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Shield® Level Annuities

With growth opportunities and a level of downside protection, a Shield annuity can help you follow your plans – wherever they take you.

See how a Shield Level annuity helps Scott and Linda keep their plans at every step

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

A Shield annuity is designed to help protect a portion of your assets and limit losses during market downturns with the choice between three levels of downside protection: 10%, 15%, and 25%.

Piggy Bank
Participate in growth opportunities

Balance is built in. Not only does it offer a level of protection against losses, it also offers growth opportunities during up markets.

Money
Pay no annual fees

Unlike many financial products, you won’t pay annual fees with a Shield annuity (though costs may apply if you make withdrawals or end the contract early).1
How to Buy a Shield Level Annuity

Shield Level Annuities are purchased through your licensed financial professional.

Learn More

Learn more about working with a financial professional

Get Started

How a Shield Level Annuity Works for You

A Shield annuity is index-linked. This type of annuity doesn’t invest directly in the markets. Instead, it offers growth opportunities by tracking the performance of a market index.

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

1. What index or indices do you want to track?

Select from among the S&P 500® IndexA (large cap), Russell 2000® IndexB (small cap), and the MSCI EAFE IndexC (international stocks).

2. How much protection do you want?

A Shield annuity offers a built-in level of protection called the Shield Rate. 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 set 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 - how long you want to invest. We’ll compare the index value at the start and end of the term and factor in the protection level as well as the Cap Rate or Step Rate to determine your new account value.

Hint: Try the Interactive Tool above to see how different selections may affect performance in a variety of market conditions.



Find Out More

Take a look at our product brochure, which shows how a Shield annuity can fit into your portfolio.

Read the Brochure

Shield level annuities are worth exploring.

Take a look at our resources to learn how Shield annuities can help you reach your retirement goals.
Are you a Financial Professional? Visit the Financial Professionals Site

Understanding the Market Impact and Shield
Customize Your Shield Solution
Historical Market Performance
Product Brochure




Read more about Shield level annuities.
A Shield Annuity in Action
A Shield Annuity in Action

Using Jack and Kristin as an example, let’s take a look at how a Shield annuity can help you protect a level of what you’ve worked so hard to save, while still allowing for growth opportunities.

Watch the Video
Barron’s Best 3 Years Straight
Barron’s Best 3 Years Straight

Shield annuities have been included in Barron’s annual ranking as a “Best Structured Annuity” for the third year in a row.4

See the Ranking
Looking for the latest Shield rates
Looking for the latest Shield rates?

Get the current rates for all Shield annuity products here. Our rates update on the 1st and the 15th of each month.

Go to Rates

How to Buy Shield Level Annuity

Our products can only be purchased through a financial professional. Your advisor can help keep your plans on track and decide whether a Brighthouse Shield annuity makes sense in your plan.

Questions to help you begin the conversation:

  1. What percentage of my retirement assets should I invest in a Shield annuity?
  2. How have the indices Shield annuities track performed in the past?

For additional discussion questions and information to cover with your advisor, enter your email below.

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Additional Information

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

Trusted by over 2 million customers and with 2.5 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.4

See Our Story

1 Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax. Withdrawals 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 the modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold amount. Withdrawals will reduce the death benefits 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 Options.

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

4 Products from the Brighthouse Shield® Level Select Annuity suite. Barron’s Best Annuities, 2017-2019.

5 Customer count as of June 30, 2018. From FORTUNE© 2019 FORTUNE Media IP Limited. FORTUNE is a trademark of FORTUNE Media IP Limited and is used under license. FORTUNE and FORTUNE Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Brighthouse Financial. Assets ranked by 2018 admitted assets. Best’s Review: Top 200 U.S. Life/Health Insurers. A.M. Best, 2019.

A The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by affiliates of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. 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. This annuity product is 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.

This material must be preceded or accompanied by prospectuses for the Brighthouse Shield Level Select 6-Year Annuity, Brighthouse Shield Level Select 6-Year Annuity v.3, Brighthouse Shield Level Select 3-Year Annuity, Brighthouse Shield Level Select Advisory Annuity, Brighthouse Shield Level 10 Annuity, and Brighthouse Shield Level 10 Advisory Annuity, issued by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and, in New York only, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY, which contains information about the contract’s features, risks, charges, and expenses. Clients should read the prospectus, which is available from their financial professional, and consider its information carefully before investing. Brighthouse Financial reserves the right to substitute any index at any time. Product availability and features may vary by state.

Brighthouse Shield Annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. They have limitations, exclusions, charges, termination provisions, and terms for keeping them in force, and are not guaranteed by the broker/dealer, the insurance agency, the underwriter, or any affiliates of those entities from which they were purchased. All representations and contract guarantees, including the death benefit and annuity payout rates, are subject to the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuing insurance company. Because the client agrees to absorb all losses beyond their chosen Shield Rate, there is a risk of substantial loss of principal. Please refer to “Risk Factors” in the contract prospectus for more details.

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.

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

Shield® annuities are issued by, and product guarantees are solely the responsibility of, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company on Policy Form L-22494 (09/12)-AV and, for products available in New York only, by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY on Policy Form ML-22494 (09/12) (“Brighthouse Financial”). These products are distributed by Brighthouse Securities, LLC (member FINRA). All are Brighthouse Financial affiliated companies.