such notification shall also include, to the extent possible, the identification of each Individual whose PHI has been or is reasonably believed to have been accessed,
acquired, used or disclosed during the incident and any other information that the Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates will be required to include in its notification to the Individual, the media and/or the Secretary, as applicable, including,
without limitation, (A) a description of the incident, (B) the date of the incident and the date of its discovery, (C) the types of Protected Health Information involved, and (D) a description of Brokers investigation,
mitigation, and prevention efforts.
(ii) In the event of any such Breach, Broker shall also: fully cooperate with
Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates in connection with the investigation of such Breach; not make any public announcements or notifications to any government authority, potentially affected Individual or entity, or other third party without
Principal Underwriters prior written approval; take all necessary and appropriate corrective action, including (without limitation, at the request of Principal Underwriter, and at the expense of Broker): (A) providing notice to all persons
whose PHI may have been affected by such Breach, whether or not such notice is required by Applicable Law, (B) establishing a toll-free telephone number where affected Individuals may receive information, and (C) providing credit
monitoring/repair and/or identity restoration/insurance for affected Individuals for one year following the announcement or disclosure of the Breach or following notice to the affected Individuals, whichever is later. If a longer period is requested
or required by Applicable Law or the demand or request of any government authority, such services shall be provided for at least that long.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other clause hereof, Broker shall indemnify, hold harmless, and reimburse Principal Underwriter and
its Affiliates from all claims, losses, and expenses caused by any such Breach and for all reasonable fees and costs Principal Underwriter and its Affiliates may incur in connection with investigation, remediation, reporting, and notification
efforts, including but not limited to, retaining a computer forensics experts, providing credit monitoring and identity theft services to affected individuals, and responding to the Breach (e.g., costs of notification to affected individuals and
government agencies).
(c) Mitigation. Broker shall mitigate promptly, to the extent practicable, any harmful
effect that is known to Broker of an acquisition, access, use or disclosure of PHI by Broker in violation of this Agreement, the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule, or other applicable federal or state laws concerning the privacy or security of PHI.
Broker shall promptly thereafter provide Principal Underwriter with a written report of the issues and corresponding actions taken by Broker.
(d) Security Incident. Broker shall report to Principal Underwriter without unreasonable delay any Security Incident of
which Broker becomes aware.
(e) Certain Permitted Uses. In accordance with 45 CFR §§ 164.504(e)(2)(i)
and 164.504(e)(4), Broker may use or disclose PHI if such use or disclosure is necessary (a) for the proper management and administration of Brokers organization; (b) to provide Data Aggregation services relating to the Health Care
Operations of the Principal Underwriters Affiliates; or (c) to carry out the legal responsibilities of Broker; provided, however, that any disclosure of PHI permitted by this subsection must be either required by law or subject to
reasonable assurances obtained by Broker from the third party that the PHI will be held confidentially and used or further disclosed only as required by law or for the purposes for which it was disclosed to such third party, and that any breaches of
confidentiality of the PHI which become known to such third party will be immediately reported to Broker. Broker may use and disclose PHI to the extent such use or disclosure is Required By Law provided (a) the use or disclosure complies with
and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law, (b) Broker promptly notifies Principal Underwriter of such use or disclosure and, at Principal Underwriters request and Brokers expense, assists in
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obtaining a protective order or other similar order, and (c) the use or disclosure complies
with the requirements of 45 CFR § 164.512 to the same extent such requirements would apply if the use or disclosure were made by Principal Underwriter or its Affiliates.
(f) Termination. In addition to any other termination rights available to the Parties, upon Principal
Underwriters knowledge of a material violation by Broker of this Agreement, Principal Underwriter may: (i) immediately terminate this Agreement if Broker has violated a material term of this Section 6.2 and cure is not possible; or
(ii) terminate this Agreement upon thirty 30 days notice if Principal Underwriter determines that Broker has violated a material term of this Section 6.2 if, following Principal Underwriters notification to Broker of the
material violation, Broker is unable or unwilling to take steps to cure the violation within such thirty 30-day period. In the event of such a cure, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
Broker agrees that upon termination of this Agreement it will, if feasible, return to Principal Underwriter or destroy all PHI it maintains in
any form and retain no copies, and if such return or destruction is not feasible, to extend the protections of this Agreement to the PHI beyond the termination of this Agreement and for as long as Broker has PHI, and further agrees that any further
use or disclosure of the PHI will be solely for the purposes that make return or destruction infeasible. Destruction without retention of copies is not deemed feasible if prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or by Applicable Law, including
record retention requirements under state insurance laws.
Section 8.3 Additional Broker Responsibility With Respect To PHI.
The Broker agrees and acknowledges that the Broker is a business associate that is directly subject to HIPAA as amended by the HITECH Act, including its provisions relating to security and privacy of PHI as well as its enforcement and penalty
provisions. The Broker shall comply with all applicable security and privacy provisions of HIPAA as amended by the HITECH Act and as it may be amended from time to time. The Broker shall not act in any way to interfere with or hinder the Principal
Underwriters ability to comply with HIPAA as amended by the HITECH Act and as it may be amended from time to time.
Section 8.4. Privacy Notices and Authorization. Broker shall provide to customers and prospective customers who apply for or
purchase Principal Underwriter products, and shall ensure that its Representatives provide to such customers and prospective customers, Principal Underwriter privacy notices as required by Applicable Law and by Principal Underwriter. Broker shall
also ensure that its Representatives obtain signed authorizations from customers and prospective customers who apply for Principal Underwriter products, as required by Principal Underwriter, and provide upon request of such customers and prospective
customers, copies of their signed authorizations as required by Applicable Law and Principal Underwriter policy. In the event that a customer or prospective customer has signed a Principal Underwriter authorization and subsequently informs Broker or
Representatives that he or she is revoking that authorization, Broker shall promptly inform Principal Underwriter in writing of such revocation. Broker shall comply with the requirements of 45 C.F.R. § 164.520 that apply to covered entities in
the performance of its obligations under this Section 8.4.
ARTICLE IX
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Section 9.1. Treatment of Confidential Information. Principal Underwriter and Broker and their respective Affiliates each shall
keep confidential all Confidential Information of the other. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Principal Underwriter and Broker and their respective Affiliates shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any Third Party
without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that each may disclose Confidential Information (a) to those of its Representatives who have a need to know the Confidential Information in the ordinary course of business and
who are informed of the confidential nature of the Confidential Information, and (b) as and to the extent required by Applicable Law or by legal process or requested by an insurance regulatory or administrative body. However, in the event that
clause (b) of the preceding sentence is applicable, the party required or requested to disclose Confidential Information shall give prompt written notice thereof to the other party and shall reasonably cooperate in the other partys
efforts to obtain an appropriate remedy to prevent or limit such disclosure. It is understood by Principal Underwriter and Broker that this Section 9.1 shall not prevent Broker from quoting Principal Underwriter premium rates in the ordinary
course of business.
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Section 9.2. Return of Confidential Information. Promptly upon the termination of
this Agreement or the request of the providing party, the receiving party shall return to the providing party all Confidential Information furnished by the providing party or its Representatives. Neither the receiving party nor any of its
Representatives shall make any copies in any form of any documents containing Confidential Information of the providing party without the prior written consent of an officer of the providing party, except such copies as need to be made in the
ordinary course of business by Principal Underwriter or Broker to fulfill their respective obligations under this Agreement.
Section 9.3. Damages. Principal Underwriter and Broker each acknowledge that (a) money damages may not be a sufficient remedy
for breach of this Article IX, (b) the Party aggrieved by any such breach may be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief with respect to such breach, (c) such remedies shall not be deemed to be the
exclusive remedies for any such breach but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity, and (d) in the event of litigation relating to this Article IX, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final non-appealable order that either Principal Underwriter or Broker or any of their respective Representatives has breached this Article IX, then the party that is found (or whose Representative is found) to have
committed such breach shall be liable for reasonable legal fees incurred by the aggrieved party or its affiliates in connection with such litigation including, without limitation, any appeals.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 10.1. Indemnification. Each party shall hold harmless, defend, exonerate and indemnify each other party to this Agreement,
as well as their respective employees, agents, trustees, Representatives, officers or directors, for any and all losses, claims, judgments, fines, penalties, damages, or liabilities (or any actions or threatened actions in respect of any of the
foregoing) the other party suffers that results from the actions of the indemnifying party or its representatives with respect to its/their obligations under this Agreement, or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, condition or duty
contained in this Agreement or violation of Applicable Law with respect to its services required under this Agreement.
Section 10.2.
Notice of Claim. After receipt of notice of the commencement of, or threat of, any claim, action, or proceeding by a third party (a Third Party Action) by a party that believes it is entitled to indemnification under this Article
X (the Indemnified Party), the Indemnified Party shall notify the party obligated to provide indemnification under this Article X (the Indemnifying Party) in writing of the commencement thereof as soon as practicable
thereafter, provided that the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability under this Article X, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party demonstrates that the defense of such Third Party Action is
materially prejudiced by the failure to give timely notice. Such notice shall describe the claim in reasonable detail.
Section 10.3.
Defense, Settlement and Subrogation.
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The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume control of the defense of such Third Party Action and
shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such Third Party Action. The Indemnified Party shall cooperate
and provide such assistance as the Indemnifying Party reasonably may request in connection with the Indemnifying Partys defense and shall be entitled to recover from the Indemnifying Party the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of providing such assistance (including reasonable fees of any counsel retained by the Indemnified Party with the consent of the Indemnifying Party to facilitate such assistance). The
Indemnifying Party shall inform the Indemnified Party on a regular basis of the status of any Third Party Action and the Indemnifying Partys defense thereof. |
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In any such Third Party Action, the Indemnified Party may, but shall not be obligated to, participate in the
defense of any Third Party Action, at its own expense and using counsel of its own choosing, but the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to control the defense thereof unless the Indemnified
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Party has relieved the Indemnifying Party from liability with respect to the particular Third Party Action. |
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If notice is given to the Indemnifying Party of the commencement of any Third Party Action hereunder and the
Indemnifying Party does not, either (i) within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt of such notice, give notice to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense of such Third Party Action, or (ii) give notice to the
Indemnified Party that it rejects the claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 10.5 herein, the Indemnified Party shall have the right, at its option and at the Indemnifying Partys expense, to defend such Third Party Action in a
manner that the Indemnified Party deems appropriate. In such a case, the Indemnified Party shall not consent to the settlement, compromise or entry of judgment with respect to the Third Party Action without prior written notice to, consultation
with, and written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. |
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In any Third Party Action, the defense of which is controlled by the Indemnifying Party: (i) the
Indemnifying Party shall not, without the Indemnified Partys prior written consent, compromise or settle such Third Party Action, if (1) such compromise or settlement would impose an injunction or other equitable relief upon the
Indemnified Party or (2) such compromise or settlement does not include the Third Partys release of the Indemnified Party from all liability relating to such Third Party Action; and (ii) the Indemnified Party shall not compromise or
settle such Third Party Action without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that, if the Indemnified Party desires to compromise or settle such claim, suit or proceeding and
the Indemnifying Party reasonably refuses to consent to such compromise or settlement, the Indemnified Party may enter into a compromise or settlement but shall be solely responsible for the cost of any compromise or settlement amount.
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Section 10.4. Claim Not Involving Third Party Action. A claim for indemnification by a party hereunder for
any matter not involving a Third Party Action may be asserted by notice to another party.
Section 10.5. Notice of Rejection of
Claim. Notwithstanding anything within this Article X to the contrary, a party who has received a notice of claim for indemnification under this Article X, may notify the party asserting such claim for indemnification that it rejects the claim.
Such notice rejecting a claim for indemnification must be given by the rejecting party within ten (10) business days of its receipt of the notice of claim and shall describe the basis for the rejection of the claim in reasonable detail.
Section 10.6. Provisions Not to Control. Notwithstanding anything in this Article X to the contrary, the terms and provisions of
Article VI shall control in the event of any conflict or alleged conflict with this Article X.
ARTICLE XI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 11.1. Term and Termination.
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Term. This Agreement shall continue in force from the Effective Date, provided that any party may
unilaterally terminate this Agreement with or without cause upon thirty (30) days prior written notice of termination to the other parties. |
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Termination Due to Change in Status. |
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Broker-Dealer Status. The Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Principal Underwriter or Broker
ceasing to be a registered broker-dealer or a member of the FINRA. |
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Legal Status. The Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the termination of the legal existence
of Selling Broker-Dealer or the Agency, or the merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution, receivership or bankruptcy of either, or whenever the Agency is no longer licensed under law to solicit and procure applications for Contracts, unless
the Agency notifies the other parties in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the occurrence of any of the above events and obtains written permission to continue on a basis approved by the other parties. |
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Continuing Obligations. Upon termination of this Agreement, all authorizations, rights and
obligations shall cease except (a) the agreements contained in Articles VI,VII, VIII, IX, and X, Sections 11.4, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.10 hereof; and (b) the obligation to settle accounts hereunder. Except with respect to records required to be
maintained by Broker pursuant to Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 under the 1934 Act, Broker shall return to Principal Underwriter, within 30 days after the Effective Date of termination, any and all records in its
possession which have been specifically maintained in connection with Principal Underwriters operations related to the Contracts. |
Section 11.2. Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other;
provided, however, that Principal Underwriter may assign this Agreement to any of its Affiliates at any time. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 11.2 shall be void.
Section 11.3. Amendments. No oral promises or representations shall be binding nor shall this Agreement be modified except by
agreement in writing, executed on behalf of the parties by a duly authorized officer of each of them.
Section 11.4. Notices.
All notices, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand,
courier or overnight delivery service or, if mailed, two (2) Business Days after deposit in the mail and sent certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and with first-class postage prepaid:
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If to Broker, to the address on the signature page of this Agreement. |
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If to Principal Underwriter: |
Brighthouse Securities, LLC
Attn: Installations
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Either party may change its respective notice address by advance written notice to the other.
Section 11.5. Arbitration.
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When Arbitration Required. All disputes and differences between the parties, other than those seeking
injunctive relief or a restraining order under this Agreement, or arising with respect to the use of Customer Information, PHI or Confidential Information under Articles VIII and IX, must be decided by arbitration in accordance with the rules of
arbitration of the American Arbitration Association, regardless of the insolvency of either party, unless the conservator, receiver, liquidator or statutory successor is specifically exempted from an arbitration proceeding by applicable state law.
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Initiation of Arbitration. Either party may initiate arbitration by providing written notification to
the other party. Such written notice shall set forth (i) a brief statement of the issue(s); (ii) the failure of the parties to reach agreement; and (iii) the date of the demand for arbitration. |
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Arbitration Panel. The arbitration panel shall consist of three arbitrators. The arbitrators must be
impartial and must be or must have been officers of life insurance and or securities companies other than the parties or their affiliates. |
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Selection of Arbitrators. Each party shall select an arbitrator within thirty (30) days from the
date of the demand. If either party shall refuse or fail to appoint an arbitrator within the time allowed, the party that has appointed an arbitrator may notify the other party that, if it has not appointed its arbitrator within the following ten
(10) days, an arbitrator shall be appointed on its behalf. The two (2) arbitrators shall select the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the appointment of the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators fail to agree on the
selection of the third arbitrator within the time allowed, each arbitrator shall submit to the other a list of three (3) candidates. Each arbitrator shall select one name from the list submitted by the other and the third arbitrator shall be
selected from the two names chosen by drawing lots. |
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Rules; Place for Meetings; Majority Vote. The arbitrators shall determine all arbitration schedules
and procedural rules. Organizational and other meetings shall be held in New York, unless the arbitrators select another location. The arbitrators shall decide all matters by majority vote. |
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Decision Final. The decisions of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on both parties. The
arbitrators may, at their discretion, award costs and expenses, as they deem appropriate, including but not limited to legal fees and interest. The arbitrators may not award exemplary or punitive damages. Judgment may be entered upon the final
decision of the arbitrators in any court of competent jurisdiction. |
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Fees and Expenses. Each party shall be responsible for (a) all fees and expenses of its
respective counsel, accountants, actuaries and any other representatives in connection with the arbitration and (b) unless the arbitrators shall provide otherwise, one-half (1/2) of the expenses of the
arbitration, including the fees and expenses of the arbitrators. |
Section 11.6. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to Delaware choice of law provisions.
Section 11.7. Entire Understanding. This Agreement and any reference incorporated herein constitute the complete understanding of
the parties and supersedes in its entirety any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements among the parties with respect to the subject matter discussed herein. No oral agreements or representations shall be binding.
Section 11.8. Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in the Agreement shall convey any rights upon any person or entity, which is not
a party to the Agreement. Principal Underwriters Affiliates shall be Third Party beneficiaries of this Agreement, entitled to enforce the provision hereof as if they were a party to this Agreement.
Section 11.9. Non-Exclusivity. No territory or product is assigned exclusively hereunder
to Broker and Agency and Principal Underwriter reserves the right in its discretion to enter into selling agreements with other broker-dealers, and to contract with or establish one or more insurance agencies in any jurisdiction in which
Broker transacts business hereunder.
Section 11.10. Non-Solicitation of Employees
and Agents. For purposes of this Section 11.10 only, the term agent shall include all appointed agents and Representatives. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that each may have access to the names and
identities of agents of each party as a result of performing their respective obligations under this Agreement, and that each may establish close working relationships with such persons. Therefore:
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Broker and Agency (for purposes of this Section 11.10, Selling Group), shall not solicit
any agent of Principal Underwriter while an agent maintains his/ her affiliation with Principal Underwriter and for twelve (12) months after termination of the affiliation. In addition, Selling Group shall not
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interfere in any way with the relationships, contractual or otherwise, between Principal Underwriter and its agents. Selling Group shall not induce or encourage, or attempt to induce or
encourage, any agent of Principal Underwriter to terminate or change his/her relationship with Principal Underwriter; and |
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Principal Underwriter shall not solicit any agent of Selling Group while an agent maintains his/her
affiliation with Selling Group and for twelve (12) months after termination of the affiliation. In addition, Principal Underwriter shall not interfere in any way with the relationships, contractual or otherwise, between Selling Group and its
agents. Principal Underwriter shall not induce or encourage, or attempt to induce or encourage, any agent of Selling Group to terminate or change his/her relationship with Selling Group. |
Section 11.11. Waiver. The failure of either party to strictly enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as a
waiver of such provision or release either party from its obligation to perform strictly in accordance with such provision.
Section 11.12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, with the same force and effect as if executed in one
complete document.
Section 11.13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is declared null, void or unenforceable in
whole or in part by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, said provision shall survive to the extent it is not so declared and all the other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless, in each case, such
declaration shall serve to deprive any of the parties hereto of the fundamental benefits of this Agreement.
Section 11.14.
Trademarks. Neither party may use the other partys trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, or other commercial or product designations (collectively, Marks) for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent
of the other party.
Section 11.15. Preparation of Certificates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
Broker and Principal Underwriter shall cooperate fully in the preparation of and execution of any certificates that may be required by a regulatory authority or by Applicable Law, in connection with the offer, sale, and/or servicing of the
Contracts.
Section 11.16. Parties Control of Business and Operations. The performance or receipt of services pursuant
to this Agreement shall in no way impair the absolute control of the business and operations of each of the parties and their respective Affiliates by their own Board of Directors.
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In reliance on the representations set forth and in consideration of the undertakings described,
the parties represented below do hereby contract and agree.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
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BRIGHTHOUSE SECURITIES, LLC |
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Brighthouse Securities, LLC |
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EXHIBIT A
Schedule of Variable Product and Compensation
[TO BE INSERTED]
EXHIBIT B
Schedule of Fixed Product and Compensation
[TO BE INSERTED]
EXHIBIT C
ASSOCIATED INSURANCE AGENCY
The Broker/Dealer named below (Broker), having executed a Retail Sales Agreement (the Agreement) by and between Broker,
and Brighthouse Securities, LLC (the Company) dated that, among other things, provides for sales of Companys or its
Affiliates Contracts through a designated associated insurance agency or agencies, hereby designates the associated insurance agency(s) (the Associated Insurance Agency(s)) named below as its Agency (as that term is defined in the
Agreement) pursuant to Article III thereof. By signing this Exhibit C, each of Broker and the Associated Insurance Agency(s) hereby represents and warrants that each of the Associated Insurance Agency(s) is and will remain qualified to serve as an
Agency in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. Each of the Associated Insurance Agency(s) hereby acknowledge that it has received a copy of the Agreement, that it has reviewed the Agreement and understands all of its terms, covenants and
agreements, that it has had the opportunity to consult with counsel of choice relative thereto and that it agrees to be bound by and subject to the terms of the Agreement.
Without limiting the foregoing, Broker-Dealer and Insurance Agent represent that they are in compliance with the terms and conditions of
Howard & Howard (sub. nom. First of America Brokerage Service, Inc.) (avail. Sept. 28, 1995) issued by the Staff of the SEC with respect to the non-registration as a broker-dealer of an insurance
agency associated with a registered broker-dealer. Broker-Dealer and Insurance Agent shall notify Company immediately in writing if Broker-Dealer and/or Insurance Agent fail to comply with any such terms and conditions and shall take such measures
as may be necessary and as promptly as practicable under the circumstances to cure any such non-compliance.
THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION THAT MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES
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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement File Nos. 333-200261/811-03365 on Form N-4 of our report dated March 24, 2023, relating to the financial
statements comprising each of the Sub-Accounts of Brighthouse Separate Account A, and our report dated March 1, 2023, relating to the financial statements of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, both appearing in form N-VPFS of Brighthouse Separate Account A for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Statement of Additional Information, which is part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Tampa, Florida
April 17, 2023
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Eric Steigerwalt
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Eric Steigerwalt, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Brighthouse Life Insurance
Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and
agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and file on my behalf and to execute and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in
any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and
Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and Brighthouse Variable
Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
and Series S-L Share Option (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after
April 29, 2013)
File No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity
(Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200253 Series XC
File No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22, 2004 and
October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between September 4, 2001 and
October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share
Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File
No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and
Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after
May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File
No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File
No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File
No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos.
333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier
Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ Eric Steigerwalt |
Eric Steigerwalt |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Myles Lambert
Director and Vice President
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE
PRESENTS, that I, Myles Lambert, a Director and Vice President of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and file on my behalf and to execute
and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and
Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and
May 1, 2016) and Series S-L Share Option (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity
(Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and
Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after
May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File
No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File
No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File
No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos.
333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier
Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity,
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ Myles Lambert
|
Myles Lambert |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
David A. Rosenbaum
Director and Vice President
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I,
David A. Rosenbaum, a Director and Vice President of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and file on my behalf and to execute
and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and
Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1,
2016) and
Series S-L Share Option (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity (Flexible Bonus/Retirement
Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos. 333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse
Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 VintageAnnuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3
Annuity, Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File
Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File No. 333-262390
Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay
PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-259505 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ David A.
Rosenbaum |
David A. Rosenbaum |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Jonathan Rosenthal
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
KNOW ALL MEN
BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Jonathan Rosenthal, a Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin,
and Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign
and file on my behalf and to execute and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1,
2016) and Series S-L Share Option (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered
between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File
No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File
No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File
No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity
(Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and
Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after
May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File
No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File
No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File
No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos.
333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier
Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ Jonathan Rosenthal |
Jonathan Rosenthal |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Edward A. Spehar
Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY
THESE PRESENTS, that I, Edward A. Spehar, a Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and
Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and
file on my behalf and to execute and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1,
2016) and Series S-L Share Option (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered
between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File
No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File
No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File
No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity
(Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos. 333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse
Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ Edward A. Spehar |
Edward A. Spehar |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Kristine Toscano
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE
PRESENTS, that I, Kristine Toscano, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and Alexander Ulianov,
as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and file on my behalf and
to execute and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933
and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance
(811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1,
2016) and
Series S-L Share Option (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity
(Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos. 333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse
Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier
Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse
Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity,
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd
day of March 2023.
|
/s/ Kristine Toscano |
Kristine Toscano |
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling
Vice President and Controller
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that
I, Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling, Vice President and Controller of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware company (the Company), do hereby constitute and appoint Michele H. Abate, Allie Lin, and Alexander Ulianov, as my attorney-in-fact and agent, each of whom may act individually and none of whom is required to act jointly with any of the others, to sign and file on my behalf and to execute
and file any instrument or document required to be filed as part of or in connection with or in any way related to, the Registration Statements and any and all amendments thereto filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, pertaining to:
Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance (811-03927)
File No. 002-88637 MarketLifeSM and
Invest
File No. 333-152219
MarketLifeSM
File No. 333-56952
Brighthouse Variable Survivorship Life II
File No. 333-69771 Brighthouse Variable
Survivorship Life
File No. 333-96515 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator and
Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 2
File No. 333-96519 Brighthouse
Variable Life
File No. 333-113109 Brighthouse Variable Life Accumulator- Series 3
File No. 333-152216 Portfolio Architect Life
File No. 333-152217 VintageLife,
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance (811-09215)
File No. 333-71349 Corporate Owned VUL Series 1
File No. 333-94779 Corporate Owned VUL 2000 and Corporate Owned VUL III
File No. 333-105335 Corporate Select Policy
File No. 333-113533 Corporate Owned VUL IV,
Brighthouse Separate Account A (811-03365)
File No. 333-200231 Series VA (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200232 Series S (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1,
2016) and Series S-L Share Option (offered between October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200233 Series VA- 4 (offered between
October 7, 2011 and May 1, 2016)
File No. 333-200234 Series O (offered
between April 30, 2012 and July 19, 2015)
File No. 333-200236 Series L- 4 Year (offered on and after April 29, 2013)
File
No. 333-200237 PrimElite IV
File
No. 333-200238 Marquis Portfolios (offered on and after April 30, 2012)
File No. 333-200239 Brighthouse Growth and Income
File
No. 333-200240 Group Flexible Payment Variable Annuity (Flexible Bonus/Retirement Companion/Smart Choice)
File No. 333-200243 PrimElite III
File No. 333-200246 Brighthouse Simple SolutionsSM
File No. 333-200250 Marquis
Portfolios (offered between November 7, 2005 and April 30, 2012)
File
No. 333-200253 Series XC
File
No. 333-200256 Series VA (offered between March 22, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200259 Series L and Series L 4 Year (offered between November 22,
2004 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200261 Series C (offered between
September 4, 2001 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200263 Series XTRA
File No. 333-200265 Series S and Series S- L Share Option (offered between April 30, 2007 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200268 Series L- 4 Year (offered between October 7, 2011 and April 28, 2013)
File No. 333-200270 Group Annuity SF 101
File No. 333-200272 Ultimate Annuity FSL 224
File No. 333-200275 Foresight SF 137
File No. 333-200277 SecurAnnuity (CLICO) 224/ SF 1700
File No. 333-200278 Group VA SF 234 (Texas)
File No. 333-200280 Sunshine SF 236 FL
File No. 333-200281 Flexible Value SF 230
File No. 333-200282 Investors Choice Annuity, Capital Strategist Annuity, Imprint Annuity
and Strive Annuity
File No. 333-200283 Protected Equity Portfolio (PEP)
File No. 333-200284 Vintage L and Vintage XC
File No. 333-200285 Series XTRA 6
File No. 333-200286 Series VA- 4 (offered between
May 1, 2011 and October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200287 Series C (offered on
and after October 7, 2011)
File No. 333-200288 Pioneer PRISM
File No. 333-200289 Pioneer PRISM L
File No. 333-200290 Pioneer PRISM XC
File No. 333-200323 Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM-Standard Version and Brighthouse Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM -C Share Option
File No. 333-203748 Series O (offered on and after July 20, 2015)
File No. 333-209053 Series VA (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209054 Series VA- 4 (offered on and
after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209055 Series S (offered on and after May 2,
2016) and Series S- L Share Option (offered on and after May 2, 2016)
File No. 333-209411 Brighthouse Prime Options,
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (811-21262)
File Nos. 333-101778 and 333-152234 Pioneer AnnuiStar Plus Annuity, Portfolio Architect Plus Annuity and Scudder Advocate Rewards Annuity
File No. 333-152189 Universal Annuity
File No. 333-152190 Universal Select Annuity
File No. 333-152191 Universal Annuity Advantage
File Nos. 333-152192 and 333-152193 Brighthouse
Retirement Account
File No. 333-152194 Gold Track and Gold Track Select
File Nos. 333-152197 and 333-152198 Brighthouse Access
Annuity and Brighthouse Access Select Annuity
File Nos. 333-152199 and 333-152200 Vintage Annuity
File Nos. 333-152201 and 333-152202 Index Annuity
File Nos. 333-152232 and 333-152233 Portfolio Architect Annuity, Portfolio Architect Select Annuity, Premier Advisers Annuity (Class I) and Premier Advisers Annuity (Class II)
File Nos. 333-152235 and 333-152236 Pioneer AnnuiStar
Annuity, Portfolio Architect II Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Value Annuity
File Nos.
333-152237 and 333-152238 Premier Advisers II Annuity, Premier Advisers III (Series I) and Premier
Advisers III Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152239 and 333-152240 Premier Advisers
AssetManager Annuity, Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series I) and Premier Advisers L Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152255 and 333-152265 Vintage XTRA Annuity, Portfolio Architect XTRA Annuity and Vintage XTRA Annuity (Series II)
File Nos. 333-152256 and 333-152292 Vintage 3 Annuity,
Portfolio Architect 3 Annuity, Portfolio Architect L Annuity, Vintage L Annuity and Pioneer AnnuiStar Flex Annuity
File Nos. 333-152258 and 333-152261 PrimElite Annuity
File Nos. 333-152259 and 333-152262 PrimElite II Annuity
File Nos. 333-152260 and 333-152266 Protected Equity Portfolio Annuity
File Nos.
333-152263 and 333-152269 Marquis Portfolios
File
Nos. 333-152264 and 333-152270 Vintage Access, Portfolio Architect Access, Scudder Advocate Advisor and Scudder Advocate Advisor- ST1 Annuity
File Nos. 333-152267 and 333-152268 Vintage II Annuity
and Vintage II Annuity (Series II)
File No. 333-197658 Brighthouse Accumulation
Annuity
File No. 333-208464 Brighthouse Premier Variable AnnuitySM,
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
File No. 333-156867 Unallocated Group Variable Annuity
File No. 333-156911 Brighthouse Retirement Perspectives,
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C (811-05200)
File No. 333-200244 Class XC
File No. 333-200247 Class VA, Class AA and Class B
File No. 333-200249 Class L and Class L 4 Year
File No. 333-200252 Class A
File No. 333-200255 COVA VA, Firstar Summit VA, Premier Advisor VA, Destiny Select VA,
Prevail VA
File No. 333-200258 COVA VA SPDA
File No. 333-200260 COVA Series A
File No. 333-200262 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select
File No. 333-200264 Navigator-Select/Custom-Select/Russell-Select (CA)
File No. 333-200266 COVA VA and Premier Advisor (CA)
File No. 333-200267 COVA Series A (CA)
File No. 333-200269 Class C
File No. 333-200271 Class VA (CA), Class AA (CA), and Class B (CA)
File No. 333-200273 Class XC (CA)
File No. 333-200274 Class L (CA) and Class L - 4 Year (CA)
File No. 333-200276 Class A (CA)
File No. 333-200279 Class C (CA),
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A (811-21851)
File No. 333-200241 Equity Advantage Variable Universal Life,
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One (811-07971)
File No. 333-200242 Class VL
File No. 333-200245 Class VL (CA)
File No. 333-200248 Modified Single Premium Variable Life
File No. 333-200251 Custom Select and Russell Select Variable Life
File No. 333-200254 Modified Single Premium Variable Life (CA)
File No. 333-200257 Custom Select Variable Life,
And pertaining to:
File No. 333-268618 Brighthouse SmartGuard Plus
File
No. 333-262390 Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay PlusSM Annuity and Brighthouse Shield® Level Pay Plus Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-259505 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3
File No. 333-233240 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Advisory Annuity
File
No. 333-268427 Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity
File No. 333-263492 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity
File No. 333-263495 Brighthouse
Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity
File No. 333-238213 Brighthouse
Shield® Level 10 Annuity
File
No. 333-208664 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® Annuity
File No. 333-207091 Brighthouse Shield Level Selector® 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Retirement
Account Liquidity Benefit
T-Mark Fixed Annuity
Fixed Annuity (Strategic Value Annuity)
Registered Fixed Account Option
Target Maturity,
And new annuities and life
products such as:
Brighthouse Shield Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 3-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Shield 6-Year Annuity
Brighthouse Index-linked Life Insurance Policy,
and to have full power and authority to do or cause to be done in my name, place and stead each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate
the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney does not revoke any prior powers of attorney.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd
of March 2023.
|
/s/ Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling |
Gianna H. Figaro-Sterling |