Equitable Combines Lifetime Income and Partial Downside Protection in New Registered Index-Linked Annuity
Structured Capital Strategies{reg} Income seeks to alleviate investor concerns about finances in retirement
November 30, 2021
Media Contacts:
(212) 314-2010
mediarelations@equitable.com
NEW YORK – November 30, 2021 – Equitable, a leading financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), today announced an innovative registered index-linked annuity that combines lifetime income options with some protection from equity market volatility.
Structured Capital Strategies Income (SCS Income) allows investors nearing and beginning retirement to take advantage of equity market growth potential while maintaining partial protection against market declines. SCS Income also provides for a predictable stream of income.
“As retirement investors grapple with the idea that the bull market could falter while healthcare and other retirement costs appear likely to rise, coupling access to market growth potential with some level of protection against volatility and a predictable, sustainable income can help individuals achieve financial well-being in retirement,” said Steve Scanlon, Head of Individual Retirement at Equitable.
SCS Income will offer investors innovative ways to create guaranteed income in retirement, including the ability to start taking income immediately from a registered index-linked annuity. Other income options new to the industry include:
- The level income option, which provides an income rate initially based on age at the time of purchase and that does not decrease, and
- The accelerated income option, which provides a higher rate of income in early retirement when individuals may have higher expenses. Income under this option is initially based on the age at which the product is purchased and only decreases if the account balance drops to zero by means other than excess withdrawal.i
Both income options offer opportunities to increase income by 5% of contributions per year each year before beginning to receive income, as long as the contract holder has not yet taken a withdrawal. This extra growth will be credited for up to 20 years, or the contract maturity date, whichever is earlier.
Investors can choose to protect against up to the first -10% or -15% of market losses during the investment period, and benefit from any gains up to a cap. Further, investors can choose to take advantage of the Dual Direction feature, which allows clients to realize potential for some upside returns even in down markets.
Research from the Alliance for Lifetime Income shows that individuals’ concerns about financing their retirement increased during the pandemic. Eighty percent of American pre-retirees are at least somewhat anxious that their savings may not provide them enough to live on in retirement.
Further, while growth strategies are important to making savers assets last throughout retirement, 77% of U.S. consumers surveyed by Equitable say that losing value in their investments will affect their ability to reach their retirement goals.ii About six in 10 consumers say it’s extremely or very important that retirement savings and investment vehicles provide downside protection.iii
About Structured Capital Strategies®
Equitable introduced Structured Capital Strategies (SCS), the first registered index-linked, or buffered, annuity in 2010. Through the Structured Capital Strategies® suite of products, clients can participate in the performance of one of several mainstream equity market indices up to a cap, with the buffer protecting against the first -10%, -15%, -20% or -30% of potential losses. Clients can choose the equity index on which the performance of their investment is based, such as the S&P 500 Price Return Index, Russell 2000® Price Return Index, iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF or NASDAQ 100 Price Return Index, the duration of the investment and the level of downside protection based on their goals and risk tolerance.
The Dual Direction feature available in some of its SCS offerings allows clients to earn a positive return even if the S&P 500 declines by crediting a return equal to the percentage of the decline up to or equal to the buffer up to or equal to the amount of the buffer (-10%, -15% or -20%). Positive market returns are credited up to the cap.
About Equitable
Equitable, a principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), has been one of America’s leading financial services providers since 1859. With the mission to help clients secure their financial well-being, Equitable provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families and small businesses. Equitable has more than 8,000 employees and Equitable Advisors financial professionals and serves 2.8 million clients across the country. Please visit equitable.com for more information. “Equitable” refers exclusively to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY). Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI and TN).
A variable annuity is a long-term financial product designed to help you save for retirement. It’s a contract between you and a life insurance company: you make an investment, and the company commits to future benefits for you, such as a guaranteed return, a source of income in retirement or a death benefit to your loved ones. Variable annuities are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal invested, and generally contain certain exclusions and limitations, so be sure to learn about the rules and potential risk before you invest. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
The Dual Direction Segment within Structured Capital Strategies Income offers growth potential up to a cap that’s set up front and tracks benchmark index performance, while offering a built-in protection against some downside loss. With regard to the partial downside protection offered within Structured Capital Strategies® Income, the contract holder is 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.
Structured Capital Strategies® Income is offered prospectus, which is available through your financial professional or the company and contains more complete information, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send any money.
Structured Capital Strategies® Income (November 2021 version) is issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY). Co-distributors: Equitable Distributors, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN).
“Equitable” refers specifically to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial). Overall, Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America, an AZ stock company with main administrative headquarters in Jersey City, NJ, and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI and TN).
i May not be available in all firms and jurisdictions
ii Source: Equitable Consumer Pulse, Q3 2020, Consumers aged 25–70, household financial decision-maker with a household income of $75K+ or investable assets of $250K+
iii Source: Equitable Income Product Study, Q4 2020, Consumers aged 55–75, household financial decision-maker with household investable assets of $500K+
