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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 one or more market indices.1



Could a Shield Level annuity be right for you?

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

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

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

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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.

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Pay no annual fees

Unlike many financial products, there are no annual fees with a Shield annuity.2

How It Works

Your Shield annuity3 can be tailored to your needs by answering four questions:

1. What index or indices do you want to track?
You can track the performance of well-known indices: S&P 500® Index (large cap), Russell 2000® Index (small cap), MSCI EAFE Index (international stocks) and Nasdaq-100® (large cap). A,B,C,D

2. How much protection do you want?
A Shield annuity offers a built-in level of protection called the Shield Rate.4 This protects your assets from some of the losses that can derail a portfolio.

3. How much growth potential do you want?
Three rate crediting types are available: Cap Rate, Step Rate, and Step Rate Edge. A Fixed Account is also available. If elected, a Fixed Account pays a fixed rate of interest rather than linking to an index. Your financial professional can help you determine which strategy might work best for you.5

4. How long do you want to invest?
Select the term, which is how long you want to invest. Shield offers 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-year terms. At the end of each term, you can adjust or maintain your Shield Options to meet changing needs.

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

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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.6
Read the Brochure

Take the Next Step

Talk to your financial professional to find out if a Brighthouse Shield Level Annuity is right for a portion of your portfolio and 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?

Take a look at a short video that describes how each of our rate crediting types can provide growth opportunities.

Watch the Video Now

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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.

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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,7 Brighthouse Financial® is proud to be a Fortune® 500 company8 and one of the largest providers of annuities and life insurance in the U.S.9

See Our Story

AThe S&P 500® is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by Brighthouse Financial, Inc. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“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, Inc. 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 products, nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500®. 

BThe 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. 

CThese 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. 

DNasdaq®, Nasdaq-100®, Nasdaq-100 Index®, and NDX® are registered trademarks of Nasdaq, Inc. (which, with its affiliates, is referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Brighthouse Financial products have not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability and are not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THESE PRODUCTS. 

1Participate in rising markets up to your rate crediting type. Growth opportunities are based on the elected rate crediting type. The Shield Rate (level of protection) and rate crediting type accrue daily and fully accrue on the term end date. The issuing insurance company will absorb losses up to your level of protection in falling markets. Your account value will be reduced by any negative index performance beyond your elected level of protection. If you do not elect the Fixed Account, you could see a substantial loss if the market declines more than your level of protection. 

2Withdrawals 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. 

3The Shield Options available may vary by state or firm.

4You 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. 

5Please visit brighthousefinancial.com for current rates, which generally update every two weeks. 

6Once 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. 

7Data as of September 30, 2022.  

8From FORTUNE© 2023 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.   

9Ranked by 2022 admitted assets. Best’s Review®: Top 200 U.S. Life/Health Insurers. AM Best, 2023. 

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.  

Brighthouse Shield® Level Select 6-Year Annuity, Brighthouse Shield® Level Select 3-Year Annuity, and Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Advisory Annuity, collectively referred to as “Shield® Level annuities” or “Shield® 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. 

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© 2023 Brighthouse Financial, Inc.

Brighthouse Financial® and its design are registered trademarks of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Brighthouse Financial is the brand name for Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, and New England Life Insurance Company.

Annuities and life insurance are issued by, and product guarantees are solely the responsibility of, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Charlotte, NC 28277 and, in New York only, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, New York, NY 10017 (“Brighthouse Financial”). Variable products are distributed by Brighthouse Securities, LLC (member FINRA). All are Brighthouse Financial affiliated companies.

In this material, the terms “advisor” and “financial advisor” are used as general references to licensed insurance professionals and are not intended to indicate whether the licensed insurance professional is a Registered Investment Advisor or is otherwise authorized under the law to provide financial advice.

Generally, clients must take required minimum distributions from their Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) once they reach age 73 or at age 72 if they were born on or after July 1, 1949 through December 31, 1950. Clients should seek advice from a qualified tax professional for complete details.