ANNUITIES VARIABLE you can take RMDs while growing and protecting your benefit MetLife s optional riders provide you with the RMD flexibility you need GMIB Plus and Enhanced Death Benefit
What is a variable annuity? In simplest terms, a variable annuity is a long-term contract between you and an insurance company in which the insurance company makes periodic lifetime payments to you. A variable annuity contains investment options that have the potential to grow and insurance features that offer protection, such as living and death benefits. Variable annuities: Are one of the only investments you can buy that offer income for life, no matter how long you live. Offer a wide variety of investment options to help you diversify and grow your purchase payments on a tax-deferred basis. 1 This may help you keep pace with inflation. Provide the ability to reduce downside risk by offering a variety of optional living and death benefit riders that can help grow and protect immediate or future income and help provide for your loved ones, regardless of market conditions. Give you the flexibility to withdraw portions of your account value if you choose. You can use the money as an ongoing source of extra income or withdraw it periodically, as unexpected financial needs arise. Although a variable annuity may be an appropriate choice for some people as part of an overall retirement portfolio, it is not suitable for everyone. You should speak with your financial professional to see if a variable annuity is right for you. Please read the prospectus for complete details before investing. To provide the investment and insurance-related features, variable annuities contain certain fees, including contract fees, a mortality and expense and administration charge (or separate account charge), and variable investment option charges and expenses. Optional living and death benefit riders carry additional charges. Like most investments, variable annuity contracts will fluctuate in value and are subject to loss due to market declines, even when an optional protection benefit rider is elected. Withdrawal charges may apply if you withdraw principal too soon. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and a 10% Federal income tax penalty may apply if made prior to age 59½. Withdrawals will reduce the living and death benefits and account value. Please see the prospectus for complete details. Guarantees apply to certain insurance and annuity products, including optional benefits, (not securities, variable or investment advisory products) and are subject to product terms, exclusions and limitations and the insurer s claims paying ability and financial strength. 1 If you are buying a variable annuity to fund a qualified retirement plan or IRA, you should do so for the variable annuity s 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.
What are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)? The Federal tax law generally requires that you begin withdrawing funds from your IRA or qualified employer retirement plan when you attain age 70½. However, for certain qualified employer retirement plans, it is the later of when you attain age 70½ or retire from employment with the plan sponsor, provided you are not a 5% owner of the plan sponsor. In general, your RMD amount is calculated based on a variety of factors, including your account value on December 31 st of the previous year, the present value of certain income and/or death benefits provided under your annuity contract, and your IRS life expectancy. The amount you need to take generally changes every year. How do MetLife s optional riders provide flexibility when it comes to your RMDs? When you purchase a MetLife variable annuity with qualified monies and elect the optional Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit Plus (GMIB Plus) living benefit rider and/or the optional Enhanced Death Benefit (EDB) 2 rider, you can take RMDs while maintaining and potentially growing your income and/or death benefit. The GMIB Plus income base and EDB benefit base work the same way. The income/benefit base 3 will grow and compound each year. Also, you can take withdrawals within specified terms, including your RMDs, without reducing your income/benefit base. Let s take a closer look at these features: Grow Your Income/Benefit Base On each contract anniversary, we increase your income/benefit base by the greater of 5% or your RMD as a percentage of the income/benefit base (not as a percentage of the account value). Take Withdrawals Each year, you are able to withdraw up to the greater of 5% of your income/benefit base or your RMD without adversely affecting your benefit. If you plan on taking RMDs from your variable annuity, we recommend that you enroll in MetLife s Automated RMD program, although it is not required. All withdrawal frequencies (annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly) are available under the program. The RMD amount referenced only pertains to qualified contracts and to RMDs associated with this contract. The RMD amount is the greater of this year s or last year s RMD. See prospectus for details. 2 The GMIB Plus and EDB are referred to as GMIB Plus III and Enhanced Death Benefit II in the prospectus. 3 The income/benefit base refers to the 5% Compounding income/benefit base throughout this brochure. There is another income/benefit base, called the Highest Anniversary Value (HAV), which is not discussed here. For the GMIB Plus, the HAV income base doesn t reset the 10 year waiting period and the annual charge will remain the same. For the EDB, the annual charge will remain the same for the HAV benefit base. See prospectus for details.
Let s take a look at a few examples: Your RMD is less than 5% GMIB Plus Example Your RMD for the year, as calculated by MetLife $3,500 Your income base at the beginning of the year 100,000 Your RMD as a percentage of your income base 3.5% ($3,500/100,000) 5% of your income base 5,000 Compounding Your Income Base Since your RMD amount (3.5% of your income base) is less than the 5% GMIB Plus compounding amount, your income base will compound at the greater of the two (5%). Your income base will be 105,000. Withdrawing Your RMD Because your RMD amount is 3.5% of your income base, you have the option of taking your RMD or up to 5% of your income base. You choose to take only your RMD, so you will receive $3,500 under the MetLife Automated RMD program. After your withdrawal, your new income base equals 101,500 (105,000 - $3,500). You are able to satisfy your RMD requirements while compounding your future income base by 1.5%. 5,000 100,000 Initial Income Base 100,000 income base compounds at greater of 5% or your RMD (3.5%) 100,000 x 5% 5,000 100,000 + 5,000 105,000 100,000 You withdraw your RMD ($3,500) 105,000 - $3,500 101,500 New Income Base 101,500 Hypothetical Example. For Illustrative Purposes Only. What is my income base? Your income base is a number used to calculate your future lifetime income payments when you elect the optional GMIB Plus rider. Your income base is not an account value so it will not fluctuate with market conditions. It does not guarantee a cash or account value, cannot be taken as a lump sum, and does not guarantee a minimum return for any investment portfolio. Your income base does, however, grow and compound by at least 5% each year through the contract anniversary prior to the oldest contract owner s 91 st birthday. If your RMD is more than the 5% compounding amount, it will increase by the larger RMD amount as a percentage of the income base each year. If you take annual withdrawals of up to the greater of 5% of the income base or your allowable RMD amount, your income base will decrease by the amount of your withdrawal, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. If you withdraw more than your allowable amount, your income base will decrease proportionately and will only compound at 5%.
Your RMD is more than 5% EDB Example Your RMD for the year, as calculated by MetLife $6,000 Your benefit base at the beginning of the year $100,000 Your RMD as a percentage of your benefit base 6% ($6,000/$100,000) 5% of your benefit base $5,000 Compounding Your Benefit Base Since your RMD amount (6% of your benefit base) is greater than the 5% EDB compounding amount, your benefit base will compound at the greater of the two (6%). Your benefit base will be $106,000. Withdrawing Your RMD Because you are enrolled in the MetLife Automated RMD program, you ll receive $6,000 for the year to satisfy your RMD. After your withdrawal, your benefit base will remain steady at $100,000 ($106,000 $6,000 $100,000). You are able to take your RMD while maintaining the benefit base. $6,000 $100,000 Initial Benefit Base $100,000 benefit base compounds at greater of 5% or your RMD (6%) $100,000 x 6% $6,000 $100,000 + $6,000 $106,000 $100,000 You withdraw your RMD ($6,000) $106,000 - $6,000 $100,000 New Benefit Base $100,000 Hypothetical Example. For Illustrative Purposes Only. What is my benefit base? Your benefit base is the number used to calculate your future death benefit when you elect the Enhanced Death Benefit rider. It is calculated just like the income base. It is only available as a lump sum withdrawal upon death and does not guarantee a cash or account value or a minimum return for any investment portfolio. Your benefit base compounds by at least 5% each year through the contract anniversary prior to the oldest contract owner s 91 st birthday and allows for dollar-fordollar withdrawals of up to the greater of 5% of the benefit base or your RMD.
You take RMDs from another source EDB & GMIB Plus Example Your RMD for the year, as calculated by MetLife $5,500 Your income/benefit base at the beginning of the year 100,000 Your RMD as a percentage of your income/benefit base 5.5% ($5,500/100,000) 5% of your income/benefit base 5,000 Compounding Your Income/Benefit Base Since your RMD amount (5.5% of your income/benefit base) is greater than the 5% compounding amount, your income/ benefit base will compound at the greater of the two (5.5%). Your new income/benefit base will be 105,500. Withdrawing Your RMD Because you are satisfying your RMDs by taking withdrawals from other accounts subject to RMDs (where permitted under Federal tax law), you do not need to take a withdrawal from your contract this year to satisfy RMDs. Your income/ benefit base for the year will remain at 105,500 (100,000 + 5,500). Your income/benefit base can grow by more than 5% if you take your RMDs from another allowable source. 5,500 100,000 Initial Income/ Benefit Base 100,000 income/benefit base compounds at greater of 5% or your RMD (5.5%) 100,000 x 5.5% 5,500 100,000 + 5,500 105,500 100,000 Because you are satisfying your RMDs elsewhere, you do not take a withdrawal. New Income/ Benefit Base 105,500 Hypothetical Example. For Illustrative Purposes Only.
About the GMIB Plus The GMIB Plus can provide you with a guaranteed minimum amount of fixed lifetime income payments. Prior to beginning these lifetime payments, you have the opportunity to take immediate withdrawals, while preserving your lifetime income guarantee. Under the GMIB Plus, we calculate an income base that determines your lifetime income payments and withdrawals. Your income base compounds annually through the contract anniversary prior to the oldest contract owners 91 st birthday at the greater of 5% or your RMD as a percentage of the income base. Each year, you can withdraw up to the greater of 5% of the income base or your RMD, which reduces the income base dollar-for-dollar by the withdrawal amount; pro rata adjustment if withdrawals exceed this limit and the income base will only compound at 5%. You may start taking fixed lifetime payments under the GMIB Plus on (or within 30 days following) the 10 th or a later contract anniversary or 10 years after the most recent step-up, but no later than the contract anniversary prior to the oldest contract owner s 91 st birthday. Optional benefit must be elected at contract issue and may be cancelled under the Guaranteed Principal Option (GPO), if available. Contract owner must be age 78 or younger at time of purchase. Certain broker/dealers may have issue age restrictions. You must invest among certain investment options. See the Investment Allocation Restrictions for Certain Riders (or Benefits) section of the prospectus. Available for an additional annual charge of 1.00% of the higher of the two income bases, deducted from the account value and assessed on the contract anniversary date. Upon a step-up, fee may increase, up to a maximum of 1.50%. About the Enhanced Death Benefit The Enhanced Death Benefit can provide you with a guaranteed minimum death benefit. It also allows for certain withdrawals while maintaining the death benefit. Under the Enhanced Death Benefit, we calculate a benefit base that determines your death benefit and withdrawals. Your benefit base compounds annually through the contract anniversary prior to the oldest contract owner s 91 st birthday at the greater of 5% or your RMD as a percentage of the benefit base. May only be elected alone, with the Earnings Preservation Benefit (if available) and/or with the GMIB Plus rider. Each year, you can withdraw up to the greater of 5% of the benefit base or your RMD, which reduces the benefit base dollar-for-dollar by the withdrawal amount; pro rata adjustment if withdrawals exceed this limit and the benefit base will only compound at 5%. Optional benefit must be elected at contract issue and is irrevocable once elected. Contract owner must be age 75 or younger at time of purchase. You must invest among certain investment options. See the Investment Allocation Restrictions for Certain Riders (or Benefits) section of the prospectus. Available for an additional annual charge of 0.60% (issue ages 0-69) or 1.15% (issue ages 70-75) of the higher of the two benefit bases, deducted from the account value and assessed on the contract anniversary date. Upon a step-up, fee may increase, up to a maximum of 1.50%.
Want to know more about how MetLife can help you manage your retirement income? Contact your financial professional for more information on MetLife, our variable annuities and how we can help you manage your RMDs and other retirement income with our flexible optional benefits. Investment Performance Is Not Guaranteed. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for variable annuities issued by MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Prospectuses for the investment portfolios 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, contract features, 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 annuities have limitations, exclusions, charges, 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 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 a MetLife 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 claims-paying ability and financial strength of a MetLife insurance company. Similarly, MetLife insurance companies and the underwriter do not back the claims-paying ability and 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. Withdrawals will reduce the living and death benefits and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges. Pursuant to IRS Circular 230, MetLife is providing you with the following notification: The information contained in this document is not intended to (and cannot) be used by anyone to avoid IRS penalties. This document supports the promotion and marketing of insurance products. You should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. MetLife, its agents, and representatives may not give legal or tax advice. Any discussion of taxes herein or related to this document is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be complete or cover every situation. Tax law is subject to interpretation and legislative change. Tax results and the appropriateness of any product for any specific taxpayer may vary depending on the facts and circumstances. You should consult with and rely on your own independent legal and tax advisers regarding your particular set of facts and circumstances. Variable annuities, other than Preference Premier SM, are issued by MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company on Policy Form Series 8010 (11/00); 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA 92614. The Preference Premier variable annuity is issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company on Policy Form Series PPS (07/01); 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 and is offered through MetLife Securities, Inc. and New England Securities Corporation; both at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. All products are distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company; 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900, Irvine, CA 92614. All are MetLife companies. July 2010 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 COPYRIGHT 2010, METLIFE, INC. 2010 Peanuts Worldwide LLC CLVA6772 L0610113267[0811] 10-2562A