MetLife, Inc. is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. The following is a sponsored post that explores the benefits of the MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM, a single premium deferred annuity issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (“MetLife”), a new product designed for clients who want to potentially enhance their growth for retirement based upon their level of risk. For more information, visit www.metlife.com/shield.
Today, even after the rebounding of the stock market over the last several years, there are still a lot of investors with money sitting on the sidelines. By keeping that money in conservative investments1, investors are missing out on potential returns the markets might provide.
Some investors may not be participating in the market because they want protection for their investments. It may take a product that provides that protection – along with the opportunity for potential growth — to influence them to take action. MetLife designed the Shield Level Selector Annuity to help those on the sidelines get back on the field and invest in a different product for their retirement savings.
Shield Level Selector lets investors choose their level of protection and participate in potential growth by tracking one or more major indices and realizing any earnings up to a pre-determined growth opportunity. This may help them gain the faith needed for a successful, long-term retirement plan.
Participation with Protection and Personalization
Shield Level Selector allows investors to transfer some or all of the risk to MetLife without eliminating the opportunity for potential growth. They can do this by selecting one or more Shield Options that best fit their needs and risk tolerance. Each Shield Option includes a level of protection2, an index and a term.
The growth opportunity comes from tracking an index. There are five indices to choose from, though not all are available with every Shield Option: S&P 500® IndexA, Russell 2000® IndexB, NASDAQ-100 Index®C, MSCI EAFE IndexD and Dow Jones-UBS Commodity IndexSM E.
With Shield Level Selector, investors aren’t actually invested in the index they choose. Positive earnings in the index performance at the end of the term will result in index-linked interest being credited to the account value. However, the investor would realize earnings at any time a withdrawal is taken during the term when the index performance is positive, up to a pre-determined Maximum Growth Opportunity.3 If there is negative index performance, the investor is protected from all or a portion of the index loss, depending on which level of protection they chose.
There are four levels of protection available: Shield 10, Shield 15, Shield 25 and Shield 100. With these choices, MetLife will absorb the first 10, 15, 25 or 100% of index loss at the end of the applicable term, respectively.
If Shield 100 is chosen, the account value is protected from any losses. However, if the investor’s participation preference is for more potential growth than what might be had with Shield 100, they can choose from among the other three levels of protection. One thing to note is that the investors’ account value will be reduced by any negative performance beyond the level of protection at the end of the term. So, if the investor does not elect Shield 100, they could see a risk of substantial loss.
Let’s say the investor chooses Shield 10. With that level of protection they would avoid the first 10% of index loss at the end of the applicable term. The account would have the potential to grow up to the Maximum Growth Opportunity, which would be different and potentially greater than it would be with Shield 100. That’s because there is a different Maximum Growth Opportunity for each Shield Option.
Participate with added Certainty
Investors can add an extra level of certainty to their returns when they select either the Shield 10 or the Shield 100 level of protection. With either level of protection investors can choose a Step Rate which enables them to participate in a predetermined percentage of growth if the index is either flat or up at the end of the term. The growth potential of Step Rates are generally lower than Maximum Growth Opportunities – but that is in exchange for knowing in advance what the growth might be. Participation with protection and personalization is what the Shield Level Selector annuity is all about. It can be a welcome addition to many retirement plans.
Footnotes:
1. Conservative investments have varying levels of risks, and contain different features and guarantees.
2. In the prospectus, the level(s) of protection is referred to as “Shield Rate.”
3. In the prospectus, Maximum Growth Opportunity is referred to as “Cap Rate.”
A The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. Standard & Poor’s®, S&P® and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut‘s MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500 Index.
B The Russell 2000® Index is a trademark of Russell Investments and has been licensed for use by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Russell Investments and Russell Investments makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity.
C Nasdaq®, OMXTM, and NASDAQ-100 Index®, are registered trademarks of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (which with its affiliates is referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suitability. The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE METLIFE SHIELD LEVEL SELECTORSM ANNUITY.
D The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Annuity is not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such products or securities or any index on which such products or securities are based. The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and any related products.
E The Dow Jones-UBS Commodity IndexesSM are a joint product of DJI Opco, LLC (“DJI Opco”), a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and UBS Securities LLC (“UBS”), and have been licensed for use by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. Dow Jones® and DJ® are trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC; UBS® is a registered trademark of UBS AG. S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; and these trademarks have been licensed for use by DJI Opco and sublicensed for certain purposes by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut’s MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM
Annuity based on the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity IndexSM is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Dow Jones, UBS, DJI Opco or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates,
The MetLife Shield Level Selector single premium deferred annuity issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (“MetLife”) is offered by prospectus only, which is available from MetLife. The contract prospectus contains information about the contract’s features, risks, charges and expenses. Clients should read the prospectus and consider this information carefully before investing. Availability and features may vary by state. MetLife may substitute any index at any time.
MetLife Shield Level Selector is a long-term investment designed for retirement purposes and has limitations, exclusions, charges, termination provisions and terms for keeping it in force. There is a risk of substantial loss of principal for losses beyond the Shield Rate selected, because the client agrees to absorb all losses that exceed the chosen Shield Rate. Please refer to “Risk Factors” in the contract prospectus for more details. All contract guarantees, including the optional death benefit and annuity payout rates, are backed by the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company.
Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and if made before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty. Distributions of taxable amounts from a nonqualified annuity may also be subject to the 3.8% Unearned Income Medicare Contribution Tax on Net Investment Income if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. Withdrawals will reduce the death benefits and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges.
Pursuant to IRS Circular 230, MetLife is providing you with the following notification: The information contained in this document is not intended to (and cannot) be used by anyone to avoid IRS penalties. This document supports the promotion and marketing of insurance and other financial products and services. You should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
MetLife, its representatives and agents may not give legal or tax advice. Any discussion of taxes herein or related to this document is for general informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or cover every situation. Tax law is subject to interpretation and legislative change. Tax results and the appropriateness of any product for a specific taxpayer may vary depending on the particular set of facts and circumstances. You should consult with and rely on your own independent legal and tax advisors.
MetLife Shield Level Selector Single Premium Deferred Annuity is issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut on Policy Form L-22494 (09/12); Bloomfield, CT 06002, and is distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA); Irvine, CA 92614. Both are MetLife companies. www.metlife.com/shield
For Broker/Dealer and Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Public Distribution.
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