Shield® Level II Annuities
Interactive Tool
Use our interactive tool to explore how a Brighthouse Shield® Level II Annuity could perform in hypothetical market scenarios.
Shield Level II Annuities Interactive Tool
Shield Level II Annuities Interactive Tool
Shield Level II Annuities Interactive Tool
Shield Level II Annuities Interactive Tool
Enter the initial purchase payment amount in the box below. The minimum investment amount is $25,000, and the tool can illustrate up to $5,000,000.
Prior approval from Brighthouse Financial is required for purchase payments exceeding $1,000,000. For purposes of this illustration, all Shield Options include a Return of Premium death benefit for contract owners ages 80 and younger at issue.
Choose a rate crediting type, Shield Rate (level of protection), term (length of time), and index.1
You have allocated {Amount} to this Shield Option, which would be protected up to {protection}% at the end of the term in a down market scenario based on the chosen Shield Rate associated with this Shield Option.² Based on the selected term and index, this Shield Option offers {optionRateInfo}.
You have allocated {amountValue} to this Shield Option, which would be protected up to {protection}% at the end of the term in a down market scenario based on the chosen Shield Rate associated with this Shield Option.² When {parRateTooltip} is selected, there is a {capRateTooltip} in addition to the Participation Rate. Using the selections above, this Shield Option would offer a Participation Rate of {parRate}% and {capRate} Cap Rate. A {shieldOptionFeeTooltip} applies when the Participation Rate Cap Rate Fee Shield Option is selected.
Return of Premium Death Benefit
For contract owners ages 80 and younger
at issue, the death benefit will be equal to
the greater of:
- The account value; or
- The purchase payment, reduced proportionally by the percentage
reduction in the account value for
each partial withdrawal (including
any applicable withdrawal charges).
For contract owners ages 81 and older at
issue, the death benefit will be equal to the
account value.
Cap Rate
Cap Rate is the maximum rate that can be earned at the end of the term based on index performance. For an uncapped Shield Option, there is no maximum Performance Rate that may be credited at the end of the term.
Step Rate
Step Rate credits a predetermined percentage of growth if index performance is either flat or up at the end of the term.
Step Rate Edge
Step Rate Edge credits a predetermined percentage of growth, called the Edge Rate, if index performance is greater than or equal to the Shield Rate at the end of the term.
Participation Rate
Participation Rate is the percentage used to determine the amount of positive index performance that may be credited at the end of the term. For an uncapped Shield Option, there is no maximum Performance Rate that may be credited at the end of the term.
Shield Option Fee
Certain Shield Options offer the potential for increased growth opportunities through Participation Rates and higher Cap Rates in exchange for a Shield Option Fee. The Shield Option Fee amount is applied to certain transactions, and it is deducted on each contract anniversary and the term end date.
Recent Market
12/31/2019 - 12/31/2025
This scenario demonstrates performance based on the selected index over the most recent 6-year period starting on 12/31/2019 and ending on 12/31/2025.
Dot-Com Bubble
12/31/1999 – 12/31/2005
This scenario depicts the performance of the index selected over the specified 6-year period.
U.S. Housing Market Crisis
12/31/2005 – 12/31/2011
This scenario depicts the performance of the index selected over the specified 6-year period.
Brexit & COVID-19
03/31/2016 – 03/31/2022
This scenario depicts the performance of the index selected over the specified 6-year period.
Shield Level II Annuities Interactive Tool
Hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only. These examples are not a representation of past or future performance for any Shield Option (which has an associated term, index, Shield Rate, and rate crediting type) and are not a guarantee of any kind.
Interim Value is determined at the end of the business day when Performance Lock is exercised. Upon exercising the Performance Lock feature, the value of the Shield Option will be adjusted to reflect any gains or losses attributable to the Interim Value calculation. Any losses, which could be substantial, may be beyond the elected level of protection. Once locked, the contract owner can no longer participate in index performance for the remainder of the term and may receive less than the elected rate crediting type or less than the full protection of the Shield Rate. The locked Interim Value could be less than if the contract owner chose to exercise Performance Lock at a later date or not at all.
Shield Level II Annuities Tool Page URL
Link to the Shield Level II Annuities Tool page: https://aem-qa2.brighthousefinancialpro.com/pro/interactive-tools/annuity-tools/shield-level-annuity-tools/
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Terms and Definitions
Read below to learn more about Shield Level Annuity terminology.
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Index Performance
The percentage change in the index value measured from the term start date to any day within the term, including the term end date.
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Interim Value
The value of each Shield Option on any business day other than the term start date and term end date. The Interim Value is the amount that is available for:
- Partial withdrawals or full surrenders (reduced by withdrawal charge, if applicable)
- Death benefit
- Annuitization
- Performance Lock
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Performance Lock
The Performance Lock feature allows the contract owner to lock the Interim Value of a Shield Option once during a term. The Interim Value is determined at the end of the business day when Performance Lock is exercised. The Interim Value, reduced by the dollar amount of any subsequent withdrawals (including any applicable withdrawal charges), will be used as the value of that Shield Option for the remainder of the term. Once Performance Lock is exercised, it is irrevocable for the remainder of the term and subject to transfers in accordance with the transfer rules.
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Performance Rate
The rate for each Shield Option is determined on the term end date and is based on the index performance, adjusted for the applicable Shield Rate (level of protection) and rate crediting type.
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Rate Crediting Type1
The contract owner can participate in rising markets up to the rate crediting type. Growth opportunities are based on the elected rate crediting type. The performance (Performance Rate) for each Shield Option is determined on the term end date and is based on the index performance, adjusted for the applicable Shield Rate (level of protection) and rate crediting type. An adjustment to the value of the Shield Option to reflect any losses as well as the limitation on positive index gains could be viewed as implicit fees. The issuing insurance company will absorb losses up to the level of protection in falling markets. The account value will be reduced by any negative index performance beyond the elected level of protection. There could be a substantial loss if the index declines more than the level of protection.