Back
Products
Annuities Shield Level Annuities (Index-Linked Annuity) Shield Level Pay Plus Annuities Variable Annuities with FlexChoice Access Brighthouse SecureAdvantage 6-Year Fixed Index Annuity Guaranteed Income Builder Income Annuity Fixed Rate Annuities
Life Insurance Brighthouse SmartCare (Hybrid Life and Long-Term Care Insurance) Term Life Insurance
Prospectus and Performance Reports
Fund Resources
Rates and Renewal Rates
Featured Product
Learn about Shield Level Pay Plus annuities, offering guaranteed income that lasts for life
Back
Education
All Education Retirement Planning Retirement Lifestyle Healthcare Planning for Retirement Retirement Income Solutions Estate and Legacy Planning Working With a Financial Professional
Voice of the Future
Featured Content
Delaying Retirement Could Have Health and Financial Benefits
Back
About Us
About Us Overview Our Story Senior Leadership Corporate Responsibility Investor Relations Careers Newsroom
Brighthouse Financial History Timeline
Brighthouse Financial has a storied history. View our milestones

Shield® Level Annuities

 

A Brighthouse Shield® Level Annuity is an index-linked annuity, which means it doesn’t invest directly in the markets. Instead, it offers growth opportunities by tracking the performance of a market index.



Can a Shield Level annuity be right for you?

Kristin shares why she chose a Shield annuity for her portfolio.

image


Diversify your retirement portfolio with a Shield Level annuity.
shield
Protect retirement assets

A Brighthouse Shield Level Annuity provides a level of protection to help ensure that losses are limited when markets turn volatile.

piggy bank
Participate in growth opportunities

With a Shield annuity, balance is built in. This means that even with a guaranteed level of protection, there are opportunities to take advantage of market growth.

money
Pay no annual fees

Unlike many financial products, there are no annual fees with a Shield annuity.1

How It Works

Your Shield annuity can be tailored to your needs by answering four questions:

1. What index or indices do you want to track?
Choose from three well-known market indices to track performance: S&P 500® Index (large cap), Russell 2000® Index (small cap), and the MSCI EAFE Index (international stocks).A,B,C

2. How much protection do you want?
A Shield annuity offers a built-in level of protection called the Shield Rate.2 This protects your assets from some of the losses that can derail a portfolio.

3. How much growth potential do you want?
Select the Cap Rate or Step Rate. The Cap Rate “caps” growth at a set percentage at the end of the term. The Step Rate credits a predetermined percentage of growth to your account at the end of the term – even if your selected index is flat.3

4. How long do you want to invest?
Select the term, which is how long you want to invest. At the end of each term, the index value at the beginning and end of the term will be compared – factoring in the level of protection as well as the Cap Rate or Step Rate – which will result in a new account value.

Shield Level annuities are worth exploring.

Take a look at our resources to learn how Shield annuities can help you reach your retirement goals.

Additional Information

false
Shield Annuity Rates
Get the current rates for all Shield annuity products here. Our rates generally update on the 1st and the 15th of each month.
Go to Rates
Performance Lock Brochure
Our Performance Lock feature, which is available on Shield Options with a Cap Rate, allows you to lock positive index performance once during your term.4
Read the Brochure

Take the Next Step

Talk to your financial professional about whether a Shield Level annuity is right for you, or to learn more about purchasing this product.

Here are some questions to help you start the conversation:

  • 1. Does a Shield annuity fit my needs?
  • 2. What if I need to use the money for something else before my term is over?
  • 3. What percentage of my retirement assets should I invest in a Shield annuity?
  • 4. How have the indices a Shield annuity tracks performed in the past?
  • 5. Can I split my investment between more than one index?

Use the 360° Market Guide to better understand the market’s potential impact.

View Guide

exclamation

This Brighthouse Financial product can only be purchased through a licensed financial professional.

Don’t have a financial professional? Learn more about working with a financial professional.

Brighthouse logo

Brighthouse Financial® is on a mission to help people achieve financial security.

Trusted by over 2 million customers and with 2 million annuity contracts and life insurance policies in force, Brighthouse Financial® is proud to be a FORTUNE® 500 company and one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S.5

See Our Story

1 Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax. Withdrawals made before age 59½ may also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Distributions of taxable amounts from a non-qualified annuity may also be subject to the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax that is generally imposed on interest, dividends, and annuity income if the modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. Withdrawals will reduce the death benefit and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges.

2 You could see a substantial loss if the index declines more than your level of protection. Not all Shield annuity products offer the same Shield Options.

3 Please visit brighthousefinancial.com for current rates, which generally update every two weeks.

4 Once the Performance Lock takes effect, a Performance Lock Factor applies in the calculation of Interim Value prior to the end of the term and the calculation of the investment amount at the end of the term. The Performance Lock Factor will result in a reduction of the Interim Value, and the client may receive less than they would have received had the Performance Lock not been in effect. The index value of the selected index may increase above the Locked Index Value; however, this higher index value will not be utilized in the calculation of your investment amount at the end of the term. Performance Lock is not available on Shield Options with a Step Rate. Performance Lock is only available for contracts issued by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, based on applications received on or after 08/02/2021. This feature is not available in New York.

5 Data as of June 30, 2020. From FORTUNE© 2021 Fortune Media IP Limited. FORTUNE and FORTUNE 500 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. FORTUNE and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Brighthouse Financial. Ranked by 2020 admitted assets. Best’s Review®: Top 200 U.S. Life/Health Insurers. A.M. Best, 2021.

A The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by Brighthouse Financial. Standard & Poor’s®, S&P®, and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Brighthouse Financial. Brighthouse Financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates; and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s), nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500 Index.

B The Russell 2000® Index is a trademark of Russell Investments and has been licensed for use by affiliates of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. This annuity product is not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Russell Investments, and Russell Investments makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this annuity product.

C These annuity products are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such products or securities, or any index on which such products or securities are based. The annuity product prospectuses contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with affiliates of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.

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 professionals as appropriate.

All guarantees, including any optional benefits, are subject to the claims-paying ability and financial strength of Brighthouse Financial. Each issuing insurance company is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.

Shield® Level annuities are index-linked annuities issued by, and product guarantees are solely the responsibility of, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Charlotte, NC 28277, on Policy Form L-22494 (09/12)-AV and, for products issued in New York, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, New York, NY 10017, on Policy Form ML-22494 (12/21) (“Brighthouse Financial”). These products are distributed by Brighthouse Securities, LLC (member FINRA). All are Brighthouse Financial affiliated companies. The contract prospectus and contract contain information about the contract’s features, risks, charges, expenses, exclusions, limitations, termination provisions, and terms for keeping the contract in force. Prospectuses and complete details about the contract are available from a financial professional and should be read carefully. Product availability and features may vary by state or firm.