REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
☒ | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 |
☒ |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 |
☒ | |
AND/OR |
||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
☒ | |
Amendment No. 524 |
☒ |
☐ | Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
☒ | On May 1, 2025 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
☐ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
☐ | On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”). |
☐ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for previously filed post-effective amendment. |
☐ | New Registrant (as applicable, a Registered Separate Account or Insurance Company that has not filed a Securities Act registration statement or amendment thereto within 3 years preceding this filing) |
☐ | Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) |
☐ | If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act |
☒ | Insurance Company relying on Rule 12h-7 under the Exchange Act |
☐ | Smaller reporting company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) |
• | A nonqualified annuity (“NQ”) for after-tax contributions only. |
• | An individual retirement annuity (“IRA”), either traditional IRA or Roth IRA. |
• | An employer-funded traditional IRA for a simplified employee pension plan (“SEP”) sponsored by the contract owner’s employer. |
• | An annuity that is an investment vehicle for a qualified plan (“QP”) (whether defined contribution or defined benefit; transfer contributions only). |
• | Traditional and Roth Inherited IRA beneficiary continuation contract (“Inherited IRA”) (direct transfer and specified direct rollover contributions only). |
• | An inherited NQ beneficiary payout contract (a specific form of NQ contract that we refer to as “Inherited NQ”) (contributions from specified Section 1035 exchanges only). |
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Appendices |
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109 |
• | Segments of the SIO which are index-linked investment options; |
• |
variable investment option; and |
• | the account for dollar cap averaging. |
FEES, EXPENSES, AND ADJUSTMENTS | ||
Are There Charges or Adjustments for Early Withdrawals? |
Yes. Withdrawal Charges Each series of the contract provides for different withdrawal charge periods and percentages. Series B Select Series ADV There is an interim value adjustment for amounts removed from a Segment of the SIO before Segment maturity and because the end-of-term downside protection provided by a Segment Buffer does not apply to the Segment Interim Value, it is theoretically possible that you could lose up to 100% of your investment and previously credited interest in certain extreme scenarios. For example, if you allocate $100,000 to a 6-year Segment and later withdraw the entire amount before the 6 years have ended, you could lose up to $ 10 0,000 of your investment. This loss may be greater if you also have to pay a withdrawal charge under a Series B contract, and/or if you have to pay taxes or tax penalties. Prior to the Segment Maturity Date, the following transactions trigger the Segment Interim Value: (1) the receipt of an in good order death claim by your beneficiary; (2) a withdrawal (including an automatic or systematic withdrawal, a required minimum distribution, a withdrawal to pay advisory fees under a Series ADV contract and a free withdrawal under a Series B contract); (3) a transfer; (4) if you surrender or annuitize your contract; or (5) if you cancel your contract and return it to us for a refund within your state’s “free look” period.For additional information about charges and adjustments for surrenders and early withdrawals see “Withdrawal charge” and “Adjustments with respect to early distributions from Segments” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” in the Prospectus. | |
Are There Transaction Charges? |
Yes. For additional information about transaction charges see “Charges that the Company deducts” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” in the Prospectus. |
Are There Ongoing Fees and Expenses? |
Yes. The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay each year Although we do not charge a direct fee to invest in the Segments under the SIO, there is an implicit ongoing fee associated with Segments because the amount you can earn on a Segment is limited by us by the Segment’s Performance Cap Rate. The Performance Cap Rate may cause your returns under the Segment to be lower than the Index’s returns. In return for accepting this limit on Index gains, you receive some protection from Index losses through the Segment Buffer. The implicit ongoing fee from the Performance Cap Rate is not reflected in the tables below. |
Annual Fee |
Minimum |
Maximum | ||
Portfolio Company fees and expenses (1) |
|
| ||
Optional benefits available for an additional charge (for a single optional benefit, if elected) (2) |
(1) (2) |
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. This estimate assumes that you do not take withdrawals from the contract, which could add withdrawal charges and negative Segment Interim Value adjustments that substantially increase costs (the Segment Interim Value adjustment is zero for both the highest and lowest annual cost, including for the Return of Premium Death Benefit fees). |
Lowest Annual Cost $ |
Highest Annual Cost $ | |
Assumes: • Investment of $100,000 • 5% annual appreciation • Least expensive combination of contract classes, Portfolio fees and expenses • No optional benefits • No sales charges or advisory fees • No additional contributions, transfers or withdrawals • No contract adjustments |
Assumes: • Investment of $100,000 • 5% annual appreciation • Most expensive combination of contract classes and optional benefits (Return of Premium death benefit) and Portfolio fees and expenses • No sales charges or advisory fees • No additional contributions, transfers or withdrawals • No contract adjustments |
For additional information about ongoing fees and expenses see “Fee Table” in the Prospectus. |
RISKS | ||
Is There a Risk of Loss from Poor Performance? |
Yes. The return on the Segments of the SIO may be negative and there is a risk of substantial loss of your principal and previously credited interest due to negative index performance because you agree to absorb all losses to the extent they exceed the Segment Buffer. You could lose as much as 60% (for Segments with a -40% Segment Buffer) to 90% (for Segments with a -10% Segment Buffer) to nearly 100% (for Annual Lock Segments with a -10% Segment Buffer) of your principal and previously credited interest due to negative index performance at Segment maturity, depending on the Segment Buffer applicable to the Segment in which you invest. We do not guarantee that the contract will always offer Segments that limit Index losses, which would mean risk of loss of the entire amount invested in the SIO. The cumulative loss over the life of the contract could be much greater. For additional information about the risk of loss see “Principal risks of investing in the contract” in the Prospectus. | |
Is this a Short-Term Investment? |
No. On the Segment Maturity Date, the value of your maturing Segments will be reallocated according to your instructions on file, assuming that all participation requirements for those allocations are met, and those instructions may include allocations to different Segment Types or to the next available Segment of the same Segment Type. If you have not provided us with maturity instructions for a maturing Segment, then by default the Segment Maturity Value will be transferred to the same Segment Type as the maturing Segment. However, if the next Segment to be created in the Segment Type would have a Segment Maturity Date that is later than your contract maturity date or if that Segment Type has been terminated, we will instead transfer your Segment Maturity Value to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. For additional information about the investment profile of the contract see “Fee Table” in the Prospectus. | |
What Are the Risks Associated with the Investment Options? |
An investment in the contract is subject to the risk of poor investment performance and can vary depending on the performance of the variable investment options (e.g., the Portfolios) and the SIO (e.g., the reference Indices). Each investment option available under the contract has its own unique risks. You should review the Portfolios and the Segments of the SIO available under the contract before making an investment decision. The Performance Cap Rate of a Segment may limit your participation in positive returns on the Segment Maturity Date. For example, if the Index return is 12% and the Performance Cap Rate is 4%, we will credit 4% in interest on the Segment Maturity Date assuming there are no fees or charges assessed, meaning your Segment Investment will increase by 4%. The Performance Cap Rate may cause your returns under the Segment to be lower than the Index’s returns. |
The Segment Buffer of a Segment provides some protection against negative returns on the Segment Maturity Date. The Segment Buffer is the maximum amount of negative interest we will assume and we will credit any negative interest in excess of the Segment Buffer which means you bear all loss that exceeds the Segment Buffer. For example, if the Index return is -25% and the Segment Buffer is -10%, we will credit -15% (the amount that exceeds the Segment Buffer) on the Segment Maturity Date assuming there are no fees or charges assessed, meaning your Segment Investment will decrease by 15%. All of the Indices we currently offer are “price return” indices, not “total return” indices, and therefore the performance of any Index does not reflect dividends paid on the securities included in the Index. This reduces the Index return, and the Index will underperform a direct investment in the securities composing the Index. For additional information about the risks associated with investment options see “Structured Investment Option”, “Variable investment options” and “Portfolios of the Trust” in “Purchasing the contract”, as well as, “Principal risks of investing in the contract” and Appendix “Investment Options available under the contract” in the Prospectus. | ||
What Are the Risks Related to the Insurance Company? |
An investment in the contract is subject to the risks related to the Company. The Company is solely responsible to the contract owner for the contract’s account value. The general obligations, including the SIO and the death benefits, under the contract are supported by our general account and are subject to our claims-paying ability. An owner should look solely to our financial strength for our claims-paying ability. More information about the Company, including our financial strength ratings, may be obtained at https://equitable.com/about-us/financial-strength-ratings. For additional information about insurance company risks see “About the general account” in “More information” in the Prospectus. |
RESTRICTIONS | ||
Are There Restrictions on the Investment Options? |
Yes. We reserve the right to offer any or all Segments more or less frequently or to stop offering any or all of them or to suspend offering any or all of them temporarily for some or all contracts. If we stop offering these options, you will be limited to investing in the EQ/Money Market variable investment option, which is not tied to the performance of an index. We may offer new Segment Types in the future, and we may change the features of a Segment Type between Segments, including the Index, the Segment Buffer, and the Performance Cap Rate (subject to the minimum rates disclosed herein). We have the right to substitute an alternative Index prior to the Segment Maturity Date if the publication of one or more Indices is discontinued, or if we no longer have a license agreement with the publishers of the Index, or at our sole discretion we determine that our use of such Indices should be discontinued because hedging instruments become difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive, or if the calculation of one or more of the Indices is substantially changed. In addition, we reserve the right to use any or all reasonable methods to end any outstanding Segments that use such Indices. We also have the right to add additional Indices under the contract at any time. We can refuse to accept any application or contribution from you at any time, including after you purchase the contract. No subsequent contributions are allowed once a withdrawal is made under the contract, including an automatic or systematic withdrawal, a required minimum distribution, or a withdrawal to pay advisory fees under a Series ADV contract. If you elect to pay the advisory fee from your account value, then these deductions will, among other things, reduce the account value, could reduce the death benefit, and may be subject to federal and state income taxes and a 10% federal penalty tax. Currently, we do not charge for transfers among investment options under the contract. However, we reserve the right to charge for any transfers among the variable investment option in excess of 12 per contract year. We will provide you with advance notice if we decide to assess the transfer charge, which will never exceed $35 per transfer. For additional information about restrictions on the investment options, see “Transfer charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments”, “The Separate Account” in “More Information”,” and “Portfolios of the Trust” and “Structured Investment Option” in “Purchasing the contract” in the Prospectus. |
Are There any Restrictions on Contract Benefits? |
Yes. If you elect the Return of Premium death benefit you generally can not make additional contributions to your contract once you reach age 75. Withdrawals may affect the availability of the benefit by reducing the benefit by an amount greater than the value withdrawn and may terminate the benefit. For additional information about the optional benefits see “How you can purchase and contribute to your contract” in “Purchasing the contract” and “Benefits available under the contract” in the Prospectus. | |
TAXES | ||
What Are the Contract’s Tax Implications? |
You should consult with a tax professional to determine the tax implications of an investment in, and payments received under, the contract. There is no additional tax benefit to you if the contract is purchased through a tax-qualified plan or individual retirement account (IRA). Withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax and may be subject to tax penalties. Generally, you are not taxed until you make a withdrawal from the contract. For additional information about tax implications see “Tax information” in the Prospectus. | |
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST | ||
How Are Investment Professionals Compensated? |
Some financial professionals may receive compensation for selling the contract to you, both in the form of commissions or in the form of contribution-based compensation. Financial professionals may also receive additional compensation for enhanced marketing opportunities and other services (commonly referred to as “marketing allowances”). This conflict of interest may influence the financial professional to recommend this contract over another investment. For additional information about compensation to financial professionals see “Distribution of the contracts” in “More information” in the Prospectus. | |
Should I Exchange My Contract? |
Some financial professionals may have a financial incentive to offer a new contract in place of the one you already own. You should only exchange your contract if you determine, after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts, as well as any fees or penalties to terminate your existing contract, that it is preferable to purchase the new contract rather than continue to own your existing contract. For additional information about exchanges see “Charge for third-party transfer or exchange” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” in the Prospectus. |
Transaction Expenses |
Series B |
Select |
Series ADV | ||||
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of purchase payments) |
||||||
Withdrawal Charge (as a percentage of contributions withdrawn) |
(1) |
|||||
Transfer Fee (2) |
$ |
$ |
$ | |||
Third Party Transfer or Exchange Fee (3) |
$ |
$ |
$ | |||
Special Service Charges (4) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
(1) | |
Charge as a % of contribution for each year following contribution |
||||||||||||||
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7+ | ||||||||
7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 0% |
(2) |
|
(3) | |
(4) |
|
Adjustments |
||||||
Series B |
Select |
Series ADV | ||||
SIO Segment Maximum Potential Loss Due to Interim Value adjustment (as a percentage of account value invested in the Segment on the Segment Start Date) (1) |
(2) |
(2) |
(2) |
(1) |
|
(2) |
Because the end-of-term downside protection provided by a Segment Buffer does not apply to the Segment Interim Value, it is theoretically possible that you could lose up to 100% of your investment and previously credited interest in certain extreme scenarios. |
Annual Contract Expenses |
||||||
Series B |
Select |
Series ADV | ||||
Optional Return of Premium Death Benefit (1) |
(1) | As a percentage of daily net assets in the variable investment option but not in each Segment Type Holding Account and the dollar cap averaging account. The Return of Premium Death Benefit charge is deducted from each Segment on the Segment Maturity Date as part of the Segment Rate of Return calculation. The Return of Premium Death Benefit charge reduces the Segment Rate of Return. If the contract is surrendered or annuitized, a withdrawal is taken, or a death benefit is paid, on any date other than the Segment Maturity Date, we will deduct a pro rata portion of the charge from each Segment. |
Annual Portfolio Expenses |
||||
Minimum |
Maximum | |||
(*) |
(*) |
If you surrender your contract or annuitize (under a non-life option) at the end of the applicable time period |
If you do not surrender your contract |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
SeriesB |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Select |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SeriesADV |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
• | written confirmation of financial transactions and certain non-financial transactions, including when money is transferred into a Segment from a Segment Type Holding Account; when money is not transferred from a Segment Type Holding Account into a Segment on a Segment Start Date for any reason; when a Segment matures; or when you change your current instructions; and |
• |
at the close of each calendar quarter and statement of your account values at the close of each calendar year. |
• | Account summary |
• | Messages and alerts |
• | Profile changes |
• | Manage your account |
• | Investments details |
• | Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Eastern time. |
• | Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Eastern time. |
(1) | authorization for transfers, including transfers of your Segment Maturity Value on a Segment Maturity Date, by your financial professional; |
(2) | conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA contract; |
(3) | tax withholding elections (see withdrawal request form); |
(4) | election of the beneficiary continuation option; |
(5) | election of a predetermined form of death benefit payout; |
(6) | IRA contribution recharacterizations; |
(7) | Section 1035 exchanges; |
(8) | direct transfers and specified direct rollovers; |
(9) | death claims; |
(10) | change in ownership (NQ only, if available under your contract); |
(11) | purchase by, or change of ownership to, a non-natural owner; |
(12) | requests to transfer, reallocate, make subsequent contributions and change your future allocations (except that certain transactions may be permitted through the Equitable Client Portal systems); |
(13) | providing instructions for allocating the Segment Maturity Value on the Segment Maturity Date; |
(14) | requests for withdrawals, including withdrawals of the Segment Maturity Value on the Segment Maturity Date; and |
(15) | requests for contract surrender. |
(1) | instructions on file for allocating the Segment Maturity Value on the Segment Maturity Date; and |
(2) | instructions to withdraw your Segment Maturity Value on the Segment Maturity Date. |
(1) | beneficiary changes; and |
(2) | dollar cap averaging. |
(1) | the date annuity payments are to begin; and |
(2) | dollar cap averaging. |
• | Change our contribution requirements and limitations and our transfer rules, including to: |
— | increase or decrease our minimum contribution requirements and increase or decrease our maximum contribution limitations; |
— | discontinue the acceptance of subsequent contributions to the contract; |
— | discontinue the acceptance of subsequent contributions and/or transfers into the variable investment option; and |
— | discontinue the acceptance of subsequent contributions and/or transfers into one or more of the Segment Type Holding Accounts or the Segments. |
• | Further limit the number of Segment Type Holding Accounts and Segments you may invest in at any one time. |
• | Limit or terminate new contributions or transfers to any variable investment option, Segment Type Holding Account or Segment (“investment options”). |
(a) | By requiring a Portfolio sub-adviser to buy and sell large amounts of securities at inopportune times, a Portfolio’s investment performance and the ability of the sub-adviser to fully implement the Portfolio’s investment strategy could be negatively affected; and |
(b) | By generating higher turnover in its securities or other assets than it would have experienced without being impacted by the ATP, a Portfolio could incur higher operating expense ratios and transaction costs than comparable funds. In addition, even Portfolios structured as funds-of-funds that are not available for investment by contract owners who are subject to the ATP could also be impacted by the ATP if those Portfolios invest in underlying funds that are themselves subject to significant asset turnover caused by the |
ATP. Because the ATP formulas generate unique results for each contract, not all contract owners who are subject to the ATP will be affected by operation of the ATP in the same way. On any particular day on which the ATP is activated, some contract owners may have a portion of their account value transferred to the EQ/Ultra Conservative Strategy Portfolio investment option and others may not. If the ATP causes significant transfers of total account value out of one or more Portfolios, any resulting negative effect on the performance of those Portfolios will be experienced to a greater extent by a contract owner (with or without the ATP) invested in those Portfolios whose account value was not subject to the transfers. |
• |
You will not be able to allocate to a new Segment or Segment Type Holding Account. |
• |
Any account value in a Segment Type Holding Account will be transferred to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option on the next Segment Start Date. |
• |
The Segment Maturity Value from a maturing Segment will not transfer into a new Segment and will instead be transferred to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. |
• |
you cancel your contract during the free look period; or |
• |
you change your mind before you receive your contract whether we have received your contribution or not. |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
exceeds the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is positive but less than or equal to the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Index Performance Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is flat or negative by a percentage equal to or less than the Segment Buffer |
equal to 0% minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
If the Index Performance Rate for the Annual Lock Period: |
Your Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period will be: | |
exceeds the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate | |
is positive but less than or equal to the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Index Performance Rate | |
is flat or negative by a percentage equal to or less than the Segment Buffer |
equal to 0% | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
is greater than or equal to zero |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is negative by a percentage equal to or less than the Segment Buffer |
equal to 0% minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
is positive |
equal to LESSER of (1) The Index Performance Rate multiplied by the applicable Enhanced Upside Rate or (2) The Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is between zero and the Segment Buffer (or equal to either) |
equal to zero minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
is greater than the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is between the Performance Cap Rate and Segment Buffer (or equal to either)* |
equal to absolute value of the Index Performance Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is less than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
* |
If the Index Performance Rate is zero, the Segment Rate of Return is zero. |
• |
Because of the way the Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Dual Direction Segments, when the Index Performance Rate is near the Segment Buffer, a very small difference in the Index Performance Rate on the Segment Maturity Date can result in a very different Segment Rate of Return. For example, for a Dual Direction Segment with a -20% Segment Buffer, if the Index Performance Rate is -20.00% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 20.00% whereas, if the Index Performance Rate is -20.01% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is -0.01%. |
• |
Because of the way the Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Dual Direction Segments, in certain situations the Segment Rate of Return may be greater for negative Index Performance Rates than for the corresponding positive Index Performance Rates. For example, for a Dual Direction Segment with a Performance Cap Rate of 10% and a -15% Segment Buffer, if the Index Performance Rate is -14% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 14% whereas, if the Index Performance Rate is 14% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 10%. |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
If the Index Performance Rate: |
Your Segment Rate of Return will be: | |
exceeds the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is positive but less than or equal to the Performance Cap Rate |
equal to the Index Performance Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is flat or negative by a percentage equal to or less than the Segment Buffer |
equal to 0% minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected | |
is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer |
negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected |
• |
the Segment Investment Protection Level – 1, minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected. |
First: |
the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of any Index loss and then | |
Second: |
the Segment Investment Protection limits your loss beyond the Segment Buffer to -5% or -10% (for Loss Limiter 95 6-year Segments or Loss Limiter 90 1-year Segments, respectively), thereby protecting 95% or 90% (for Loss Limiter 95 6-year Segments or Loss Limiter 90 1-year Segments, respectively) of the Segment Investment at Segment maturity. |
• |
-5% for 6-year Loss Limiter 95 Segments (since the Segment Investment Protection Level of 95% - 1 = -5%) or |
• |
-10% for 1-year Loss Limiter 90 Segments (since the Segment Investment Protection Level of 90% - 1 = -10%) |
* |
The Index is a “price return” index, not a “total return” index, and therefore the performance of the Index does not reflect dividends declared by any of the companies included in the Index, reducing the Index return. As a result, the Index will underperform a direct investment in the securities composing the Index. |
1. |
If the NYSE experiences an emergency close and Indices cannot publish prices, we will delay the maturity and start of all Segments for all Indices. |
2. | If any Index not on the NYSE experiences an emergency close and cannot publish a price, we will use the most recent closing price for that Index. |
Name of Benefit |
Purpose |
Standard/ Optional |
Annual Fee |
Brief Description of Restrictions/ Limitations | ||||||
Max |
Current | |||||||||
Charge |
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(1) |
• Available only at contract purchase • Available only to contract holder age 75 or younger • Withdrawals, including the withdrawal of advisory fees, could significantly reduce or terminate the benefit • Generally no additional contributions are permitted under the contract once you reach age 75 • If elected, you will not get the Standard Death Benefit |
(1) |
Name of Benefit |
Purpose |
Standard/ Optional |
Annual Fee |
Brief Description of Restrictions/Limitations | ||||||
Max |
Current | |||||||||
Averaging |
• | if you provide the required forms to remove an original joint owner due to divorce, we also remove that joint owner as a Reference Life; or |
• | if the sole beneficiary is the surviving spouse, is under age 76, and elects to continue the contract upon the death of the sole Reference Life who was also the sole owner, that surviving spouse will become the new Reference Life. |
• | In general, withdrawal charges will no longer apply to contributions made before your death. Withdrawal charges will apply if additional contributions are made. |
• | If the deceased spouse was the annuitant, the surviving spouse becomes the annuitant. If the deceased spouse was a joint annuitant, the contract will become a single annuitant contract. |
• | If the deceased spouse was the annuitant, the surviving spouse becomes the annuitant. If the deceased spouse was a joint annuitant, the contract will become a single annuitant contract. |
• | The withdrawal charge schedule remains in effect. |
• | The contract continues with your name on it for the benefit of your beneficiary. |
• | The beneficiary replaces the deceased owner as annuitant. |
• | This feature is only available if the beneficiary is an individual. Certain trusts with only individual beneficiaries will be treated as individuals for this purpose. |
• | If there is more than one beneficiary, each beneficiary’s share will be separately accounted for. It will be distributed over the beneficiary’s own life expectancy, if payments over life expectancy are chosen. |
• | A beneficiary who chooses to receive annual payments over his life expectancy should consult his tax adviser about selecting Segments that provide sufficient liquidity to satisfy the payout requirements under this option. |
• | The minimum amount that is required in order to elect the beneficiary continuation option is $5,000 for each beneficiary. |
• | The beneficiary may choose at any time to withdraw all or a portion of the account value and no withdrawal charges, if any, will apply. |
• | Any partial withdrawal must be at least $300. |
• | Your beneficiary will have the right to name a beneficiary to receive any remaining interest in the contract. |
• | Upon the death of your beneficiary, the following distribution rules will apply to the subsequent beneficiary named by your beneficiary: (1) if your beneficiary is an EDB or you died on or before December 31, 2019, the subsequent beneficiary must withdraw any remaining amount within ten years of your beneficiary’s death; or (2) if your beneficiary is not an EDB, the subsequent beneficiary must withdraw any remaining amount within 10 years of your death. The option elected will be processed when we receive satisfactory proof of death, any required instructions for the method of payment and any required information and forms necessary to effect payment. |
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For beneficiaries who are required to take the entire interest within 10 years, we offer our post-death automatic RMD option to help the beneficiary meet the RMD requirements if the deceased owner died on or after the Required Beginning Date. We calculate post-death RMD payments using the beneficiary’s life expectancy determined in accordance with IRS tables. Instead of electing our post-death automatic RMD option, your beneficiary may choose to calculate the required amount themselves and request partial withdrawals. Regardless of whether your beneficiary elects this option, any remaining amounts will be distributed to your beneficiary by the end of the 10th calendar year following the year of your death. It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the post-death RMD rules under federal tax law. |
• | This feature is only available if the beneficiary is an individual. It is not available for any entity such as a trust, even if all of the beneficiaries of the trust are individuals. |
• | The beneficiary automatically replaces the existing annuitant. |
• | The contract continues with your name on it for the benefit of your beneficiary. |
• | If there is more than one beneficiary, each beneficiary’s share will be separately accounted for. It will be distributed over the respective beneficiary’s own life expectancy, if scheduled payments are chosen. |
• | The minimum amount that is required in order to elect the beneficiary continuation option is $5,000 for each beneficiary. |
• | No additional contributions will be permitted. |
• | If the beneficiary chooses the “5-year rule,” withdrawals may be made at any time. If the beneficiary instead chooses scheduled payments, the beneficiary may also take withdrawals, in addition to scheduled payments, at any time. |
• | Any partial withdrawals must be at least $300. |
• | Your beneficiary will have the right to name a beneficiary to receive any remaining interest in the contract on the beneficiary’s death. |
• | Upon the death of your beneficiary, the beneficiary he or she has named has the option to either continue taking scheduled payments based on the remaining life expectancy of the deceased beneficiary (if scheduled payments were chosen) or to receive any remaining interest in the contract in a lump sum. We will pay any remaining interest in the contract in a lump sum if your beneficiary elects the 5-year rule. The option elected will be processed when we receive satisfactory proof of death, any required instructions for the method of payment and any required information and forms necessary to effect payment. |
• | No withdrawal charges will apply to withdrawals of the death benefit by the beneficiary. |
• | The contract’s withdrawal charge schedule will continue to be applied to any withdrawal or surrender other than scheduled payments; the contract’s free withdrawal amount will continue to apply to withdrawals but does not apply to surrenders. |
• | We do not impose a withdrawal charge on scheduled payments except if, when added to any withdrawals previously taken in the same contract year, including for this purpose a contract surrender, the total amount of withdrawals and scheduled payments exceed the free withdrawal amount. See the “Withdrawal charges” in “Charges and expenses” earlier in this Prospectus. |
• | The minimum initial contribution required to establish a DCA Program is $25,000. |
• | There is no minimum contribution requirement for subsequent contributions to an existing DCA Program. Subsequent contributions do not extend the time period of the DCA Program. Subsequent contributions will increase the amount of each periodic transfer into the designated Segment(s) for the remainder of the DCA Program. |
• | The DCA Program can be funded from both new contributions to your contract and transfers from the investment options, including the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. |
• | If you elect to invest in the DCA Program at contract issue, 100% of your initial contribution must be allocated to the DCA Program. In other words, your initial contribution cannot be split between your DCA Program and any other investment option available under the contract. |
• | If your allocation instructions for the DCA Program do not match your instructions on file on the day the DCA Program is established, then your allocation instructions on file will be changed to match the DCA Program |
instructions. If you change your allocation instructions on file, the instructions for your DCA Program will change to match your new allocation instructions. |
• | We offer time periods of 3 and 6 months. We may also offer other time periods. You may only have one time period in effect at any time and once you select a time period, you may not change it. |
• | Currently, your account value will be transferred from the DCA Program into your designated Segment(s) on a monthly basis (using the first Segment Start Date after establishing your DCA Program as the starting point for the monthly transfers). Each subsequent Dollar Cap Averaging transfer will occur on the Segment Start Date on or immediately following the monthiversary of the initial Dollar Cap Averaging transfer. We may offer the DCA Program in the future with transfers on a different basis. You can learn more about the DCA Program by contacting your financial professional or our processing office. |
• | If a Segment Type is suspended, any amount in the dollar cap averaging account destined for that Segment will be transferred to the Segment Type Holding Account. It will remain there until the next Segment Start Date on which the Segment is not suspended. If one of the Segment Types is terminated or discontinued, the value allocated to the terminated Segment Type will be moved to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option and the DCA Program will continue. |
• | You may cancel your participation in the DCA Program at any time by notifying us in writing. If you terminate your DCA Program, we will transfer any amount remaining in the dollar cap averaging account to the investment options according to your allocation instructions. |
• | You cannot elect the DCA Program at issue if you also elect a Cap Rate Hold nor can you start a DCA Program while a Cap Rate Hold is in effect. |
• | The value of your variable investment option will fluctuate and you could lose some or all of your account value. |
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Since there is only one variable investment option, you do not have any other options beyond the Segments for investing your account value. |
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There is a risk of a substantial loss of your principal and previously credited interest despite limits on negative index returns because you agree to absorb all losses from the portion of any negative Index Performance Rate that exceeds the Segment Buffer on the Segment Maturity Date or Annual Lock Anniversary. The highest level of protection provided by a single Segment Investment Option is the -40% Segment Buffer (only available on certain Segments) and the lowest level of protection is the -10% Segment Buffer. You could lost as much as 60% (for Segments with a -40% Segment Buffer) to 90% (for Segments with a -10% Segment Buffer) of your principal and previously credited interest due to negative index performance on the Segment Maturity Date. We may change the index options in the future, but we will always offer a Segment Option with a Segment Buffer that protects the first 10% of loss. |
— | For example, the -10% Segment Buffer protects your Segment Investment against the first 10% of loss. If the Index Performance Rate declines by more than the Segment Buffer, you will lose an amount equal to 1% of your Segment Investment for every 1% that the Index Performance Rate declines below the Segment Buffer. This means that you could lose up to 60% of your principal and previously credited interest with a -40% Segment Buffer, up to 80% of your principal and previously credited interest with a -20% Segment Buffer, up to 85% of your principal and previously credited interest with a -15% Segment Buffer and up to 90% of your principal and previously credited interest |
with a -10% Segment Buffer. Each time you roll over your Segment Maturity Value into a new Segment you are subject to the same risk of loss as described above. |
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For Annual Lock Segments -10% Segment Buffer. The cumulative result means that you could lose nearly 100% of your principal and previously credited interest in an Annual Lock Segment that lost 90% each Annual Lock Period. Each time you roll over your Segment Maturity Value into a new Annual Lock Segment you are subject to the same risk of loss as described above. |
• | The Performance Cap Rate is a rate of return from the Segment Start Date to the Segment Maturity Date or from the Segment Start Date to the first Annual Lock Anniversary (and thereafter from each Annual Lock Anniversary to the next), and not an annual rate of return, even if the Segment Duration is longer than one year. |
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Your Segment Rate of Return for any Segment is limited by its Performance Cap Rate, if applicable, which could cause your Segment Rate of Return to be lower than it would otherwise be if you invested in a mutual fund designed to track the performance of the applicable Index. For Annual Lock Segments, your Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for any Segment is limited by its Performance Cap Rate, which could cause your Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return and Segment Rate of Return to be lower than it would otherwise be if you invested in a mutual fund designed to track the performance of the applicable Index. |
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The Performance Cap Rate, if applicable, may limit your participation in any increases in the underlying Index associated with a Segment. |
• | Each contract series may have different Performance Cap Rates. |
• | The Performance Cap Rate for the same Segment may vary between owners but will not be less than the minimum Performance Cap Rate. |
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If you elect a Cap Rate Hold, the Performance Cap Rates applicable to your Segments may be lower than the Performance Cap Rates otherwise applicable for the same Segments on that Segment Start Date. This means you would receive lower Performance Cap Rates for your Segments than an owner investing in those same Segments who did not elect a Cap Rate Hold. See “Structured Investment Option — Segment Performance Cap Rate Hold” in “Purchasing the contract” for more information. |
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Other Segments will generally have lower Performance Cap Rates than Standard Segments with the same Index, Segment Duration and Segment Buffer. |
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For Enhanced Upside Segments, the impact from the Enhanced Upside Rate on the Segment Rate of Return may be limited by the Performance Cap Rate. This means you will receive the Performance Cap Rate instead of the fully enhanced Index Performance Rate as your Segment Rate of Return if the Index Performance Rate equals or exceeds the Performance Cap Rate. |
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Segment Types with greater protection tend to have lower Performance Cap Rates than other similar Segment Types that use the same Index and duration but provide less protection. |
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Enhanced Upside Segments with a greater Enhanced Upside Rate tend to have lower Performance Cap Rates than Enhanced Upside Segments with a lower Enhanced Upside Rates. |
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For Loss Limiter Segments, Segment Investment Protection applies on the Segment Maturity Date. |
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For Loss Limiter Segments, while the Segment Investment Protection limits losses due to Index performance to -5% or -10%, you could lose more than that due to withdrawal charges, the Segment Interim Value calculation, other contract fees and charges, and taxes. |
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There is a risk of loss of principal and previously credited interest in the case of a withdrawal (including an automatic or systematic withdrawal, a required minimum distribution, or a withdrawal to pay advisory fees under a Series ADV contract), an Advisory Fee Payment, annuitization, death, surrender, contract cancellation, or transfer prior to a Segment Maturity Date due to charges and adjustments imposed on those distributions, and this may occur even if index performance has been positive. |
• | The method we use in calculating your Segment Interim Value may result in an amount lower than your Segment Investment, even if the corresponding Index has experienced positive investment performance since the Segment Start Date. Also, this amount may be less than the amount |
you would receive had you held the investment until the Segment Maturity Date. Because the end-of-term downside protection provided by a Segment Buffer does not apply to the Segment Interim Value, it is theoretically possible that you could lose up to 100% of your investment and previously credited interest in certain extreme scenarios. |
— | If you take a withdrawal, including required minimum distributions, and there is insufficient value in the variable investment option, the Segment Type Holding Accounts and the dollar cap averaging account, we will withdraw amounts from any active Segments in your contract. Amounts withdrawn from active Segments will be valued using the formula for calculating the Segment Interim Value and will reduce your Segment Investment. |
— | If you die, annuitize, cancel or surrender your contract before the Segment Maturity Date, we will pay the Segment Interim Value. |
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Any calculation of the Segment Interim Value will generally be affected by changes in both the volatility and level of the relevant Index, as well as interest rates. The calculation of the Segment Interim Value is linked to various factors, including the value of hypothetical fixed instruments and derivatives as described in “Adjustments with respect to early distributions from Segments” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” in this Prospectus. The Segment Interim Value will generally be negatively affected by increases in the expected volatility of index prices, interest rate increases, and by poor market performance. Prior to the Segment Maturity Date, for all contracts using a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor, you will not receive the full potential of the Performance Cap since the participation in upside performance for early withdrawals is pro-rated based on the period those amounts were invested in a Segment or Annual Lock Period. Generally, you will not receive the full protection of the Segment Buffer prior to the Segment Maturity Date because the Segment Interim Value only reflects a portion of the downside protection expected to be provided on the Segment Maturity Date or Annual Lock Anniversary. As a Segment moves closer to the Segment Maturity Date or Annual Lock Anniversary, the Segment Interim Value would generally reflect higher realized gains of the Index performance or, in the case of negative performance, increased downside Segment Buffer protection. All other factors being equal, the Segment Interim Value would generally be lower the earlier a withdrawal or surrender is made during a Segment or Annual Lock Period. This means you participate to a lesser extent in upside performance and downside protection the earlier you take a withdrawal. |
— | The Company’s decision to use investment rates, which are generally higher than swap rates, to calculate the Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instruments |
component of the Segment Interim Value will result in a lower value for that component relative to using swap rates to calculate that component and, all other things being equal, will result in a lower recalculated Segment Investment if a partial withdrawal is taken from a Segment or a lower withdrawal amount if a full withdrawal is taken from a Segment. |
• | We may, in our sole discretion, not offer certain Segments on one or more Segment Start Dates. |
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We may not offer new Segments of any or all Segment Types, so a Segment may not be available for you to transfer your Segment Maturity Value into and you would be limited to investing in the EQ/Money Market. |
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On the Segment Maturity Date, the value of your maturing Segments will be reallocated according to your instructions on file, assuming that all participation requirements for those allocations are met. If you have not provided us with maturity instructions for a maturing Segment, then by default the Segment Maturity Value will be transferred to the same Segment Type as the maturing Segment. Our current Performance Cap Rates will apply to the new Segment, which may be lower than the Performance Cap Rate of the maturing Segment. If you decide to remove the amounts that were transferred to the new Segment before the new Segment’s Segment Maturity Date (which may be 1 or 6 years later), the transaction will trigger the Segment Interim Value and may be subject to withdrawal charges, taxes and tax penalties. |
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If the next Segment to be created in the Segment Type would have a Segment Maturity Date that is later than your contract maturity date or if that Segment Type has been terminated, we will instead transfer your Segment Maturity Value to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. The amounts transferred to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option may earn a return that is less than the return that could be earned in a different investment option. |
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The amounts held in a Segment Type Holding Account may earn a return that is less than the return you might have earned if those amounts were held in another investment option. |
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Because of the way Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Step Up Segments, when the Index Performance Rate is near zero, a very small difference in the Index of Performance Rate on the Segment Maturity Date can result in a very different Segment Rate of Return. For example, if the Performance Cap Rate is 8.00% and the Index Performance Rate is 0.00% on the Segment Maturity Date, the Segment Rate of Return would be 8.00%. However, if the Index Performance Rate had instead been -0.01% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return would be 0.00%. |
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Because of the way the Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Dual Direction Segments: |
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When the Index Performance Rate is near the Segment Buffer, a very small difference in the Index Performance Rate on the Segment Maturity Date can result in a very different Segment Rate of Return. For example, for a Dual Direction Segment with a -20% Segment Buffer, if the Index Performance Rate is -20.00% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 20.00%, the absolute value of the negative performance, whereas, if the Index Performance Rate is -20.01% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is -0.01%. |
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The Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Dual Direction Segments, in certain situations the Segment Rate of Return may be greater for negative Index Performance Rates than for the corresponding positive Index Performance Rates. For example, for a Dual Direction Segment with a Performance Cap Rate of 10% and a -15% Segment Buffer, which credits the absolute value to the Segment Buffer, if the Index Performance Rate is -14% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 14% whereas, if the Index Performance Rate is 14% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is 10%. |
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Your Segment Maturity Value is subject to application of the Performance Cap Rate for positive and flat Index Performance Rates and the Segment Buffer for negative Index Performance Rates. For all Segments except Annual Lock Segments, your Segment Maturity Value is not affected by the price of the Index on any date between the Segment Start Date and the Segment Maturity Date. For Annual Lock Segments, your Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount is not affected by the price of the Index on any date between the Segment Start Date and the first Annual Lock Anniversary (and thereafter from each Annual Lock Anniversary to the next). |
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In the highly unlikely event we were forced to stop offering new Segments, contract owners would be limited to transferring or contributing to the other investment options. You could choose to surrender your contract, but you may be subject to withdrawal charges, taxes, and tax penalties, and if you purchase another retirement vehicle, it may have different features, fees, and risks than your annuity contract. If you are buying the annuity contract for the Structured Investment Option, you should speak to your financial adviser as to whether this product is suitable for you. |
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The Segments track the performance of an Index. By investing in the Structured Investment Option, you are not actually invested in an Index or any underlying securities tracked by the Index. However, the Segments are indirectly exposes to the investment risks associated |
with the Indices they track. Because the Indices are composed of other securities, they are subject to market risk and issuer risk. |
• | As an investor in the Segment, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the shares of the funds or holders of securities comprising the indices would have. |
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Price return indices only consider price changes and do not account for dividends or other distributions paid out by the underlying securities, which can significantly contribute to long-term returns. |
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Market Risk . |
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Large Cap Risk. |
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Small Cap Risk. ® |
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Foreign Securities Risk. ® |
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Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets. Differences between U.S. and foreign legal, political and economic systems, regulatory regimes and market practices also may impact security values. There are greater risks involved with investments linked to emerging market countries and/or their securities markets. Investments in these countries and/or markets may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political, technical and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed countries. For this purpose, China may be viewed as an emerging market and there may also be significant risks related to investments in China. |
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Indices with exposure to non-U.S. companies and securities, especially in emerging and frontier markets, also include the following risks: the potential for errors |
in Index data, Index computation, and/or Index construction if information on non-U.S. companies is unreliable or outdated, or if less information about the non-U.S. companies is publicly available due to differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing, and financial recordkeeping standards; the potential significance of such errors on the Index’s performance; limitations on the Company’s ability to oversee the Index provider’s due diligence process over Index data prior to its use in Index computation, construction, and/or rebalancing; and the rights and remedies associated with investments that track an Index comprised of foreign securities may be different from investments that track an Index of domestic securities. The MSCI Emerging Markets Price Return Index is exposed to emerging markets. |
• | Past performance of an Index is not an indication of its future performance. |
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We have the right to substitute an alternative index prior to Segment Maturity if the publication of one or more Indices is discontinued, or if we no longer have a license agreement with the publishers of the Index, or at our sole discretion we determine that our use of such Indices should be discontinued because hedging instruments become difficult to acquire or the cost of hedging becomes excessive, or if the calculation of one or more of the Indices is substantially changed. The alternative index may not be desirable to you. If we substitute an index for an existing Segment, we would not change the Segment Buffer or Performance Cap Rate. We would attempt to choose a substitute index that has a similar investment objective and risk profile to the replaced Index. The alternative index would be used to calculate performance from the Segment Start Date to the Segment Maturity Date. In addition, we reserve the right to use any or all reasonable methods to end any outstanding Segments that use such Indices. If a similar index cannot be found, we will end the affected Segments prematurely by applying the Segment Performance Cap Rate and Segment Buffer to the actual gains or losses on the original Index as of the date of termination which could result in a loss or less gain than if the Segment had continued to the Segment Maturity Date. |
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If the value for the underlying Index of a Segment is not published by the Index on the Segment Maturity Date, we will not be able to calculate the Segment Maturity Value, and we will keep your account value in the Segment. Once the underlying Index publishes this value and we have calculated the Segment Maturity Value, we will allocate your Segment Maturity Value in accordance with your instructions. There is no way for us to predict how long it may take the underlying Index to publish the value. There is a risk that waiting for the value could result in a loss or less gain than if the Segment had ended on the original Segment Maturity Date. |
• | Withdrawals and surrenders may be subject to withdrawal charges, income taxes, and tax penalties. |
• | Withdrawals will reduce your account value and death benefit and the amount of the reduction in the Return of Premium death benefit may be greater than the dollar amount of the withdrawal. |
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If you take a withdrawal or surrender from a Segment prior to Segment maturity you may receive less than the amount invested and less than the amount you would receive had you held the investment until Segment maturity. See “Segment Interim Value” above. |
• | If your account value falls below the applicable minimum account size as a result of a withdrawal, the contract will terminate. |
• | If you take a withdrawal or surrender your Series B contract, any applicable withdrawal charge is calculated as a percentage of contributions, not account value. It is possible that the percentage of account value withdrawn could exceed the applicable withdrawal charge percentage. For example, assume you make a onetime contribution of $1,000 at contract issue. If your account value is $800 in contract year 3 and you surrender your contract, a withdrawal charge percentage of 5% is applied. The withdrawal charge would be $50 (5% of the $1,000 contribution). This is a 6.25% reduction of your account value, which results in a cash value of $750 paid to you. |
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We may apply fees if you access your account value during the accumulation period or surrender your contract. For example, in addition to possible tax consequences, you may incur fees for accessing your account value such as a withdrawal charge, transfer fee, third party transfer or exchange fee and/or a charge for any optional benefits. |
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Withdrawals may be subject to income taxes and tax penalties. The minimum partial withdrawal amount is $300. Withdrawals will reduce your account value and optional benefit bases and the amount of the reduction may be greater than the dollar amount of the withdrawal. Excess Withdrawals may terminate or significantly reduce the value of your optional benefits. Certain withdrawals may also terminate your contract. Once you take a withdrawal, you cannot make additional contributions to the contract. |
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No subsequent contributions are allowed once a withdrawal is made under the contract, including an automatic or systematic withdrawal, a required minimum distribution, or a withdrawal to pay advisory fees under a Series ADV contract. |
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Series ADV contracts are only available through advisors who charge an advisory fee for their services, and this fee is in addition to contract fees and |
expenses. If you elect to pay the advisory fee from your account value (using either the Advisory Fee Service or by taking withdrawals), then these deductions will reduce the account value and could reduce the death benefit, will not receive index interest, and could reduce the Segment Investment by more than the amount of the deductions, and, over time, could result in a significant loss of principal and previously credited interest. NOTE: If you do not elect the Advisory Fee Service, withdrawals to pay advisory fees also may be subject to federal and state income taxes and a 10% federal penalty tax. You should consider using a source other than the account value under the contract to pay advisory fees, if possible, to avoid these potential consequences, but if you do use your account value, you should elect the Advisory Fee Service. |
• | You cannot terminate the Return of Premium Death Benefit once you elect it. This means that you cannot avoid paying the charge for the Return of Premium Death Benefit even if you no longer want or need the protection offered by the Return of Premium Death Benefit. This also means you cannot avoid paying the charge when the account value is higher than your adjusted contributions. |
• | If you elect the Return of Premium Death Benefit, then you cannot make contributions to the contract once the oldest living Reference Life reaches age 76 (or the first contract date anniversary if later). This means that you will not be able to increase the Return of Premium Death Benefit amount after this date. |
• | If the owner of the contract is changed, the original owner(s) will remain as the Reference Life (Reference Lives) for the Return of Premium Death Benefit. This means that if the new owner dies before the Reference Life (Reference Lives), the Return of Premium Death Benefit is not payable. Also, the Return of Premium Death Benefit is not payable if the new owner elects an annuity payout option, which terminates the benefit. |
• | If you elect the Return of Premium Death Benefit and subsequently divorce: |
— | if a portion of the account value is withdrawn due to divorce, the value of your Return of Premium Death Benefit will be reduced by an amount that may be more than the amount withdrawn; |
— | the sole Reference Life for this death benefit will not change even if the ownership does which may result in the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) not receiving the Return of Premium Death Benefit; and |
— | the joint Reference Lives will not change unless one ex-spouse is awarded sole ownership of the contract and all necessary documentation is provided to change the ownership of the contract to that |
ex-spouse before either one of the joint Reference Lives dies which may result in the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) not receiving the Return of Premium Death Benefit. |
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We reserve the right to stop accepting any application or contribution from you at any time, including after you purchase the contract. We reserve the right to discontinue the acceptance of, and/or place additional limitations on, contributions into certain investment options, including any or all of the Segments of the SIO. If we exercise this right, your ability to invest in your contract, increase your account value and, consequently, increase your death benefit, will be limited, particularly because we only offer one variable investment option which is a money market. |
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We may, at any time, exercise our rights to limit or terminate your contributions, allocations and transfers to any of the investment options and to limit the number of investment options which you may select. Such rights include, among others, removing or substituting the Portfolio, combining any two or more investment options and transferring account value from any investment option to another investment option. |
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We reserve the right to offer any or all Segments more or less frequently or to stop offering any or all of them or to suspend offering any or all of them temporarily for some or all contracts. If we stop offering these options, you will be limited to investing in the EQ/Money Market variable investment option, which is not tied to the performance of an index. |
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We may offer new Segment Types in the future, and we may change the features of a Segment Type between Segments, including the Index, the Segment Buffer, and the Performance Cap Rate (subject to the minimum rates disclosed herein). |
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No company other than us has any legal responsibility to pay amounts that we owe under the contract including amounts allocated to the structured investment option. The general obligations and any guaranteed benefits under the contract are supported by our general account and are subject to our claims-paying ability. You should look solely to our financial strength for our claims-paying ability. |
(i) | increased to reflect additional contributions; |
(ii) | decreased to reflect a withdrawal (including applicable withdrawal charges); or |
(iii) | increased to reflect a transfer into, or decreased to reflect a transfer out of, a variable investment option. |
• | The amount paid upon death, annuitization, surrender or contract cancellation from a Segment prior to the Segment Maturity Date will be equal to the Segment Interim Value which may be less than the Segment Investment in that Segment. |
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The Segment Interim Value remaining in a Segment following a transfer, withdrawal (including a systematic withdrawal, a required minimum distribution, and a withdrawal to pay advisory fees under a Series ADV contract) or Advisory Fee Payment prior to the Segment Maturity Date, will be reduced by the amount removed from the Segment and the Segment Investment may be reduced by more than the amount of the transfer, withdrawal or Advisory Fee Payment. |
(1) | Fair value of hypothetical fixed instruments; plus |
(2) | Fair value of hypothetical derivatives; plus |
(3) | Cap calculation factor. |
• | You may not transfer money into a Segment Type Holding Account and designate a Segment Start Date. The account value in the Segment Type Holding Account will be transferred on the first Segment Start Date on which you meet the participation requirements. |
• | You may not contribute or transfer into a Segment Type Holding Account if the Segment Maturity Date of the Segment that will be created on the Segment Start Date would be after the maturity date of your contract. |
• | You may not transfer to a Segment if the total number of Segments that would be active in your contract after such transfer would be greater than the current maximum number of active Segments allowed. See “Allocating your contributions” in “Contract features and benefits” for more information. If a transfer from a Segment Type Holding Account into a Segment will cause a contract to exceed this limit, such transfers will be defaulted to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. If there are multiple Segments scheduled to be established on a Segment Start Date, new Segments will be established in the order of those that would have the largest initial Segment Investment first until the limit is reached. Any remaining amount that is not transferred into a Segment will then be defaulted to the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. |
• | Transfers from a Segment Type Holding Account to a Segment will not occur if you do not meet the participation requirements. See “Segment Participation Requirements” in “Contract features and benefits” earlier in this Prospectus. |
(1) | the contract number, |
(2) | the dollar amounts or percentage to be transferred, and |
(3) | the investment options to and from which you are transferring. |
Contract |
Partial |
Lifetime required minimum distribution | ||
NQ | Yes | No | ||
Traditional IRA | Yes | Yes | ||
Roth IRA | Yes | No | ||
QP (1) |
Yes | No |
(1) |
All payments are made to the plan trust, as the owner of the contract. See Appendix “Purchase considerations for defined benefit and defined contribution plans” later in this Prospectus. |
• |
reduce your account value and could reduce your death benefit; |
• |
trigger the Segment Interim Value calculation, which could reduce the Segment Investment by more than the amount of the deductions, and because the end-of-term downside protection provided by a Segment Buffer does not apply to the Segment Interim Value, it is theoretically possible that you could lose up to 100% of your investment and previously credited interest in certain extreme scenarios; and |
• | not be credited with any index interest at Segment maturity. |
• | be treated as withdrawals for tax purposes, and therefore may be subject to federal and state income taxes and a 10% federal penalty tax. |
• | you must select a date that is more than three calendar days prior to your contract date anniversary; and |
• | you cannot select the 29th, 30th or 31st. |
Before Withdrawal |
After Withdrawal | |||||||||||||||
Year |
Index Perfor mance Rate |
Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return |
Segment Invest ment* |
Annual Lock Anniv ersary Ending Amount |
Segment Investment* |
Annual Lock Anniv ersary Ending Amount | ||||||||||
1 |
13% |
12% |
$1,000.00 |
$1,120.00 |
$900.00 |
$1,008.00 | ||||||||||
1.5 |
$110.00 withdrawal** (Segment Interim Value at time of withdrawal is $1,100.00) |
* | The first Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount is equal to the Segment Investment. |
** | $110 is the total amount withdrawn (including any withdrawal charge and Return of Premium Death Benefit charge). |
(1) | the NYSE is closed or restricts trading, |
(2) | the SEC determines that an emergency exists as a result of which sales of securities or determination of fair value of an investment option’s assets is not reasonably practicable, or |
(3) | the SEC, by order, permits us to defer payment to protect people remaining in the variable investment option. |
• | disbursements, including but not limited to partial withdrawals, surrenders, transfers and exchanges, over $250,000; |
• | any disbursement requested within 30 days of an address change; |
• | any disbursement when we do not have an originating or guaranteed signature on file or where we question a signature or perceive any inconsistency between the signature on file and the signature on the request; and |
• | any other transaction we require. |
Fixed annuity payout options |
• Life annuity • Life annuity with period certain • Life annuity with refund certain |
• | Life annuity: |
• | Life annuity with period certain: |
• | Life annuity with refund certain: |
(1) | the amount applied to purchase the annuity; |
(2) | the type of annuity chosen; |
(3) | in the case of a life annuity, the annuitant’s age (or the annuitant’s and joint annuitant’s ages); and |
(4) | in certain instances, the sex of the annuitant(s). |
• | for Series B contracts, at the time you make certain withdrawals or surrender your contract, or your contract is terminated — a withdrawal charge. |
• | at the time annuity payments are to begin — charges designed to approximate certain taxes that may be imposed on us, such as premium taxes in your state. An annuity administrative fee may also apply. |
• | if in the future we offer additional variable investment options, at the time you request a transfer among the variable investment options in excess of 12 transfers among the variable investment options in a contract year — a transfer charge (currently, there is no transfer charge). |
• | A daily charge from the net assets in each variable investment option but not from each Segment Type Holding Account and the dollar cap averaging account. The charge is equal to an annual rate of 0.20% of the net assets in each investment option. |
• | A charge from each Segment as part of the Segment Rate of Return. The charge is equal to an annual rate of 0.20% of the Segment Investment in each Segment for the Segment Duration and is deducted when calculating the Segment Rate of Return on the Segment Maturity Date. A pro rata portion of this charge is deducted as part of the Segment Interim Value calculation if a partial withdrawal or transfer is taken from a Segment on a date other than the Segment Maturity Date or if the contract is surrendered, canceled, annuitized or a death benefit paid on a date other than the Segment Maturity Date. The Segment Investment is also reduced if a portion of the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge is deducted as part of the Segment Interim Value calculation. |
Charge as a % of contribution for each year following contribution | ||||||||||||
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7+ | ||||||
7% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 0% |
(i) | An owner (or older joint owner, if applicable) has qualified to receive Social Security disability benefits as certified by the Social Security Administration; or |
(ii) | We receive proof satisfactory to us (including certification by a licensed physician) that an owner’s (or older joint owner’s, if applicable) life expectancy is six months or less; or |
(iii) | An owner (or older joint owner, if applicable) has been confined to a nursing home for more than 90 days (or such other period, as required in your state) as verified by a licensed physician. A nursing home for this purpose means one that is (a) approved by Medicare as a provider of skilled nursing care service, or (b) licensed as a skilled nursing home by the state or territory in which it is located (it must be within the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands) and meets all of the following: |
— | its main function is to provide skilled, intermediate, or custodial nursing care; |
— | it provides continuous room and board to three or more persons; |
— | it is supervised by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; |
— | it keeps daily medical records of each patient; |
— | it controls and records all medications dispensed; and |
— | its primary service is other than to provide housing for residents. |
• | Management fees. |
• | 12b-1 fees. |
• | Operating expenses, such as trustees’ fees, independent auditors’ fees, legal counsel fees, administrative service fees, custodian fees, and liability insurance. |
• | Investment-related expenses, such as brokerage commissions. |
• | if a contract fails investment diversification requirements as specified in federal income tax rules (these rules are based on or are similar to those specified for mutual funds under securities laws); |
• | if you transfer a contract, for example, as a gift to someone other than your spouse (or former spouse); |
• | if you use a contract as security for a loan (in this case, the amount pledged will be treated as a distribution); and |
• | if the owner is other than an individual (such as a corporation, partnership, trust, or other non-natural person). This provision does not apply to a trust which is a mere agent or nominee for an individual, such as a typical grantor trust. |
• | the contract that is the source of the funds you are using to purchase the nonqualified deferred annuity contract is another nonqualified deferred annuity contract or life insurance or endowment contract. |
• | the owner and the annuitant are the same under the source contract and the contract issued in exchange. If you are using a life insurance or endowment contract the owner and the insured must be the same on both sides of the exchange transaction. |
• | on or after your death; or |
• | because you are disabled (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | in the form of substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually over your life (or your life expectancy) or over the joint lives of you and your beneficiary (or your joint life expectancies) using an IRS-approved distribution method. |
• | traditional IRAs, typically funded on a pre-tax basis; and |
• | Roth IRAs, funded on an after-tax basis. |
• | “regular” contributions out of earned income or compensation; or |
• | tax-free “rollover” contributions; or |
• | direct custodian-to-custodian |
• | qualified plans; |
• | governmental employer 457(b) plans; |
• | 403(b) plans; and |
• | other traditional IRAs. |
• | Do it yourself: |
• | Direct rollover: |
• | “required minimum distributions” after the applicable RMD age or retirement from service with the employer; or |
• | substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually for your life (or life expectancy) or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of you and your designated beneficiary; or |
• | substantially equal periodic payments made for a specified period of 10 years or more; or |
• | hardship withdrawals; or |
• | corrective distributions that fit specified technical tax rules; or |
• | loans that are treated as distributions; or |
• | certain death benefit payments to a beneficiary who is not your surviving spouse; or |
• | qualified domestic relations order distributions to a beneficiary who is not your current spouse or former spouse. |
• | the amount received is a withdrawal of certain excess contributions, as described in IRS Publications 590-A and 590-B; or |
• | the entire amount received is rolled over to another traditional IRA or other eligible retirement plan which agrees to accept the funds. (See “Rollovers from eligible retirement plans other than traditional IRAs” under “Rollover and direct transfer contributions to traditional IRAs” for more information.) |
• | your surviving spouse (see spousal beneficiary, |
• | your minor children (only while they are minors); |
• | a disabled individual (Code definition applies); |
• | a chronically ill individual (Code definition applies); and |
• | any individual who is not more than 10 years younger than you. |
• | made on or after your death; or |
• | made because you are disabled (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | used to pay for certain extraordinary medical expenses (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | used to pay medical insurance premiums for unemployed individuals (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | used to pay certain first-time home buyer expenses (special federal income tax definition — there is a $10,000 lifetime total limit for these distributions from all your traditional and Roth IRAs); or |
• | used to pay certain higher education expenses (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | made in connection with the birth or adoption of a child as specified in the Code; or |
• | in the form of substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually over your life (or your life expectancy), or over the joint lives of you and your beneficiary (or your joint life expectancies) using an IRS-approved distribution method. |
• | regular after-tax contributions out of earnings; or |
• | taxable rollover contributions from traditional IRAs or other eligible retirement plans (“conversion” rollover contributions); or |
• | tax-free rollover contributions from other Roth individual retirement arrangements (or designated Roth accounts under defined contribution plans); or |
• | tax-free direct custodian-to-custodian |
• | another Roth IRA; |
• | a traditional IRA, including a SEP-IRA or SIMPLE IRA (after a two-year rollover limitation period for SIMPLE IRA funds), in a taxable conversion rollover (“conversion rollover”); |
• | a “designated Roth contribution account” under a 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan or governmental employer Section 457(b) plan (direct or 60-day); or |
• | from non-Roth accounts under another eligible retirement plan as described under “Conversion rollover contributions to Roth IRAs.” |
• | rollovers from a Roth IRA to another Roth IRA; |
• | direct transfers from a Roth IRA to another Roth IRA; |
• | qualified distributions from a Roth IRA; and |
• | return of excess contributions or amounts recharacterized to a traditional IRA. |
• | you are age 59 1 ⁄2 or older; or |
• | you die; or |
• | you become disabled (special federal income tax definition); or |
• | your distribution is a “qualified first-time homebuyer distribution” (special federal income tax definition; $10,000 lifetime total limit for these distributions from all of your traditional and Roth IRAs). |
(1) | Regular contributions. |
(2) | Conversion contributions, on a first-in-first-out |
(a) | Taxable portion (the amount required to be included in gross income because of conversion) first, and then the |
(b) | Nontaxable portion. |
(3) | Earnings on contributions. |
(1) | All distributions made during the year from all Roth IRAs you maintain — within any custodian or issuer — are added together. |
(2) | All regular contributions made during and for the year (contributions made after the close of the year, but before the due date of your return) are added together. This total is added to the total undistributed regular contributions made in prior years. |
(3) | All conversion contributions made during the year are added together. |
• | we might have to withhold and/or report on amounts we pay under a free look or cancellation. |
• | we are required to withhold on the gross amount of a distribution from a Roth IRA to the extent it is reasonable for us to believe that a distribution is includable in your gross income. This may result in tax being withheld even though the Roth IRA distribution is ultimately not taxable. |
(1) | to add variable investment options to, or to remove variable investment options from, the Separate Account, or to add other separate accounts; |
(2) | to combine any two or more variable investment options; |
(3) | to transfer the assets we determine to be the shares of the class of contracts to which the contracts belong from any variable investment option to another variable investment option; |
(4) | to operate the Separate Account or any variable investment option as a management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (in which case, charges and expenses that otherwise would be assessed against an underlying mutual fund would be assessed against the Separate Account or a variable investment option directly); |
(5) | to deregister the Separate Account under the Investment Company Act of 1940; |
(6) | to restrict or eliminate any voting rights as to the Separate Account; |
(7) | to cause one or more variable investment options to invest some or all of their assets in one or more other trusts or investment companies; |
(8) | to limit or terminate contributions or transfers into any of the variable investment options; and |
(9) | to limit the number of variable investment options you may select. |
• | If your contribution, transfer or any other transaction request containing all the required information reaches us on any of the following, we will use the next business day: |
— | on a non-business day; |
— | after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day; or |
— | after an early close of regular trading on the NYSE on a business day. |
• | If your transaction is set to occur on the same day of the month as the contract date and that date is the 29th, 30th or 31st of the month, then the transaction will occur on the 1st day of the next month. |
• | When a charge is to be deducted on a contract date anniversary that is a non-business day, we will deduct the charge on the next business day. |
• | If we have entered into an agreement with your broker-dealer for automated processing of contributions and/or transfers upon receipt of customer order, your contribution and/or transfer will be considered received at the time your broker-dealer receives your contribution and/or transfer and all information needed to process your application, along with any required documents. Your broker-dealer will then transmit your order to us in accordance with our processing procedures. However, in such cases, your broker-dealer is considered a processing office for the purpose of receiving the contribution and/or transfer. Such arrangements may apply to initial contributions, subsequent contributions and/or transfers, or both, and may be commenced or terminated at any time without prior notice. If required by law, the “closing time” for such orders will be earlier than 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. |
• | Contributions allocated to the variable investment option (including the Segment Type Holding Accounts and |
dollar cap averaging account) are invested at the unit value next determined after the receipt of the contribution. |
• | Transfers to or from the variable investment option (including the Segment Type Holding Accounts and dollar cap averaging account) will be made at the unit value next determined after the receipt of the transfer request. |
• | Requests for withdrawals or surrenders from the variable investment option (including the Segment Type Holding Accounts and dollar cap averaging account) will be made at the unit value next determined on the business day that we receive the information that we require. |
• | the election of trustees; |
• | the formal approval of independent auditors selected for Trust; or |
• | any other matters described in the Prospectus for the Trust or requiring a shareholders’ vote under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
TYPE |
Portfolio Company - Investment Adviser; Sub-Adviser(s), as applicable |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2024) |
||||||||||||||||
Current Expenses |
1 year |
5 year |
10 year |
|||||||||||||||
* |
The Portfolio operates as a “government money market fund.” The Portfolio will invest at least 99.5% of its total assets in U.S. government securities, cash, and/or repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by U.S. government securities or cash. |
Index |
Type of Index |
Segment Duration |
Segment Rate of Return Calculation Method |
Current Limit on Index Loss if held until Segment Maturity Date (Segment Buffer) |
Minimum Limit on Index Gain for the life of the Segment (Performance Cap Rate) | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15%; -20%; -40% -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% |
12% 2% | |||||
Russell 2000 ® |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15%; -20%; -40% -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% |
12% 2% | |||||
MSCI EAFE Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15%; -20%; -40% -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% |
12% 2% | |||||
NASDAQ-100 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15%; -20%; -40% -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% |
12% 2% | |||||
MSCI Emerging Markets Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
EURO STOXX 50 ® |
Market Index |
1 year |
Standard |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year |
Annual Lock |
-10% |
2% | |||||
Russell 2000 ® |
Market Index |
6 year |
Annual Lock |
-10% |
2% |
Index |
Type of Index |
Segment Duration |
Segment Rate of Return Calculation Method |
Current Limit on Index Loss if held until Segment Maturity Date (Segment Buffer) |
Minimum Limit on Index Gain for the life of the Segment (Performance Cap Rate) | |||||
MSCI EAFE Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year |
Annual Lock |
-10% |
2% | |||||
NASDAQ-100 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year |
Annual Lock |
-10% |
2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Step Up |
-10% -10%; -15% |
12% 2% | |||||
Russell 2000 ® |
Market Index |
1 year |
Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
MSCI EAFE Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
NASDAQ-100 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 3 1 year 4 |
Enhanced Upside |
-10%; -15% -10% |
12% 2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Dual Direction |
-10%; -15%; -20% -10%; -15% |
12%; 15%; 20% 2% | |||||
Russell 2000 ® |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Dual Direction |
-10%; -15%; -20% -10%; -15% |
12%; 15%; 20% 2% | |||||
MSCI EAFE Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Dual Direction |
-10%; -15%; -20% -10%; -15% |
12%; 15%; 20% 2% | |||||
NASDAQ-100 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 year |
Dual Direction |
-10%; -15%; -20% -10%; -15% |
12%; 15%; 20% 2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Dual Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
Russell 2000 ® |
Market Index |
1 year |
Dual Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
MSCI EAFE Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Dual Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
NASDAQ-100 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
1 year |
Dual Step Up |
-10%; -15% |
2% | |||||
S&P 500 Price Return Index* |
Market Index |
6 year 1 1 year 2 |
Loss Limiter |
-10% -10% |
12% 2% |
* |
The Index is a “price return” index, not a “total return” index, and therefore the performance of the Index does not reflect dividends declared by any of the companies included in the Index, reducing the Index return. As a result, the Index will underperform a direct investment in the securities composing the Index. |
1 |
Segment Investment Protection Level of 95% |
2 |
Segment Investment Protection Level of 90% |
3 |
Enhanced Upside Rates of 110% and 125% (the Performance Cap Rate is lower if you choose the 125% Enhanced Upside Rate). |
4 |
Enhanced Upside Rate of 125%. |
The following tables describe the rules regarding contributions to your contract. The minimum initial contribution amount is $25,000 for all contract types. |
Contract Type |
NQ | |
Issue Ages |
• 0-85 | |
Minimum additional contribution amount |
• $500 | |
Source of contributions |
• After-tax money. • Paid to us by check or transfer of account value in a tax-deferred exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Owner reaches age 86 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. |
Contract Type |
Traditional IRA | |
Issue Ages |
• 20-85 | |
Minimum additional contribution amount |
• $50 | |
Source of contributions |
• Eligible rollover distributions from 403(b) plans, qualified plans, and governmental employer 457(b) plans. • Rollovers from another traditional individual retirement arrangement. • Direct custodian-to-custodian • Regular IRA contributions. • Additional catch-up contributions. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Owner reaches age 86 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. • Contributions made after lifetime required minimum distributions must start must be net of any required minimum distributions. • Although we accept regular IRA contributions (limited to $7,000 for 2025) under traditional IRA contracts, we intend that the contract be used primarily for rollover and direct transfer contributions. • Additional catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 per calendar year where the owner is at least age 50 at any time during 2025. |
Contract Type |
Roth IRA | |
Issue Ages |
• 20-85 | |
Minimum additional contribution amount |
• $50 | |
Source of contributions |
• Rollovers from another Roth IRA. • Rollovers from a “designated Roth contribution account” under specified retirement plans. • Conversion rollovers from a traditional IRA or other eligible retirement plan. • Direct custodian-to-custodian transfers from another Roth IRA. • Regular Roth IRA contributions. • Additional catch-up contributions. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Owner reaches age 86 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. • Conversion rollovers after lifetime required minimum distributions must start from the traditional IRA or other eligible retirement plan which is the source of the conversion rollover must be net of any required minimum distributions. • Although we accept Roth IRA contributions (limited to $7,000 for 2025) under Roth IRA contracts, we intend that the contract be used primarily for rollover and direct transfer contributions. • Additional catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 per calendar year where the owner is at least age 50 at any time during 2025. |
Contract Type |
SEP IRA | |
Issue Ages |
• 20-85 | |
Minimum subsequent contribution amount (if permitted) |
• $500 | |
Source of contributions |
• An employer can annually contribute an amount for an employee up to the lesser of 25% of eligible compensation or the limit on annual contributions for an employee of $70,000 after cost-of-living adjustment for 2025. • Eligible rollover distributions from 403(b) plans, qualified plans and governmental employer 457(b) plans. • Rollovers from another traditional individual retirement arrangement. • Direct custodian-to-custodian transfers from another traditional individual retirement arrangement. • Regular traditional IRA contributions are not permitted unless and until the SEP-IRA designation is removed on our records and the contract is designated as a traditional IRA only. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Owner reaches age 86 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. • Contributions made after lifetime required minimum distributions must start must be net of required minimum distributions. |
Contract Type |
QP | |
Issue Ages |
• 20-75 | |
Minimum subsequent contribution amount (if permitted) |
• $500 | |
Source of contributions |
• Only transfer contributions from other investments within an existing qualified plan trust. • The plan must be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. • For 401(k) plans, transferred contributions may not include any after-tax contributions, including designated Roth contributions. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Annuitant reaches age 75 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. • A separate QP contract must be established for each plan participant, even defined benefit plan participants. • We do not accept contributions directly from the employer. • Only one subsequent contribution can be made during a contract year. • Contributions made after lifetime required minimum distributions must start must be net of any required minimum distributions. • See Appendix “Purchase considerations for defined benefit and defined contribution plans” later in this Prospectus for a discussion on purchase considerations for QP contracts. |
Contract Type |
Inherited IRA Beneficiary continuation contract (traditional IRA or Roth IRA) | |
Issue Ages |
• 0-75 | |
Minimum additional contribution amount |
• $1,000 | |
Source of contributions |
• Direct custodian-to-custodian transfers of your interest as a death beneficiary of the deceased owner’s traditional individual retirement arrangement or Roth IRA to an IRA of the same type. • Non-spousal beneficiary direct rollover contributions may be made to an Inherited IRA contract under specified circumstances from these “Applicable Plans”: qualified plans, 403(b) plans and governmental employer 457(b) plans. | |
Limitations on contributions |
• No additional contributions after the date on which the Owner reaches age 86 or, if later, the first contract date anniversary. • Any additional contributions must be from the same type of IRA of the same deceased owner. • No additional contributions are permitted to Inherited IRA contracts issued as a non-spousal beneficiary direct rollover from an Applicable Plan. | |
Contract Type |
Inherited NQ | |
Issue Ages |
• 0-75 | |
Minimum additional contribution amount |
• $1,000 | |
Sources of contributions |
• Paid to us in an exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code of your interests as a death beneficiary of the deceased owner’s nonqualified deferred annuity contract. • All contributions must be received before payments start and within twelve months after the date of death of the deceased owner. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
Arizona |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in ”Purchasing the contract” | If you reside in the state of Arizona and you purchased your contract as a replacement for a different variable annuity contract or you are age 65 or older at the time the contract is issued, you may return your variable annuity contract within 30 days from the date you receive it and receive a refund of account value. This is also referred to as the “free look” period. | ||
California |
See “We require that the following types of communications be on specific forms we provide for that purpose” in “How to reach us” | You are not required to use our forms when making a transaction request. If a written request contains all the information required to process the request, we will honor it. | ||
See ”Purchasing the Contract” — “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” | If you reside in California and you are age 60 or older at the time the contract is issued, you may return your variable annuity contract within 30 days from the date that you receive it and receive a refund as described below. | |||
If you allocate your entire initial contribution to the EQ/Money Market option, the amount of your refund will be equal to your contribution, unless you make a transfer, in which case the amount of your refund will be equal to your account value on the date we receive your request to cancel at our processing office. This amount could be less than your initial contribution. If you allocate any portion of your initial contribution to the variable investment options (other than the EQ/Money Market option), your refund will be equal to your account value on the date we receive your request to cancel at our processing office. | ||||
“Return of contribution” free look treatment available through certain selling broker-dealers | ||||
Certain selling broker-dealers offer an allocation method designed to preserve your right to a return of your contributions during the free look period. At the time of application, you will instruct your financial professional as to how your initial contribution and any subsequent contributions should be treated for the purpose of maintaining your free look right under the contract. Please consult your financial professional to learn more about the availability of “return of contribution” free look treatment. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
California (continued) |
||||
If you choose the “return of contribution” free look treatment and your contract is still in effect on the 30th day (or next business day) following the Contract Date, we will automatically reallocate your account value to the investment options chosen on your application. | ||||
Any transfers made prior to the expiration of the 30 day free look will terminate your right to “return of contribution” treatment in the event you choose to exercise your free look right under the contract. Any transfer made prior to the 30th day following the Contract Date will cancel the automatic reallocation on the 30th day (or next business day) following the Contract Date described above. If you do not want the Company to perform this scheduled one-time reallocation, you must call one of our customer service representatives at 1 (877) 899-3743 before the 30th day following the Contract Date to cancel. | ||||
If you purchased your contract from a financial professional whose firm submits applications to the Company electronically, the Dollar Cap Averaging Program may not be available at the time your contract is issued. If this is the case and you wish to participate in the program after your contract has been issued, you must make your election on the applicable paper form and submit it to us separately. Depending on when we receive your form, you may miss the first available date on which your account value would otherwise be transferred to your designated Segment Type Holding Accounts. | ||||
See “Dollar Cap Averaging Program” in “Benefits available under the contract” and “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in “Purchasing the contract” | If you elect to invest in the Dollar Cap Averaging Program, you will not be eligible for the “return of contribution” free look treatment. By electing the Dollar Cap Averaging Program, you would only be eligible to receive a return of account value if you free look your contract. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
California (continued) |
See “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” — “Disability, terminal illness, or confinement to a nursing home” |
Items (i)-(iii) under this section are deleted in their entirety and replaced with: | ||
(i) We receive proof satisfactory to us (including certification by a U.S. licensed physician) that the Owner has a chronic illness as defined pursuant to either (a) or (b) below; | ||||
(a) unable to perform two activities of daily living (bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring), meaning the Owner needs human assistance, or needs continual substantial supervision; or | ||||
(b) impairment of cognitive ability, meaning a deterioration or loss of intellectual capacity due to mental illness or disease, including Alzheimer’s disease or related illnesses, that requires continual supervision to protect oneself or others. | ||||
(ii) We receive proof satisfactory to us (including certification by a U.S. licensed physician) that the Owner’s life expectancy is twelve months or less. | ||||
(iii) The Owner is receiving, as prescribed by a physician, registered nurse, or licensed social worker, home care or community-based services (including adult day care, personal care, homemaker services, hospice services or respite care) or, is confined in a skilled nursing facility, convalescent nursing home, or extended care facility, which shall not be defined more restrictively than as in the Medicare program, or is confined in a residential care facility or residential care facility for the elderly, as defined in the Health and Safety Code. Out-of-state providers of services shall be defined as comparable in licensure and staffing requirements to California providers. | ||||
See “More information” — “Transfers of ownership, collateral assignments, loans, and borrowing” |
You can transfer ownership of an NQ contract at any time before annuity payments begin. You may assign your contract, unless otherwise restricted for tax qualification purposes. | |||
Connecticut |
See “Charges for each additional transfer in excess of 12 transfers per contract year” in “Fee table” and “Transfer charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
The charge for transfers does not apply. | ||
See “Special services charges” in “Fee table” and under “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
The maximum charge for check preparation is $9 per occurrence. | |||
The charge for third-party transfers or exchanges does not apply. | ||||
See “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments — Disability, terminal illness, or confinement to a nursing home” |
Waiver (i) is not available. | |||
Florida |
See “How you can purchase and contribute to your contract” in ”Purchasing the contract” |
In the third paragraph of this section, item (i) now reads: “(i) contributions under a Structured Capital Strategies ® |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
Florida (continued) |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of Florida, you may cancel your variable annuity contract and return it to us within 21 days from the date that you receive it. You will receive an unconditional refund equal to the greater of the cash surrender value provided in the annuity contract, plus any fees or charges deducted from the contributions or imposed under the contract, or a refund of all contributions paid. | ||
See “Selecting an annuity payout option” under “Your annuity payout options” in “Accessing your money” |
The following sentence replaces the first sentence of the second paragraph in this section: | |||
You can choose the date annuity payments are to begin, but it may not be earlier than twelve months from the contract date. | ||||
See “Special service charges” under “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
We will not impose a charge for third-party transfers or exchanges. | |||
See “Withdrawal charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
If you are age 65 or older at the time your contract is issued, the applicable withdrawal charge will not exceed 10% of the amount withdrawn. | |||
Idaho |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in “Purchasing the Contract” |
If you reside in the state of Idaho, you may return your contract within 20 days from the date you receive it to us or to the agent through whom it was purchased and receive a refund of any contribution made. | ||
Illinois |
See “Selecting an annuity payout option” under “Your annuity payout options” in “Accessing your money” |
You can choose the date annuity payments are to begin, but it may not be earlier than twelve months from the contract date. | ||
Massachusetts |
See “Disability, terminal illness or confinement to nursing home” under “Withdrawal charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
This section is deleted in its entirety. | ||
Nebraska |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of Nebraska, and you purchased your contract as a replacement, you may return your contract within 30 days from the date that you receive it. | ||
New Hampshire |
See “Disability, terminal illness, or confinement to a nursing home” under “Withdrawal charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
Waiver (iii) regarding the definition of a nursing home is deleted, and replaced with the following: You are confined to a nursing home for more than 90 days (or such other period, as required in your state) as verified by a licensed physician. A nursing home for this purpose means one that is (a) approved by Medicare as a provider of skilled nursing care services, or qualified to receive approval of Medicare benefits, or (b) operated pursuant to law as a skilled nursing home by the state or territory in which it is located (it must be within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Guam) and meets all of the following: | ||
• its main function is to provide skilled, intermediate, or custodial nursing care; • it provides continuous room and board; | ||||
• it is supervised by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; | ||||
• it keeps daily medical records of each patient; • it controls and records all medications dispenses; and • its primary service is other than to provide housing for residents. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
New Jersey |
“Calculation Formula” and “Performance Cap Rate limiting factor” in “Components and Specific Inputs of the Calculation” both in the SAI |
The Performance Cap Rate limiting factor is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. This will result in a higher “B” component for the Segment Interim Value formula than if the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor corresponds to the portion of the Segment Duration that has elapsed at the time of the withdrawal or transfer. | ||
“Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives” in “Components and Specific Inputs of the Calculation” in the SAI |
For contracts with a Performance Cap Rate limiting Factor equal to the Performance Cap Rate, we will use different inputs that reflect a higher estimated cost of exiting hypothetical Derivatives and, as a result, the fair value of hypothetical Derivatives will be lower than if we didn’t use a higher estimated cost of exiting. | |||
New York |
QP (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution) contracts |
Not available. | ||
Return of Premium Death Benefit |
Currently unavailable. | |||
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in “Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of New York, and you purchased your contract as a replacement, you may return your contract within 60 days from the date that you receive it. We will cancel it and refund any Contribution you made to us, plus or minus any investment gain or loss which applies to the Investment Options from the date such Contribution was allocated until the date of cancellation. | |||
See “Withdrawals treated as surrenders” in “Accessing your money” |
The paragraph under “Withdrawals treated as surrenders” is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following: Requests for a withdrawal must be for either (a) 90% or less of the Cash Value or (b) 100% of the Cash Value (surrender of the Contract). A request for more than 90% of the Cash Value will be considered a request to withdraw 100% of the Cash Value and this Contract will terminate. We have the right to pay the cash value and terminate the contract if no contributions are made during the last three completed contract years and you make a withdrawal that would result in a cash value of less than $500. For the tax consequences of withdrawals, see “Tax information”. | |||
See “The amount applied to purchase an annuity payout option” in “Accessing your money” |
For contracts issued on or after January 1, 2023: If a non-life contingent annuity, or life contingent annuity is elected, the amount applied to an annuity benefit will be the account value and any applicable withdrawal charge will be waived. | |||
See “Transfers of ownership, collateral assignments, loans and borrowing” in “More information” |
You may assign all or a portion of your contract at any time, unless otherwise restricted for tax qualification purposes. | |||
North Dakota |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in ”Purchasing the contract” |
To exercise your cancellation right, you must return the certificate directly to our processing office within 20 days after you receive it. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
Pennsylvania |
Contributions |
Your contract refers to contributions as premiums. | ||
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in “Purchasing the Contract” |
If you reside in the state of Pennsylvania, you may return your contract within 10 days (20 days if this is a replacement contract involving another insurer or 45 days if this is a replacement contract involving the Company or its subsidiaries) from the date you receive it and receive a refund of your contributions you made to us, plus or minus any investment gain or loss which applies to the variable investment options from the date such contribution was allocated to such variable investment options to the date of cancellation. | |||
Terminal illness |
Your contract refers to “terminal illness” as “6-month life expectancy”. | |||
Required disclosure for Pennsylvania customers |
Any person who knowingly and with intent to defraud any insurance company or other person files an application for insurance or statement of claim containing any materially false information or conceals for the purpose of misleading, information concerning any fact material thereto commits a fraudulent insurance act, which is a crime and subjects such person to criminal and civil penalties. | |||
Rhode Island |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” in “Purchasing the Contract” |
If you reside in the state of Rhode Island, and this is a non-replacement contract, you may return your contract within 20 days from the date you receive it and receive a refund of any contributions.If this is a replacement contract, you may return your contract within 30 days from the date you receive it and receive a refund of any contributions, plus or minus any investment gain or loss as of the date of the cancellation. | ||
South Dakota |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” under ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of South Dakota, you may return your contract within 30 days from the date that you receive it and receive a refund of your initial contribution. | ||
Texas |
See “How you can purchase and contribute to your contract” in ”Purchasing the contract” |
In the third paragraph of this section, item (i) now reads: “(i) contributions under a Structured Capital Strategies ® | ||
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” under ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of Texas, you may return your contract within 20 days (30 days if this is a replacement contract) from the date that you receive it. You may return it to us or to the agent through whom it was purchased. We will cancel it and refund any contribution you made, plus or minus any investment gain or loss which applies to the investment options from the date of such contribution was allocated to such investment options to the date such contribution. | |||
See “Disability, terminal illness or confinement to nursing home” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
There is no 12 month waiting period following a contribution for the Six Month Life Expectancy Waiver. The withdrawal charge can be waived even if the condition begins within 12 months of the remittance of the contribution. |
State |
Features and benefits |
Availability or variation | ||
Texas (continued) |
The first sentence in Waiver (iii) regarding the definition of a nursing home is deleted and replaced with the following: You are confined to a nursing home as verified by a licensed physician. | |||
Utah |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” under ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of Utah, and you purchased your contract as a replacement, you may return your contract within 30 days from the date that you receive it. | ||
See “Transfers of ownership, collateral assignments, loans or borrowing” in “More information” |
Unless restricted for tax purposes, your contract may be assigned. | |||
Vermont |
See “Your right to cancel within a certain number of days” under ”Purchasing the contract” |
If you reside in the state of Vermont, you will receive a refund of your contributions. If you reside in the state of Vermont, and you purchased your contract as a replacement, you may return your contract within 30 days from the date that you receive it. | ||
Washington |
See “10% free withdrawal amount” under “Withdrawal charge” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
The 10% free withdrawal amount applies to full surrenders. | ||
See “When to expect payments” in “Accessing your money” |
For any payment upon surrender we defer more than 30 days, we will pay interest from the date we receive your surrender request to the date of payment. | |||
See “Disability, terminal illness, or confinement to nursing home” in “Charges, Expenses, and Adjustments” |
The owner (or older joint owner, if applicable) has qualified to receive Social Security disability benefits as certified by the Social Security Administration or a statement from an independent U.S. licensed physician stating that the owner (or older joint owner, if applicable) meets the definition of total disability for at least 6 continuous months prior to the notice of claim. Such disability must be re-certified every 12 months. |
• | Segment Investment = $1,000 |
• | Segment Buffer = -10% |
Index Performance Rate at Segment Maturity Date compared to Segment Start Date | ||||||||||||||||||||
20% higher |
5% higher |
0 (flat) |
5% lower |
15% lower | ||||||||||||||||
Standard* with 12% Performance Cap Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
12% |
5% |
0% |
0% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$120.00 |
$50.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
-$50.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,120.00 |
$1,050.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$950.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Step Up** with 2% Performance Cap Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
2% |
2% |
2% |
0% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
$0.00 |
-$50.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,020.00 |
$1,020.00 |
$1,020.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$950.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Dual Direction* with 12% Performance Cap Rate |
||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
12% |
5% |
0% |
5% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$120.00 |
$50.00 |
$0.00 |
$50.00 |
-$50.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,120.00 |
$1,050.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,050.00 |
$950.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Enhanced Upside 125%* with 12% Performance Cap Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
12% |
6.25% |
0% |
0% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$120.00 |
$62.50 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
-$50 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,120.00 |
$1,062.50 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$950.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Dual Step Up** with 2% Performance Cap Rate |
||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
2% |
2% |
2% |
2% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
-$50.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,020.00 |
$1,020.00 |
$1,020.00 |
$1,020.00 |
$950.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Loss Limiter* with 12% Performance Cap Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Segment Rate of Return |
12% |
5% |
0% |
0% |
-5% |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Return Amount |
$120.00 |
$50.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
-$50.00 |
|||||||||||||||
Segment Maturity Value |
$1,020.00 |
$1,050.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$950.00 |
* | 6-year Segment Duration |
** | 1-year Segment Duration |
• | Segment Investment = $1,000 |
• | Performance Cap Rate = 12% |
• | Segment Buffer = -10% |
Year |
Index Performance Rate |
Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return |
Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount |
Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount |
Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount | |||||
1 |
13% |
12% |
$1,000.00* |
$120.00 |
$1,120.00 | |||||
2 |
-15% |
-5% |
$1,120.00 |
-$56.00 |
$1,064.00 | |||||
3 |
10% |
10% |
$1,064.00 |
$106.40 |
$1,170.40 | |||||
4 |
-12% |
-2% |
$1,170.40 |
-$23.41 |
$1,083.99 | |||||
5 |
11% |
11% |
$1,083.99 |
$119.24 |
$1,203.23 | |||||
6 |
14% |
12% |
$1,203.23 |
$144.39 |
$1,347.62** |
* | This is also the Segment Investment |
** | This is also the Segment Maturity Value |
• | The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (12%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (12%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($120). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (5%) is less than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (5%) is equal to the Index Performance Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,050) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -5% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is 0%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($0) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (0%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,000) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($0). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is -5%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than or equal to zero, so the Segment Rate of Return (2%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($20) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (2%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,020) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($20). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (1%) is greater than or equal to zero, so the Segment Rate of Return (2%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($20) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (2%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,020) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($20). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (0%) is greater than or equal to zero, so the Segment Rate of Return (2%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($20) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (2%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,020) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($20). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -5% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is 0%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($0) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (0%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,000) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($0). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is -5%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (12%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (12%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($120). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (5%) is less than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (5%) is equal to the Index Performance Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,050) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -5% which is not more negative than the Segment Buffer (-10%), so the Segment Rate of Return (5%) is the absolute value of the Index Performance Rate (|-5%|). |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,050) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is -5%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate multiplied by the Enhanced Upside Rate (25%) is higher than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (12%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (12%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,120) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($120). |
• | The Index Performance Rate multiplied by the Enhanced Upside Rate (6.25% = 5% * 125%) is less than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Segment Rate of Return (6.25%) is equal to the Index Performance Rate multiplied by the Enhanced Upside Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($62.50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (6.25%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,062.50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($62.50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -5% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is 0%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($0) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (0%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,000) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($0). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return -5%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (13%) for the first Annual Lock Period is greater than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return (12%) for the first Annual Lock Period is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount ($120) for the first Annual Lock Period is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000), which is also the first Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount, multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return (12%) for the first Annual Lock Period. |
• | The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount ($1,120) on the first Annual Lock Anniversary is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount ($120) for that Annual Lock Period. |
• | The first Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount is also the second Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,120). |
• |
The Index Performance Rate (-15%) for the second Annual Lock Period is more negative than the Segment Buffer which absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period is -5%. |
• |
The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the Annual Lock Period (-$56) is equal to the second Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,120) multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period (-5%). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the second Annual Lock Anniversary ($1,064) is equal to the second Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,120) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the second Annual Lock Period (-$56). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (10%) for the third Annual Lock Period is less than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return (10%) for that Annual Lock Period is equal to the Index Performance Rate. |
• |
The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for that Annual Lock Period ($106.40) is equal to the third Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,064) multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period (10%). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the third Annual Lock Anniversary ($1,170.40) is equal to the third Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,064) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the third Annual Lock Period ($106.40). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (-12%) for the fourth Annual Lock Period is greater than the Segment Buffer which absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period is -2%. |
• |
The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for that Annual Lock Period (-$23.41) is equal to the fourth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,107.40) multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period (-2%). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the fourth Annual Lock Anniversary ($1,083.99) is equal to the fourth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,170.40) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the fourth Annual Lock Period (-$23.41). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (11%) for the fifth Annual Lock Period is less than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return (11%) for that Annual Lock Period is equal to the Index Performance Rate. |
• |
The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for that Annual Lock Period ($119.24) is equal to the fifth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,083.99) multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period (11%). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the fifth Annual Lock Anniversary ($1,203.23) is equal to the fifth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,083.99) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the fifth Annual Lock Period ($119.24). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (14%) for the sixth Annual Lock Period is greater than the Performance Cap Rate (12%), so the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period is 12%. |
• |
The Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for that Annual Lock Period ($144.39) is equal to the sixth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,203.33) multiplied by the Annual Lock Yearly Rate of Return for that Annual Lock Period (12%). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the sixth Annual Lock Anniversary ($1,347.62) is equal to the sixth Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount ($1,203.23) plus the Annual Lock Yearly Return Amount for the sixth Annual Lock Period ($144.39). |
• |
The Annual Lock Anniversary Ending Amount on the sixth Annual Lock Anniversary is also the Segment Maturity Value ($1,347.62). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (5%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (-5%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). |
• | The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is -5% which is equal to the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer (5%). |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than the Performance Cap Rate (9%) so (a) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate of 9% and (b) is -10% (the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1 (90%-1 = -10%)), so the Segment Rate of Return is the greater of (a) and (b), which is 9%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($90) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (9%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,090) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($90). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (5%) is less than the Performance Cap Rate (9%) so (a) is equal to the Index Performance Rate of 5% and (b) is -10% (the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1 (90%-1 = -10%)), so the Segment Rate of Return is the greater of (a) and (b), which is 5% |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,050) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (-5%) is negative and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance so (a) is 0% and (b) is -10% (the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1 (90%-1 = -10%)), so the Segment Rate of Return is the greater of (a) and (b), which is 0%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount ($0) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (0%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($1,000) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($0). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (-15%) is negative and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance so (a) is equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer (-5%) and (b) is -10% (the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1 (90%-1 = -10%)), so the Segment Rate of Return is the greater of (a) and (b), which is -5%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). |
• | The Index Performance Rate (-25%) is negative and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance so (a) is equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer (-15%) and (b) is -10% (the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1 (90%-1 = -10%)), so the Segment Rate of Return is the greater of (a) and (b), which is -10%. |
• | The Segment Return Amount (-$100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-10%). |
• | The Segment Maturity Value ($900) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$100). |
• | sponsor, endorse, sell or promote Structured Capital Strategies ® . |
• | recommend that any person invest in Structured Capital Strategies ® or any other securities. |
• | have any responsibility or liability for or make any decisions about the timing, amount or pricing of Structured Capital Strategies ® . |
• | have any responsibility or liability for the administration, management or marketing of Structured Capital Strategies ® . |
• | consider the needs of Structured Capital Strategies ® or the owners of Structured Capital Strategies® in determining, composing or calculating EURO STOXX 50® Price Return Index or have any obligation to do so. |
• | STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data providers do not give any warranty, express or implied, and exclude any liability about: |
— | The results to be obtained by Structured Capital Strategies ® , the owner of Structured Capital Strategies® or any other person in connection with the use of the EURO STOXX 50® Price Return Index and the data included in the EURO STOXX 50® Price Return Index; |
— | The accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the EURO STOXX 50 ® Price Return Index and its data; |
— | The merchantability and the fitness for a particular purpose or use of EURO STOXX 50 ® Price Return Index and its data; |
— | The performance of the Structured Capital Strategies ® generally. |
• | STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data providers give no warranty and exclude any liability, for any errors, omissions or interruptions in the EURO STOXX 50 ® Price Return Index or its data; |
• | Under no circumstances will STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data providers be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages or losses, arising as a result of such errors, omissions or interruptions in the EURO STOXX 50 ® ® , even in circumstances where STOXX, Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data providers are aware that such loss or damage may occur. |
• | There is no loan feature offered under the Structured Capital Strategies ® |
• | The plan trust must be designated as the beneficiary and payment of death benefits from the contract must be distributed in accordance with the requirements of the federal income tax rules. Under a QP contract (but not under an NQ contract in certain states) after the plan participant’s death, but before the death benefit is paid, the plan may substitute the beneficiary under the plan at death as the beneficiary under the contract. |
• | All payments under an NQ contract will be made to the plan trust owner. All payments under a QP contract will be made to the plan trust owner until such time as the plan trust owner changes ownership to the plan participant as part of an IRA conversion. |
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America | Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company |
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company
Supplement dated May 1, 2025 to the Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® 21 Prospectus
For New York Contracts Only
This Supplement modifies certain information in the above-referenced Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) offered by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (“Equitable”). You should read this Supplement in conjunction with your Prospectus and retain it for future reference. This Supplement incorporates the Prospectus by reference. Unless otherwise indicated, all other information included in your Prospectus remains unchanged. The terms we use in this Supplement have the same meaning as in your Prospectus. We will send you another copy of any prospectus or supplement without charge upon request. Please contact the customer service center at 877-899-3743.
The purpose of this Supplement is to provide information regarding the Segments available, minimum Performance Cap Rates and the Segment Interim Value calculation for New York contracts. The Return of Premium Death Benefit is currently unavailable for contracts issued in New York.
The | following chart lists the current Segment Types for contracts issued in New York: |
Segment Option | Segment Duration |
Segment Buffer | Minimum Performance Cap Rate |
Indices Available | ||||
Standard |
6 year | -10%; -15%; -20% | 30%; 27%; 24% | S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return; MSCI EAFE Price Return; NASDAQ-100 Price Return; MSCI Emerging Markets Price Return*; EURO STOXX 50® Price Return* | ||||
1 year | -10%; -15% | 5%; 4.5% | ||||||
DualDirection |
6 year | -10%; -15%; -20% | 30%; 27% 24% | S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return*; MSCI EAFE Price Return*; NASDAQ-100 Price Return* | ||||
1 year | -10% | 5% | ||||||
AnnualLock |
6 year | -10% | 5% | S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return; MSCI EAFE Price Return | ||||
StepUp |
1 year | -10% | 5% | S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return; MSCI EAFE Price Return; NASDAQ-100 Price Return | ||||
EnhancedUpside |
6 year | -10%; -15% | 30%; 27% | S&P 500 Price Return |
* | Only available for 1-year Segments |
Cat #800001 (5/25) | ||
SCS PLUS 21/New Biz | #879854 |
Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® 21
A combination variable and index-linked individual and group flexible premium deferred annuity contract
Issued through: Equitable America Variable Account No. 70A and Separate Account No. 49
Statement of Additional Information
May 1, 2025
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a Prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® 21 Prospectus, dated May 1, 2025. That Prospectus provides detailed information concerning the contract and the variable investment option and/or in one or more of the Segments comprising the Structured Investment Option. Each variable investment option is a subaccount of the Company’s Separate Account. Definitions of special terms used in the SAI are found in the Prospectus.
A copy of the current Prospectus is available free of charge by writing the processing office (Retirement Service Solutions — Post Office Box P.O. Box 1016, Charlotte, NC 28201), by calling 1-800-889-3743 toll free, or by contacting your financial professional.
The Company
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (“Equitable America”) is an Arizona stock life insurance corporation (until 2020, known as MONY Life Insurance Company of America); Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (“Equitable Financial”) is a New York stock life insurance corporation (until 2020, known as AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company) (collectively and individually, Equitable America and Equitable Financial are herein referred to as the “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us”). The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Equitable Holdings, Inc. No other company has any legal responsibility to pay amounts that the Company that issued your contract owes under the contracts. The Company that issued your contract is solely responsible for paying all amounts owed to you under your contract.
Unit Values
Unit values are determined at the end of each valuation period for the variable investment option. We may offer other annuity contracts and certificates which will have their own unit values for the variable investment option.
The unit value for a variable investment option for any valuation period is equal to: (i) the unit value for the preceding valuation period multiplied by (ii) the net investment factor for that option for that valuation period. A valuation period is each business day together with any preceding non-business days. The net investment factor is:
( |
a |
) |
c | |||||||||||
b |
where:
(a) | is the value of the variable investment option’s shares of the corresponding portfolio at the end of the valuation period. Any amounts allocated to or withdrawn from the option for the valuation period are not taken into account. For this purpose, we use the share value reported to us by the Trust (as described in the Prospectus), as applicable. |
(b) | is the value of the variable investment option’s shares of the corresponding portfolio at the end of the preceding valuation period. (Any amounts allocated or withdrawn for that valuation period are taken into account.) |
(c) | is the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge, if elected, times the number of calendar days in the valuation period. The Return of Premium Death Benefit charge is not deducted for the Segment Type Holding Accounts or the dollar cap averaging account. |
Contract Adjustment - Segment Interim Value
We calculate the Segment Interim Value for each Segment on each business day that falls between the Segment Start Date and Segment Maturity Date. The calculation is a formula designed to measure the fair value of your Segment Investment on the particular interim date and is based on the downside protection provided by the Segment Buffer, the limit on participation in investment gain provided by the Performance Cap Rate, and an adjustment for the effect of a withdrawal prior to the Segment Maturity Date. The formula we use, in part, derives the fair value of hypothetical investments in fixed instruments and derivatives. These values provide us with protection from the risk that we will have to pay out account value related to a Segment prior to the Segment Maturity Date. The hypothetical put option provides us with a market value of the potential loss at Segment maturity, and the hypothetical call options provide us with a market value of the potential gain at Segment maturity. This formula provides a treatment for an early distribution that is designed to be consistent with how distributions at the end of a Segment are treated. We are not required to hold such investments in relation to Segments and may or may not choose to do so. You are not affected by the performance of any of our investments (or lack thereof) relating to Segments. The formula also includes an adjustment relating to the Cap Calculation Factor. This is a positive adjustment of the percentage of the estimated
SCS PLUS 21 | ||
#824895 |
expenses corresponding to the portion of the Segment Duration that has not elapsed. This section sets forth the actual calculation formula, as well as detailed descriptions of the components and specific inputs of the calculation. You should note that even if a corresponding Index has experienced growth, the calculation of your Segment Interim Value may result in an amount lower than your Segment Investment. We have included examples of calculations of Segment Interim Values under various hypothetical situations at the end of this section.
Please note that if the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge is deducted from a Segment, the charge will be deducted from the Segment Interim Value.
Calculation Formula
For contracts issued on or after May 1, 2023 subject to state and other necessary approvals (see “Performance Cap Rate limiting factor” below for a table showing which contracts still use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor), the Segment Interim Value calculation will no longer use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor and, therefore, the Segment Interim Value is equal to the sum of the following three components: (1) Fair Value of hypothetical Fixed Instruments; plus (2) Fair Value of hypothetical Derivatives; plus (3) Cap Calculation Factor.
For all other contracts, the Segment Interim Value is equal to the lesser of (A) or (B), where:
(A) | equals the sum of the following three components: |
(1) | Fair Value of hypothetical Fixed Instruments; plus |
(2) | Fair Value of hypothetical Derivatives; plus |
(3) | Cap Calculation Factor. |
(B) | equals the Segment Investment (or the most recent Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount for an Annual Lock Segment) multiplied by (1 + the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor). |
Components and Specific Inputs of the Calculation
Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instruments. The Segment Interim Value formula includes an element designed to compensate us for the fact that when we have to pay out account value related to a Segment before the Segment Maturity Date, we forgo the opportunity to earn interest on the Segment Investment from the date of withdrawal or surrender until the Segment Maturity Date. We accomplish this estimate by calculating the present value of the Segment Investment using an investment rate widely used in financial markets.
The Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instruments in a Segment is currently based on the investment rate associated with the Segment’s remaining time to maturity. Investment rates are interest rates associated with investment grade fixed income instruments which can be used to back the Segment. The investment rate will seek to approximate the
bond yields which are used in the fixed instrument strategy (e.g., pricing, hedging) for this product. The investment rate will be determined based on an investment grade index selected to approximately correspond to the quality profile of bonds used in the fixed instrument strategy for this product. To apply the investment grade index values to the Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instruments component of Segment Interim Value calculation, the spread over risk-free rates for selected investment grade index maturity points will be added to the risk-free rates used in other components of the Segment Interim Value calculation.
The Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instruments is defined as its present value, as expressed in the following formula:
(Segment Investment)/(1 + rate)(time to maturity)
The Company’s decision to use investment rates, which are generally higher than swap rates, to calculate the Fair Value of Hypothetical Instruments component of the Segment Interim Value will result in a lower value for that component relative to using swap rates to calculate that component and, all other things being equal, will result in a lower recalculated Segment Investment if a partial withdrawal is taken from a Segment or a lower withdrawal amount if a full withdrawal is taken from a Segment. The time to maturity is expressed as a fraction, in which the numerator is the number of days remaining in the Segment Duration and the denominator is the average number of days in each year of the Segment Duration for that Segment.
Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives. The Segment Interim Value formula includes an element designed to provide a market value of the potential gain or loss at Segment maturity, consistent with how distributions at the end of a Segment are treated. We accomplish this estimate by calculating the value of the downside protection that would be provided at maturity (or at each Annual Lock Anniversary for Annual Lock Segments) by the Segment Buffer (and Segment Investment Protection for Loss Limiter Segments) as well as the upper limit that would be placed on gains at maturity (or at each Annual Lock Anniversary for Annual Lock Segments) by the Performance Cap Rate using hypothetical derivatives.
When valuing the hypothetical Derivatives as part of the Segment Interim Value calculation, we use inputs that are consistent with market prices that reflect the estimated cost of exiting the hypothetical Derivatives before Segment maturity. Different inputs that reflect a higher estimated cost of exiting the hypothetical Derivatives may be used for Segments in contracts that do not use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor and, if they are, the fair value of hypothetical Derivatives will be lower than if lower estimated costs of exiting were used. This means that the Segment Interim Value will also be lower. See “Appendix: State contract availability and/or variations of certain features and benefits” in the Prospectus for information about certain contracts issued in New Jersey which use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor equal to the Performance Cap Rate.
2
Our fair market value methodology, including the market standard model we use to calculate the fair value of the hypothetical Derivatives for each particular Segment, may result in a fair value that is higher or lower than the fair value other methodologies and models would produce. Our fair value may also be higher or lower than the actual market price of the identical derivatives. As a result, the Segment Interim Value you receive may be higher or lower than what other methodologies and models would produce. Please note that based on market conditions and other factors, including Segment Duration, the estimated cost of exiting hypothetical derivatives will likely vary between Segment Options, as well as, between individual Segments both with the same Segment Start Date and with different Segment Start Dates. We periodically reevaluate our estimated exit costs and our underlying estimated exit costs methodology based on a number of factors, including past experience, and may prospectively adjust the estimated cost of exiting hypothetical derivatives up or down.
The following types of hypothetical options are used to calculate the Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives at the time the Segment Interim Value is determined:
(A) | At-the-Money Call Option (strike price equals the index value at Segment inception). The potential for gain is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
(B) | Out-of-the-Money Call Option (strike price equals the index increased by the Performance Cap Rate). The potential for gain in excess of the Performance Cap Rate is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
(C) | Out-of-the-Money Put Option (strike price equals the index decreased by the Segment Buffer). The risk of loss is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
• | It is important to note that this put option value will almost always reduce the Segment Interim Value, even where the Index is higher at the time of the withdrawal than at the time of the original investment. This is because the risk that the Index could have been lower at the end of a Segment is present to some extent whether or not the Index has increased at the earlier point in time that the Segment Interim Value is calculated. |
(D) | At-the-Money Binary Call Option (strike price equals the index value at Segment inception). The potential gain is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
(E) | At the Money Put Option (strike price equals index value at Segment inception). The potential for gain in a down market is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
(F) | Out-of-the-Money Binary Put Option (strike price equals index value at Segment inception minus Segment Buffer). The risk of loss in a down market in excess of the Buffer is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
• | It is important to note that the put option value and binary put option value will almost always reduce the Segment Interim Value, even where the Index is higher at the time of the withdrawal than at the time of the original investment. This is because the risk that the Index could have been lower at the end of a Segment is present to some extent whether or not the Index has increased at the earlier point in time that the Segment Interim Value is calculated. |
(G) | In-the-Money Binary Call Option (strike price equals the index decreased by the Segment Buffer). The potential gain is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
(H) | Further Out-of-the-Money Put Option (strike equals index decreased by the (Segment Investment Protection Level — 1) less Segment Buffer). For Loss Limiter Segments, the risk of loss in a down market in excess of the (Segment Investment Protection Level — 1) less Segment Buffer is estimated using the value of this hypothetical option. |
• | It is important to note that the put option value will almost always reduce the Segment Interim Value, even where the Index is higher at the time of the withdrawal than at the time of the original investment. This is because the risk that the Index could have been lower at the end of a Segment is present to some extent whether or not the Index has increased at the earlier point in time that the Segment Interim Value is calculated. |
For each Segment, we designate and value the hypothetical options, each of which is tied to the performance of the Index underlying the Segment in which you are invested. For each Annual Lock Segment, we designate and value a hypothetical derivatives contract which is tied to the compounded performance of the Index underlying the Segment in which you are invested.
For Standard Segments, the Fair Value of Derivatives is equal to (A) minus (B) minus (C), as defined above.
For Step Up Segments, the Fair Value of Derivatives is equal to (D) minus (C), as defined above.
For Dual Direction Segments, the Fair Value of Derivatives is equal to (A) minus (B) plus (E) minus (C) minus (F), as defined above, where Dual Direction Segments use two of hypothetical option (C).
For Enhanced Upside Segments, the Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives is equal to (A) minus (B) minus (C), as defined above, where Enhanced Upside Segments use a multiple of both hypothetical option (A) and hypothetical option (B), specifically the option quantity is multiplied by the Enhanced Upside Rate.
For Dual Step Up Segments, the Fair Value of Derivative is equal to (G) minus (C), as defined above.
3
For Loss Limiter Segments, the Fair Value of Derivatives is equal to (A) minus (B) minus (C) plus (H), as defined above.
In addition to the inputs discussed above, the Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives is also affected by the time remaining until the Segment Maturity Date (or each remaining Annual Lock Anniversary).
We determine the fair value of each of the applicable designated hypothetical options for a Standard, Step Up, Dual Direction, Enhanced Upside, Dual Step Up or Loss Limiter Segments using a market standard model for valuing a European option on the Index, assuming a continuous dividend yield or net convenience value, with inputs that are consistent with market prices that reflect the estimated cost of exiting the hypothetical Derivatives prior to Segment maturity. If we did not take into account the estimated exit price, your Segment Interim Value would be greater. For Segments in contracts without a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor, we may use different inputs that reflect a higher estimated cost of exiting hypothetical Derivatives and, if we do, the fair value of hypothetical Derivatives will be lower for those Segments than if we didn’t use a higher estimated cost of exiting. See “Appendix: State contract availability and/or variations of certain features and benefits” in the Prospectus for information about certain contracts issued in New Jersey which use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor equal to the Performance Cap Rate.
In addition, the estimated fair value price used in the Segment Interim Value calculation may vary higher or lower from other estimated prices and from what the actual selling price of identical derivatives would be at any time during each Segment. If our estimated fair value price is lower than the price under other fair market estimates or for actual transactions, then your Segment Interim Value will be less than if we used those other prices when calculating your Segment Interim Value. Any variance between our estimated fair value price and other estimated or actual prices may be different from Segment Type to Segment Type and may also change from day to day.
Each hypothetical option has a notional value on the Segment Start Date equal to the Segment Investment on that date. The notional value is the price of the underlying Index at the inception of the Segment. In the event that a number of options, or a fractional number of options, are being valued, the notional value would be the number of hypothetical options multiplied by the price of the Index at inception. For an Annual Lock Segment, we determine the fair value of the hypothetical derivatives contract tied to the compounded performance of the Index underlying the Annual Lock Segment using a market standard model for valuing an extended exotic option that periodically settles and resets in strike price on the Index using the assumptions, inputs and values discussed above but applied to the hypothetical derivatives contract instead of the hypothetical options.
We use the following model inputs:
(1) | Implied Volatility of the Index — This input varies with (i) how much time remains until the Segment Maturity Date of the Segment, which is determined by using an expiration date for the designated option that corresponds to that time remaining and (ii) the relationship between the strike price of that option and the level of the Index at the time of the calculation (including the potential for resets each Annual Lock Period). |
This relationship is referred to as the “moneyness” of the option described above and is calculated as the ratio of current price to the strike price. Direct market data for these inputs for any given early distribution are generally not available, because options on the Index that actually trade in the market have specific maturity dates and moneyness values that are unlikely to correspond precisely to the Segment Maturity Date (or remaining Annual Lock Periods) and moneyness of the designated option that we use for purposes of the calculation.
Accordingly, we use the following method to estimate the implied volatility of the Index. We use daily quotes of implied volatility from independent third parties using the model described above and based on the market prices for certain options. Specifically, implied volatility quotes are obtained for options with the closest maturities above and below the actual time remaining in the Segment at the time of the calculation and, for each maturity, for those options having the closest moneyness value above and below the actual moneyness of the designated option, given the level of the Index at the time of the calculation. In calculating the Segment Interim Value, we will derive a volatility input for your Segment’s time to maturity (including each remaining Annual Lock Period time to maturity) and strike price by linearly interpolating between the implied volatility quotes that are based on the actual adjacent maturities and moneyness values described above, as follows:
(a) | We first determine the implied volatility of an option that has the same moneyness as the designated option but with the closest available time to maturity shorter than your Segment’s remaining time to maturity (including each remaining Annual Lock Period time to maturity). This volatility is derived by linearly interpolating between the implied volatilities of options having the times to the applicable maturity that are above and below the moneyness value of the hypothetical option. |
(b) | We then determine the implied volatility of an option that has the same moneyness as the designated option but with the closest available time to maturity longer than your Segment’s remaining time to the applicable maturity (including each remaining Annual Lock Period time to maturity). This volatility is derived by linearly interpolating between the implied volatilities of options having the times to maturity that are above and below the moneyness value of the designated option. |
4
(c) | The volatility input for your Segment’s time to maturity (including each remaining Annual Lock Period time to maturity) will then be determined by linearly interpolating between the volatilities derived in steps (a) and (b). |
(2) | Swap Rate — We use key derivative swap rates obtained from information provided by independent third parties which are recognized financial reporting vendors. Swap rates are obtained for maturities adjacent to the actual time remaining in the Segment at the time of the early distribution. We use linear interpolation to derive the exact remaining duration rate needed as the input. |
(3) | Index Dividend Yield — On a daily basis, we use the projected annual dividend yield across the entire Index obtained from information provided by independent third-party financial institutions. This value is a widely used assumption and is readily available from recognized financial reporting vendors. |
Generally, a put option has an inverse relationship with its underlying Index, while a call option has a direct relationship. In addition to the inputs discussed above, the Fair Value of Derivatives is also affected by the time to the Segment Maturity Date (including each Annual Lock Period remaining to maturity).
Cap Calculation Factor. In setting the Performance Cap Rate, we take into account that we incur expenses in connection with a contract, including insurance and administrative expenses. The Segment Interim Value formula includes the Cap Calculation Factor which is designed to reflect the fact that we will not incur those expenses for the entire duration of the Segment if you withdraw your investment prior to the Segment Maturity Date. Therefore, we provide a positive adjustment as part of the calculation of Segment Interim Value, which we call the Cap Calculation Factor. The Cap Calculation Factor is always positive and declines during the course of the Segment.
The Cap Calculation Factor represents a return of estimated expenses for the portion of the Segment Duration that has not elapsed. For example, if the estimated expenses for a one-year Segment are calculated by us to be $10, then at the end of 146 days (with 219 days remaining in the Segment), the Cap Calculation Factor would be $6, because $10 x 219/365 = $6. A Segment is not a variable investment option with an underlying portfolio, and therefore the percentages we use in setting the performance caps do not reflect a daily charge against assets held on your behalf in a separate account.
Performance Cap Rate limiting factor. For contracts issued on or after May 1, 2023, subject to state and other necessary approvals (see the below table showing which contracts still use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor), the Segment Interim Value calculation will no longer use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor. For contracts that do use a
Performance Cap Rate limiting factor, the Segment Interim Value is never greater than the Segment Investment (or the most recent Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount for an Annual Lock Segment) multiplied by (1 + the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor). Generally, the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor is based on the portion of the Performance Cap Rate corresponding to the portion of the Segment Duration that has elapsed. This limitation is imposed to discourage owners from withdrawing from a Segment before the Segment Maturity Date where there may have been significant increases in the relevant Index early in the Segment Duration (or Annual Lock Period). Although the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor pro-rates the upside potential on amounts withdrawn early, there is no similar adjustment to pro-rate the downside protection. This means, if you surrender or cancel your contract, die, or make a withdrawal from a Segment before the Segment Maturity Date, any upside performance will be limited to a percentage lower than the Performance Cap Rate which may result in a lower Segment Interim Value and the Segment Buffer will not necessarily apply to the extent it would on the Segment Maturity Date (or each Annual Lock Anniversary).
For Standard, Step Up, Dual Direction, Enhanced Upside, Dual Step Up and Loss Limiter Segments subject to a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor, prior to the Segment Maturity Date, your Segment Interim Value will be limited by the portion of the Performance Cap Rate corresponding to the portion of the Segment Duration that has elapsed. For example, if the Performance Cap Rate for a one-year Standard Segment is 10%, then at the end of 146 days, the pro rata share of the Performance Cap Rate would be 4%, because 10% x 146/365 = 4%; as a result, the Segment Interim Value at the end of the 146 days could not exceed 104% of the Segment Investment. For Annual Lock Segments subject to a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor, prior to the Segment Maturity Date, your Segment Interim Value will be limited by the portion of the Performance Cap Rate corresponding to the portion of the current Annual Lock Period that has elapsed. For example, if the Performance Cap Rate for a 3-year Annual Lock Segment is 10%, then at the end of 73 days in the third Annual Lock Period, the pro rata share of the Performance Cap Rate would be 2%, because 10% x 73/365 = 2%; as a result, the Segment Interim Value at the end of the 73 days in the third Annual Lock Period could not exceed 102% of the third Annual Lock Anniversary Starting Amount.
See “Appendix: State contract availability and/or variations of certain features and benefits” in the Prospectus for information about certain contracts issued in New Jersey where the Performance Cap Rate limiting factor is equal to the Performance Cap Rate (not a pro-rata portion based on elapsed Segment Duration).
5
Performance Cap Rate limiting factor table:
Jurisdiction |
Contracts with issue dates on or after this date will not use a Performance Cap Rate limiting factor in the Segment Interim Value calculation | |
New York |
May 1, 2023 | |
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | July 24, 2023 | |
Alaska, California, Utah |
September 25, 2023 | |
Virginia |
November 13, 2023 | |
New Jersey |
February 26, 2024 | |
Nebraska |
July 22, 2024 |
Calculation Examples
The following examples do not reflect the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge.
Standard Segments
Item | 6-Year Segment | 6-Year Segment | ||
Segment Duration (in months) |
72 | 72 | ||
Valuation Date (Months since Segment Start Date) |
9 | 69 | ||
Segment Investment |
$1,000 | $1,000 | ||
Segment Buffer |
-10% | -10% | ||
Performance Cap Rate |
500% | 500% | ||
Time to Maturity (in months) |
63 | 3 | ||
Total Amount Withdrawn from Contract(1) |
$100 | $100 | ||
Amount of withdrawal charge (this amount is included in “Total Amount Withdrawn from Contract” shown above) | $0.00 | $0.19 | ||
Assuming the change in the Index Value is -10% (for example from 100.00 to 90.00)
| ||||
Fair Value of Hypothetical Fixed Instrument |
$722.03 | $987.13 | ||
Fair Value of Hypothetical Derivatives |
$92.86 | -$27.41 | ||
Cap Calculation Factor |
$44.63 | $2.13 | ||
Sum of Above |
$909.52 | $961.85 | ||
Segment Interim Value(2) |
$909.52 | $961.85 | ||
Percent Withdrawn(3) |
10.99% | 10.40% | ||
New Segment Investment(4) |
$890.05 | $896.03 | ||
New Segment Interim Value(5) |
$809.52 | $861.85 | ||
Percentage Change in Contract Value |
-19.05% | -13.82% |
(1) | The total amount withdrawn includes any applicable withdrawal charge. |
(2) | Segment Interim Value immediately before withdrawal. |
(3) | Percent Withdrawn is equal to Amount Withdrawn divided by Segment Interim Value. |
(4) | New Segment Investment is equal to the original Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by (1 — Percent Withdrawal). |
(5) | New Segment Interim Value is equal to the calculated Segment Interim Value based on the new Segment Investment. It will also be equal to the Segment Interim Value multiplied by (1 — Percent Withdrawal). |
6
The input values to the market standard model that have been utilized to generate the hypothetical examples above are as follows:
• | Implied volatilities are assumed: 20.5% (At-the-Money Call), 14% (Out-of-the-Money Call), and 21.6% (Out-of-the-Money Put). |
• | Investment rate corresponding to remainder of Segment term is assumed 5.05% (9 months to maturity) and 5.32% (3 months to maturity). |
• | Swap rate corresponding to remainder of Segment term is 3.81% (9 months to maturity) and 4.7% (3 months to maturity). |
• | Index dividend yield is 0.51% annually. |
Custodian
The Company is the custodian for the shares of the Trusts owned by the Separate Account.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The (i) financial statements of each of the variable investment options of Equitable America Variable Account No. 70A as of December 31, 2024 and for each of the periods indicated therein and the (ii) consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 incorporated in this SAI by reference to the filed Form N-VPFS (for Equitable America Variable Account No. 70A) and Form N-VPFS (for Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America) have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides independent audit services and certain other non-audit services to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America as permitted by the applicable SEC independence rules, and as disclosed in Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America’s Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s address is 214 North Tryon Street, Suite 4200, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.
The (i) financial statements of each of the variable investment options of Separate Account No. 49 as of December 31, 2024 and for each of the periods indicated therein and the (ii) consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 incorporated in this SAI by reference to the filed Form N-VPFS (for Separate Account No. 49) and Form N-VPFS (for Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company) have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides independent audit services and certain other non-audit services to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company as permitted by the applicable SEC independence rules, and as disclosed in Equitable Financial Life
Insurance Company’s Form 10-K. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s address is 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
Distribution of the Contracts
Under distribution agreements between Equitable Distributors, the Company and certain of the Company’s separate accounts, the Company paid Equitable Distributors distribution fees as follows:
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Equitable America | $ | 400,080,340 | $ | 281,932,594 | $ | 41,028,502 | ||||||
Equitable Financial | $ | 410,936,513 | $ | 383,966,142 | $ | 535,080,397 |
as the distributor of certain contracts, including these contracts, and as the principal underwriter of several Company separate accounts. Of these amounts, for each of these three years, Equitable Distributors retained:
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Equitable America | $ | 49,282 | $ | 19,523 | $ | 6,094 | ||||||
Equitable Financial | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Pursuant to a Distribution and Servicing Agreement between Equitable Advisors, the Company and certain of the Company’s separate accounts, the Company paid Equitable Advisors, as the distributors of certain contracts, including these contracts, and as the principal underwriter of several Company separate accounts:
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Equitable America | $ | 431,685,051 | $ | 295,713,271 | $ | 128,020,090 | ||||||
Equitable Financial | $ | 552,603,208 | $ | 528,625,217 | $ | 628,586,635 |
Of these amounts, Equitable Advisors retained:
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Equitable America | $ | 218,683,849 | $ | 134,463,331 | $ | 53,750,680 | ||||||
Equitable Financial | $ | 269,301,602 | $ | 253,096,170 | $ | 286,917,091 |
Financial Statements
The financial statements and financial statement schedules of the Company incorporated herein should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of the Company to meet its obligations under the contracts.
The financial statements of the Separate Account list variable investment options not currently offered under this contract.
7
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 27. | EXHIBITS |
(a) | Board of Directors Resolution. |
(b) | Custodial Agreements. Not Applicable. |
(c) | Underwriting Contracts. |
(1) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(2) |
(a) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(m) |
(n) |
(o) |
(p) |
(q) |
(r) |
(s) |
(t) |
(u) |
(v) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(a) |
(9) |
C-2
(d) | Contracts. (Including Riders and Endorsements) |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
(11) |
(12) |
(13) |
(14) |
(15) |
(16) |
(17) |
(18) |
(19) |
(20) |
(21) |
(22) |
(23) |
(24) |
(25) |
(26) |
(27) |
(28) |
(29) |
(30) |
C-3
(e) | Applications. |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(f) | Insurance Company’s Certificate of Incorporation And By-Laws. |
(1) |
(2) |
(g) | Reinsurance Contracts. |
(1) |
(h) | Participation Agreements. |
(1) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
C-4
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(m) |
(n) |
(o) |
(p) |
(2) |
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
(h) |
(i) |
(j) |
(k) |
(l) |
(m) |
(n) |
(o) |
(p) |
(q) |
(r) |
(s) |
(t) |
(u) |
(v) |
(i) | Administrative Contracts. Not applicable. |
(j) | Other Material Contracts. Not applicable. |
(k) | Legal Opinion. |
Opinion and Consent of Counsel, filed herewith.
(l) | Other Opinions. |
(1) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, filed herewith. |
(m) | Omitted Financial Statements. Not applicable. |
(n) | Initial Capital Agreements. Not applicable. |
(o) |
(p) |
(q) | Letter Regarding Change in Certifying Accountant. Not Applicable. |
(r) |
101.INS XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
C-5
ITEM 28. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Set forth below is information regarding the directors and principal officers of the Insurance Company. The Insurance Company’s address is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105. The business address of the persons whose names are preceded by an asterisk is that of the Insurance Company.
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS |
POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY | |
DIRECTORS | ||
Douglas A. Dachille | Director | |
Legacy Liability Solutions, LLC | ||
161 N. Clark Street | ||
Chicago, IL 60602 | ||
Francis Hondal | Director | |
10050 W. Suburban Drive | ||
Pinecrest, FL 33156 | ||
Arlene Isaacs-Lowe | Director | |
1830 South Ocean Drive, #1411 | ||
Hallandale, FL 33009 | ||
Daniel G. Kaye | Director | |
767 Quail Run | ||
Inverness, IL 60067 | ||
Joan Lamm-Tennant | Director | |
135 Ridge Common | ||
Fairfield, CT 06824 | ||
Craig MacKay | Director | |
England & Company | ||
1133 Avenue of the Americas | ||
Suite 2719 | ||
New York, NY 10036 | ||
Bertram L. Scott | Director | |
3601 Hampton Manor Drive | ||
Charlotte, NC 28226 | ||
George Stansfield | Director | |
AXA | ||
25, Avenue Matignon | ||
75008 Paris, France | ||
Charles G.T. Stonehill | Director | |
Founding Partner | ||
Green & Blue Advisors | ||
525 Park Avenue, 8D | ||
New York, New York 10065 | ||
OFFICER-DIRECTOR | ||
*Mark Pearson | Director and Chief Executive Officer | |
OTHER OFFICERS | ||
*Nicholas B. Lane | President | |
*José Ramón González | Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |
*Jeffrey J. Hurd | Chief Operating Officer |
C-6
*Robin M. Raju | Chief Financial Officer | |
*Michael B. Healy | Chief Information Officer | |
*Nicholas Huth | Chief Compliance Officer | |
*William Eckert | Chief Accounting Officer | |
*Darryl Gibbs | Chief Diversity Officer | |
*David W. Karr | Signatory Officer | |
*Erik Bass | Chief Strategy Officer | |
*Mary Jean Bonadonna | Signatory Officer | |
*Nicholas Chan | Deputy Treasurer | |
*Eric Colby | Signatory Officer | |
*Glen Gardner | Chief Investment Officer | |
*Kenneth Kozlowski | Signatory Officer | |
*Carol Macaluso | Signatory Officer | |
*James Mellin | Signatory Officer | |
*Hillary Menard | Signatory Officer | |
*Kurt Meyers | Deputy General Counsel and Signatory Officer | |
*Maryanne (Masha) Mousserie | Signatory Officer | |
*Prabha (“Mary”) Ng | Chief Information Security Officer | |
*Antonio Di Caro | Signatory Officer | |
*Shelby Hollister-Share | Signatory Officer |
C-7
*Manuel Prendes | Signatory Officer | |
*Stephen Scanlon | Signatory Officer | |
*Samuel Schwartz | Signatory Officer | |
*Stephanie Shields | Signatory Officer | |
*Joseph M. Spagnuolo | Signatory Officer | |
*Qi Ning (“Peter”) Tian | Treasurer | |
*Gina Tyler | Chief Communications Officer | |
*Constance Weaver | Chief Marketing Officer | |
*Xu (“Vincent”) Xuan | Chief Actuary | |
*Yun (“Julia”) Zhang | Chief Risk Officer |
C-8
ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR REGISTERED SEPARATE ACCOUNT.
Separate Account No. 49 (the “Separate Account”) is a separate account of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company. Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company, a New York stock life insurance company, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (the “Holding Company”).
Set forth below is the subsidiary chart for the Holding Company:
C-9
ITEM 30. | INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
The by-laws of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (the “Company”) provide, in Article VII, as follows:
7.4 | Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Employees. (a) To the extent permitted by the law of the State of New York and subject to all applicable requirements thereof: |
(i) | any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company; |
(ii) | any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate serves or served any other organization in any capacity at the request of the Company may be indemnified by the Company; and |
(iii) | the related expenses of any such person in any of said categories may be advanced by the Company. |
(b) | To the extent permitted by the law of the State of New York, the Company, or the Board of Directors, by amendment of these By-Laws, or by agreement. (Business Corporation Law ss. 721-726; Insurance Law ss.1216) |
The directors and officers of the Company are insured under policies issued by X.L. Insurance Company, Arch Insurance Company, Endurance Specialty Insurance Company, U.S. Specialty Insurance, ACE, Chubb Insurance Company, AXIS Insurance Company, Zurich Insurance Company, AWAC (Allied World Assurance Company Ltd.), Aspen Bermuda XS, CNA, AIG, Nationwide, Berkley, Berkshire, SOMPO, Chubb, Markel, Ascot, Bowhead, and Westfield. The annual limit on such policies is $300 million, and the policies insure the officers and directors against certain liabilities arising out of their conduct in such capacities.
(b) | Indemnification of Principal Underwriters |
To the extent permitted by law of the State of New York and subject to all applicable requirements thereof, Equitable Distributors, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC have undertaken to indemnify each of its respective directors and officers who is made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact the director or officer, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of Equitable Distributors, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC.
(c) | Undertaking |
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant 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 registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant 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 registrant 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.
C-10
ITEM 31. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) | Equitable Advisors, LLC and Equitable Distributors, LLC are the principal underwriters for: |
(i) | Separate Account No. 49, Separate Account No. 70, Separate Account A, Separate Account FP, Separate Account I and Separate Account No. 45 of Equitable Financial |
(ii) | Separate Account No. 49B of Equitable Colorado |
(iii) | EQ Advisors Trust |
(iv) | Variable Account AA, Equitable America Variable Account A, Equitable America Variable Account K, Equitable America Variable Account L, and Equitable America Variable Account No. 70A. |
(b) | Equitable Advisors is the principal underwriter of Equitable Financial’s Separate Account No. 301. |
(c) | Set forth below is certain information regarding the directors and principal officers of Equitable Advisors, LLC and Equitable Distributors, LLC: |
(i) | EQUITABLE ADVISORS, LLC |
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS |
POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER | |
*David Karr | Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |
*Nicholas B. Lane | Director | |
*Frank Massa | Director and President | |
*Yun (“Julia”) Zhang | Director | |
*Ralph E. Browning, II | Chief Privacy Officer | |
*Mary Jean Bonadonna | Chief Risk Officer | |
*Patricia Boylan | Broker Dealer Chief Compliance Officer | |
*Nia Dalley | Vice President and Chief Conflicts Officer | |
*Brett Esselburn | Vice President, Investment Sales and Financial Planning | |
*Gina Jones | Vice President and Financial Crime Officer | |
*Tracy Zimmerer | Vice President and Principal Operations Officer | |
*Sean Donovan | Assistant Vice President | |
*Alan Gradzki | Assistant Vice President | |
*Janie Smith | Assistant Vice President | |
*James Mellin | Chief Sales Officer |
C-11
*Candace Scappator | Assistant Vice President, Controller and Principal Financial Officer | |
*Prabha (“Mary”) Ng | Chief Information Security Officer | |
*Alfred Ayensu-Ghartey | Vice President | |
*Joshua Katz | Vice President | |
*Dustin Long | Vice President | |
*Christopher LaRussa | Investment Advisor Chief Compliance Officer | |
*Christian Cannon | Vice President and General Counsel | |
*Paul Scott Peterson | Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Signatory Officer | |
*Samuel Schwartz | Vice President | |
*Dennis Sullivan | Vice President | |
*Peter Tian | Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Signatory Officer | |
*Constance (Connie) Weaver | Vice President | |
*Michael Brudoley | Secretary | |
*Christine Medy | Assistant Secretary | |
*Francesca Divone | Assistant Secretary |
(ii) | EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ADDRESS |
POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER | |
*Nicholas B. Lane | Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer | |
*Jim Kais | Director and Head of Group Retirement | |
*Jason Brown | Deputy Chief Compliance Officer | |
*Ursula Carty | Head of Commercial Line Marketing | |
*Amy Feintuch | Head of Independent Relationships - Financial Protection | |
*Steve Junge | National Sales Manager - 1290 Funds | |
*James O’Connor | Head of Business Development and Key Accounts Group Retirement |
C-12
*David Kahal | Signatory Officer | |
*Fred Makonnen | Signatory Officer | |
*Arielle D’ Auguste | Signatory Officer and General Counsel | |
*Alfred D’Urso | Signatory Officer and Chief Compliance Officer | |
*Candace Scappator | Signatory Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Operations Officer | |
*Gina Jones | Signatory Officer and Financial Crime Officer | |
*Yun (“Julia”) Zhang | Signatory Officer and Chief Risk Officer | |
*Francesca Divone | Secretary | |
*Stephen Scanlon | Director, Head of Individual Retirement and Signatory Officer |
C-13
*Prabha (“Mary”) Ng | Signatory Officer and Chief Information Security Officer | |
*Michael Brudoley | Assistant Secretary | |
*Christine Medy | Assistant Secretary | |
* Principal Business Address: 1345 Avenue of the Americas NY, NY 10105 |
(c) |
Name of Principal Underwriter |
Net Underwriting Discounts |
Compensation on Redemption |
Brokerage Commission |
Other Compensation | ||||
Equitable Advisors, LLC |
N/A | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Equitable Distributors, LLC |
N/A | $0 | $0 | $0 |
ITEM 31A | INFORMATION ABOUT CONTRACTS WITH INDEX-LINKED OPTIONS AND FIXED OPTIONS SUBJECT TO A CONTRACT ADJUSTMENT. |
(a) | For any Contract with Index-Linked Options and/or Fixed Options subject to a Contract Adjustment offered through this registration statement, provide the information required by the following table as of December 31 of the prior calendar year. |
Name of the Contract |
Number of Contracts Outstanding |
Total value attributable to the Index- Linked Option and/or Fixed Option subject to a Contract Adjustment |
Number of Contracts sold during the prior calendar year |
Gross premiums received during the prior calendar year |
Amount of Contract value redeemed during the prior calendar year |
Combination Contract (Yes/No) |
||||||||||||||||||
Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® 21 |
78,884 | 17,339,024,311 | 12,692 | 3,746,362,260 | 751,682,016 | Yes |
(b) | See Exhibit (27)(r) Historical Current Limits on Index Gains. |
ITEM 32. | LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS |
The information is omitted as it is provided in Registered Separate Account’s most recent report on Form N-CEN.
ITEM 33. | MANAGEMENT SERVICES |
Not applicable.
ITEM 34. | FEE REPRESENTATION |
(a) | The Insurance Company represents that, with respect to the Variable Options, the fees and charges deducted under the Contracts described in this Registration Statement, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by the Insurance Company under the respective Contracts. |
The Registered Separate Account hereby represents that it is relying on the November 28, 1988 no action letter (Ref. No. IP-6-88) relating to variable annuity contracts offered as funding vehicles for retirement plans meeting the requirements of Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Registered Separate Account further represents that it will comply with the provisions of paragraphs (1)-(4) of that letter.
(b) | The Insurance Company undertakes to file, with respect to Index-Linked Options, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; and that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
C-14
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 New York, and State of New York on this 23rd day of April, 2025.
SEPARATE ACCOUNT NO. 49 | ||
(Registered Separate Account) | ||
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company | ||
(Insurance Company) | ||
By: |
/s/ Alfred Ayensu-Ghartey | |
Alfred Ayensu-Ghartey Vice President and Associate General Counsel |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER: | ||
*Mark Pearson | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER: | ||
*Robin Raju | Chief Financial Officer | |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER: | ||
*William Eckert | Chief Accounting Officer |
*DIRECTORS: | ||||||
Douglas A. Dachille Francis Hondal Arlene Isaacs-Lowe Daniel G. Kaye |
Joan Lamm-Tennant Craig MacKay Mark Pearson |
Bertram Scott George Stansfield Charles G.T. Stonehill |
*By: | /s/ Alfred Ayensu-Ghartey | |
Alfred Ayensu-Ghartey | ||
Attorney-in-Fact | ||
April 23, 2025 |