METLIFE INTRODUCES SHIELD LEVEL SELECTOR 3-YEAR
CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 05, 2016
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced the launch of MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM 3-Year, a single premium deferred annuity. The new offering complements MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM, which launched in 2013. Both allow clients to benefit from potential market growth while helping protect assets from market decline.
Clients can now choose between the three-year withdrawal charge schedule offered by Shield Level Selector 3-Year and the six-year withdrawal charge schedule offered by Shield Level Selector, allowing them greater flexibility to select the timeframe that best meets their personal investment needs.
“People approaching retirement age often grapple with a central question—does the potential for market growth outweigh the risk of market losses when it comes to retirement savings?” said Elizabeth Forget, executive vice president of MetLife Retail Retirement & Wealth Solutions. “With our Shield offerings, we’ve created solutions that give clients the potential for market gains coupled with downside protection. Our new 3-Year design offers additional flexibility, allowing clients who may have a shorter investment timeline access to the unique features of Shield.”
Shield Level Selector 3-Year and Shield Level Selector offer a number of benefits to clients including:
- Protection. Clients can customize the level of downside protection for their product investment, with options ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent.
- Participation. Clients can choose from several different index-linked investment options.
- Personalization. By electing either Shield Level Selector 3-Year or Shield Level Selector, clients can tailor their investment to align with their individual retirement strategy timeline.
“We heard feedback from advisors that their clients are seeking not only the opportunity for market growth with downside protection, but also the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions,” said Forget. “With Shield Level Selector 3-Year, advisors now have access to an additional tool to develop customized solutions for their clients.”
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately 100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
The prospectuses for the MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM and MetLife Shield Level SelectorSM 3-Year annuities issued by a MetLife insurance company (MetLife) are available from your financial professional. The contract prospectus contains information about the contract’s features, risks, charges and expenses. Clients should read the prospectuses and consider this information carefully before investing. Product availability and features may vary by state. Please refer to the contract prospectuses for more complete details regarding the optional Return of Premium Death Benefit. MetLife reserves the right to substitute any index at any time.
MetLife Shield Level Selector and MetLife Shield Level Selector 3-Year are long term investments designed for retirement purposes and have limitations, exclusions, charges, termination provisions and terms for keeping them in force. There is a risk of substantial loss of principal for losses beyond the Shield Rate, because you agree to absorb all losses that exceed their chosen Shield Rate. Please refer to “Risk Factors” in the contract prospectuses for more details. All contract guarantees, including the optional death benefit and annuity payout rates, are subject to 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 clients' 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.
The MetLife Shield Level Selector 3-Year Single Premium Deferred Annuity and MetLife Shield Level Selector Single Premium Deferred Annuity are issued by MetLife Insurance Company USA on Policy Form L-22494 (09/12), Charlotte, NC 28277 and in New York, only by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company on Policy Form ML-22494 (09/12), New York, NY 10166 (collectively and singly, "MetLife"). This product is distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA). All are MetLife companies.