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FAQ
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Annuity frequently asked questions

"How to" questions

 

First, login to access your account. If you have not registered for an account, register now. Once logged in, you can click on the “Profile and Settings” option in the menu bar then select the action you want to take.

 

First, login to access your account. If you have not registered for an account, register now. Once logged in, you can click on the “Profile and Settings” option in the menu bar then select the action you want to take.

If your name has changed or the insured’s name has change, please contact us for assistance. You can also complete the form now available for download on our website here. We will send you confirmation in the mail of the change.

First, login to access your account. If you have not registered for an account, register now. Once logged in you can locate the policy you want to change your beneficiary information on and select the ‘I want to’ drop down and then select ‘Change My Beneficiaries’ from the drop-down list.

Yes. First, login to access your account. If you have not registered for an account, register now. Once logged in, from the main Dashboard, click on the Statements and Documents tab. From the Statements and Documents tab, select the Statements and Confirmations document category and wait for your document list to load. Once the list is loaded select the desired statement of account.

The following types of documents are available online. Not all documents are available for all policies or contracts.

  • Statements of Account
  • Transaction Confirmations
  • Supplements
  • Semi-annual reports

If you have enrolled for Telephone Authorization, you can complete a funds transfer request by contacting customer service at 1-800-487-6669.


You may also contact us for assistance. A Fund Transfer Form can also be obtained here.

If you have enrolled for Telephone Authorization, you can complete this request by contacting customer service at 1-800-487-6669.


You may also contact us for assistance. A change form can also be obtained here.

To download state and product forms please click here.

Investment Information can be obtained by reviewing your Prospectus, or by contacting your Financial Professional.


You can enroll for electronic delivery of your Prospectus when you login to access your account. If you have not registered for an account, register now. Once logged in, from the main Dashboard, click on the ‘I want to’ list and select ‘Receive My Fund Prospectus Electronically’ then follow the prompts on page.

The value of your annuity contract is the sum of the values of each of the investment options in which you are currently invested. The value of each option is determined by the number of units owned for an option multiplied by the previous business day’s closing share price.


This value would be reduced by any applicable surrender charges, market value adjustments, contract charges, outstanding loan and any loan interest to determine the net amount that would be available to you.

You can start a claim here or contact Claims at 1-800-659-1058.

Terminology/Definitions

The period of time between when the annuity is issued and when the insurance company begins to make income payments to the annuitant. Interest earned or investment results experienced on the accumulated payments during this time are added to the account tax-deferred under current tax laws.

The person during whose life an annuity is payable; usually the person to receive the annuity.

Annuitization involves converting your accumulated retirement assets into a series of periodic payments that last for a period of time of your choosing, in accordance with the provisions of the annuity contract.

The person, persons, or other entity designated to receive the contract proceeds.

Debt securities issued by a company, municipality, government, or government agency. The issuer of a bond is required to pay the holder the amount of the loan (or par value of the bond) at a specified maturity and to make scheduled interest payments.

Our "business day" is generally any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading and generally ends at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (or as of an earlier close of regular trading). A business day does not include a day on which we are not open due to emergency conditions determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may also close early due to such emergency conditions.

Cash value equal to the account value less a surrender charge and outstanding loan, if any. Cash value can provide a source of funds for the policyowner through partial surrender or full surrender.

Equity securities representing shares of ownership in a company and usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stock, dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors.

A formal and legally binding agreement.

An anniversary of the Effective Date of the Contract.

Any period of twelve (12) months commencing with the Effective Date and each Contract Anniversary thereafter.

The death benefit is the amount of money paid to the beneficiary at the time of the annuitant’s death.

Type of annuity that can be funded through a single premium or through flexible payments over time. Can potentially help you to accumulate money for retirement, especially over an extended period of time. Your money grows tax deferred, which means you pay no taxes on earnings until you withdraw your money.

The period of time, either a specified number of years or lifetime, over which distribution payments are made to the annuitant. Earnings become taxable when the annuitant begins to receive payments. The payout during the distribution period can either be fixed or variable.

The strategy of investing in a wide range of companies to reduce the risk if an individual company suffers losses.

Type of annuity that guarantees you a specified rate of interest for a specified amount of time. Offers preservation of your assets and protection from market volatility.

Type of annuity that is funded over a period of time, generally years. Allows you to pay premiums of differing amounts (within a stated minimum and maximum) on a set schedule or randomly. Your assets accumulate on a tax-deferred basis and can fund either fixed or variable deferred annuities.

Any open-end management investment company or unit investment trust in which a subaccount invests.

The aggregate dollar value as of any Business Day of all amounts accumulated under each of the subaccounts, the Guaranteed Interest Account with Market Value Adjustment, and the Loan Account of the Contract. If the term Fund Value is preceded or followed by the terms subaccount( s), the Guaranteed Interest Account with Market Value Adjustment, and the Loan Account, or any one or more of those terms, Fund Value means only the Fund Value of the subaccount, the Guaranteed Interest Account with Market Value Adjustment or the Loan Account, as the context requires.

Assets of the Company other than those allocated to the Variable Account or any of our other separate accounts.

A fixed account that is part of our General Account.

Rate of interest charged for the use of money, usually expressed as an annual rate.

An account to which we transfer amounts from the Subaccounts of the Variable Account and the Guaranteed Interest Account to use as collateral for any Policy loan that you request.

An amount added to or deducted from the amount surrendered or transferred from the Guaranteed Interest Account with Market Value Adjustment for contracts issued in certain states.

The date of each month corresponding to the Effective Date of the Contract. For example, for a Contract with a June 15 Effective Date, the Monthly Contract Anniversary is the 15th of each month. If a Contract’s Effective Date falls on the 29th, 30th or 31st day of a month, the Monthly Contract Anniversary will be the earlier of that day or the last day of the particular month in question.

A deduction we take on each Monthly Anniversary Day that consists of the cost of insurance charge, any additional benefit charges, an administrative charge, and a Per $1,000 Specified Amount charge.

The market value of one share of a Portfolio on any given day without taking into account any sales charges. It is determined by dividing a Portfolio’s total net assets by the number of shares outstanding.

Purchase Payment less any applicable tax charge.

Contracts not issued under Qualified Plans.

The unpaid balance of any loan which you request on the Policy. The unpaid balance includes accrued loan interest which is due and has not been paid by you.

The person so designated in the application to whom all rights, benefits, options and privileges apply while the Annuitant is living. If a Contract has been absolutely assigned, the assignee becomes the Owner.

A partial surrender is simply taking available cash value from the contract while keeping the contract inforce. This action will decrease the death benefit. Annuity must maintain cash value of $1,000 in order to keep contract in-force.

The Policy with any attached application(s), any riders, and any endorsements.

The date we authorize the Policy to be delivered to you (we call this the ’’policy release date’’) or, if later, the date as you requested your Policy to become effective. We measure Policy Years and anniversaries from the Policy Date. The Policy Date is shown in your Policy. If the Policy Date is the 29th, 30th, or 31st of a month, there will be some calendar months when there is no such date. For those months, the policy month will start on the last day of the calendar month.

The Policyowner owns the annuity contract. While the annuitant is living, the policyowner may exercise all rights given by the annuity or allowed by us. These rights include changing beneficiaries, changing ownership, enjoying all contract benefits, and exercising all contract provisions.

An amount paid to the Company by the Owner or on the Owner’s behalf as consideration for the benefits provided by the Contract.

Contracts issued under Qualified Plans.

Retirement plans that may receive favorable tax treatment under certain Sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

The party designated by the Owner to become the Annuitant, subject to certain conditions, on the death of the Annuitant.

Type of annuity that can provide you with a way to turn a large sum of cash into guaranteed income. Those who have cash from an inheritance, legal settlement, business sale, etc., can consider funding an immediate or a deferred annuity. Those nearing retirement, who have assets accumulated in a retirement plan or other savings vehicle, can consider funding an immediate or a deferred annuity.

The minimum death benefit for as long as the Policy remains in effect.

A subdivision of the Variable Account that invests exclusively in share of a Fund.

Termination of the contract by the owner. Most annuity contracts impose surrender charges during the early years of the contract, and each subsequent contribution may have its own surrender charge period. All accumulated interest will usually be taxable to the owner at time of surrender, and tax penalties (10%) will apply if the owner is not yet 59½ years of age (unless an IRS exception applies).

Simply put, a surrender charge is an early withdrawal charge deducted from the contract value.

This is the net cash value build up that the policyowner may receive if the contract is cancelled.

With this payout strategy, you can withdraw money from the accumulated value of your contract on a regular schedule – making it an effective way to supplement income either before or after retirement. Systematic withdrawals are also flexible.

The amount payable to a beneficiary upon the death of the annuitant. This generally represents the account value plus any additional contract provisions at the time of annuitant’s death.

The value of your annuity contract is the sum of the values of each of the investment options in which you are currently invested. The value of each option is determined by the number of units owned for an option multiplied by the previous business day’s closing share price.


This value would be reduced by any applicable surrender charges, market value adjustments, contract charges, outstanding loan and any loan interest to determine the net amount that would be available to you.

The measure of value in a Subaccount.

A segregated asset account of the Company into which you allocate premiums and transfer Fund Value.

The objective of the contract is to provide annuity payments, for life with a selected number of years certain, through the purchase of common stocks.

Most annuities will allow a certain percentage of the account value to be withdrawn free of charge in each of the initial contract years. Beyond this “free corridor,” a withdrawal charge, expressed as a percentage of the amount withdrawn, is assessed for a specified number of years after the issue of a deferred annuity or after the date of a subsequent contribution. The charge typically decreases annually until the year specified in the contract, when it reaches zero, and all future withdrawals are without charge.

The rate at which a Portfolio earns income, expressed as a percentage. Mutual fund yield calculations are standardized, based upon a formula developed by the SEC.