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Variable Annuities with FlexChoice Access

Lifetime Income with Fewer Compromises

With life expectancies on the rise, pensions becoming a rarity and the volatility of the stock market, planning for retirement is getting more complicated. What's more, continued low interest rates are making it more difficult to generate income in retirement. That’s why it may be a great time for you to consider a Brighthouse Financial variable annuity with the optional FlexChoice Access living benefit rider, which lets you turn a portion of retirement savings into guaranteed income that lasts for life.

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Guaranteed Income

A variable annuity is one of the only financial tools that can guarantee income for life, no matter how long you live.

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Diversified Investment Options

Invest in asset allocation portfolios or build a customized portfolio from the individual investment options available.

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Income Ever After

It's important to know that your spouse can continue to receive the income they need in retirement.

For the best experience, the FlexChoice Tool is best viewed on a Tablet or Desktop

Growing and Protecting Retirement Income

Annual Compounding
FlexChoice Access uses a Benefit Base to determine future lifetime income. The Benefit Base cannot go down because of market losses, but it has growth potential. The initial investment determines the Benefit Base, which compounds at 5% for the first 10 contract years in years where there are no withdrawals taken, regardless of what happens in the market or to the account value.1

Locking in Market Gains
You can capture market gains through Automatic Step-Ups of your Benefit Base if the account value increases and is greater than the Benefit Base on any contract anniversary prior to your 91st birthday.2

Flexible Withdrawal Options
The amount available for withdrawal is based on the age of the owner, or older owner if jointly owned, at the time of the first withdrawal after age 59½. You can start taking 5.25% or 6% withdrawals at age 65 depending on the choice of two withdrawal options.

Income Ever After for Married Couples
Unlike many retirement income products, with FlexChoice Access the amount of income received is based on the age of the oldest owner. This can mean getting a higher withdrawal rate sooner instead of having to wait years for the younger spouse to "catch up" to a minimum age. With FlexChoice Access, the initial withdrawal rate is the same for married and single clients.3

If something unexpected happens, it's important to know that your spouse can continue to receive the income they need in retirement. With FlexChoice Access, the surviving spouse continues to receive the same income payments they've come to rely on with no interruption.4,5

Personalized Investment Strategy

Designed to Meet Your Needs
One way to help grow the money needed in retirement is to invest in a diversified portfolio to help weather varying market conditions.

Investment Options


FlexChoice Access offers the opportunity for you to design an investment strategy that works for you by selecting from the available asset allocation and risk managed global multi-asset portfolios or choosing to build a more customized portfolio from the individual investment options available.

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Asset Allocation Portfolios

Designed to furnish a professionally managed asset allocation that provides automatic diversification

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Individual Investment Options

Flexibility to choose investment options aligned to your individual goals

Your financial advisor can help you determine which strategy is right for you.

Investment Education

Learn how building a diversified portfolio with a mix of products and investments can help ensure a level of protection during market volatility, to help you achieve income guarantees in retirement.

Resource Materials

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1 Annual Compounding is referred to as Rollup Rate in the prospectus and contract. The Benefit Base is not available as a lump sum withdrawal or payable as a death benefit. The contract’s account value under the FlexChoice Access rider represents the value of your investments adjusted for performance less withdrawals. Contract and rider fees will also reduce the account value, but do not reduce the Benefit Base. See the prospectus for more details.

2 Upon step-up, the annual charge may increase to the rate applicable to new annuity purchasers, but will not exceed a maximum of 2.00% of the Benefit Base.

3 Initial withdrawal rate refers to the rate established by the 1st withdrawal after age 59½ (age 59½ of the older owner if jointly owned) and prior to the contract’s account value reducing to zero. If the account value reduces to zero due to market performance or an allowable withdrawal, you can elect to receive income for 1 or 2 lives based on the applicable Lifetime Guarantee Rate. The Joint Lifetime Guarantee Rate is less than the Single Lifetime Guarantee Rate.

4 This election is only required if the account value reduces to zero. We use the terms “income” and “lifetime income” to refer to any allowable withdrawals under the FlexChoice Access rider, as well as any lifetime income payments you would receive under the rider if your account value reduces to zero.

5 The Joint Lifetime Guarantee Rate is only available for spouses. The spouse cannot be more than 10 years younger than the older owner as determined by the birthdays of the two individuals. If a contract is jointly owned, the Joint Lifetime Guarantee Rate is only available for the spouse of the older owner.

Prospectuses for the investment portfolios offered by a Brighthouse Financial insurance company 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, 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. Brighthouse Financial 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, even when an optional protection benefit rider is elected. All contract and rider guarantees, including optional benefits and annuity payout rates, are subject to the claims paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company. 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. Distributions of taxable amounts from a non-qualified annuity may also be subject to the 3.8% Unearned Income Medicare Contribution tax that is generally imposed on interest, dividends, and annuity income if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. Withdrawals will reduce the living and death benefits and account value. Withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges.

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 advisors as appropriate.

Variable annuities are issued by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company on Policy Form 8010 (11/00) and, in New York only, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY on Policy Form 6010 (3/07). All variable products are distributed by Brighthouse Securities, LLC (member FINRA). All are Brighthouse Financial affiliated companies. MetLife, a registered service mark of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, is used under license to Brighthouse Services, LLC and its affiliates.

Brighthouse Financial and its design are service marks of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. or its affiliates.

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