Variable annuities can help provide income, growth potential and confidence in retirement

Planning for retirement can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many people have dreams of how they’d like to spend their golden years, but are also concerned that their savings will not provide the retirement income necessary to cover the retirement lifestyle they've imagined.

Consider these benefits:

Guaranteed retirement income icon
Guaranteed retirement income stream
Enjoy retirement income you can count on for the lifestyle you envision - for as long as you live.
Growth potential icon
Growth potential with a level of protection
Safeguard and grow your assets with a level of protection and a broad range of investments.
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Tailored investment choices with tax-deferred growth
Take advantage of flexible investment options and tax-deferred growth during your wealth-building years.
Protect your loved ones icon
Protect your loved ones
Leave a legacy to take care of your loved ones or causes you care about.

Find a strategy to fit your retirement needs

We understand that everyone's needs are different, which is why we offer a variety of strategies suited to meet your specific goals. Whether your primary concern is protection from market volatility, guaranteed retirement income, or leaving a legacy to your loved ones, we offer variable annuities that can help you achieve what matters most in retirement.

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Structured Capital Strategies PLUS®

Benefit from a level of downside protection, upside market potential and zero explicit fees.*

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Structured Capital Strategies® Income

Enjoy guaranteed lifetime income with a level of investment protection and upside potential for a low fee.

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Retirement Cornerstone®

Grow and protect your lifetime retirement income with flexible options and the potential to leave a legacy.

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Investment Edge®

Create an investment portfolio with greater diversification, partial market protection and tax-deferred growth.

*Expenses related to administration, sales and certain risks in the contract are factored into the Performance Cap Rate. As long as your money is invested in the Structured Investment Option to take advantage of the buffer against some loss and potential for growth up to the cap, you will not be charged additional fees. If you choose the optional Return of Premium Death Benefit, fees and charges will apply.

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Trust the experience of a leading provider in retirement strategies

Equitable’s variable annuities are designed with your retirement planning needs in mind. That’s why we were the #1 overall variable annuity provider.1

  • Innovations that work: We are a leader in innovation and designing strategies that anticipate where the world is going and what you may need to meet its challenges. 
  • Industry pioneers: We were first to offer a Registered Index-Linked Annuity (RILA) designed for a level of protection from market downturns and potential growth. We are the #1 company in RILA sales for 13 years.1
  • Financial strength and stability: You want the confidence that the insurance company you choose has the financial strength to fulfill its obligations to you now and in the future. We consistently earn top marks from independent financial ratings agencies.
1 This information is based solely on and up to year-end 2023 total sales. Top-selling RILA as of year-end for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. This information is based solely on and up to year-end total sales. This ranking does not reflect or account for investment performance, product quality or other criteria. Source: Secure Retirement Institute U.S. Individual Annuities Sales Survey, 2024.

Annuity resources

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Navigate market conditions. Five questions to ask during market volatility.
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Create an income bridge for early retirement.
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Preserve your savings with prudent withdrawals.
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Safeguard your nest egg for living longer.

Annuity FAQs

  • What's an annuity?
    Variable deferred annuities are long-term financial products designed for retirement purposes. In essence, annuities are contractual agreements in which payment(s) are made to an insurance company, which agrees to pay out an income or a lump-sum amount at a later date. There are contract limitations and fees and charges associated with annuities, which include, but are not limited to, mortality and expense risk charges, sales and surrender charges, administrative fees and charges for optional benefits. A financial professional can provide cost information and complete details.
  • Is an annuity right for me?

    When considering an annuity, it’s important to look at your entire financial situation, including retirement savings, debt, investment goals and time horizon. Consider how an annuity can help meet your income needs. Consult a financial professional to learn more.

    Please consider the investment objectives, charges, risks and expenses carefully before purchasing a variable annuity. For a prospectus containing this and other information, please contact a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. 

Interested in learning more?

Speak to your financial professional to determine how variable annuities can help with your financial goals.

Prepare for a conversation with your financial professional

  1. What role can a variable annuity play within my personal financial plan?
  2. What type of annuity can help me reach my specific goals?

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Important note 

Equitable believes education is a key step toward addressing your financial goals, and we've designed this material to serve simply as an informational and educational resource.  Accordingly, the information on this website does not offer or constitute investment advice and makes no direct or indirect recommendation of any particular product or of the appropriateness of any particular investment-related option. Your needs, goals and circumstances are unique, and they require the individualized attention of your financial professional.

Variable annuities are long-term financial products designed for retirement purposes. Variable annuities are subject to market risk, including the possible loss of principal invested, and they have mortality and expense charges, account fees, investment management fees, administrative fees, charges for special contract features, and restrictions and limitations. Earnings are taxable as ordinary income when distributed and may be subject to a 10% additional tax if withdrawn before age 59½. Optional benefits are available for an extra charge in addition to the ongoing fees and expenses of the variable annuity.  

Withdrawals from annuities are subject to normal income tax treatment and, if taken prior to age 59½, may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty. Withdrawals may also be subject to a contractual withdrawal charge.

Annuities contain certain limitations and restrictions. For costs and complete details contact a financial professional.

If you are purchasing an annuity contract as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA), you 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, you should consider whether its features and benefits beyond tax deferral meet your needs and goals. You may also want to consider the relative features, benefits and costs of these annuities with any other investment that you may use in connection with your retirement plan or arrangement.

Please consider the charges, risk, expenses and investment objectives carefully before purchasing a variable annuity. For a prospectus containing this and other information, please click on the name of the variable annuity above or contact a financial professional. Read it carefully before investing or sending money.

Contract form #s: Retirement Cornerstone® 19: ICC12BASE3, ICC12BASE4 and any state variations.

Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® : Idaho contract form #s: 2021SCSBASE-A(ID) and 2021SCSBASE-A(ID)-Z. All other states contract form #s: 2021SCSBASE-A, 2021SCSBASE-B, 2021SCSBASE-A-Z, 2021SCSBASE-B-Z and any state variations.

Structured Capital Strategies® Income: Idaho contract form #s: 2021SCSBASE-A(ID) and 2021SCSBASE-A(ID)-Z. All other states contract form #s: 2021SCSBASE-A, 2021SCSBASE-B, 2021SCSBASE-A-Z, 2021SCSBASE-B-Z and any state variations.

Investment Edge® 21: Idaho contract form #s: 2021BASE2-B(ID)-Z. All other states contract form #s: 2021BASE2-A-Z,2021BASE2-B-Z and any state variations.

Retirement Cornerstone® Series B contracts have a declining 7 year withdrawal charge schedule (7%, 7%, 6%, 6%, 5%, 3%, 1%). Structured Capital Strategies PLUS® contracts have a declining six-year withdrawal charge schedule (7%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%). Investment Edge® Series B contracts have a declining 5 year withdrawal charge schedule (6%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%). Structured Capital Strategies® Income Series B contracts have a declining 6 year withdrawal charge schedule (7%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%).

Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing life insurance company.

Variable annuity products are issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY) and Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America) an AZ stock company with an administrative office located in Charlotte, NC and co-distributed by affiliates Equitable Distributors, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). Equitable Financial, Equitable America, Equitable Distributors and Equitable Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice.

The content of this website does not constitute an offer of investments, insurance, or financial advice and makes no direct or indirect recommendation with respect to the appropriateness of any particular product, investment, investment-related option, or financial service.  Unless otherwise noted, references to “Equitable” within discussions of proprietary insurance and annuity products apply specifically and exclusively to issuers Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY) and/or Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company with an administrative office located in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial, Equitable America, and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). Equitable Financial, Equitable America, Equitable Distributors, and Equitable Advisors are affiliated companies and do not provide tax or legal advice or services. 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. Equal Opportunity Employers (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). M/F/D/V.

GE-6964570.1 (09/2024) (Exp. 09/2026)