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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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One-, three- and six-year terms. Not all indices or terms are
available with each level of protection.
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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
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MetLife Shield Level Selector is issued by MetLife Insurance Company
of Connecticut (“MetLife”).
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2
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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.
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3
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In the prospectus, the level(s) of protection is known as “Shield
Rate” and the Maximum Growth Opportunity is referred to as “Cap
Rate.”
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4
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MetLife Protection Poll, November 2012
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5
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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.
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A
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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.
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B
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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.
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C
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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.
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D
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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.
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E
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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).
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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.
L0513321487[0514]