METLIFE INTRODUCES SHIELD LEVEL SELECTOR
New York, May 06, 2013
MetLife1 today announced the launch of MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM, a new single premium deferred annuity designed to help investors protect and build assets for retirement. Investors can customize their levels of protection, maintain growth opportunities and flexibly allocate their purchase payments to fit their needs. This may help them regain confidence in their long-term retirement plans.
Designed for investors who are seeking tax-deferred2 growth potential and some protection, Shield Level Selector offers the ability to transfer some or all downside risk to MetLife, while still maintaining the opportunity for growth potential. Investors can select the level of protection they want, based on their risk tolerance. Levels of protection3 start with Shield 10, which protects against the first 10 percent loss (i.e., if the index is down 12%, MetLife absorbs the first 10% index loss and the investor's account value only goes down by 2%).
"Investors know they need to grow their retirement assets, but are wary of the market," says Elizabeth Forget, senior vice president, MetLife. "In a recent survey, we found that over one-third of consumers would feel more comfortable investing if they were protected from a loss of up to 10 percent.4 Over two-thirds would be motivated to put their money back to work with a downside cushion of up to 25 percent.4 This is where Shield Level Selector really helps meet a need."
Shield Level Selector is innovative and features:
- A variety of Shield Options, each consisting of a level of protection, index, and term. Investors can elect to have MetLife absorb the first 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent or 100 percent of index loss.
- Five index options to which clients can link their potential earnings, up to a pre-determined Maximum Growth Opportunity3: S&P 500® IndexA, Russell 2000® IndexB, NASDAQ-100 Index®C, MSCI EAFE IndexD and/or the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity IndexSM,E. Shield Level Selector does not invest directly in any index.
- Step Rate options that let investors lock in a pre-determined percentage of growth if the index is either flat or up at the end of the term.
- One-, three- and six-year terms. Not all indices or terms are available with each level of protection.
- A standard death benefit or an optional Return of Premium Death Benefit.
"Shield Level Selector gives investors the flexibility to make informed decisions about how to allocate a portion of their retirement assets," says Forget. "They can choose from different levels of protection, indices, and time frames. Then, at the end of each term, they can revisit their choices5 and adapt to changing market conditions based on their personal risk tolerance."
Shield Level Selector complements MetLife's broad annuity product set by addressing clients' needs for a tax-deferred2 investment with some protection during the accumulation phase. MetLife is a leading provider of annuity products that offer protected growth and income solutions to clients and advisors seeking to solve the challenges of investing for retirement.
For more information on MetLife Shield Level Selector, visit www.metlife.com/shield.
MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
1 MetLife Shield Level Selector is issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut ("MetLife").
2 If you are buying an annuity to fund a qualified retirement plan or IRA, you should do so for the annuity's features and benefits other than tax deferral. In such cases, tax deferral is not an additional benefit of the annuity. References throughout this material to tax advantages, such as tax deferral and tax-free transfers, are subject to this consideration.
3 In the prospectus, the level(s) of protection is known as "Shield Rate" and the Maximum Growth Opportunity is referred to as "Cap Rate."
4 MetLife Protection Poll, November 2012
5 After the initial term (1, 3 or 6 years), renewal rates are declared on the corresponding contract anniversary for the new term. Renewal rates and available Shield Options may differ from new business rates and options. Indices may be changed at MetLife's sole discretion and the use of an Index may be terminated by MetLife at any time.
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, and none of Dow Jones, UBS, DJI Opco or any of their respective affiliates, makes any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s).
The MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM annuity issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut ("MetLife") is offered by prospectus only, which is available from a financial professional. 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. Please refer to the contract prospectus for more complete details regarding the optional Return of Premium death benefit. MetLife reserves the right to substitute any index in its sole discretion.
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 you select, because you agree to absorb all losses that exceed the chosen Shield Rate. Please refer to "Risk Factors" in the contract prospectus for more details. All product guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company.
The information in this press release is not intended to (and cannot) be used by anyone to avoid IRS penalties. This press release supports the promotion and marketing of insurance and other financial products and services. Clients should seek advice based on their 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.
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. Withdrawals will reduce the death benefits and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges.
MetLife Shield Level Selector Single Premium Deferred Annuity is issued by MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut on Policy Form L-22494 (09/12); 1300 Hall Boulevard, Bloomfield, CT 06002. This product is distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA); 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA 92614. Both are MetLife companies.