Annuities

Investment Edge® variable annuity

An innovative investment strategy that helps clients build and preserve their wealth

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Gain an edge on taxes

Income Edge extends the benefits of Investment Edge® into retirement through tax-efficient distributions. Eligible clients may receive potentially higher after-tax income in the early years of retirement while maintaining flexibility and control over their assets.

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Features and benefits

Design a flexible strategy with tax deferral, diversification and tax-efficient distributions

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Uncapped growth potential

Enjoy higher return potential and portfolio diversification with the Growth Multiplier Segment. Best of all, growth is uncapped.

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Potential for higher after-tax income

Help clients keep more of what they earn with Income Edge, a tax-efficient distribution strategy designed to provide higher after-tax income in the early years of retirement, assuming gains in the contract. 

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Maximum flexibility

Lock in gains before Segment maturity with Structured Investment Options (SIOs) and reinvest with no waiting period.

Learn more about Investment Edge® variable annuity

Visit our learning resources

Build and protect retirement savings with portfolio diversification and a level of downside protection

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Explore the power of portfolio diversification

With more than 90 funds, including packaged portfolios and Variable Investment Options (VIOs) from well-known investment firms, clients have a variety of portfolio diversification options to choose from.

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Add a level of downside protection

Four Segment options — Standard, Dual Direction, Step Up and Dual Step Up — can dial protection up or down over time.

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Enjoy a lower portfolio cost

No portfolio-level expenses for amounts invested in Segments, which can lower overall costs.

Help clients enjoy the benefits of tax deferral, diversification and tax-efficient distributions

With tax deferral, you gain more than delaying when you pay taxes — you gain control over your taxes. Unlike traditional managed money accounts where you pay taxes when securities are bought or sold, you can decide when to use your money. 

The chart below is a hypothetical illustration of the potential advantages of tax-deferred over taxable investments over time. The illustration assumes an initial investment of $100,000 with an annual return of 8% (not guaranteed) and a federal tax rate of 24%.

Tax control

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This hypothetical chart does not represent actual performance of any specific product or investment. Withdrawals of tax-deferred earnings are subject to ordinary income tax treatment. A 10% federal tax may also apply if investors take the withdrawal before reaching age 59½. In addition, an investor should consider their current and anticipated investment horizon and income tax bracket when making an investment decision, as this illustration may not reflect these factors. Investors may realize capital gains or capital losses in any year that they sell shares within a taxable account. Lower maximum tax rates on capital gains and dividends would make the investment return for the taxable investment more favorable, thereby reducing the difference in performance between the accounts shown. Equitable Financial, Equitable America and their affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Investors should consult their own tax and legal advisors regarding their particular circumstances. 

Portfolio Diversification

As you’re building your savings, diversification is a key strategy to help minimize risk and maximize potential for growth. With the right mix of investments that react differently to market conditions, you can pursue a steadier path toward your goals.

Choose between well known Index and Investment options based on your needs:

The list above may not include all investment managers

*Only available on -10% and -15% buffer options for the Standard Segment.

Flexibility

With Investment Edge®, you have the flexibility to transfer out of and between investment options, including Segments, at any time, and doing so is cost-free and tax-free.1 This can allow you to potentially lock Segment gains into a new investment.

 

You are protected against some downside risk, but if the negative return is in excess of the Segment Buffer, there could be substantial loss of principal because you agree to absorb all losses to the extent they exceed the protection provided.

1 You cannot transfer into an active Segment. Any new investment into the Structured Investment Option would be processed through the Segment Type Holding Account and transfer into a Segment at the next Segment Start Date. If you transfer out of a Segment prior to the Segment Maturity Date, you will receive the Segment Interim Value, which may be lower than your original investment in the Segment even where the index is higher at the time of withdrawal.

When you’re ready to start receiving income payments in retirement, Income Edge offers flexibility to optimize how and when you receive distributions — including the option to pay less tax in the early years of retirement when you may be more likely to need income.

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Comparison applicable only for nonqualified accounts. It should be noted that tax efficiency, where a portion of each payment is taxable as ordinary income while the remaining portion is not subject to taxes, can also be gained through contract annuitization. Please see the frequently asked questions section.

2 Pie charts are a conceptual representation, assuming no Account Value growth or volatility, and an initial Account Value that is 50% gains and 50% cost basis.

Make the most of our advanced tools and resources

How SIO works

Explore SIO scenarios and add them to a custom report.

Market History

Select market history scenarios that match your SIO design.

Learning resources

Educate your clients with client-approved marketing materials.

Create digital report

Create a personalized report by adding custom scenarios and learning resources.

Our tax calculator

Assess the potential benefits of a tax-deferred investment within this variable annuity with our calculator.

Performance cap rates

See the highest Segment Rate of Return to understand your clients’ earning potential.

View past performances

Our investment performance chart illustrates the historical results of indices representing various industry sectors.

Prospectus

Understand all the important information, including fees, risks, options and more.

Here’s how Investment Edge® variable annuity works

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When markets shift, rely on expertise.
Trust Equitable’s.

In 2025, Equitable led the industry through changing markets and evolving client needs, earning #1 in variable annuity sales for the third consecutive year.1

For more than 165 years, Equitable has helped clients navigate market cycles, earning the trust of financial professionals year after year by addressing top retirement concerns.2

1 The data provided is based exclusively on total sales figures up to the end of 2025. This ranking does not consider investment performance, product quality, or other factors. Source: Secure Retirement Institute U.S. Individual Annuities Sales Survey, 2026.
2 The 165-year history applies exclusively to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company.

We’re here to support financial professionals

Talk to us about how Investment Edge® can help you grow your business.

(888) 517-9900

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. ET
For financial professionals only. Individual investors should contact their financial professional for more information.

Need help with an Individual Retirement Annuity such as Accumulator®, Investment Edge®, Retirement Cornerstone® or Structured Capital Strategies®?

Call (800) 789-7771

Important information 

The Investment Edge® variable annuity is sold by prospectus only, which contains more complete information about the contract, including risks, charges, expenses and investment objectives. Clients should review the prospectus carefully before purchasing a policy. Please see the Tools & Resources tab above to access the current prospectus.

This general content does not constitute an offer or solicitation of any kind and is not intended, and should not be relied upon, as investment, insurance or financial advice. The Investment Edge® variable annuity is a tax-deferred financial product designed to allow the contract holder to invest for growth potential and to provide income for retirement or other long-term life goals. Amounts invested in annuity portfolios are subject to fluctuation and market risk, including loss of principal. There are fees and charges associated with a variable annuity contract, which include, but are not limited to, operations charges, sales and withdrawal charges and administrative fees. The withdrawal charge declines from 6% to 3% over 5 years for Investment Edge® Series B. Earnings are taxable as ordinary income when distributed and may be subject to an additional 10% federal tax if withdrawn before age 59½.  

Investment Edge® offers Income Edge, a feature that allows the contract holder to take income on a more tax-efficient basis. Income Edge is available for no additional fee and allows investors in nonqualified contracts to elect a customized payment program. When elected, Income Edge is designed to pay out the entire account value via scheduled payments over a set period, and a portion of each payment is a return of the contract holder’s cost basis and thus excludable from taxes. 

This tax-free amount is calculated by dividing the remaining cost basis by the number of years in the payment period selected and will not change once calculated. After Income Edge election, withdrawals are fully taxable, and withdrawals in excess of the annual 10% free withdrawal amount will continue to be subject to a withdrawal charge if they are made during the withdrawal charge period. If the contract owner dies after Income Edge is elected, scheduled payments will continue to the beneficiary, and any specified form of death benefit payout that the contract holder has selected will be invalidated. The Income Edge payment program does not represent a life-contingent annuitization of the Investment Edge® contract. With a life-contingent annuitization, the account value is applied to provide periodic payments for life, and the Investment Edge® contract and all its benefits terminate. A combination of adverse investment performance, additional withdrawals and contract fees may reduce the payout period selected. The amount of payments available through the Income Edge program is redetermined on an annual basis, meaning that the amount of the payment may vary each year of the payout period. Once the contract holder begins taking payments, they may not stop the payments. The contract holder can take additional withdrawals subject to ordinary income tax, and the contract can be fully redeemed for the then-current account value net of applicable withdrawal charges. There are additional restrictions and limitations, including age restrictions and the payout period being limited to specific periods. This content must be accompanied by a current Investment Edge® prospectus containing important information about investment objectives, risks, expenses, fees and charges. Please encourage your clients to carefully read the prospectus before investing or sending money.

In Investment Edge®, you can invest to accumulate value on a tax-deferred basis with access to Variable Investment Options and Segments composing the Structured Investment Option (SIO). The SIO permits the contract owner to invest in one or more Segments, each of which provides returns tied to the performance of a securities index for a 1- or 5-year period. The partial protection feature, called the Segment Buffer, will absorb up to the first 40% of loss depending on the level of protection selected. Please keep in mind that there is risk of substantial loss of principal because the investor agrees to absorb all losses that exceed the protection provided by the SIO at maturity. If you would like a guarantee of principal, Equitable offers other products that provide such guarantees. 

If you take a withdrawal from, or transfer out of, a Segment Maturity Date, we calculate the Segment Interim Value (SIV) for that Segment. The SIV may be less than the Segment Investment and may be less than the Segment Maturity Value would have been on the Segment Maturity Date. Any such withdrawal or transfer will reduce the Segment Investment, and the reduction may be greater than the dollar amount of the withdrawal or transfer. Annuities contain certain restrictions and limitations. For cost and complete details, contact a financial professional. 

The contract holder can take withdrawals subject to ordinary income tax, and the contract can be fully redeemed for the then-current account value net of applicable withdrawal charges. There are additional restrictions and limitations, including age restrictions and the payout period being limited to specific periods. This content must be accompanied by a current Investment Edge® prospectus containing important information about investment objectives, risks, expenses, fees and charges. Please encourage your clients to carefully read the prospectus before investing or sending money. 

Average return — a simple average of a series of returns generated over the given period. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. This data does not represent the performance of any specific investment. The Segment Rate of Return will differ from that of the performance shown above because of the Performance Cap Rate, level of downside protection, fees and expenses. Clients purchasing an annuity contract to fund an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) or employer-sponsored retirement plan should be aware that such annuities do not provide tax-deferral benefits beyond those already provided by the Internal Revenue Code. Before purchasing one of these annuities, your client should consider whether its features and benefits beyond tax deferral meet their needs and goals. Clients may also want to consider the relative features, benefits and costs of these annuities with any other investment that they may use in connection with their retirement plan or arrangement. This content is not a complete description of all material provisions of the variable annuity contract. There are certain contract limitations and restrictions associated with an Investment Edge® contract. A financial professional can call our sales desk for costs and complete details of coverage. Certain types of contracts, features and benefits may not be available in all jurisdictions. Equitable Financial offers other variable annuity contracts with different fees, charges and features. 

Not every contract is available through the same selling broker/dealer. This is not a complete description of Investment Edge®. Annuities are subject to certain restrictions and limitations. For costs and complete details, contact a financial professional. This content was prepared to support the promotion and marketing of Equitable Financial and Equitable America variable annuities. Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company, its distributors and their respective representatives do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal, state or local tax penalties. Please consult your own independent advisors as to any tax, accounting or legal statements made herein. 

When distributed outside of New York state by Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRASIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN) through Equitable Advisors Financial Professionals whose business address is not in New York state or when distributed by Equitable Distributors, LLC through financial professionals of unaffiliated broker/dealers when the solicitation state is not New York, Investment Edge® variable annuity is issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company with an administrative office located in Charlotte, NC. When offered by Equitable Advisors Financial Professionals whose business address is in New York state or when distributed by Equitable Distributors, LLC through financial professionals of unaffiliated broker/dealers when the solicitation state is New York, Investment Edge® is issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY). The obligations of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company and Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America are backed solely by their own claims-paying abilities. 

Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY); Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company with an administrative office located in Charlotte, NC; and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRASIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). 

Contract form #s: 2021BASE2-A-Z,2021BASE2-B-Z, 2021BASE1-A-Z, 2021BASE1-B-Z and any state variations. 

GE-9015011.1 (07/2026) (Exp. 07/2030)

Individual Retirement Sales Desk

(888) 517-9900

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. ET
Financial professional use only.