Protected Growth Strategies SM

Transcription

1 Protected Growth Strategies SM CLIENT GUIDE I can seek more consistent returns over time. ISSUED BY METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY USA, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND IN NEW YORK, ISSUED BY FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY

2 INVEST FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE If you re like most investors, you invest to grow your assets for the long term for your retirement. While the market will go up and down, you may not want your retirement savings to go right along with it. A more disciplined approach to investing may deliver more consistent returns over the long term, offering a smoother ride to help you withstand market downturns. Why a more disciplined approach? Investing has an upside and the potential for meaningful gains on the upward swings but it also has a downside, both of which are difficult to predict. It s the downside, the risk of significant dips, that can have a greater negative impact to long-term growth. Losses act like reverse compound interest on a portfolio. A big loss requires an even bigger gain just to break even. A diversified portfolio and a disciplined investment approach can help defend your portfolio from such extreme volatility, and help make it easier to recover from potential losses. Help Put Yourself In a Position to Recover Hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only. This example does not include any product, rider, or investment charges and does not represent the returns of any particular investment product. Portfolios that have the potential to soften the inherent downside of investing help create more consistent returns for the long term. That may mean giving up some short-term gains when markets peak, but may result in a more favorable outcome over time. 1

3 More Consistent Returns Over Time Investing for Growth, Managing for Risk The Protected Growth Strategy portfolios were specially designed to seek more consistent returns over time by identifying opportunities for growth across global asset classes and responsively managing risk. Each portfolio provides diverse exposure to global markets across broad asset classes, including equities, fixed income, and opportunistic assets 1. The portfolios are strategically positioned for growth over the long term and seek to provide protection against extreme market swings 2. By taking a moderate approach over time, each portfolio seeks performance similar to a traditional portfolio with 60% equity and 40% fixed income. Although you may not capture all the gains in an up market, the strategies are designed to help mitigate losses in a down market, hence creating more consistent returns over the long term. The Protected Growth Strategy Advantages Professionally Managed Take a comprehensive approach to the market with teams of diverse specialists Add the expertise of leading investment management firms to your portfolio Risk Managed Managers continuously monitor key indicators of market risk and volatility 3 Emphasize growth when markets are stable Emphasize protection when markets are more risky Responsively Managed Use a disciplined approach to help keep risk within defined parameters Seek opportunities for growth across markets and asset classes 1 Includes emerging market equities and debt, high yield bonds, real estate, TIPS, and commodities. Investing in alternative asset classes involves special risk and may not be suitable for all investors. 2 Neither asset allocation nor diversification can ensure a profit or protect against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. 3 Volatility A measure of how much an investment s price changes over a specific period of time. Technically speaking, it s defined as an investment s standard deviation over time. Volatility is often used as a measure of risk; so the higher the volatility, the higher the risk and vice versa. 2

4 Focus On Strategy Managed Volatility The MetLife Protected Growth Strategy managed volatility portfolios are similar in structure to a traditional moderate portfolio with approximately 60% equity and 40% fixed income. The portfolios position for growth but in market conditions with heightened risk, the portfolios responsively manage exposure to the risk. In essence, as markets become more risky than normal, managed volatility strategies may reduce exposure to risky assets in an attempt to mitigate potential losses. Balanced Risk The MetLife Protected Growth Strategy balanced risk portfolios are designed to provide more consistent performance across various market conditions and economic cycles. Balanced risk strategies focus on the amount of risk each specific asset class contributes to the overall portfolio rather than the dollar allocation to each asset class. The objective is not to balance asset class exposure, rather balance the risk of each individual asset class throughout the portfolio, respectively. Momentum The MetLife Protected Growth Strategy momentum portfolios are similar in structure to a traditional moderate portfolio with approximately 60% equity and 40% fixed income. To manage risk, momentum strategies identify persistent trends in market movements to manage risk. By identifying these trends and the signals for trend reversals, momentum portfolios may adjust their asset allocations, shifting the exposure to asset classes to respond to the trends, helping to position the portfolio for growth and minimize loss. 3

5 The Protected Growth Strategy portfolios are designed to provide more consistent returns over time. They seek to provide performance comparable to the Dow Jones Moderate Index, their prospectus benchmark, while attempting to minimize exposure to risk. There are different methods of risk management investors may consider, each offering a distinct strategy for long-term growth and perspective on risk: managed volatility, balanced risk, and momentum. Asset Risk High Risk Asset Exposure STABLE NORMAL Low Exposure Traditional Moderate Asset Allocation Portfolio Traditional Moderate Asset Allocation Risk Composition Balanced Risk Portfolio Risk Composition 60% Equity 40% Fixed Income 90% of the risk is derived from the 60% equity exposure 10% Fixed Income Interest Rate Risk Equity Risk Inflation Risk Nominal Interest Rate Risk The objective of a balanced risk strategy is not to balance asset class exposure, rather balance the risk of each individual asset class throughout the portfolio, respectively. The amount of risk from each asset class is what influences the dollar allocations in the portfolio. Fits We d Sell Criteria Poor Value; Poor Momentum S B = Buy S = Sell Overpriced (bad) S B B Fits We d Buy Criteria Good Value; Good Momentum Underpriced (good) 4

6 Designed For Today s Investor Each of the Protected Growth Strategy portfolios was specifically and purposefully designed with a flexible approach that helps to manage risk while seeking opportunities for growth across global asset classes. While all have similar long-term objectives, each of the portfolios offers a different investment style and approach to risk management. With a variety of strategies from world-class asset managers to choose from, you ll be able to diversify your investment across the Protected Growth Strategy portfolios. Managed Volatility Balanced Risk Momentum AB Global Dynamic AQR F, H, Z Allocation Portfolio Global Risk Balanced Portfolio D,F,Z Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio D,F,Z BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio F,Z,FF Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio D,F,Z JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio F,H,Z MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio Z,FF PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio D,F,Z MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio FF,Z Pyramis Managed Standard logo size: The logo should be used no smaller than 1½ inches in width. Risk Portfolio F,Z,FF Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio F,Z 5

7 AVAILABLE THROUGH METLIFE VARIABLE ANNUITIES Variable annuities are long-term investments. Although they may be an appropriate choice for some people as part of an overall retirement portfolio, they are not suitable for everyone 1.You should speak to your financial professional to discuss whether a variable annuity is right for you. Like most investments, variable annuity contracts will fluctuate in value and may be impacted by market declines, even when an optional protection benefit is elected. Please read the prospectus for complete details before investing. If you elect the FlexChoice rider, the MetLife Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Max SM V (GMIB Max V), or both the GMIB Max V and the MetLife Enhanced Death Benefit Max SM V (EDB Max V) optional riders 2, each for an additional annual charge, you must invest in one or more of the Protected Growth Strategy portfolios and/or the Pyramis Government Income Portfolio or the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio. You can allocate your purchase payments any way you like among these investment options 3. If you do not elect an optional rider with your variable annuity, there are additional investment options available to you. You may allocate your purchase payments any way you d like among the available investment options including the Protected Growth Strategy portfolios. 1 If you are buying a variable annuity to fund a qualified retirement plan or IRA, you should do so for the variable annuity features and benefits other than tax deferral. In such cases, tax deferral is not an additional benefit of the variable annuity. References throughout this material to tax advantages, such as tax-deferral and tax-free transfers, are subject to this consideration. 2 The Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Max and Enhanced Death Benefit Max are referred to as GMIB Max V and EDB Max V in the prospectus. May not be available in all states or through all firms. Please speak to your financial professional and refer to the product prospectus for details on the terms of the benefits. 3 You should carefully consider whether an investment option meets your investment objectives and risk tolerance. 6

8 D This Portfolio invests in a limited number of issuers. Poor performance of a single issuer will generally have a more adverse impact on the return of the portfolio than on a portfolio that invests across a greater number of issuers. F Invests in securities of foreign companies and governments, which involves risks not typically associated with U.S. investments, including changes in currency exchange rates; economic, political and social conditions in foreign countries; and governmental regulations and accounting standards different from those in the U.S. FF This Portfolio is a fund-of-funds portfolio. Because of this two-tier structure, the Portfolio bears its own investment management fee and expenses, which includes the cost of the asset allocation services it provides, as well as its pro rata share of the management fee and expenses of each underlying portfolio. Without these asset allocation services, the contract owner s expenses would be lower. H Invests in high yield or junk bonds, which are issued by companies that pose a greater risk of not paying the interest, dividends or principal their bonds have promised to pay. Such bonds are especially subject to adverse changes in interest rates or other general market conditions, or to downturns in the issuers companies or industries. Z May invest in derivatives to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or protect the Portfolio s assets from unfavorable shifts in the value or rate of underlying investments. Because of their complex nature, some derivatives may not perform as intended, can significantly increase the Portfolio s exposure to the existing risks of the underlying investments and may be illiquid and difficult to value. As a result, the Portfolio may not realize the anticipated benefits from a derivative it holds or it may realize losses. Derivative transactions may create investment leverage, which may increase the volatility and may require liquidation of securities when it may not be advantageous to do so. Certain broker/dealers do not make the Protected Growth Strategy portfolios available when you apply for a MetLife variable annuity contract. If you would like to invest in a Protected Growth Strategy portfolio, you may do so after the variable annuity contract has been issued. See prospectus for details. Pyramis is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Used under license. Investment Performance Is Not Guaranteed. Variable annuity products are offered by prospectus only. Prospectuses for variable products issued by a MetLife insurance company, and for the investment portfolios offered thereunder, are available from your financial professional. The contract prospectus contains information about the contract s features, risks, charges and expenses. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. The investment objectives, risks and policies of the investment options, as well as other information about the investment options, are described in their respective prospectuses. Please read the prospectuses and consider this information carefully before investing. Product availability and features may vary by state. Please refer to the contract prospectus for more complete details regarding the living and death benefits. Variable annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. MetLife variable life insurance and annuity products have limitations, exclusions, charges, and termination provisions and terms for keeping them in force. There is no guarantee that any of the variable investment options in this product will meet their stated goals or objectives. The account or cash value is subject to market fluctuations and investment risk so that, when withdrawn, it may be worth more or less than its original value. All contract and rider guarantees, including optional benefits and any fixed account crediting rates or annuity payout rates, are backed by the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company. They are not backed by the broker/dealer from which this annuity is purchased, by the insurance agency from which this annuity is purchased or any affiliates of those entities, and none makes any representations or guarantees regarding the claimspaying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company. Similarly, the issuing insurance company and the underwriter do not back the financial strength of the broker/dealer or its affiliates. Please contact your financial professional for complete details. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and if made before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty. Some broker/dealers and financial professionals may refer to the 10% Federal income tax penalty as an additional tax or additional income tax, or use the terms interchangeably when discussing withdrawals taken prior to age 59½. Distributions of taxable amounts from a non-qualified annuity may also be subject to the 3.8% Unearned Income Medicare Contribution tax that is generally imposed on interest, dividends, and annuity income if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. Withdrawals will reduce the living and death benefits and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges. Any discussion of taxes is for general informational purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate. Variable annuities, other than Preference Premier, are issued by MetLife Insurance Company USA on Policy Form 8010 (11/00) and in New York, only by First MetLife Investors Insurance Company on Policy Form 6010 (02/02). The Preference Premier variable annuity is issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company on Policy Form PPS (07/01). (Collectively and singularly MetLife.) All variable products are distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA). All are MetLife companies. Not A Deposit Not FDIC-Insured Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency Not Guaranteed By Any Bank Or Credit Union May Go Down In Value MetLife Insurance Company USA North Community House Road Charlotte, NC Metropolitan Life Insurance Company First MetLife Investors Insurance Company 200 Park Avenue New York, NY CLVA L [0416] 2015 METLIFE, INC.