485APOS 1 d28630d485apos.htm UNIVERSAL ANNUITY POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 15 Universal Annuity Post-Effective Amendment No. 15
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2020
Registration Numbers 333-152189/811-21262


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-4
Registration Statement Under The Securities Act Of 1933  
Post-Effective Amendment No. 15  
And  
Registration Statement Under The Investment Company Act Of 1940  
Amendment No. 231  
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities
(Registrant)

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
(Depositor)
11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
(Address of Depositor’s Principal Executive Offices)
Depositor’s Telephone Number, including area code: (980) 365-7100

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
c/o The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Corporation Trust Center
New Castle County
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 658-7581
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Dodie C. Kent
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
The Grace Building, 40th Floor
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-7703
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
On [ ___ ], 2021 or as soon thereafter as practicable
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
□ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
□ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485.
☒ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485.
□ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485.

 


If appropriate, check the following box:
□ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Title of Securities Being Registered: Allocated and Unallocated Group Variable Annuity Contracts



 


Universal Annuity
This prospectus describes Universal Annuity, a flexible premium variable annuity contract (the “Contract”) issued by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (the “Company", “Our”, “Us” or “We”). The Contract is used in connection with 401(a) Plans, 401(k) Plans, 403(a) Plans, 403(b) Plans, 408(b) Plans, Non-Qualified Plans, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Keoghs, Simplified Employee Pensions ("SEPs") and 457(b) Plans. The Company no longer actively offers the Contract to new purchasers. Current Contract Owners may make additional Purchase Payments.
The Contract’s value will vary daily to reflect the investment experience of the Funding Options (referred to as “Subaccounts” in Your Contract available through Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities) You select and, subject to availability, the interest credited to the Fixed (Flexible Annuity) Account.
Additional information about certain investment products, including variable annuities, has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff and is available at Investor.gov.
If you are a new investor in the Contract, you may cancel your Contract within 10 days of receiving it without paying fees or penalties. In some states, this cancellation period may be longer. Upon cancellation, you will receive either a full refund of the amount you paid with your application or your total Contract value. You should review this prospectus, or consult with your investment professional, for additional information about the specific cancellation terms that apply.
In accordance with regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning on or after January 1, 2021, paper copies of the shareholder reports for the Underlying Funds available under Your variable annuity contract will no longer be sent by mail, unless You specifically request paper copies of the reports from Us. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and You will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report. If You already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, You will not be affected by this change and You need not take any action.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform Us that You wish to continue receiving paper copies of Your shareholder reports by calling (800) 638-7732, or by sending an email correspondence to rcg@brighthousefinancial.com. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Underlying Funds available under Your contract.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Contracts are not deposits of any bank, and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Prospectus Dated: [April 30, 2021]
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THE CONTRACTS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS UNTIL THE POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE CONTRACTS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE CONTRACTS AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE CONTRACTS IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Page

3

6

9

10

12

13

13

13

13

14

14

15

15

15

16

17

18

18

18

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

21

21

21

21

23

24

25

26

28

28

28

28

28

28

29

29

29

30

31
  Page

31

31

31

32

32

33

33

33

33

34

35

35

35

35

36

36

37

37

37

37

37

38

38

39

42

45

48

48

49

49

50

50

51

51

51

51

51

A-1

B-1

C-1

D-1
2

 


Glossary
Accumulation Period — the period before the commencement of Annuity Payments.
Accumulation Unit — an accounting unit of measure used to calculate Contract Values before Annuity Payments begin.
Annuitant — a person on whose life the Maturity Date depends and Annuity Payments are made.
Annuity — payment of income for a stated period or amount.
Annuity Payments — a series of periodic payments (i) for life; (ii) for life with a minimum number of payments; (iii) for the joint lifetime of the Annuitant and another person, and thereafter during the lifetime of the survivor; or (iv) for a fixed period.
Annuity Period — the period following commencement of Annuity Payments.
Annuity Unit — an accounting unit of measure used to calculate the amount of Annuity Payments.
Beneficiary(ies) — the person(s) or trustee designated to receive any remaining contractual benefits in the event of a Participant’s, Annuitant’s or Contract Owner’s death, as applicable.
Cash Surrender Value — the Contract Value less any amounts deducted upon a withdrawal or surrender, outstanding loans, if available under the Contract, any applicable Premium Taxes or other surrender charges not previously deducted.
Certificate — (if applicable) the document issued to Participants under a master group Contract. Any reference in this prospectus to the Contract includes the underlying Certificate.
Code — the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all related laws and regulations that are in effect during the term of this Contract.
Company (We, Us, Our) — Brighthouse Life Insurance Company.
Contract — for convenience, means the Contract or Certificate (if applicable). For example, Contract Year also means Certificate Year.
Contract Date — the date on which the Contract is issued. For certain group Contracts, it is the date on which the Contract becomes effective, as shown on the specifications page of the Contract.
Contract Owner — the person named in the Contract (on the specifications page). For certain group Contracts, the Contract Owner is the trustee or other entity which owns the Contract.
Contract Value/Account Value/Cash Value — the value of the Accumulation Units in Your Account (or a Participant’s Individual Account, if applicable) less any reductions for administrative charges (hereinafter referred to in this prospectus as Contract Value).
Contract Year — twelve-month periods beginning with the Contract Date, or any anniversary thereof.
Death Report Date — the day on which We have received (i) Due Proof of Death and (ii) written payment instructions or election of spousal or Beneficiary Contract continuation in Good Order.
Due Proof of Death — (i) a copy of a certified death certificate; (ii) a copy of a certified decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death; (iii) a written statement by a medical doctor who attended the deceased; or (iv) any other proof satisfactory to Us.
ERISA — The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and all related laws and regulations which are in effect during the term of this Contract.
Fixed Account — an account that consists of all of the assets under the Contract other than those in the Separate Account. The Fixed Account is part of the general assets of the Company.
Fixed Annuity — an Annuity payout option with payments which remain fixed as to dollar amount throughout the payment period and which do not vary with the investment experience of a Separate Account.
Funding Options — the variable investment options to which Purchase Payments under the Contract may be allocated. Funding Options are also referred to as “Subaccounts.”
3

 


Good Order — A request or transaction generally is considered in “Good Order” if it complies with Our administrative procedures and the required information is complete and accurate. A request or transaction may be rejected or delayed if not in Good Order. Good Order generally means the actual receipt by Us of the instructions relating to the requested transaction in writing (or, when permitted, by telephone or Internet) along with all forms, information and supporting legal documentation necessary to effect the transaction. This information and documentation generally includes to the extent applicable to the transaction: Your completed application; Your Contract number; the transaction amount (in dollars or percentage terms); the names and allocations to and/or from the Funding Options affected by the requested transaction; the signatures of all Contract Owners (exactly as indicated on the Contract), if necessary; Social Security Number or Tax I.D.; and any other information or supporting documentation that We may require, including any spousal or joint Contract Owner’s consents. With respect to Purchase Payments, Good Order also generally includes receipt by Us of sufficient funds to effect the purchase. We may, in Our sole discretion, determine whether any particular transaction request is in Good Order, and We reserve the right to change or waive any Good Order requirement at any time. If You have any questions, You should contact Us or Your financial representative (where applicable) before submitting the form or request.
Home Office — the Home Office of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, or any other office that We may designate for the purpose of administering this Contract. The office that administers Your Contract is located at 4700 Westown Parkway, Ste. 200, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.
Individual Account — an account under which Accumulation Units are credited to a Participant or Beneficiary under the Contract.
Maturity Date — the date on which the Annuity Payments are to begin.
Participant — an individual participating under a group Contract or an eligible person who is a member in the Plan.
Payment Option — an Annuity or income option elected under Your Contract.
Plan — for a group Contract, the plan or the arrangement used in a retirement plan or program whereby Purchase Payments and any gains are intended to qualify under Section 401, 403, or 457 of the Code.
Plan Administrator — the corporation or other entity so specified on the application or purchase order. If none is specified, the Plan Trustee is the Plan Administrator.
Premium Tax — the amount of tax, if any, charged by the state or municipality on Purchase Payments.
Purchase Payments — the premium payment(s) applied to the Contract, less any Premium Taxes (if applicable).
Qualified Contract — a Contract used in a retirement Plan or program that is intended to qualify under Section 401, 403, 408, or 457 of the Code.
Separate Account — a segregated account, the assets of which are invested solely in the Underlying Funds. The assets of the Separate Account are held exclusively for the benefit of Contract Owners.
Subaccount — that portion of the assets of a Separate Account that is allocated to a particular Underlying Fund. Subacounts are also referred to as "Funding Options."
Third Party Administrator (“TPA”) — an entity that has separately contracted with the Contract Owner to provide administrative and/or distribution services for the Plan.
Underlying Fund — a portfolio of an open-end management investment company that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in which the Subaccounts invest. May also be referred to as Portfolio Company.
Valuation Date — a day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. The value of each Subaccount is determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on such days, typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A Valuation Date ends earlier than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if the NYSE closes early. It is expected that the NYSE will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on the observed holidays of New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Valuation Dates are also referred to herein as “Business Days.”
Valuation Period — the period between the end of one Valuation Date and the end of the next Valuation Date.
Variable Annuity — an Annuity payout option providing for payments varying in amount in accordance with the investment experience of the assets held in the underlying securities of the Separate Account.
4

 


Written Request — written instructions or information sent to Us in a form and content satisfactory to Us and received in Good Order at Our Home Office.
You, Your — “You,” depending on the context, may be the Certificate holder, the Participant or the Contract Owner and a natural person, a trust established for the benefit of a natural person or a charitable remainder trust, or a Plan (or the employer purchaser who has purchased the Contract on behalf of the Plan). In connection with a 403(b) Plan termination, as of the date of the Contract or cash distribution under such Plan termination, "You" means the Participant who has received such Contract or cash distribution.
Your Account — Accumulation Units credited to You under this Contract.
5

 


Important Information You Should Consider About the Contract

  Fees and Expenses Location in
Prospectus
Charges for Early Withdrawals
If You withdraw money during the first 5 years following a Purchase Payment, You may be assessed a withdrawal charge of 5%, as a percentage of the Purchase Payment withdrawn.
For example, if You make an early withdrawal, You could pay a withdrawal charge of up to $5,000 on a $100,000 investment.
Fee Table and Examples

Charges and Deductions −
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge / Withdrawal Charge
Transaction Charges In addition to charges for early withdrawals, You may also be charged for other transactions. There may be taxes on Purchase Payments. If you take withdrawals under the Variable Liquidity Benefit during the Annuity Period, there may be withdrawal charges similar to the early withdrawal charge.
Transfer Fee. Currently, We do not charge for transfers. However, We reserve the right to charge for transfers after the first 12 transfers per year.
Fee Table and Examples

Charges and Deductions
Ongoing Fees and Expenses (annual charges) The table below describes the fees and expenses that You may pay each year, depending on the options You choose. Please refer to Your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees You will pay each year based on the options You have elected. Fee Table and Examples

Charges and Deductions

Appendix A:
Underlying Funds Available Under the Contract
Annual Fee Minimum Maximum
Base Contract1 1.31% 1.31%
Investment Options --Portfolio Company fees and expenses2 [0%] [0%]
1 As a percentage of average net assets of the Separate Account. The charge shown also includes the Semiannual Contract Administrative Charge.
2 As a percentage of Underlying Fund assets.
   
Because Your Contract is customizable, the choices You make affect how much You will pay. To help You understand the cost of owning Your Contract, the following table shows the lowest and highest cost You could pay each year, based on current charges. This estimate assumes that You do not take withdrawals from the Contract, which could add withdrawal charges that substantially increase costs.
Lowest Annual Cost
$1,560
Highest Annual Cost
$7,700
Assumes: Assumes:
• Investment of $100,000
• 5% annual appreciation
• Least expensive Portfolio Company fees and expenses
• No additional Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals
• Investment of $100,000
• 5% annual appreciation
• Most expensive Portfolio Company fees and expenses
• No additional Purchase Payments, transfers, or withdrawals
6

 


  Risks Location in
Prospectus
Risk of Loss You can lose money by investing in this Contract including loss of principal. Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Not a Short-Term Investment This Contract is not a short-term investment and is not appropriate for an investor who needs ready access to cash.
Withdrawal charges may apply for the first 5 years of the Contract. Withdrawal charges will reduce the value of Your Contract if You withdraw money during the applicable time period.
The benefits of tax deferral also mean the Contract is more beneficial to investors with a long time horizon.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Risks Associated with Investment Options • An investment in this Contract is subject to the risk of poor investment performance and can vary depending on the performance of the investment options available under the Contract.
• Each investment option, including the Fixed Account, has its own unique risks.
• You should review the prospectuses for the available Underlying Funds and the prospectus disclosure concerning the Fixed Account before making an investment decision.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
Insurance Company Risks An investment in the Contract is subject to the risks related to Us. Any obligations (including under the Fixed Account), or guarantees and benefits of the Contract that exceed the assets of the Separate Account are subject to Our claims-paying ability. If We experience financial distress, We may not be able to meet Our obligations to You. More information about Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, including Our financial strength ratings, is available by contacting Us at [XXX-XXX-XXXX]. Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract
  Restrictions  
Investments • Currently, We allow unlimited transfers without charge among investment options during the Accumulation Period. However, We reserve the right to impose a charge for transfers in excess of 12 per year and/or the number of transfers allowed per year. At a minimum, We would always allow one transfer every six months.
• We reserve the right to limit transfers in circumstances of frequent or large transfers.
• Transfers to and from the Fixed Account are subject to special limitations.
• We reserve the right to remove or substitute the Portfolio Companies that are available as investment options under the Contract.
Transfers
Optional Benefits • You must select a specific Annuity option to exercise the Variable Liquidity Benefit during the Annuity Period.
• We may stop offering this optional benefit at any time for new sales.
Payment Options − Variable Liquidity Benefit
  Taxes  
Tax Implications Consult with a tax professional to determine the tax implications of an investment in and payments received under this Contract.
• If You purchase the Contract through a tax-qualified plan or individual retirement account, You do not get any additional tax benefit.
• You will generally not be taxed on increases in the value of the Contract until they are withdrawn. Withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, and may be subject to tax penalties if You take a withdrawal before age 59 12.
Federal Tax Considerations
7

 


  Conflicts of Interest Location in
Prospectus
Investment
Professional
Compensation
Investment professionals may receive compensation for selling this Contract in the form of commissions, additional cash benefits (e.g., bonuses), and non-cash compensation. This conflict of interest may influence an investment professional to recommend this Contract over another investment for which the investment professional is not compensated or compensated less. Other Information − Distribution of the Contracts
Exchanges If You already own an insurance contract, some investment professionals may have a financial incentive to offer You a new contract in place of the one You own. You should only exchange a contract you already own if You determine, after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts, that it is better for You to purchase the new contract rather than continue to own Your existing contract. Other Information − Exchanges
8

 


Overview of the Contract

Purpose. The Contract is a variable annuity contract. It provides a means for investing in Our Fixed Account and the Funding Options, together “investment options.” The Contract is intended for retirement savings or other long-term investment purposes. The Contract is used in connection with (1) individual non-qualified purchases; (2) rollovers from individual retirement annuities; (3) rollovers from other qualified retirement Plans; and (4) Beneficiary-directed transfers of death proceeds from another contract. The Contract has various features and benefits that may be appropriate for You based on Your financial situation and objectives. The Contract also offers certain death benefit features, which can be used to transfer assets to Your Beneficiaries. If You are investing in this Contract through a Plan, it does not provide any additional tax deferral benefits beyond those provided by the Plan. Accordingly, if You are investing in this Contract through a Plan, You should consider investing in the Contract for its death benefit, Annuity option benefits or other non-tax related benefits. Your financial goal in acquiring the Contract should take into account the fact that there is a withdrawal charge for the first 5 years following a Purchase Payment.
Phases of the Contract. The Contract has two phases: The Accumulation Period and the Annuity Period. During the Accumulation Period, earnings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis and are taxed as income when You make a withdrawal. To help You accumulate assets during the Accumulation Period, You can invest Your Purchase Payments and Contract Value in: (1) Funding Options available under the Contract, each of which has an Underlying Fund with its own investment strategies and risks; investment adviser(s); expense ratio; and performance history; and (2) the Fixed Account option, which guarantees principal and interest.
A list of Underlying Funds in which You can invest is provided in Appendix A.
The Annuity Period occurs when You begin receiving Annuity Payments from Your Contract. The amount of money You accumulate in Your Contract during the Accumulation Period factors into the amount of income You receive during the Annuity Period. You may choose one of a number of Annuity options: You may receive income payments in the form of a Variable Annuity, a Fixed Annuity, or a combination of both. In general, You are unable to take withdrawals during the Annuity Period. There is no death benefit during the Annuity Period; however, depending on the Annuity option You elect, any remaining guarantee upon death may be paid to Your Beneficiary(ies).
Contract Features. The following is a brief description of the Contract’s primary features.
Subject to Plan Terms. If You participate through a retirement Plan or other group arrangement, the Contract may provide that all or some of Your rights or choices are subject to the Plan’s terms. For example, limitations on Your rights may apply to Funding Options, Purchase Payments, withdrawals, transfers, loans, the death benefit and Annuity options.
Accessing Your Money. Before You annuitize the Contract, You can withdraw money from Your Contract at any time. If You take a withdrawal, You may have to pay a withdrawal charge and/or income taxes, including a tax penalty if You are younger than age 59 12. See "Access to Your Money" for certain limits with respect to loans, certain withdrawals and the Fixed Account.
Tax Treatment. You can transfer money among investment options without tax implications, and earnings (if any) on Your investments are generally tax-deferred. You are only subject to tax upon: (1) making a withdrawal; (2) receiving a payment from Us; or (3) payment of a death benefit.
Death Benefit. The Contract includes, at no additional cost, a standard death benefit that will pay a death benefit to the Beneficiary(ies) if You die during the Accumulation Period. The death benefit is equal to at least the Contract Value, and may be greater under certain circumstances.
Variable Liquidity Benefit. If You elect the Annuity option “Payments for a Fixed Period (Term Certain)” for the Annuity Period You may exercise the Variable Liquidity Benefit during the Annuity Period. This benefit allows You to take withdrawals during the Annuity Period based on the present value of Your remaining Annuity Payments. Such withdrawals may significantly reduce or eliminate remaining Annuity Payments and may be subject to withdrawal charges.
Additional Services.
Dollar Cost Averaging Program. This program allows You to systematically transfer a set amount from a Funding Option or the Fixed Account to one or more Funding Options on a monthly or quarterly basis.
9

 


Special Dollar Cost Averaging Program. This program, if available, allows You to systematically make level transfers from the Fixed Account to one or more Funding Options over a specific number of months, with interest credited to amounts remaining in the Fixed Account during that time period.
Systematic Withdrawal Program. This program allows You to receive regular automatic withdrawals from Your Contract either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Fee Table and Examples

The following tables describe the fees and expenses that You will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering, or making withdrawals from the Contract. Please refer to your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees You will pay each year based on the options You have selected.
The first table describes the fees and expenses that You will pay at the time that You buy the Contract, surrender the Contract, make withdrawals from the Contract, or transfer Contract Value between investment options. State premium taxes of 0% to 3.5% may also be deducted.

Transaction Expenses
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge  
(as a percentage of Purchase Payments withdrawn)  
If withdrawn within 5 years after the Purchase Payment is made

5.00%
If withdrawn 5 or more years after the Purchase Payment is made

0.00%
Variable Liquidity Benefit Charge(1)

5.00%
(as a percentage of the present value of the remaining Annuity Payments that are surrendered. The interest rate used to calculate this present value is 1% higher than the Assumed (Daily) Net Investment Factor used to calculate the Annuity Payments)  

(1) The Variable Liquidity Benefit Withdrawal Charge declines to zero after five years. The charge is as follows:
   
Years Since Initial Purchase Payment    
Greater than or Equal to   But less than   Withdrawal Charge
0 years   1 years   5%
1 years   2 years   5%
2 years   3 years   5%
3 years   4 years   5%
4 years   5 years   5%
5 + years       0%
The next table describes the fees and expenses that You will pay each year during the time that You own the Contract, not including Underlying Fund fees and expenses.

Annual Contract Expenses (Administrative Charges)
Semiannual Contract Administrative Charge

$15
Base Contract Charge(2)

1.25%
(as a percentage of average net assets of the Separate Account)(3)  

(2) We call this the "Mortality and Expense Risk Charge" in your Contract as well as in other places in this prospectus. See "Charges and Deductions' section of the prospectus under the sub-heading "Base Contract Charge--Mortality and Expense Risk Charge”.
(3) We are waiving the following amounts of the Mortality and Expense Risk charge as follows: 0.15% for the Subaccount investing in the Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust II; 0.10% for the Subaccount investing in the
10

 


BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust II; 0.12% for the Subaccount investing in the BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio − Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust II; and 0.11% for the Subaccount investing in the BlackRock High Yield Portfolio − Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I. We are also waiving an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.90% for the Subaccount investing in the Harris Oakmark International Portfolio of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.85% for the Subaccount investing in the Loomis Sayles Global Allocation Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.65% for the Subaccount investing in the PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 1.10% for the Subaccount investing in the Brighthouse Small Cap Value Portfolio — Class B of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 1.10% for the Subaccount investing in the MFS® Research International Portfolio — Class B of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.265% for the Subaccount investing in the MetLife Stock Index Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust II; an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.84% for the Subaccount investing in the Invesco Comstock Portfolio — Class B of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I; and an amount equal to the Underlying Fund expenses that are in excess of 0.62% for the Subaccount investing in the Invesco Global Equity Portfolio — Class A of the Brighthouse Funds Trust I.

The next table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the Underlying Funds that You may pay periodically during the time that You own the Contract. A complete list of Underlying Funds available under the Contract, including their annual expenses, may be found in Appendix A.
Annual Underlying Fund Expenses      
  Minimum   Maximum
Total Annual Underlying Fund Expenses

     
(expenses that are deducted from Underlying Fund assets, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses)

[0%]   [0%]
Example
The example is intended to help You compare the cost of investing in the Contract with the cost of investing in other variable annuity contracts. These costs include Transaction Expenses, Annual Contract Expenses, and Annual Portfolio Company Expenses. The example does not represent past or future expenses. Your actual expenses may be more or less than those shown.
The example assumes that You invest $100,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated and that Your investment has a 5% return each year. The example reflects the Contract Administrative Charge, factoring in that the charge is waived for Contracts over a certain value. Additionally, the example is based on the Minimum and Maximum Total Annual Portfolio Company Expenses shown above, and does not reflect any Portfolio Company fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.
The example assumes that You have allocated all of Your Contract Value to either the Underlying Fund with the Maximum Total Annual Underlying Fund Expenses or the Underlying Fund with the Minimum Total Annual Underlying Fund Expenses.
Example 1
    If Contract is surrendered at the
end of period shown:
  If Contract is NOT surrendered or
annuitized at the end of period shown:
Funding Option   1 year   3 years   5 years   10 years   1 year   3 years   5 years   10 years
Underlying Fund with Maximum Total Annual

Expenses

                               
Underlying Fund with Minimum Total Annual

Expenses

                               
11

 


Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract

Unsuitable as Short-Term Savings Vehicle. The Contract is intended for retirement savings or other long-term investment purposes. It is not suitable as a short-term savings vehicle. This means if You plan to withdraw money or surrender the Contract for short-term needs, it may not be the right Contract for You. A charge may be assessed on withdrawals and surrenders, and it could be substantial. Please discuss Your insurance needs and financial objectives with Your financial representative.
Investment Risk. You bear the risk of any decline in the value of Your Contract resulting from the performance of the Funding Options You have chosen. Your Contract Value could decline very significantly, and there is a risk of loss of the entire amount invested. This risk varies with each Funding Option’s Underlying Fund. This risk could have a significant negative impact on certain benefits and guarantees under the Contract. The investment risks are described in the prospectuses for the Underlying Funds.
Insurance Company Insolvency. It is possible that We could experience financial difficulty in the future and even become insolvent, and therefore unable to provide all of the guarantees and benefits that exceed the assets in the Separate Account that We promise. Likewise, our experiencing financial difficulty could impair our ability to fulfill our obligations under the Fixed Account offered under this Contract.
Tax Consequences. Withdrawals are generally taxable (to the extent of any earnings in the Contract), and prior to age 59 12 a tax penalty may apply. In addition, even if the Contract is held for years before any withdrawal is made, the withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income rather than capital gains.
Plan Terms Risk. If You participate through a retirement Plan or other group arrangement, the Contract may provide that all or some of Your rights or choices as described in this prospectus are subject to the Plan’s terms. For example, limitations on Your rights may apply to Funding Options, Purchase Payments, withdrawals, transfers, loans, the death benefit and Annuity options. We may rely on Your employer’s or the Plan Administrator’s statements to Us as to the terms of the Plan or Your entitlement to any amounts. We are not a party to Your employer’s retirement Plan. We will not be responsible for determining what Your Plan says. You should consult the Contract and Plan document to see how You may be affected. An involuntary distribution to You from Your Plan may be subject to withdrawal charges under the Contract.
Cybersecurity and Certain Business Continuity Risks. Our variable annuity contract business is largely conducted through digital communications and data storage networks and systems operated by Us and Our service providers or other business partners (e.g., the Underlying Funds and the firms involved in the distribution and sale of Our variable annuity contracts). For example, many routine operations, such as processing Owners’ requests and elections and day-to-day recordkeeping, are all executed through computer networks and systems. We have established administrative and technical controls and a business continuity plan to protect Our operations against cybersecurity breaches. Despite these protocols, a cybersecurity breach could have a material, negative impact on Us and the Separate Account, as well as individual Owners and their Contracts. Our operations also could be negatively affected by a cybersecurity breach at a third party, such as a governmental or regulatory authority or another participant in the financial markets. Cybersecurity breaches can be intentional or unintentional events, and can occur through unauthorized access to computer systems, networks or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; or attacks that shut down, disable, slow or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality. Other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises (such as COVID-19), may adversely affect Our ability to conduct business, in particular if Our employees or the employees of Our service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Cybersecurity breaches and other disruptions to Our business operations can interfere with Our processing of Contract transactions, including the processing of transfer orders from Our website or with the Underlying Funds; impact Our ability to calculate Accumulation Unit values; cause the release and possible destruction of confidential Owner or business information; or impede order processing or cause other operational issues. Cybersecurity breaches may also impact the issuers of securities in which the Underlying Funds invest, and it is possible the funds underlying Your Contract could lose value. There can be no assurance that We or Our service providers or the Underlying Funds will avoid losses affecting Your Contract due to cyber-attacks or information security breaches in the future. Although We continually make efforts to identify and reduce Our exposure to cybersecurity risk, there is no guarantee that We will be able to successfully manage and mitigate this risk at all times. Furthermore, We cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems implemented by third parties, including service providers or issuers of securities in which the Underlying Funds invest.
12

 


The Annuity Contract and Your Retirement Plan

The Contract may provide that all or some of Your rights or choices as described in this prospectus are subject to the Plan’s terms. For example, limitations on Your rights may apply to Funding Options, Purchase Payments, withdrawals, transfers, loans, the death benefit and Annuity options.
The Contract may provide that a Plan administrative fee will be paid by making a withdrawal from Your Contract Value. Also, the Contract may require that You or Your Beneficiary obtain a signed authorization from Your employer or the Plan Administrator to exercise certain rights. We may rely on the Plan Administrator’s statements to Us as to the terms of the Plan or Your entitlement to any amounts. We are not a party to the retirement Plan. We will not be responsible for determining what the Plan says. You should consult the Contract and Plan document to see how You may be affected. If You are a Texas Optional Retirement Program participant, please see Appendix C for specific information which applies to You.
403(b) Plan Terminations
Upon a 403(b) Plan termination, Your employer is required to distribute Your Plan benefits under the Contract to You. Your employer may permit You to receive Your distribution of Your 403(b) Plan benefit in cash or in the form of the Contract.
If You elect to receive Your distributions in cash, the distribution is a withdrawal under the Contract, and any amounts withdrawn are subject to applicable withdrawal charges. Outstanding loans will be satisfied (paid) from Your cash benefit prior to its distribution to You. In addition, Your cash distributions are subject to withholding, ordinary income tax and applicable federal income tax penalties. (See “Federal Tax Considerations.”) Withdrawal charges will be waived if the net distribution is made under the exceptions listed in the "Withdrawal Charge" section of this prospectus. However, if Your employer chooses to distribute cash as the default option, Your employer may not give You the opportunity to instruct the Company to make, at a minimum, a direct transfer to another funding option or Annuity contract issued by Us or by one of Our affiliates, which may avoid a withdrawal charge. In that case, You will receive the net cash distribution, less any applicable withdrawal charge and withholding. In addition, You would forfeit any accrued guaranteed death benefit.
If You receive the distribution in form of the Contract, We will continue to administer the Contract according to its terms. However in that case, You may not make any additional Purchase Payments or take any loans. In addition, the Company will rely on You to provide certain information that would otherwise be provided to the Company by the employer or Plan Administrator. The employer may choose distribution of the Contract as the default option. The employer may not choose distribution of a Contract as a default option when that Contract is an investment vehicle for a Section 403(b) ERISA Plan.
Other Plan Terminations
Upon termination of a retirement plan that is not a Section 403(b) plan, Your employer is generally required to distribute Your Plan benefits under the Contract to You.
This distribution is in cash. The distribution is a withdrawal under the Contract and any amounts withdrawn are subject to any applicable withdrawal charges. Outstanding loans, if available, will be satisfied (paid) from Your cash benefit prior to its distribution to You. In addition, Your cash distributions are subject to withholding, ordinary income tax and applicable federal income tax penalties. (See “Federal Tax Considerations.”) Withdrawal charges will be waived if the net distribution is made under the exceptions listed in the "Withdrawal Charge" section of this prospectus. However, Your employer may not give You the opportunity to instruct the Company to make, at a minimum, a direct transfer to another funding option or Annuity contract issued by Us or one of Our affiliates which may avoid a withdrawal charge. In that case, You will receive the net cash distribution, less any applicable withdrawal charge and withholding.
The Annuity Contract

Universal Annuity is a Contract between the Contract Owner and the Company. This is the prospectus — it is not the Contract. Your rights and obligations under the Contract will be determined by the language of the Contract itself. When You receive Your Contract, We suggest You read it promptly and carefully. This prospectus describes all the
13

 


material features of the Contract. There may be differences in Your Contract from the descriptions in this prospectus because of the requirements of the state where We issued Your Contract. We will include any such differences in Your Contract.
The Company offers several different Annuities that Your financial representative (where applicable) may be authorized to offer to You. Each Annuity offers different features and benefits that may be appropriate for You. In particular, the Annuities differ based on variations in the standard and optional death benefit protection provided for Your Beneficiaries, the availability of optional living benefits, the ability to access Your Contract Value if necessary and the charges that You will be subject to if You make a withdrawal or surrender the Annuity. The Separate Account charges and other charges may be different between each Annuity We offer. Optional death benefits and living benefits are subject to a separate charge for the additional protections they offer to You and Your Beneficiaries. Furthermore, Annuities that offer greater flexibility to access Your Contract Value generally are subject to higher Separate Account charges than Annuities that deduct charges if You make a withdrawal or surrender.
We encourage You to evaluate the fees, expenses, benefits and features of this Annuity Contract against those of other investment products, including other Annuity products offered by Us and other insurance companies. Before purchasing this or any other investment product You should consider whether the product You purchase is consistent with Your risk tolerance, investment objectives, investment time horizon, financial and tax situation, liquidity needs and how You intend to use the Annuity.
You make Purchase Payments to Us, and We credit them to Your Contract. We promise to pay You an income, in the form of Annuity Payments, beginning on a future date that You choose, the Maturity Date . The Purchase Payments accumulate tax-deferred in the Funding Options of Your choice. We offer multiple Funding Options. We may also offer a Fixed Account option. Where permitted by law, We reserve the right to restrict Purchase Payments into the Fixed Account whenever the credited interest rate on the Fixed Account is equal to the minimum guaranteed interest rate specified under the Contract. The Contract Owner assumes the risk of gain or loss according to the performance of the Funding Options. The Contract Value is the amount of Purchase Payments, plus or minus any investment experience on the amounts You allocate to the Separate Account (“Separate Account Contract Value”) or interest on the amounts You allocate to the Fixed Account (“Fixed Account Contract Value”). The Contract Value also reflects all withdrawals made and charges deducted. There is generally no guarantee that at the Maturity Date the Contract Value will equal or exceed the total Purchase Payments made under the Contract. The date the Contract and its benefits become effective is referred to as the Contract Date. Each twelve-month period following the Contract Date is called a Contract Year.
Certain changes and elections must be made in writing to the Company. Where the term “Written Request” is used, it means that You must send written information to Our Home Office in a form and content satisfactory to Us.
The Contract is available for purchase to owners and Annuitants age 80 or under as of the Contract Date. If this Contract is purchased through a Qualified Plan, the maximum age is 70 12.
Purchase of this Contract through a tax-qualified retirement Plan or individual retirement plan (“IRA”) does not provide any additional tax deferral benefits beyond those provided by the Plan or the IRA. Accordingly, if You are purchasing this Contract through a Plan or IRA, You should consider purchasing this Contract for its death benefit, Annuity option benefits, and other non-tax-related benefits. You should consult with Your financial representative (where applicable) to determine if this Contract is appropriate for You.
Non-Natural Persons as Owners or Beneficiaries
If a non-natural person, such as a trust, is the owner of a non-qualified Contract, the distribution on death rules under the Code may require payment to begin earlier than expected and may impact the usefulness of the living (if any) and/or death benefits. Naming a non-natural person, such as a trust or estate, as a Beneficiary under the Contract will generally eliminate the Beneficiary's ability to "stretch" or a spousal Beneficiary's ability to continue the Contract and the living (if any) and/or death benefits.
Contract Owner Inquiries
Any questions You have about Your Contract should be directed to Our Home Office at 1-800-233-3591.
We are not a fiduciary and do not give advice or make recommendations regarding insurance or investment products. Ask Your financial representative for guidance regarding any requests or elections and for information about Your particular investment needs. Please bear in mind that Your financial representative, or any financial firm or financial
14

 


professional You consult to provide advice, is not acting on Our behalf. We do not recommend and are not responsible for any securities transactions or investment strategies involving securities (including account recommendations).
Purchase Payments
Your initial Purchase Payment is due and payable before the Contract becomes effective. Purchase Payments may be made at any time while the Annuitant is alive and before Annuity Payments begin. Minimum average Purchase Payment amounts are:
individual retirement Annuities: $1,000
•    other tax-qualified retirement Plans: $20 per Participant (subject to Plan requirements)
•    non-qualified Contracts: $1,000; minimum of $100 for subsequent payment.
We will apply the initial Purchase Payment less any applicable Premium Tax within two Business Days after We receive it at Our Home Office in Good Order. If Your request or other information accompanying the initial Purchase Payment is incomplete when received, We will hold the Purchase Payment for up to five Business Days. If We cannot obtain the necessary information within five Business Days of Our receipt, We will return the Purchase Payment in full, unless You specifically consent for Us to keep it until You provide the necessary information.
We accept Purchase Payments made by check or cashier’s check. We do not accept cash, money orders or traveler’s checks. We may refuse to accept Purchase Payments over $1,000,000. We reserve the right to refuse Purchase Payments made via a personal check in excess of $100,000. Purchase Payments over $100,000 may be accepted in other forms, including but not limited to, EFT/wire transfers, certified checks, corporate checks, and checks written on financial institutions. The form in which We receive a Purchase Payment may determine how soon subsequent disbursement requests may be fulfilled. (See “Access To Your Money.”)
We will credit subsequent Purchase Payments to a Contract on the same Business Day We receive it, if received in Good Order by Our Home Office prior to close of regular trading on the NYSE (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). If We receive the Purchase Payment after close of the NYSE, We will credit the Purchase Payment to the Contract on the next Business Day. If Purchase Payments on Your behalf are not submitted to Us in a timely manner or in Good Order, there may be a delay in when amounts are credited.
We will provide You with the address of the office to which Purchase Payments are to be sent.
If You send Purchase Payments or transaction requests to an address other than the one We have designated for receipt of such Purchase Payments or requests, they will not be in Good Order. We may return the Purchase Payment to You, or there may be a delay in applying the Purchase Payment or transaction to Your Contract.
Purchase Payments — Section 403(b) Plans
The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) announced new regulations affecting Section 403(b) Plans and arrangements. As part of these regulations, which generally are effective January 1, 2009, employers will need to meet certain requirements in order for their employees’ Annuity contracts that fund these programs to retain a tax deferred status under Section 403(b). Prior to the new rules, transfers of one Annuity contract to another would not result in a loss of tax deferred status under 403(b) under certain conditions (so-called “90-24 transfers”). The new regulations have the following effect regarding transfers: (1) a newly issued contract funded by a transfer which is completed AFTER September 24, 2007, is subject to the employer requirements referred to above; (2) additional Purchase Payments made AFTER September 24, 2007, to a contract that was funded by a 90-24 transfer ON OR BEFORE September 24, 2007, MAY subject the contract to this new employer requirement.
If Your Contract was issued previously as a result of a 90-24 transfer completed on or before September 24, 2007, and You have never made salary reduction contributions into Your Contract, We urge You to consult with Your tax adviser prior to making additional Purchase Payments.
Accumulation Units
The period between the Contract Date and the Maturity Date is the Accumulation Period. During the Accumulation Period, Accumulation Units are used to calculate the value of a Contract. Each Funding Option has a corresponding Accumulation Unit value. The Accumulation Units are valued each Valuation Date and their values may increase or
15

 


decrease from day to day. The daily change in value of an Accumulation Unit each day is based on the investment performance of the corresponding Underlying Fund, and the deduction of Separate Account charges shown in the Fee Table in this prospectus. The number of Accumulation Units We will credit to Your Contract once We receive a Purchase Payment or transfer request (or liquidate for a withdrawal request) is determined by dividing the amount directed to each Funding Option (or taken from each Funding Option) by the value of its Accumulation Units next determined after receipt of a Purchase Payment or transfer request (or withdrawal request). We calculate the value of an Accumulation Unit for each Funding Option as of the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each Valuation Date. After the value is calculated, We adjust Your Contract Value accordingly. During the Annuity Period (i.e., after the Maturity Date), You are credited with Annuity Units.
Accumulation Unit Value. The value of the Accumulation Units for each Funding Option was initially established at $1.00. The value of an Accumulation Unit on any Valuation Date is determined by multiplying the value on the preceding Valuation Date by 1.000 plus the net investment factor for the Valuation Period just ended. The net investment factor is used to measure the investment performance of a Funding Option from one Valuation Period to the next. The net investment factor for a Funding Option for any Valuation Period is equal to (a) minus (b), divided by (c) where:
(a) = investment income plus capital gains and losses (whether realized or unrealized);
(b) = any deduction for applicable taxes (presently zero); and
(c) = the value of the assets of the Funding Option at the beginning of the Valuation Period.
The net investment factor may be either positive or negative. A Funding Option’s investment income includes any distribution whose ex-dividend date occurs during the Valuation Period. The net investment factor is then reduced by a maximum charge of 0.000034247 for each day in the Valuation Period which is the daily equivalent of the maximum annual Separate Account Charge.
The Funding Options
You choose the Funding Options to which You allocate Your Purchase Payments. These Funding Options are Subaccounts of the Separate Account. The Subaccounts invest in the Underlying Funds. You are not investing directly in the Underlying Fund. Each Underlying Fund is a portfolio of an open-end management investment company that is registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act. These Underlying Funds are not publicly traded and are only offered through Variable Annuity contracts, variable life insurance products, and maybe in some instances, certain retirement Plans. They are not the same retail mutual funds as those offered outside of a Variable Annuity or variable life insurance product, although the investment practices and fund names may be similar and the portfolio managers may be identical. Accordingly, the performance of the retail mutual fund is likely to be different from that of the Underlying Fund.
Information regarding each Underlying Fund, including its name, its type (e.g. money market fund, bond fund, balanced fund, etc.) or a brief statement concerning its investment objective, its investment adviser and any subadviser, current expenses and performance is available in Appendix A to this prospectus. Each Underlying Fund has issued a prospectus that contains more detailed information about the Underlying Fund.
We select the Underlying Funds offered through this Contract based on a number of criteria, including asset class coverage, the strength of the adviser’s or subadviser’s reputation and tenure, brand recognition, performance, and the capability and qualification of each investment firm. Another factor We consider during the selection process is whether the Underlying Fund’s adviser or subadviser is one of Our affiliates or whether the Underlying Fund, its adviser, its subadviser(s), or an affiliate will make payments to Us or Our affiliates. In this regard, the profit distributions We receive from Our affiliated investment advisers are a component of the total revenue that We consider in configuring the features and investment choices available in the variable insurance products that We and Our affiliated insurance companies issue. Since We and Our affiliated insurance companies may benefit more from the allocation of assets to portfolios advised by Our affiliates than those that are not, We may be more inclined to offer portfolios advised by Our affiliates in the variable insurance products We issue. For additional information on these arrangements, see “Payments We Receive.” From time to time We may make new Funding Options available. In addition, We review the Underlying Funds periodically and may remove an Underlying Fund or limit its availability to new Purchase Payments and/or transfers of Contract Value if We determine that the Underlying Fund no longer meets one or more of the selection criteria, and/or if the Underlying Fund has not attracted significant allocations from Contract Owners. In some cases, We have included Underlying Funds based on recommendations made by broker-dealer firms. These broker-dealer firms may receive payments from the Underlying Funds they recommend and
16

 


may benefit accordingly from the allocation of Contract Value to such Underlying Funds. When the Company develops a Variable Annuity product in cooperation with a fund family or distributor (e.g., a “private label” product) the Company will generally include Underlying Funds based on recommendations made by the fund family or distributor, whose selection criteria may differ from the Company’s selection criteria.
We do not provide any investment advice and do not recommend or endorse any particular Underlying Fund. You bear the risk of any decline in the Contract Value of Your Contract resulting from the performance of the Underlying Funds You have chosen.
If investment in the Underlying Funds or a particular Underlying Fund is no longer possible, in Our judgment becomes inappropriate for purposes of the Contract, or for any other reason in Our sole discretion, We may substitute another Underlying Fund or Underlying Funds without Your consent. The substituted Underlying Fund may have higher fees and expenses. Substitution may be made with respect to existing investments or the investment of future Purchase Payments, or both. However, We will not make such substitution without any necessary approval of the SEC and applicable state insurance departments. Furthermore, We may close Underlying Funds to allocations of Purchase Payments, Contract Value, or both, at any time in Our sole discretion.
Payments We Receive. As described above, an investment adviser (other than Our affiliate, Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC) or subadviser of an Underlying Fund, or its affiliates, may make payments to the Company and/or certain of Our affiliates. These payments may be used for a variety of purposes, including payment of expenses for certain administrative, marketing and support services with respect to the Contracts and, in the Company’s role as an intermediary with respect to the Underlying Funds. The Company and its affiliates may profit from these payments. These payments may be derived, in whole or in part, from the advisory fee deducted from Underlying Fund assets. Contract Owners, through their indirect investment in the Underlying Funds, bear the costs of these advisory fees (see the Underlying Funds’ prospectuses for more information). The amount of the payments We receive is based on a percentage of the assets of the Underlying Funds attributable to the Contracts and certain other variable insurance products that the Company and its affiliates issue. These percentages differ and some advisers or subadvisers (or other affiliates) may pay the Company more than others. These percentages currently range up to 0.50%.
Additionally, an investment adviser (other than Our affiliate, Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC) or subadviser of an Underlying Fund or its affiliates may provide the Company with wholesaling services that assist in the distribution of the Contracts and may pay the Company and/or certain of Our affiliates amounts to participate in sales meetings. These amounts may be significant and may provide the adviser or subadviser (or their affiliates) with increased access to persons involved in the distribution of the Contracts.
The Company and/or certain of its affiliated insurance companies have joint ownership interests in its affiliated investment adviser Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC, which is formed as a “limited liability company.” The Company’s ownership interests in Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC entitle Us to profit distributions if the adviser makes a profit with respect to the advisory fees it receives from the Underlying Funds. The Company will benefit accordingly from assets allocated to the Underlying Funds to the extent they result in profits to the adviser. (See the Underlying Fund prospectuses for information on the management fees paid by the Underlying Funds.)
Certain Underlying Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. An Underlying Fund’s 12b-1 Plan, if any, is described in more detail in the Underlying Fund’s prospectus. (See the Underlying Fund prospectuses for information on the 12b1 Plan fees paid by the Underlying Funds.) Any payments We receive pursuant to those 12b-1 Plans are paid to Us or Our distributor. Payments under an Underlying Fund’s 12b-1 Plan decrease the Underlying Fund’s investment return.
Fixed Account

We may offer Our Fixed Account as a funding option. Please refer to Your Contract and Appendix D for more information.
17

 


Charges and Deductions

General
We deduct the charges described below. The charges are for the services and benefits We provide, costs and expenses We incur, and risks We assume under the Contracts. Services and benefits We provide include:
the ability for You to make withdrawals and surrenders under the Contracts;
the death benefit paid on the death of the Contract Owner, Annuitant, or first of the joint owners;
the available Funding Options and related programs (including dollar cost averaging, portfolio rebalancing, and systematic withdrawal programs);
administration of the Annuity options available under the Contracts; and
the distribution of various reports to Contract Owners.
Costs and expenses We incur include:
losses associated with various overhead and other expenses associated with providing the services and benefits provided by the Contracts;
sales and marketing expenses including commission payments to Your sales agent; and
other costs of doing business.
Risks We assume include:
that Annuitants may live longer than estimated when the Annuity factors under the Contracts were established;
that the amount of the death benefit will be greater than the Contract Value; and
that the costs of providing the services and benefits under the Contracts will exceed the charges deducted.
We may also deduct a charge for taxes.
Unless otherwise specified, charges are deducted proportionately from all Funding Options in which You are invested.
We may reduce or eliminate the withdrawal charge, the administrative charges and/or the mortality and expense risk charge under the Contract based upon characteristics of the group. Such characteristics include, but are not limited to, the nature of the group, size, facility by which Purchase Payments will be paid, and aggregate amount of anticipated persistency. The availability of a reduction or elimination of the withdrawal charge or the administrative charge will be made in a reasonable manner and will not be unfairly discriminatory to the interest of any Contract Owner.
The amount of a charge may not necessarily correspond to the costs associated with providing the services or benefits indicated by the designated charge. For example, the withdrawal charge We collect may not fully cover all of the sales and distribution expenses We actually incur. The amount of any fee or charge is not impacted by an outstanding loan. We may also profit on one or more of the charges. We may use any such profits for any corporate purpose, including the payment of sales expenses.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge / Withdrawal Charge
We do not deduct a sales charge from Purchase Payments when they are made to the Contract. However, a withdrawal charge (deferred sales charge) of 5% will apply if a Purchase Payment is withdrawn within five years of its payment date. This deferred sales charge is deducted only from Purchase Payments withdrawn, not on growth. For this calculation, the five years is measured from the first day of the month the payment is made.
In the case of a partial withdrawal, payments made first will be considered to be withdrawn first (“first in, first out”). In no event may the withdrawal charge exceed 5% of premiums paid in the five years immediately preceding the withdrawal date, nor may the charge exceed 5% of the amount withdrawn.
For purposes of the withdrawal charge calculation, withdrawals will be deemed to be taken first from:
(a) any Purchase Payments to which no withdrawal charge applies, then
18

 


(b) any remaining free withdrawal allowance (as described below) after reduction by the amount of (a), then
(c) any Purchase Payments to which withdrawal charges apply (on a first-in, first-out basis) and, finally
(d) from any Contract earnings
Unless You instruct Us otherwise, We will deduct the withdrawal charge from the amount requested.
Divorce. A withdrawal made pursuant to a divorce or separation instrument is subject to the same withdrawal charge provisions described in this section, if permissible under tax law. In addition, the withdrawal will reduce the Contract Value and the death benefit. The withdrawal could have a significant negative impact on the death benefit.
We will not deduct a withdrawal charge if Purchase Payments are distributed:
from death proceeds
after the first Contract Year, upon election of an Annuity payout (based upon life expectancy) or due to minimum distribution requirements
The withdrawal charge will be waived if:
an Annuity payout is begun after the first Contract Year
the Participant under a group Contract or Annuitant under an individual Contract dies
the Participant under a group Contract or Annuitant under an individual Contract becomes disabled (as defined by the IRS) subsequent to purchase of the Contract
the Participant under a group Contract, or Annuitant under an individual Contract, under a tax-deferred Annuity Plan (403(b) Plan) retires after age 55, provided the Contract has been in effect five years or more and provided the payment is made to the Contract Owner or Participant, as provided in the Plan
the Participant under a group Contract, or Annuitant under an individual Contract, under an IRA reaches age 72 (age 70 12, if you were born on or before June 30, 1949), provided the Contract has been in effect five years or more
the Participant under a group Contract, or Annuitant under an individual Contract, under a qualified pension or profit-sharing Plan (including a 401(k) Plan) retires at or after age 59 12, provided the Contract, as applicable has been in effect five years or more; or if refunds are made to satisfy the anti-discrimination test. (For those Participants under Contracts issued before May 1, 1992, the withdrawal charge will also be waived if the Participant or Annuitant retires at normal retirement age (as defined by the Plan), provided the Contract, as applicable has been in effect one year or more)
the Participant under a Section 457 deferred compensation Plan retires and the Contract has been in effect five years or more, or if a financial hardship or disability withdrawal has been allowed by the Plan Administrator under applicable IRS rules
for group Contracts, the Participant under a Section 457 deferred compensation Plan established by the Deferred Compensation Board of the state of New York or a “public employer” in that state (as defined in Section 5 of the New York State Finance Laws) terminates employment. The withdrawal charge will also be waived for such a Plan at the termination date specified in the Contract
for group Contracts, the Participant under a pension or profit-sharing Plan, including a 401(k) Plan, Section 457 deferred compensation Plan, or a tax deferred Annuity Plan (403(b) Plan) that is subject to the ERISA retires at normal retirement age (as defined by the Plan) or terminates employment, provided that the Contract Owner purchases this Contract in conjunction with a group unallocated flexible Annuity Contract issued by the Company;
for group Contracts, if permitted in Your state, the Participant under a tax deferred Annuity Plan (403(b) Plan), 401(k) Plan, 401(a) Plan, Section 457 deferred compensation Plan, or 403(a) arrangement, makes a direct transfer to another funding option or Annuity contract issued by Us or by one of Our affiliates and We agree; or
the Participant under a group Qualified Contract or Annuitant under an individual Qualified Contract, takes a withdrawal to avoid required Federal income tax penalties. This waiver applies to amounts required to be distributed under the Code from this Contract.
19

 


Free Withdrawal Allowance
Beginning in the second Contract Year and prior to the Maturity Date, You may withdraw up to 10% of the Contract Value annually without the imposition of any applicable withdrawal charges. We refer to this as Your free withdrawal allowance. We calculate the free withdrawal allowance as of the end of the previous Contract Year. The 10% free withdrawal allowance may not exceed the amount of total Purchase Payments no longer subject to a withdrawal charge. The free withdrawal allowance is not cumulative (for example only using 5% of the free withdrawal allowance in a Contract Year does not allow a 15% free withdrawal allowance in the next Contract Year). The free withdrawal provision applies to all withdrawals. You may withdraw the free withdrawal allowance during the first Contract Year if taken under a systematic withdrawal program.
Any withdrawal is subject to federal income taxes on the taxable portion. In addition, a 10% federal penalty tax may be assessed on any withdrawal if the Contract Owner is under age 59 12. You should consult with Your tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of a withdrawal.
Contract Administrative Charge
We deduct a semiannual Contract administrative charge of $15 in June and December of each Contract Year for each Individual Account maintained. This charge is applied pro-rata to the Subaccounts. We will also prorate this charge (i.e., calculate) from the date of purchase or participation in the Plan. The charge compensates Us for expenses incurred in establishing and maintaining the Contract. We will also prorate this charge if You surrender Your Contract, or if We terminate Your Contract. This charge will not be deducted from amounts held in the Fixed Account.
Base Contract Charge--Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
Each Business Day, We deduct a mortality and expense risk (“M&E”) charge from amounts We hold in the Funding Options. We reflect the deduction in Our calculation of Accumulation and Annuity Unit values. The charges stated are the maximum for this product. This charge is equal to 1.25% annually. This charge compensates the Company for risks assumed, benefits provided and expenses incurred, including the payment of commissions to Your sales agent.
Underlying Fund Fees and Expenses
We summarized the charges and expenses of the Underlying Funds in the fee table. Please review the prospectus for each Underlying Fund for a more complete description of that fund and its expenses. Underlying Fund expenses are not fixed or guaranteed and are subject to change by the Underlying Fund.
Variable Liquidity Benefit Charge
If the Variable Liquidity Benefit is selected, there is a charge of 5% of the amounts withdrawn during the Annuity Period for the first five years following the initial Purchase Payment. Starting in year six, the Variable Liquidity Benefit charge is zero. This charge is not assessed during the Accumulation Period. (Please refer to “Payment Options” section for a description of this benefit.)
Premium Tax
Certain state and local governments charge Premium Taxes ranging from 0% to 3.5%, depending upon jurisdiction. We are responsible for paying these taxes and will determine the method used to recover Premium Tax expenses incurred. We may deduct any applicable Premium Taxes from Your Contract Value either upon death, surrender, annuitization, or at the time You make Purchase Payments to the Contract, but no earlier than when We have a tax liability under state law.
Income Taxes
We reserve the right to deduct from the Contract for any income taxes which we incur because of the Contract. In general, we believe under current Federal income tax law, we are entitled to hold reserves with respect to the Contract that offset Separate Account income. If this should change, it is possible we could incur income tax with respect to the Contract, and in that event we may deduct such tax from the Contract. At the present time, however, we are not incurring any such income tax or making any such deductions.
20

 


Changes in Taxes Based upon Premium or Value
If there is any change in a law assessing taxes against the Company based upon premiums, Contract gains or value of the Contract, We reserve the right to charge You proportionately for this tax.
TPA Administrative Charges
We may be directed by the Contract Owner to deduct charges from Purchase Payments or Contract Values for payment to the Contract Owner, the TPA and/or other specified party. We will send these fees directly to the party specified by the Contract Owner. These charges are not separately levied by the Contract and are not subject to withdrawal charges. Such charges may include maintenance fees, transaction fees, recordkeeping and other administrative fees.
The Company pays selected TPAs, some of which may be owned by or in which Your financial representative (where applicable) has a financial interest, a flat per Participant fee for various services in lieu of Our providing those services to Plan clients directly. We are solely responsible for the payment of these fees, and they are not deducted from Your Contract.
Transfers

Subject to the limitations described below, You may transfer all or part of Your Contract Value between Funding Options at any time up to 30 days before the Maturity Date. After the Maturity Date, You may make transfers only if allowed by Your Contract or with Our consent. Transfer requests received at Our Home Office that are in Good Order before the close of a Business Day will be processed according to the value(s) next computed following the close of business. Transfer requests received on a non-Business Day or after the close of a Business Day will be processed based on the value(s) next computed on the next Business Day.
Where permitted by state law, We reserve the right to restrict transfers from the Funding Options to the Fixed Account whenever the credited interest rate on the Fixed Account is equal to the minimum guaranteed interest rate specified under the Contract. Transfers from the Fixed Account are subject to restrictions described in Appendix D.
Currently, there are no charges for transfers; however, We reserve the right to charge a fee for any transfer request which exceeds twelve per year. Since each Underlying Fund may have different overall expenses, a transfer of Contract Values from one Funding Option to another could result in Your investment becoming subject to higher or lower expenses. Also, when making transfers, You should consider the inherent risks associated with the Funding Options to which Your Contract Value is allocated.
Restrictions on Transfers
Restrictions on Frequent Transfers. Frequent requests from Contract Owners to transfer Contract Value may dilute the value of an Underlying Fund’s shares if the frequent trading involves an attempt to take advantage of pricing inefficiencies created by a lag between a change in the value of the securities held by the Underlying Fund and the reflection of that change in the Underlying Fund’s share price (“arbitrage trading”). Frequent transfers involving arbitrage trading may adversely affect the long-term performance of the Underlying Funds, which may in turn adversely affect Contract Owners and other persons who may have an interest in the Contracts (e.g., Annuitants and Beneficiaries).
We have policies and procedures that attempt to detect and deter frequent transfers in situations where We determine there is a potential for arbitrage trading. Currently, We believe that such situations may be presented in the international, small-cap, and high-yield Underlying Funds. We monitor transfer activity in those Monitored Portfolios:
BlackRock High Yield Portfolio
Brighthouse Small Cap Value Portfolio
Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio
ClearBridge Variable Small Cap Growth Portfolio
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio
High Income Portfolio
Invesco Global Equity Portfolio
Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio
21

 


Janus Henderson Overseas Portfolio
JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio
Loomis Sayles Global Allocation Portfolio
MetLife MSCI EAFE® Index Portfolio
MetLife Russell 2000® Index Portfolio
MFS® Research International Portfolio
Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio
T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio
Templeton Developing Markets VIP Fund
Templeton Foreign VIP Fund
Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio
We employ various means to monitor transfer activity, such as examining the frequency and size of transfers into and out of the Monitored Portfolios within given periods of time. For example, We currently monitor transfer activity to determine if, for each of the Monitored Portfolios, in a three-month period there were two or more “round-trips” of a certain dollar amount or greater. A round-trip is defined as a transfer in followed by a transfer out within the next ten calendar days, or a transfer out followed by a transfer in within the next ten calendar days. In the case of a Contract that has been restricted previously, a single round-trip of a certain dollar amount or greater will trigger the transfer restrictions described below. We do not believe that other Underlying Funds present a significant opportunity to engage in arbitrage trading and therefore do not monitor transfer activity in those Underlying Funds. We may change the Monitored Portfolios at any time without notice in Our sole discretion.
Our policies and procedures may result in transfer restrictions being applied to deter frequent transfers. Currently, when We detect transfer activity in the Monitored Portfolios that exceeds Our current transfer limits, We will issue a warning letter for the first occurrence. If We detect a second occurrence, We will exercise Our contractual right to restrict Your number of transfers to one every six months.
Transfers made under a dollar cost averaging program, a rebalancing program or, if applicable, any asset allocation program described in this prospectus are not treated as transfers when We monitor the frequency of transfers.
The detection and deterrence of harmful transfer activity involves judgments that are inherently subjective, such as the decision to monitor only those Underlying Funds that We believe are susceptible to arbitrage trading or the determination of the transfer limits. Our ability to detect and/or restrict such transfer activity may be limited by operational and technological systems, as well as Our ability to predict strategies employed by Contract Owners to avoid such detection. Our ability to restrict such transfer activity also may be limited by provisions of the Contract. Accordingly, there is no assurance that We will prevent all transfer activity that may adversely affect Contract Owners and other persons with interests in the Contracts. We do not accommodate frequent transfers in any Underlying Fund and there are no arrangements in place to permit any Contract Owner to engage in frequent transfers; We apply Our policies and procedures without exception, waiver, or special arrangement.
The Underlying Funds may have adopted their own policies and procedures with respect to frequent transfers of their respective shares, and We reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures. For example, Underlying Funds may assess a redemption fee (which We reserve the right to collect) on shares held for a relatively short period. The prospectuses for the Underlying Funds describe any such policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the policies and procedures We have adopted. Although We may not have the contractual authority or the operational capacity to apply the frequent transfer policies and procedures of the Underlying Funds, We have entered into a written agreement, as required by SEC regulation, with each Underlying Fund or its principal underwriter that obligates Us to provide to the Underlying Fund promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of an individual Contract Owner, and to execute instructions from the Underlying Fund to restrict or prohibit further Purchase Payments or transfers by specific Contract Owners who violate the frequent transfer policies established by the Underlying Fund.
In addition, Contract Owners and other persons with interests in the Contracts should be aware that the purchase and redemption orders received by the Underlying Funds generally are “omnibus” orders from intermediaries, such as retirement Plans or Separate Accounts funding variable insurance contracts. The omnibus orders reflect the aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual Contract Owners of variable insurance Contracts and/or individual retirement Plan Participants. The omnibus nature of these orders may limit the Underlying Funds in their ability to apply their frequent transfer policies and procedures. In addition, the other insurance companies and/or retirement Plans may have different policies and procedures or may not have any such policies and procedures because of
22

 


contractual limitations. For these reasons, We cannot guarantee that the Underlying Funds (and thus Contract Owners) will not be harmed by transfer activity relating to other insurance companies and/or retirement Plans that may invest in the Underlying Funds. If an Underlying Fund believes that an omnibus order reflects one or more transfer requests from Contract Owners engaged in frequent trading, the Underlying Fund may reject the entire omnibus order.
In accordance with applicable law, We reserve the right to modify or terminate the transfer privilege at any time. We also reserve the right to defer or restrict the transfer privilege at any time that We are unable to purchase or redeem shares of any of the Underlying Funds, including any refusal or restriction on purchases or redemptions of their shares as a result of their own policies and procedures on frequent transfers (even if an entire omnibus order is rejected due to the frequent transfers of a single Contract Owner). You should read the Underlying Fund prospectuses for more details.
Restrictions on Large Transfers. Large transfers may increase brokerage and administrative costs of the Underlying Funds and may disrupt portfolio management strategy, requiring an Underlying Fund to maintain a high cash position and possibly resulting in lost investment opportunities and forced liquidations. We do not monitor for large transfers to or from Underlying Funds except where the portfolio manager of a particular Underlying Fund has brought large transfer activity to Our attention for investigation on a case-by-case basis. For example, some portfolio managers have asked Us to monitor for “block transfers” where transfer requests have been submitted on behalf of multiple Contract Owners by a third party such as an investment adviser. When We detect such large trades, We will issue a warning letter for the first occurrence. If We detect a second occurrence, We will exercise Our contractual right to restrict Your number of transfers to one every six months.
Dollar Cost Averaging
Dollar cost averaging or the pre-authorized transfer program (the “DCA Program”) allows You to transfer a set dollar amount to other Funding Options on a monthly or quarterly basis during the Accumulation Period of the Contract. Using this method, You will purchase more Accumulation Units in a Funding Option if the value per unit is low and will purchase fewer Accumulation Units if the value per unit is high. Therefore, You may achieve a lower-than-average cost per unit in the long run if You have the financial ability to continue the program over a long enough period of time. Dollar cost averaging does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.
You may elect the DCA Program through Written Request or other method acceptable to Us. You must have a minimum total Contract Value of $5,000 to enroll in the DCA Program. The minimum amount that may be transferred through this program is $400. There is no additional fee to participate in the DCA Program.
You may establish pre-authorized transfers of Contract Values from the Fixed Account, subject to certain restrictions. Under the DCA Program, automated transfers from the Fixed Account may not deplete Your Fixed Account Value in less than twelve months from Your enrollment in the DCA Program.
In addition to the DCA Program, within the Fixed Account, We may credit increased interest rates to Contract Owners under an administrative Special DCA Program established at Our discretion, depending on availability and state law. Under this program, the Contract Owner may pre-authorize level transfers to any of the Funding Options under either a 6-Month Program or 12-Month Program. The 6-Month Program and the 12-Month Program will generally have different credited interest rates. Under the 6-Month Program, the interest rate can accrue up to six months on the remaining amounts in the Special DCA Program and We must transfer all Purchase Payments and accrued interest on a level basis to the selected Funding Options in six months. Under the 12-Month Program, the interest rate can accrue up to twelve months on the remaining amounts in the Special DCA Program and We must transfer all Purchase Payments and accrued interest in this DCA Program on a level basis to the selected Funding Options in twelve months.
The pre-authorized transfers will begin after the initial program Purchase Payment and complete enrollment instructions are received by the Company. If We do not receive complete program enrollment instructions within 15 days of receipt of the initial program Purchase Payment, the entire balance in the DCA Program will be transferred into the fixed income Funding Option.
You may start or stop participation in the DCA Program at any time, but You must give the Company at least 30 days’ notice to change any automated transfer instructions that are currently in place. If You stop the Special DCA Program and elect to remain in the Fixed Account, We will credit Your Contract Value for the remainder of six or twelve months with the interest rate for non-DCA Program funds.
23

 


You may only have one DCA Program or Special DCA Program in place at one time. We will allocate any subsequent Purchase Payments We receive within the program period selected to the current Funding Options over the remainder of that program transfer period, unless You direct otherwise.
All provisions and terms of the Contract apply to the DCA and Special DCA Programs, including provisions relating to the transfer of money between Funding Options. Transfers made under any DCA Program will not be counted for purposes of restrictions We may impose on the number of transfers permitted under the Contract. We reserve the right to suspend or modify transfer privileges at any time and to assess a processing fee for this service.
We will terminate Your participation in the DCA Program upon notification of Your death. We reserve the right to terminate the availability of any dollar cost averaging program at any time.
The following examples may help You further understand the DCA Program and Special DCA Program:
Under the DCA Program, You could decide to instruct Us to transfer $1,000 on the first of each month from the BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio to another Funding Option that You have selected, such as the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio. Hypothetically, the $1,000 allocation may have bought 50 Accumulation Units of the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio in January, 65 Accumulation Units in February, and 45 Accumulation Units in March. In these three months, You allocated $3,000 to the MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio which has resulted in 160 Accumulation Units. The value of each Accumulation Unit is an average of the three values used at the time of allocation. This price averaging that occurs via regular purchases over a period of time is referred to as “dollar cost averaging.” If You had allocated the entire $3,000 at one time, the total value might be higher or lower.
Under the Special DCA Program, You could decide to allocate $12,000 to the Fixed Account and instruct Us to make level transfers over 12 months under the 12-Month Program (i.e., $1,000 per month, excluding any credited interest) from the Fixed Account to a Funding Option that You have selected, such as the BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio. The level transfers would result in dollar cost averaging of Accumulation Units in the BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio, similar to the example above. In addition, amounts remaining in the Fixed Account during the 12 month period would be credited interest. At the end of the 12 months, the original $12,000 (plus any credited interest) will have been transferred from the Fixed Account to the BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio.
Access to Your Money

Under a group Contract, before a Participant’s Maturity Date, We will pay all or any portion of that Participant’s Cash Surrender Value, that is, the Contract Value less any withdrawal charge and any Premium Tax not previously deducted, to the Contract Owner or Participant, as provided in the Plan. A group Contract Owner’s account may be surrendered for cash without the consent of any Participant, as provided in the Plan.
The Contract Owner may redeem all or any portion of the Cash Surrender Value any time before the Maturity Date. You may submit a written withdrawal request, which must be received at Our Home Office on or before the Maturity Date, that indicates that the withdrawal should be processed as of the Maturity Date, in which case the request will be deemed to have been received on, and the withdrawal amount will be priced according to, the Accumulation Unit value calculated as of the Maturity Date. Unless You submit a Written Request specifying the Fixed Account or Funding Option(s) from which We are to withdraw amounts, We will make the withdrawal on a pro rata basis. The Cash Surrender Value will be determined as of the close of business after We receive Your surrender request at Our Home Office in Good Order. The Cash Surrender Value may be more or less than the Purchase Payments You made. You may not make withdrawals during the Annuity Period.
For amounts allocated to the Funding Options, We may defer payment of any Cash Surrender Value for a period of up to five Business Days after the Written Request is received. For amounts allocated to the Fixed Account, We may defer payment of any Cash Surrender Value for a period up to six months. In either case, it is Our intent to pay as soon as possible. We cannot process requests for withdrawals that are not in Good Order. We will contact You if there is a deficiency causing a delay and will advise what is needed to act upon the withdrawal request.
We may withhold payment of Cash Surrender Value or a Participant’s loan proceeds if any portion of those proceeds would be derived from a Contract Owner’s check that has not yet cleared (i.e., that could still be dishonored by Your banking institution). We may use telephone, fax, Internet or other means of communication to verify that payment from the Contract Owner’s check has been or will be collected. We will not delay payment longer than necessary for
24

 


Us to verify that payment has been or will be collected. Contract Owners may avoid the possibility of delay in the disbursement of proceeds coming from a check that has not yet cleared by providing Us with a certified check.
For those participating in the Texas Optional Retirement Program, withdrawals may only be made upon termination of employment, retirement or death as provided in the Texas Optional Retirement Program (See Appendix C for additional information).
If Your Contract is issued as part of a 403(b) Plan, there are restrictions on Your ability to make withdrawals from Your Contract. You may not withdraw contributions or earnings made to Your Contract after December 31, 1988 unless You are (a) age 59 12; (b) no longer employed; (c) deceased; (d) disabled; or (e) experiencing a financial hardship. Even if You are experiencing a financial hardship, You may only withdraw contributions, not earnings. You should consult with Your tax adviser before making a withdrawal from Your Contract.
Systematic Withdrawals
Before the Maturity Date, You may choose to withdraw a specified dollar amount (at least $50) on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. For example, you may elect to have $500 withdrawn from your Contract Value automatically every month. We will deduct any applicable Premium Taxes and withdrawal charge. To elect systematic withdrawals You must make the election on the form We provide. We will surrender Accumulation Units pro rata from all Funding Options in which You have an interest, unless You instruct Us otherwise. You may begin or discontinue systematic withdrawals at any time by notifying Us in writing, but You must give at least 30 days’ notice to change any systematic withdrawal instructions that are currently in place. We will also discontinue systematic withdrawals upon notification of Your death.
We reserve the right to discontinue offering systematic withdrawals or to assess a processing fee for this service upon 30 days written notice to Contract Owners.
Each systematic withdrawal is subject to federal income taxes on the taxable portion, and may be subject to withdrawal charges. In addition, a 10% federal penalty tax may be assessed on systematic withdrawals if the Participant is under age 59 12. There is no additional fee for electing systematic withdrawals. You should consult with Your tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of systematic withdrawals.
25

 


Benefits Available Under the Contract

The following table summarizes information about the benefits under the Contract.
Name of Benefit Purpose Standard
or
Optional
Maximum
Fee
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Program Allows You to systematically transfer a set amount from a Funding Option or the Fixed Account (if available) to one or more Funding Options on a monthly or quarterly basis Standard No Charge • Available only during the Accumulation Period
• Must have a minimum total Contract Value of $5,000 to enroll
• Minimum transfer amount is $400
• Fixed Account Value must not be depleted in less than 12 months from date of enrollment
• May only have one DCA program in place at one time
Special
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Program
Allows You to systematically make level transfers from the Fixed Account (if available) to one or more Funding Options over a 6-month or 12-month duration Standard No Charge • Available only during the Accumulation Period
• Fixed Account must be available for investment
• Must have a minimum total Contract Value of $5,000 to enroll
• Minimum transfer amount is $400
• May only have one DCA program in place at one time
• Interest rates credited on amounts in the Fixed Account may differ for 6-month and 12-month durations
Systematic Withdrawal Program Allows You to receive regular automatic withdrawals from Your Contract Standard No Charge1 • Each payment must be at least $50
• Withdrawals may only be on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis
• Must provide at least 30 days’ notice to change instructions
26

 


Name of Benefit Purpose Standard
or
Optional
Maximum
Fee
Brief Description of
Restrictions /
Limitations
Death Benefit Provides a death benefit at least equal to the Contract Value to Your Beneficiary(ies) if You die during the Accumulation Period Standard No Charge • Amount payable depends on multiple factors, such as type of Contract, age at time of death, Contract Value, total Purchase Payments, and prior withdrawals
• Withdrawals may significantly reduce the benefit
Variable Liquidity Benefit Provides liquidity during the Annuity Period by allowing the Owner to take withdrawals during the Annuity Period based on the present value of Your remaining Annuity Payments Optional 5% upon exercise, as a percentage of the amount withdrawn • Only offered in connection with a specific Annuity option that includes payments for a fixed period
• Withdrawals may significantly reduce or eliminate remaining Annuity Payments
1 We reserve the right to discontinue offering systematic withdrawals or to assess a processing fee for this service upon 30 days written notice to Contract Owners.
27

 


Ownership Provisions

Types of Ownership
Contract Owner
The Contract belongs to the Contract Owner named in the Contract (on the Contract Specifications page), or to any other person to whom You subsequently assign the Contract. You may only make an assignment of ownership or a collateral assignment for non-qualified Contracts. You have sole power during the Annuitant’s lifetime to exercise any rights and to receive all benefits given in the Contract provided You have not named an irrevocable Beneficiary and provided You have not assigned the Contract.
You receive all payments while the Annuitant is alive unless You direct them to an alternate recipient. An alternate recipient does not become the Contract Owner.
If this Contract is purchased by a Beneficiary of another Contract who directly transferred the death proceeds due under that Contract, he/she will be granted the same rights the owner has under the Contract except that he/she cannot transfer ownership, take a loan or make additional Purchase Payments. In addition, the purchased Contract will be subject to the federal income tax rules that apply after the death of the owner of the original contract.
Joint Owner. For non-qualified Contracts only, You may name joint owners (e.g., spouses) in a Written Request before the Contract is in effect. Joint owners may independently exercise transfers allowed under the Contract. All other rights of ownership must be exercised by both owners. Joint owners own equal shares of any benefits accruing or payments made to them.
Beneficiary
You name the Beneficiary in a Written Request. The Beneficiary has the right to receive any death benefit proceeds remaining under the Contract upon the death of the Annuitant or Contract Owner. If more than one Beneficiary survives the Annuitant or Contract Owner, they will share equally in benefits unless You recorded different shares with the Company by Written Request before the death of the Annuitant or Contract Owner. In the case of a non-spousal Beneficiary or a spousal Beneficiary who has not chosen to assume the Contract, We will not transfer or otherwise remove the death benefit proceeds from either the Funding Options or the Fixed Account, as most recently elected by the Contract Owner, until the Death Report Date.
Unless You have named an irrevocable Beneficiary, You have the right to change any Beneficiary by Written Request during the lifetime of the Annuitant and while the Contract continues.
Annuitant
The Annuitant is designated in the Contract (on the Contract specifications page), and is the individual on whose life the Maturity Date and the amount of the monthly Annuity Payments depend. You may not change the Annuitant after Your Contract is in effect.
Abandoned Property Requirements
Every state has unclaimed property laws which generally declare non-ERISA annuity contracts to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of three to five years from the contract’s maturity date (the latest day on which Annuity Payments may begin under the Contract) or the date the death benefit is due and payable. For example, if the payment of a death benefit has been triggered, but, if after a thorough search, We are still unable to locate the Beneficiary of the death benefit, or the Beneficiary does not come forward to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, the death benefit will be paid to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the state in which the Beneficiary of the Contract Owner last resided, as shown on Our books and records, or to Our state of domicile. (Escheatment is the formal, legal name of this process.) However, the state is obligated to pay the death benefit (without interest) if Your Beneficiary steps forward to claim it with the proper documentation. To prevent Your Contract’s proceeds from being paid to the state abandoned or unclaimed property office, it is important that You update Your Beneficiary designations, including addresses, if and as they change. Please call 1-800-842-9406 to make such changes.
28

 


Death Benefit

Death Proceeds before the Maturity Date
The following death benefit applies to all Contracts that include a death benefit. We calculate the death benefit amount as of the date Our Home Office receives proof of death and instructions for payment in Good Order. All amounts will be reduced by any outstanding loans, prior withdrawals (including any applicable withdrawal charge) and any Premium Taxes due.
Individual contract   Group contract
If Annuitant dies on or after age 75, and before the Maturity Date:   If Participant dies on or after age 75, and before the Maturity Date:
Amount paid: the Contract Value of the Contract   Amount paid: the Participant’s interest under the Contract
If Annuitant dies before age 75, and before the Maturity Date:   If Participant dies before age 75, and before the Maturity Date:
Amount paid: the greater of (1),(2) or (3) below:   Amount paid: the greatest of (1), (2) or (3) below:
 (1) the Contract Value    (1) the Participant’s interest
 (2) total Purchase Payments    (2) the total Purchase Payments made on behalf of the Participant
 (3) the Contract Value on the most recent 5(th) multiple Contract Year anniversary (i.e., 5(th), 10(th), 15(th), etc.) less any withdrawals made since that anniversary before We receive Due Proof of Death    (3) the Participant’s interest on the most recent 5(th) multiple Certificate year anniversary (i.e., 5(th), 10(th), 15(th), etc.) less any withdrawals made since that anniversary before We receive Due Proof of Death.
For example, for an Individual contract, assume the Contract Value is $10,000, total Purchase Payments are $20,000 and the Contract Value on the most recent 5th multiple year Contract Year anniversary is $15,000. Assume no withdrawals have been made since this last Contract Year anniversary before We received Due Proof of Death. If the Annuitant dies on or after age 75 and before the Maturity Date, the death benefit payable is $10,000. If the Annuitant dies before age 75 and before the Maturity Date, the death benefit payable equals $20,000 (the greater of (1), (2) or (3) above).
For example, for a Group contract, assume the Participant’s interest is $10,000, total Purchase Payments made on behalf of the Participant are $12,000 and the Participant’s interest on the most recent 5th multiple Certificate year anniversary is $15,000. Assume no withdrawals have been made since this last Certificate year anniversary before We received Due Proof of Death. If the Participant dies on or after age 75 and before the Maturity Date, the death benefit payable is $10,000. If the Participant dies before age 75 and before the Maturity Date, the death benefit payable equals $15,000 (the greater of (1), (2) or (3) above).
Payment of Proceeds
We describe the process of paying death benefit proceeds before the Maturity Date in the charts below. The charts do not encompass every situation and are merely intended as a general guide. More detailed information is provided in Your Contract. Also, see “Federal Tax Considerations,” later, for information about federal tax law distribution requirements that apply upon your death. Generally, the person(s) receiving the benefit may request that the proceeds be paid in one sum, including either by check, by placing the amount in an account that earns interest, or by any other method of payment that provides the Beneficiary with immediate and full access to the proceeds, or under other settlement options that We may make available and that comply with applicable tax rules.
If We are notified of Your death before any requested transaction is completed (including transactions under a DCA Program, automatic rebalancing program and systematic withdrawal program) We will cancel the request. As described above, the death benefit will be determined on the Death Report Date.
29

 


Non-qualified Contracts
Before the Maturity Date,
upon the Death of the
The Company Will
Pay the Proceeds to:
Unless Mandatory
Payout Rules
Apply*
Owner (who is not the Annuitant) The Beneficiary (ies), or if none, to the Contract Owner’s estate. Unless the Beneficiary elects to continue the Contract rather than receive the distribution. Yes
Owner (who is the Annuitant) The Beneficiary (ies), or if none, to the Contract Owner’s estate. Unless the Beneficiary elects to continue the Contract rather than receive the distribution. Yes
Annuitant (who is not the Contract Owner) The Beneficiary (ies), or if none, to the Contract Owner. Unless the Beneficiary elects to continue the Contract rather than receive the distribution. Yes
Annuitant (who is the Contract Owner) See death of “owner who is the Annuitant” above.   Yes
Annuitant (where owner is a nonnatural entity/trust) The Beneficiary (ies) (e.g., the trust) or if none, to the owner.   Yes (Death of Annuitant is treated as death of the owner in these circumstances.)
Beneficiary No death proceeds are payable; Contract continues.   N/A
Contingent Beneficiary No death proceeds are payable; Contract continues.   N/A
Qualified Contracts
Before the Maturity Date,
upon the Death of the
The Company Will
Pay the Proceeds to:
Unless Mandatory
Payout Rules
Apply*
Owner/Annuitant The Beneficiary(ies), or if none, to the Contract Owner’s estate. Unless the Beneficiary elects to continue the Contract rather than receive the distribution. Yes
Beneficiary No death proceeds are payable; Contract continues.   N/A
Contingent Beneficiary No death proceeds are payable; Contract continues.   N/A
* Certain payout rules of the Code are triggered upon the death of any Contract Owner. The rules for Non-Qualified Contracts and Qualified Contracts are similar but differ in certain material respects. See “Federal Tax Considerations” for more information on the Code distribution requirements that apply to your type of Contract.
Beneficiary Contract Continuance (not permitted for non-natural Beneficiaries)
If You die before the Maturity Date, and if the value of any Beneficiary’s portion of the death benefit is between $20,000 and $1,000,000 as of the Death Report Date, (more than $1,000,000 is subject to Home Office approval), Your Beneficiary(ies) may elect to continue his/her portion of the Contract, subject to applicable Code distribution
30

 


requirements and other tax law, and take required distributions over time, rather than receive the death benefit in a lump-sum. If the Beneficiary chooses to continue the Contract, the Beneficiary can extend the payout phase of the Contract enabling the Beneficiary to “stretch” the death benefit distributions out over his life expectancy or some other (shorter) period, to the extent permitted by the Code.
If Your Beneficiary elects to continue the Contract, the death benefit will be calculated as of the Death Report Date. The initial Contract Value of the continued Contract (the “adjusted Contract Value”) will equal the greater of the Contract Value or the death benefit calculated on the Death Report Date and will be allocated to the Funding Options in the same proportion as prior to the Death Report Date. If the adjusted Contract Value is allocated to the Funding Options, the Beneficiary bears the investment risk.
The Beneficiary who continues the Contract will be granted the same rights as the owner under the original Contract, except the Beneficiary cannot:
transfer ownership
make additional Purchase Payments
The Beneficiary may also name his/her own Beneficiary (“succeeding Beneficiary”) and has the right to take withdrawals at any time after the Death Report Date without a withdrawal charge. All other fees and charges applicable to the original Contract will also apply to the continued Contract. All benefits and features of the continued Contract will be based on the Beneficiary’s age on the Death Report Date as if the Beneficiary had purchased the Contract with the adjusted Contract Value on the Death Report Date.
Planned Death Benefit
You may request, subject to the requirements of tax law, that rather than receive a lump-sum death benefit, the Beneficiary(ies) receive all or a portion of the death benefit proceeds either:
through an Annuity for life or a period that does not exceed the Beneficiary’s life expectancy, or
under the terms of the Beneficiary Continuance provision described above. If the Beneficiary Continuance provision is selected as a planned death benefit, no surrenders will be allowed other than payments meant to satisfy minimum distribution amounts or systematic withdrawal amounts, if greater
You must make the planned death benefit request as well as any revocation of this request in writing. Upon Your death, Your Beneficiary(ies) cannot revoke or modify this request. If the death benefit at the time We receive Due Proof of Death is less than $2,000, We will only pay a lump sum to the Beneficiary. If periodic payments due under the planned death benefit election are less than $100, We reserve the right to make Annuity Payments at less frequent intervals, resulting in a payment of at least $100 per year. If no Beneficiary is alive when death benefits become payable, We will pay the death benefit as provided in Your Contract. Any planned death benefit option must comply with the federal tax rules that apply to the Beneficiary upon Your death.
Death Proceeds after the Maturity Date
If any Contract Owner, Participant or the Annuitant dies on or after the Maturity Date, the Company will pay the Beneficiary a death benefit consisting of any benefit remaining under the Annuity option then in effect, subject to the requirements of tax law. In the case of a Qualified Contract, those requirements may mean that any remaining payments after your death must be made over a shorter period than originally elected or otherwise adjusted to comply with the tax law.
The Annuity Period

Maturity Date
Under the Contract, You can receive regular payments (“Annuity Payments”). You can choose the month and the year in which those payments begin (“Maturity Date”). You can also choose, subject to the requirements of tax law, among payout options or elect a lump-sum distribution. While the Annuitant is alive, You can change Your selection any time up to the Maturity Date. Annuity Payments will begin on the Maturity Date stated in the Contract unless (1) You fully surrendered the Contract; (2) We paid the proceeds to the Beneficiary before that date; (3) You elected another date; or
31

 


(4) Your Contract was previously terminated pursuant to the terms of the Contract. Annuity Payments are a series of periodic payments (a) for life; (b) for life with either a minimum number of payments or a specific amount assured; or (c) for the joint lifetime of the Annuitant and another person that the Code permits, and thereafter during the lifetime of the survivor. Annuity Payments may also be paid for a fixed period. We may require proof that the Annuitant is alive before Annuity Payments are made. Not all options may be available in all states.
You may choose to annuitize at any time after the first Contract Date anniversary. Unless You elect otherwise, the Maturity Date will be the Annuitant’s 70th birthday for Qualified Contracts and the Annuitant’s 75th birthday for non-qualified Contracts or ten years after the effective date of the Contract, if later. (For Contracts issued in Florida and New York, the Maturity Date You elect may not be later than the Annuitant’s 90th birthday).
At least 30 days before the original Maturity Date, You may elect to extend the Maturity Date to any time prior to the Annuitant’s 85th birthday, or to a later date with Our consent. You may use certain Annuity options taken at the Maturity Date to meet the minimum required distribution requirements of federal tax law, or You may use a program of withdrawals instead. These mandatory distribution requirements take effect generally upon the death of the Contract Owner and, in the case of Qualified Contracts, generally upon either the later of the Contract Owner’s attainment of age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949) or the year You retire from the employer whose Plan is associated with Your Qualified Contract. You should seek independent tax advice regarding the election of minimum required distributions.
These provisions are subject to restrictions that may apply in Your state, restrictions imposed by Your selling firm and Our current established administrative procedures.
Please be aware that once Your Contract is annuitized, You are ineligible to receive the death benefit.
Allocation of Annuity
You may elect to receive Your Annuity Payments in the form of a Variable Annuity, a Fixed Annuity, or a combination of both. If, at the time Annuity Payments begin, You have not made an election, We will apply Your Contract Value to provide an Annuity funded by the same Funding Options as You have selected during the Accumulation Period. At least 30 days before the Maturity Date, You may transfer the Contract Value among the Funding Options in order to change the basis on which We will determine Annuity Payments. (See “Transfers.”)
Variable Annuity
You may choose an Annuity payout that fluctuates depending on the investment experience of the Funding Options. We determine the number of Annuity Units credited to the Contract by dividing the first monthly Annuity Payment attributable to each Funding Option by the corresponding Accumulation Unit value as of 14 days before the date Annuity Payments begin. We use an Annuity Unit to measure the dollar value of an Annuity Payment. The number of Annuity Units (but not their value) remains fixed during the Annuity Period.
Determination of First Annuity Payment. Your Contract contains the tables We use to determine Your first monthly Annuity Payment. If You elect a Variable Annuity, the amount We apply to it will be the Cash Surrender Value as of 14 days before the date Annuity Payments begin, less any applicable Premium Taxes not previously deducted.
The amount of Your first monthly payment depends on the Annuity option You elected and the Annuitant’s adjusted age. Your Contract contains the formula for determining the adjusted age. We determine the total first monthly Annuity Payment by multiplying the benefit per $1,000 of value shown in the Contract tables by the number of thousands of dollars of Contract Value You apply to that Annuity option. The Contract tables factor in an assumed daily net investment factor of 3.5%. We call this Your net investment rate. Your net investment rate corresponds to an annual interest rate of 3.5%. This means that if the annualized investment performance, after expenses, of Your Funding Options is less than 3.5% then the dollar amount of Your Variable Annuity Payments will decrease. However, if the annualized investment performance, after expenses, of Your Funding Options is greater than 3.5% then the dollar amount of Your Variable Annuity Payments will increase.
Determination of Second and Subsequent Annuity Payments. The dollar amount of all subsequent Annuity Payments changes from month to month based on the investment experience of the applicable Funding Options. The total amount of each Annuity Payment will equal the sum of the basic payments in each Funding Option. We determine the actual amounts of these payments by multiplying the number of Annuity Units We credited to each Funding Option by the corresponding Annuity Unit value as of the date 14 days before the date the payment is due.
32

 


Fixed Annuity
You may choose a Fixed Annuity that provides payments that do not vary during the Annuity Period. We will calculate the dollar amount of the first Fixed Annuity Payment (as described under “Variable Annuity”), except that the amount We apply to begin the Annuity will be Your Contract Value as of the date Annuity Payments begin. Payout rates will not be lower than those shown in the Contract. If it would produce a larger payment, the first Fixed Annuity Payment will be determined using the Life Annuity Tables in effect for the same class of Contract Owners on the Maturity Date.
Payment Options

Election of Options
While the Annuitant is alive, You can change Your Annuity option selection any time up to the Maturity Date. Once Annuity Payments have begun, no further elections are allowed.
During the Annuitant’s lifetime, if You do not elect otherwise before the Maturity Date, We will pay You (or another designated payee) the first of a series of monthly Annuity Payments based on the life of the Annuitant, in accordance with Annuity Option 2 (Life Annuity with 120, 180 or 240 monthly payments assured). For certain Qualified Contracts, Annuity Option 4 (Joint and Last Survivor Life Annuity — Annuity Reduced on Death of Primary Payee) will be the automatic option as described in the Contract. (See “Annuity Options.”)
The minimum amount that can be placed under an Annuity option will be $2,000 unless We agree to a lesser amount. If any monthly periodic payment due is less than $20, We reserve the right to make payments at less frequent intervals, or to pay the Contract Value in a lump-sum.
On the Maturity Date, We will pay the amount due under the Contract in accordance with the Payment Option that You select. You may choose to receive a single lump-sum payment. You must elect an option in writing, in a form satisfactory to the Company. Any election made during the lifetime of the Annuitant must be made by the Contract Owner/Participant.
Annuity Options
Where required by state law or under a qualified retirement Plan, the Annuitant’s sex will not be taken into account in calculating Annuity Payments. Annuity rates will not be less than the rates guaranteed by the Contract at the time of purchase for the assumed investment return and Annuity option elected. Due to underwriting, administrative or Code considerations, the choice of your joint Annuitant, the choice of percentage reduction in payments after Your death, and/or the duration of any guarantee period may be limited. Tax rules with respect to decedent Contracts may prohibit election of joint and survivor Annuity options and/or may also prohibit payments for as long as the owner’s life in certain circumstances.
Annuity options that guarantee payments for two lifetimes (joint and last survivor) will result in smaller payments than Annuity options with payments for only one lifetime. Annuity options that guarantee that payments will be made for a certain number of years regardless of whether the Annuitant or joint Annuitant is alive (such as Option 2, as defined below) result in payments that are smaller than with Annuity options without such a guarantee (such as Option 1, Option 3, or Option 4, as defined below). In addition, to the extent the Annuity option has a guarantee period, choosing a shorter guarantee period will result in each payment being larger. Generally, if more than one frequency is permitted under Your Contract, choosing less frequent payments will result in each Annuity payment being larger.
If Your Contract is a Qualified Contract, You must take distributions during Your life in accordance with the minimum required distribution rules set forth in applicable tax law. (See “Federal Tax Considerations.”) Under certain circumstances, You may satisfy those requirements by electing an Annuity option. Upon Your death, if Annuity Payments have already begun under a Qualified Contract, any remaining payments under the Contract also must be made in accordance with applicable tax law. In some cases, those tax laws may require that any remaining payments be made over a shorter period than originally elected or otherwise adjusted to comply with the tax law. If Your Contract is a Non-Qualified Contract, the tax rules that apply upon Your death are similar, but differ in some material respects, from the tax rules for Qualified Contracts. For example, if You die after Annuity Payments have already begun under a Non-Qualified Contract, any remaining payments can continue to be paid, provided that they are paid at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in effect at the time of Your death.
33

 


Option 1 — Life Annuity — No Refund. The Company will make Annuity Payments during the lifetime of the Annuitant, terminating with the last payment preceding death. While this option offers the maximum periodic payments, there is no assurance of a minimum number of payments nor a provision for a death benefit for Beneficiaries.
Option 2 — Life Annuity with 120, 180 or 240 Monthly Payments Assured. The Company will make monthly Annuity Payments during the lifetime of the Annuitant, with the agreement that if, at the death of that person, payments have been made for less than 120, 180 or 240 months, as elected, payments will be continued during the remainder of the period to the Beneficiary designated. The Beneficiary may instead receive a single sum settlement equal to the discounted value of the future payments with the interest rate equivalent to the assumption originally used when the Annuity began.
Option 3 — Joint and Last Survivor Life Annuity — No Refund. The Company will make Annuity Payments during the lifetime of the Annuitant and a second person. When either person dies, We will continue making payments to the survivor. No further payments will be made following the death of the survivor. There is no assurance of a minimum number of payments, nor is there a provision for a death benefit upon the survivor’s death.
Option 4 — Joint and Last Survivor Life Annuity — Annuity Reduced on Death of Primary Payee. The Company will make Annuity Payments during the lifetimes of the Annuitant and a second person. One of the two persons will be designated as the primary payee. The other will be designated as secondary payee. On the death of the secondary payee, if survived by the primary payee, the Company will continue to make monthly Annuity Payments to the primary payee in the same amount that would have been payable during the joint lifetime of the two persons. On the death of the primary payee, if survived by the secondary payee, the Company will continue to make Annuity Payments to the secondary payee in an amount equal to 50% of the payments, which would have been made during the lifetime of the primary payee. No further payments will be made once both payees have died.
Option 5 — Payments for a Fixed Period (Term Certain). We will make periodic payments for the period selected. Please note that Option 5 may not satisfy the minimum required distribution rules for Qualified Contracts. Consult a tax adviser before electing this option.
Option 6 — Unit Refund Life Annuity. The Company will make Annuity Payments during the lifetime of the person on whose life payments are based, terminating with the last payment due before the death of that person, provided that, at death, the Beneficiary will receive in one sum the current dollar value of the number of Annuity Units equal to (a) minus (b) (if that difference is positive) where: (a) is the total amount applied under the option divided by the Annuity Unit value on the due date of the first Annuity Payment, and (b) is the product of the number of the Annuity Units represented by each payment and the number of payments made.
Option 7 — Other Annuity Options. We will make any other arrangements for Annuity Payments as may be mutually agreed upon.
Variable Liquidity Benefit
This benefit is only offered with the Annuity option “Payments for a Fixed Period (Term Certain).”
At any time after annuitization and before death, the Contract Owner may surrender and receive a payment equal to (A) minus (B), where (A) equals the present value of remaining certain payments, and (B) equals a withdrawal charge not to exceed the maximum withdrawal charge rate shown on the Contract Specifications page multiplied by (A). The interest rate used to calculate the present value is a rate 1% higher than the assumed (daily) net investment factor used to calculate the Annuity Payments. The remaining period certain payments are assumed to be level payments equal to the most recent period certain payment prior to the request for this liquidity benefit. A withdrawal charge is not imposed if the surrender is made after the expiration of the withdrawal charge period shown on the specifications page of the Contract.
For example, assume 9 years of annuity payments have been paid under a 10-year period certain Payments for a Fixed Period Annuity Option. At the end of the 9th year, the Contract Owner decides to exercise the Variable Liquidity Benefit feature. Assume the most recent period certain payment prior to the request was $100 a month, then the present value of $100 a month over the remaining 1 year period, assuming an annual effective interest rate of 4.5% (daily net investment factor of 3.50% plus 1%) is $1,176.13. The Variable Liquidity Benefit payable would be: $1,176.13 minus 0 (0% Contingent Deferred Sales Charge multiplied by $1,176.13) = $1,176.13.
34

 


Miscellaneous Contract Provisions

Right to Return
You may return the Contract for a full refund of the Contract Value plus any Contract charges and Premium Taxes You paid (but not any fees and charges the Underlying Fund assessed) within ten days after You receive it (the “right to return period”). The number of days for the right to return period varies by state. Depending on state law, We may refund all of Your Purchase Payments or Your Contract Value. You bear the investment risk of investing in the Funding Options during the right to return period; therefore, if Your state only requires return of Contract Value, the Contract Value returned may be greater or less than Your Purchase Payment.
If You purchase the Contract as an IRA, and return it within the first seven days after delivery, or longer if Your state permits, We will refund Your Purchase Payment in full; during the remainder of the right to return period, We will refund the Contract Value (including charges).
We will determine the Contract Value following the close of the business day on which We receive Your Contract and a Written Request for a refund. Where state law requires a different period, or the return of Purchase Payments or other variations of this provision, We will comply. Refer to Your Contract for any state-specific information.
Termination of Allocated Contracts
We reserve the right to terminate the Contract on any Business Day if the Contract Value as of that date is less than $500 and You have not made Purchase Payments for at least three years, unless otherwise specified by state law. Accordingly, no Contract will be terminated due solely to negative investment performance. Termination will not occur until 31 days after We have mailed notice of termination to the Contract Owner’s last known address and to any assignee of record. If the Contract is terminated, We will pay You the Cash Surrender Value less any applicable Premium Tax, and less any applicable administrative charge. In certain states, We may be required to pay You the Contract Value.
We will not terminate any Contract if at the time the termination would otherwise occur the guaranteed amount under any death benefit is greater than the Contract Value. For all other Contracts, we reserve the right to exercise this termination provision, subject to obtaining any required regulatory approvals. We will not exercise this provision under Contracts issued in New York.
Termination of Group Contract or Account
Termination by Owner — If a Contract Owner or a Participant terminates an account, in whole or in part, while the Contract remains in effect, and the value of the terminated account is to be either paid in cash to You or to a Participant, or transferred to any other funding vehicle, We will pay or transfer the Cash Surrender Value of the terminated account.
If this Contract is terminated, whether or not the Plan is terminated, and the Contract Owner or the Participant, as provided in the Plan, elect that values are not to be paid out in cash or transferred, the Company reserves the right to agree to apply a Participant’s interest either as instructed by the Contract Owner or the Participant, or under one of the options described under Options in the Event of Termination of a Participant.
Termination by Participant — If a Participant terminates an Individual Account, in whole or in part, while the Contract remains in effect; and the value of the terminated Individual Account is to be either paid in cash to the Participant or transferred to any other funding vehicle, We will pay or transfer the Cash Surrender Value of the terminated account.
Termination by the Company and Termination Amount — If the Contract Value in a Participant’s Individual Account is less than the termination amount stated in the Contract, and no premium has been applied to the account for at least three years, We reserve the right to terminate that account, and to move the Contract Value of that Participant’s Individual Account to the owner’s account.
If the Plan does not allow for this movement to the owner’s account, the Contract Value, less any applicable Premium Tax not previously deducted, will be paid to that Participant or to the owner, as provided in the Plan.
We reserve the right to terminate this Contract on any Valuation Date if:
there is no Contract Value in any Participant’s Individual Account,
35

 


the Contract Value of the owner’s account, if any, is less than $500, and
the premium has not been paid for at least three years
If this Contract is terminated, the Contract Value of the owner’s account, if any, less any applicable Premium Tax not previously deducted will be paid to You.
Termination will not occur until 31 days after We have mailed notice of termination to the group Contract Owner or the Participant, as provided in the Plan, at the last known address; and to any assignee of record.
We will not terminate any Contract that includes a guaranteed death benefit if at the time the termination would otherwise occur the guaranteed amount under any death benefit is greater than the Contract Value. For all other Contracts, We reserve the right to exercise this termination provision, subject to obtaining any required regulatory approvals. We will not exercise this provision under Contracts issued in New York. However, if You are the Participant and the Plan determines to terminate the Contract at a time when You have a guaranteed amount under any death benefit that is greater than the Contract Value, You forfeit any guaranteed amount You have accrued under the death benefit upon termination of the Contract.
Options in the Event of Termination of a Participant — In the event that, before a Participant’s Maturity Date, that Participant terminates participation in the Plan, the Contract Owner or that Participant, as provided in the Plan, with respect to that Participant’s interest may elect:
if that Participant is at least 50 years of age, to have that Participant’s interest applied to provide an Annuity option or an income option.
if the Contract is continued, to have that Participant’s interest applied to continue as a paid-up deferred Annuity for that Participant, (i.e., the Contract Value remains in the Contract and the Annuity becomes payable under the same terms and conditions as the Annuity that would have otherwise been payable at the Maturity Date).
to have the Contract Owner or that Participant, as provided in the Plan, receive that Participant’s interest in cash.
if the Participant becomes a Participant under another group Contract of this same type that is in effect with Us, to transfer that Participant’s interest to that group Contract.
to make any other arrangements as may be mutually agreed on.
If this Contract is continued, any Contract Value to which a terminating Participant is not entitled under the Plan will be moved to the owner’s account.
Automatic Benefit — In the event of termination, unless otherwise provided in the Plan, a Participant’s interest will continue as a paid-up deferred Annuity in accordance with option 2 above, if this Contract is continued. Or, if this Contract is terminated, will be paid in cash to the Contract Owner or to that Participant, as provided in the Plan.
Annuity Payments — Termination of this Contract or the Plan will not affect payments being made under any Annuity option, which began before the date of termination.
Distribution from One Account to Another Account
Under a group Contract, the Contract Owner may, as provided for in the Plan, distribute the Contract Value from the owner’s account to one or more Individual Accounts. No distribution will be allowed between Individual Accounts.
The Contract Owner may, as required by and provided for in the Plan, move the Contract Value from any or all Individual Accounts to the owner’s account without a charge.
Change of Contract
For group Contracts, the Company may, at any time, make any changes, including retroactive changes, in the Contract to the extent that the change is required to meet the requirements of any federal law or regulation to which the Company is subject.
Except as provided in the paragraph immediately above, no change may be made in the Contract before the fifth anniversary of the Contract Date, and in no event will changes be made with respect to payments being made by the Company under any Annuity option which has commenced prior to the date of change. On and after the fifth
36

 


anniversary of the Contract Date, the Company reserves the right to change the termination amount (see Termination of Contract or Account), the amount of certain charges and deductions, the calculation of the net investment rate and the unit values, and the Annuity tables. Any change in the Annuity tables will be applicable only to premiums received under the Contract after the change. The ability to make such change lessens the value of mortality and expense guarantees. Other changes (including changes to the administrative charge) may be applicable to all owners’ accounts and Individual Accounts under the Contract, to only the owners’ accounts and Individual Accounts established after the change, or to only premiums received under the Contract after the date of change as the Company declares at the time of change. The Company will give notice to the Contract Owner at least 90 days before the date the change is to take effect.
Required Reports
As often as required by law, but at least once in each Contract Year before the due date of the first Annuity Payment, We will furnish a report showing the number of Accumulation Units credited to the Contract and the corresponding Accumulation Unit value(s) as of the report date for each Funding Option to which the Contract Owner has allocated amounts during the applicable period. The Company will keep all records required under federal and state laws.
Assignment
The Participant may not assign his or her rights under a group Contract. The Contract Owner may assign his or her rights under an individual or a group Contract if allowed by the Plan.
Suspension of Payments
The Company reserves the right to suspend or postpone the date of any payment or determination of values on any Business Day (1) when the NYSE is closed; (2) when trading on the NYSE is restricted; (3) when an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC, so that the sale of securities held in the Separate Account may not reasonably occur, or so that the Company may not reasonably determine the value of the Separate Account’s net assets; or (4) during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for the protection of security holders. At any time, payments from the Fixed Account may be delayed up to 6 months.
Misstatement
We may require proof of age of the Contract Owner, Beneficiary or Annuitant before making any payments under this Contract that are measured by the Contract Owner’s, Beneficiary’s or Annuitant’s life. If the age of the measuring life has been misstated, the amount payable will be the amount that would have been provided at the correct age.
Once Annuity Payments have begun, any overpayments or underpayments will be deducted from or added to the payment or payments made after the adjustment. In certain states, We are required to pay interest on any underpayments.
Funding Options
The Company reserves the right, subject to compliance with the law, to substitute investment alternatives under the Contract and/or offer additional Funding Options.
Certain Variable Annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts may invest in the Underlying Funds simultaneously (called “mixed” and “shared” funding). It is conceivable that in the future it may be disadvantageous to do so. Although the Company and the Underlying Funds do not currently foresee any such disadvantages either to Variable Annuity Contract Owners or variable life policy owners, each Underlying Fund’s Board of Directors intends to monitor events in order to identify any material conflicts between them and to determine what action, if any, should be taken. If a Board of Directors was to conclude that separate funds should be established for variable life and Variable Annuity separate accounts, the Variable Annuity Contract Owners would not bear any of the related expenses, but Variable Annuity Contract Owners and variable life insurance policy owners would no longer have the economies of scale resulting from a larger combined fund.
37

 


The Separate Account

The Company issues the Contract under Separate Account Eleven. Separate Account Eleven was established on November 14, 2002 and is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act. Prior to March 6, 2017, the Separate Account was known as MetLife of CT Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities. Prior to December 8, 2008, the Company issued the Contract under MetLife of CT Fund U for Variable Annuities (“Fund U”). On December 8, 2008 Fund U, along with certain other separate accounts were combined with and into Separate Account Eleven.
We hold the assets of the Separate Account for the exclusive benefit of those who hold interests in the Separate Account, according to the laws of Delaware. Income, gains and losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Separate Account are, in accordance with the Contracts, credited to or charged against the Separate Account without regard to other income, gains and losses of the Company. The assets held by the Separate Account are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business that We may conduct.
All investment income and other distributions of the Funding Options are payable to the Separate Account. We reinvest all such income and/or distributions in shares of the respective Funding Option at net asset value. Shares of the Funding Options are currently sold only to life insurance company separate accounts to fund Variable Annuity and variable life insurance contracts or to qualified pension or retirement Plans as permitted under the Code, and the regulations thereunder.
We reserve the right to transfer the assets of the Separate Account to another separate account, and to modify the structure or operation of the Separate Account, subject to necessary regulatory approvals. If We do so, We will notify you of any such changes and We guarantee that the modification will not affect Your Contract Value.
Obligations under the Contract are obligations of the Company. Any obligations that exceed the assets in the Separate Account are payable by the Company’s general account. The amount of the guaranteed death benefit and Annuity Payments that exceeds the Contract Value is paid from the Company’s general account. Benefit amounts paid from the general account are subject to the financial strength and claims paying ability of the Company and Our long term ability to make such payments and are not guaranteed by Our parent company, Brighthouse Financial, Inc., or by any other party. We issue other Annuity contracts and life insurance policies where We pay all money We owe under those contracts and policies from Our general account. We are regulated as an insurance company under state law, which includes, generally, limits on the amount and type of investments in its general account. However, there is no guarantee that We will be able to meet Our claims paying obligations; there are risks to purchasing any insurance product.
Federal Tax Considerations

Introduction
The following information on taxes is a general discussion of the subject. It is not intended as tax advice. The Code and the provisions of the Code that govern the Contract are complex and subject to change. The applicability of Federal income tax rules may vary with your particular circumstances. This discussion does not include all the Federal income tax rules that may affect You and your Contract. Nor does this discussion address other Federal tax consequences (such as estate and gift taxes, sales to foreign individuals or entities), or state or local tax consequences, which may affect your investment in the Contract. As a result, You should always consult a tax adviser for complete information and advice applicable to your individual situation.
We are not responsible for determining if your employer’s plan or arrangement satisfies the requirements of the Code and/or ERISA.
We do not expect to incur Federal, state or local income taxes on the earnings or realized capital gains attributable to the Separate Account. However, if we do incur such taxes in the future, we reserve the right to charge amounts allocated to the Separate Account for these taxes.
To the extent permitted under Federal tax law, we may claim the benefit of the corporate dividends received deduction and of certain foreign tax credits attributable to taxes paid by certain of the Portfolios to foreign jurisdictions.
38

 


For Federal tax purposes, the term “spouse” refers to the person to whom you are lawfully married, regardless of sex. The term “spouse” generally will not include individuals who are in a registered domestic partnership or civil union not denominated as marriage under state or other applicable law.
Non-Qualified Annuity Contracts
This discussion assumes the Contract is a “non-qualified” annuity Contract for Federal income tax purposes, that is, a Contract not held in a tax qualified plan. Tax qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered annuities (“TSA”), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 408A or “Roth IRAs” or 457(b) plans. Contracts owned through such plans are referred to below as “qualified” contracts.
Accumulation
Generally, an owner of a non-qualified annuity Contract is not taxed on increases in the value of the Contract until there is a distribution from the Contract, i.e., surrender, partial withdrawal, income payment, or commutation. This deferral of taxation on accumulated value in the Contract is limited to Contracts owned by or held for the benefit of “natural persons.” A Contract will be treated as held by a natural person if the nominal owner is a trust or other entity which holds the Contract as an agent for the exclusive benefit of a natural person.
In contrast, a Contract owned by other than a “natural person,” such as a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity (other than a trust holding the Contract as an agent for a natural person), will be taxed currently on the increase in accumulated value in the Contract in the year earned.
Surrenders or Withdrawals − Early Distribution
If You take a withdrawal from your Contract, or surrender your Contract prior to the date You commence taking annuity or “income” payments (the “Annuity Starting Date”), the amount You receive will generally be treated first as coming from earnings, if any, (and thus subject to income tax) and then from your purchase payments (which are not subject to income tax). If the accumulated value is less than your purchase payments upon surrender of your Contract, Your ability to claim any unrecovered purchase payments on your Federal income tax return as a miscellaneous itemized deduction is suspended under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026.
The portion of any withdrawal from an annuity Contract that is subject to income tax will also be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if such withdrawal is taken prior to You reaching age 59 12, unless an exception applies. Exceptions include distributions made:
(a) on account of your death or disability,
(b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually payable for your life (or life expectancy) or joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of You and your designated beneficiary, or
(c) under certain immediate income annuities.
If You receive systematic payments that You intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 12 or within five years after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% Federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include but are not limited to additional purchase payments to the Contract (including tax-free transfers or rollovers) and additional withdrawals from the Contract.
Treatment of Separate Account Charges
It is possible that at some future date the IRS may consider that Contract charges attributable to certain guaranteed death benefits and certain living benefits are to be treated as distributions from the Contract to pay for such non-annuity benefits. Currently, these charges are considered to be an intrinsic part of the Contract and we do not report these as taxable income. However, if this treatment changes in the future, the charge could also be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty as an early distribution, as described above.
39

 


Aggregation
If You purchase two or more deferred annuity Contracts after October 21, 1988, from the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the same calendar year, the law requires that all such Contracts must be treated as a single Contract for purposes of determining whether any payments not received as an annuity (e.g., withdrawals) will be includible in income. Aggregation could affect the amount of a withdrawal that is taxable and subject to the 10% Federal income tax penalty described above. Since the IRS may require aggregation in other circumstances as well, You should consult a tax adviser if You are purchasing more than one annuity Contract from the same insurance company in a single calendar year. Aggregation does not affect distributions paid in the form of an annuity (See “Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form” below).
Exchanges/Transfers
The annuity Contract may be exchanged in whole or in part for another annuity contract or a long-term care insurance policy. An exchange in whole of an annuity contract for another annuity contract or for a qualified long-term care insurance policy will generally be a tax-free transaction under section 1035 of the Code. The partial exchange of an annuity contract may be a tax-free transaction provided that, among other prescribed IRS conditions, no amounts are distributed from either contract involved in the exchange for 180 days following the date of the exchange − other than annuity payments made for life, joint lives, or for a term of 10 years or more. If a distribution is made from either contract within the 180-day period after the exchange or the exchange otherwise fails to satisfy other IRS prescriptions, the IRS reserves the right to characterize the exchange in a manner consistent with its substance, based on general tax principles and all the facts and circumstances. For instance, such distribution from either contract may be taxable to the extent of the combined gain attributable to both contracts, or only to the extent of your gain in the contract from which the distribution is paid. Some of the ramifications of a partial exchange remain unclear. You should consult your tax adviser concerning potential tax consequences prior to any partial exchange or split of annuity contracts.
A transfer of ownership of the Contract, or the designation of an annuitant or other beneficiary who is not also the Contract owner, may result in income or gift tax consequences to the Contract owner. You should consult your tax adviser if You are considering such a transfer or assignment.
Death Benefits
For non-qualified Contracts, the death benefit is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the Contract owner (under the rules for withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
After your death, any death benefit determined under the Contract must be distributed according to certain rules. The method of distribution that is required depends on whether You die before or after the Annuity Starting Date.
If You die on or after the Annuity Starting Date, the remaining portion of the interest in the Contract must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death.
If You die before the Annuity Starting Date, the entire interest in the Contract must be distributed within five (5) years after the date of death, or as periodic payments over a period not extending beyond the life or life expectancy of the designated beneficiary (provided such payments begin within one year of your death) and the beneficiary must be a natural person.
Additionally, if the annuity is payable to (or for the benefit of) your surviving spouse, that portion of the Contract may be continued with your spouse as the owner to the extent permitted by tax law.
For Contracts owned by a non-natural person, the required distribution rules apply upon the death of the annuitant. If there is more than one annuitant of a Contract held by a non-natural person, then such required distributions will be triggered by the death of the first co-annuitant.
Investor Control
In certain circumstances, owners of non-qualified Variable Annuity contracts have been considered to be the owners of the assets of the underlying Separate Account for Federal income tax purposes due to their ability to exercise investment control over those assets. When this is the case, the contract owners have been currently taxed on income and gains attributable to the variable account assets. There is little guidance in this area, and some features of the Contract, such as the number of Portfolios available and the flexibility of the Contract owner to allocate purchase payments and transfer amounts among the Portfolios have not been addressed in public rulings. While we believe that
40

 


the Contract does not give the Contract owner investment control over Separate Account assets, we reserve the right to modify the Contract as necessary to prevent a Contract owner from being treated as the owner of the Separate Account assets supporting the Contract.
Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form
Payments received from the Contract in the form of an annuity are taxable as ordinary income to the extent they exceed the portion of the payment determined by applying the exclusion ratio to the entire payment. The exclusion ratio is determined at the time the Contract is annuitized (i.e., the accumulated value is converted to an annuity form of distribution). Generally, the applicable exclusion ratio is your investment in the Contract divided by the total payments expected to be received based on IRS factors, such as the form of annuity and mortality. The excludable portion of each annuity payment is the return of investment in the Contract and it is excludable from your taxable income until your investment in the Contract is fully recovered. We will make this calculation for You. However, it is possible that the IRS could conclude that the taxable portion of income payments under a non-qualified Contract is an amount greater − or less — than the taxable amount determined by us and reported by us to You and the IRS.
Once You have recovered the investment in the Contract, further annuity payments are fully taxable.
If You die before your investment in the Contract is fully recovered, the balance of your investment may be deducted on your last tax return, or if annuity payments continue after your death, the balance may be recovered by your beneficiary.
The IRS has not furnished explicit guidance as to how the excludable amount is to be determined each year under variable income annuities that permit transfers between a fixed annuity option and variable investment options, as well as transfers between investment options after the Annuity Starting Date.
Once annuity payments have commenced, You may not be able to transfer to another non-qualified annuity contract or a long-term care contract as part of a tax-free exchange.
If the Contract allows, You may elect to convert less than the full value of your Contract to an annuity form of pay-out (i.e., “partial annuitization.”) In this case, your investment in the Contract will be pro-rated between the annuitized portion of the Contract and the deferred portion. An exclusion ratio will apply to the annuity payments as described above, provided the annuity form You elect is payable for at least 10 years or for the life of one or more individuals.
3.8% Tax on Net Investment Income
Federal tax law imposes a 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of:
(1) the taxpayer’s “net investment income,” (from non-qualified annuities, interest, dividends, and other investments, offset by specified allowable deductions), or
(2) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income in excess of a specified income threshold ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly and qualifying widows, $125,000 for married couples filing separately, and $200,000 for single filers).
“Net investment income” in Item 1 above does not include distributions from tax qualified plans, (i.e., arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A or 457(b)), but such income will increase modified adjusted gross income in Item 2 above.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding the applicability of this tax to income under your annuity Contract.
Puerto Rico Tax Considerations
The Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011 (the “2011 PR Code”) taxes distributions from non-qualified annuity contracts differently than in the U.S.
Distributions that are not in the form of an annuity (including partial surrenders and period certain payments) are treated under the 2011 PR Code first as a return of investment. Therefore, a substantial portion of the amounts distributed generally will be excluded from gross income for Puerto Rico tax purposes until the cumulative amount paid exceeds your tax basis.
The amount of income on annuity distributions in annuity form (payable over your lifetime) is also calculated differently under the 2011 PR Code. Since the U.S. source income generated by a Puerto Rico bona fide resident is
41

 


subject to U.S. income tax and the IRS issued guidance in 2004 which indicated that the income from an annuity contract issued by a U.S. life insurer would be considered U.S. source income, the timing of recognition of income from an annuity contract could vary between the two jurisdictions. Although the 2011 PR Code provides a credit against the Puerto Rico income tax for U.S. income taxes paid, an individual may not get full credit because of the timing differences.
You should consult with a personal tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of purchasing an annuity contract and/or any proposed distribution, particularly a partial distribution or election to annuitize if You are a resident of Puerto Rico.
Qualified Annuity Contracts
Introduction
The Contract may be purchased through certain types of retirement plans that receive favorable treatment under the Code (“tax qualified plans” or “qualified plans”). Tax-qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered annuities (“TSA”), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 408A or “Roth IRAs” or 457(b) plans. Extensive special tax rules apply to qualified plans and to the annuity Contracts used in connection with these plans. Therefore, the following discussion provides only general information about the use of the Contract with the various types of qualified plans. Adverse tax consequences may result if You do not ensure that contributions, distributions and other transactions with respect to the Contract comply with the law.
The rights to any benefit under the plan will be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan itself as well as the terms and conditions of the Contract.
We exercise no control over whether a particular retirement plan or a particular contribution to the plan satisfies the applicable requirements of the Code, or whether a particular individual is entitled to participate or benefit under a plan.
All qualified plans and arrangements receive tax deferral under the Code. Since there are no additional tax benefits in funding such retirement arrangements with an annuity, there should be reasons other than tax deferral for acquiring the annuity within the plan. Such non-tax benefits may include additional insurance benefits, such as the availability of a guaranteed income for life.
A Contract may also be available in connection with an employer’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan or qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement to provide benefits to certain employees in the plan. The tax rules regarding these plans are complex. Please consult Your tax adviser about Your particular situation.
Accumulation
The tax rules applicable to qualified plans vary according to the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. Both the amount of the contribution that may be made and the tax deduction or exclusion that You may claim for that contribution under qualified plans are limited under the Code. See the SAI for a description of qualified plan types and annual current contribution limitations which are subject to change from year-to-year.
Purchase payments or contributions to IRAs or tax qualified retirement plans of an employer may be taken from current income on a before tax basis or after tax basis. Purchase payments made on a “before tax” basis entitle You to a tax deduction or are not subject to current income tax. Purchase payments made on an “after tax” basis do not reduce Your taxable income or give You a tax deduction. Contributions may also consist of transfers or rollovers as described below and are not subject to the annual limitations on contributions.
An IRA Contract will accept as a single purchase payment a transfer or rollover from another IRA (including a SEP or SIMPLE IRA) or rollover from an eligible retirement plan of an employer (i.e., 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or governmental 457(b) plan.) A rollover or transfer from a SIMPLE IRA is allowed provided that the taxpayer has participated in such arrangement for at least two years. As part of the single purchase payment, the IRA Contract will also accept an IRA contribution subject to the Code limits for the year of purchase.
For income annuities established in accordance with a distribution option under a retirement plan of an employer (e.g., 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or 457(b) plan), the Contract will only accept as its single purchase payment a transfer from such employer retirement plan.
42

 


Taxation of Annuity Distributions
If contributions are made on a “before tax” basis, You generally pay income taxes on the full amount of money You receive under the Contract. Withdrawals attributable to any after-tax contributions are basis in the Contract and not subject to income tax (except for the portion of the withdrawal allocable to earnings, if any).
Under current federal income tax rules, the taxable portion of distributions under annuity contracts and qualified plans (including IRAs) is not eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends.
If You meet certain requirements, Your Roth IRA, Roth 403(b) and Roth 401(k) earnings can be received free of Federal income taxes.
With respect to IRA Contracts, we will withhold a portion of the taxable amount of Your withdrawal for income taxes, unless You elect otherwise. The amount we will withhold is determined by the Code.
Withdrawals Prior to Age 59 12
A taxable withdrawal from a qualified Contract which is subject to income tax may also be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if taken prior to age 59 12, unless an exception described below applies.
Exceptions to the early distribution penalty for qualified plans include withdrawals or distributions made:
(a) on account of Your death or disability,
(b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments payable for Your life (or life expectancy) or joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of You and Your designated beneficiary and You are separated from employment,
(c) on separation from service after age 55. This rule does not apply to IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs),
(d) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”). This rule does not apply to IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs),
(e) to pay IRS levies (and made after December 31, 1999),
(f) to pay deductible medical expenses, or
(g) in the case of IRAs only, to pay for medical insurance (if You are unemployed), qualified higher education expenses, or for a qualified first time home purchase up to $10,000.
Other exceptions may be applicable under certain circumstances and special rules apply or may become applicable in connection with the exceptions enumerated above.
If You receive systematic payments that You intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any modifications (except due to death or disability) to Your payment before age 59 12 or within five years after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include but are not limited to additional purchase payments to the Contract (including tax-free transfers or rollovers) and additional withdrawals from the Contract.
The 10% Federal income tax penalty on early distribution does not apply to governmental 457(b) plan contracts. However, it does apply to distributions from 457(b) plans of employers which are state or local governments to the extent that the distribution is attributable to rollovers accepted from other types of eligible retirement plans.
Rollovers and Transfers
Your Contract is non-forfeitable (i.e., not subject to the claims of Your creditors) and non-transferable (i.e., You may not transfer it to someone else).
Nevertheless, Contracts held in certain employer plans subject to ERISA may be transferred in part pursuant to a QDRO.
Under certain circumstances, You may be able to transfer amounts distributed from Your Contract to another eligible retirement plan or IRA. For 457(b) plans maintained by non-governmental employers, if certain conditions are met, amounts may be transferred into another 457(b) plan maintained by a non-governmental employer.
43

 


Federal income tax law allows You to make only one rollover from an IRA to another (or the same) IRA in any 12-month period, regardless of the number of IRAs You own. Generally, this limit does not apply to trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs. Because the rollover rules are complex, please consult with Your tax adviser before making an IRA rollover.
Generally, a distribution may be eligible for rollover but certain types of distributions cannot be rolled over, such as distributions received on account of:
(a) minimum distribution requirements,
(b) financial hardship, or
(c) for a period of ten or more years or for life.
20% Withholding on Eligible Rollover Distributions
For certain qualified employer plans, we are required to withhold 20% of the taxable portion of Your withdrawal that constitutes an “eligible rollover distribution” for federal income taxes. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code. You may avoid withholding if You directly transfer a withdrawal from this Contract to another IRA or other qualified plan. Similarly, You may be able to avoid withholding on a transfer into this Contract from an existing qualified plan You may have with another provider by arranging to have the transfer made directly to us. For taxable withdrawals that are not “eligible rollover distributions,” the Code imposes different withholding rules to determine the withholding percentage.
Death Benefits
The death benefit in a qualified Contract is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the Contract owner or plan participant (under the rules for withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
Required Minimum Distribution (“RMD”) amounts are required to be distributed from a qualified annuity Contract (including a Roth IRA) following Your death.
Congress recently changed the RMD rules for individuals who die after 2019. The after-death RMD rules are complex, and you should consult your tax adviser about how they may apply to Your situation.
Effective January 1, 2020, when an IRA owner or participant in a defined contribution plan dies, any remaining interest generally must be distributed within 10 years (or in some cases five years) after his or her death, unless an exception applies. An exception permits an “eligible designated beneficiary” to take distributions over life or a period not exceeding life expectancy, subject to special rules and limitations. An “eligible designated beneficiary” includes: the IRA owner/participant’s spouse or minor child (until the child reaches age of majority), certain disabled or chronically ill individuals, and an individual who is not more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner/participant. We may limit any payment option over life, or a period not exceeding life expectancy.
Generally, distributions under this exception must start by the end of the year following Your death. However, if Your surviving spouse is the sole designated beneficiary, distributions may generally be delayed until December 31 of the year You would have attained age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949) if Your Contract permits.
If You die after Annuity Payments have already begun under a Qualified Contract, any remaining payments under the Contract also must be made in accordance with the RMD rules. In some cases, those rules may require that the remaining payments be made over a shorter period than originally elected or otherwise adjusted to comply with the tax law.
If Your surviving spouse is the sole designated beneficiary of Your Traditional or Roth IRA, then Your surviving spouse may elect to treat the Traditional or Roth IRA as his or her own.
Your designated beneficiary is the person to whom benefit rights under the Contract pass by reason of death. The beneficiary generally must be a natural person in order to elect a periodic payment option based on life expectancy or a period exceeding five years. Different tax rules may apply if Your Beneficiary is not a natural person, such as Your estate.
Your spouse may be able to roll over the death proceeds into another eligible retirement plan in which he or she participates, if permitted under the receiving plan, he or she may elect to rollover the death proceeds into his or her own IRA, or he or she may elect to transfer the death proceeds into an inherited IRA.
44

 


If Your beneficiary is not Your spouse and Your plan and Contract permit, Your beneficiary may be able to rollover the death proceeds via a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer into an inherited IRA. However, a non-spouse beneficiary may not treat the inherited IRA as his or her own IRA.
Additionally, for Contracts issued in connection with qualified plans subject to ERISA, the spouse or ex-spouse of the participant may have rights in the Contract. In such a case, the participant may need the consent of the spouse or ex-spouse to change annuity options or make a withdrawal from the Contract.
Required Minimum Distributions
Generally, You must begin receiving RMD amounts from Your qualified Contract by the Required Beginning Date. Generally, for retirement plans, the “Required Beginning Date” is April 1 following the later of:
(a) the calendar year in which You reach age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949), or
(b) the calendar year You retire, provided You do not own more than 5% of the outstanding stock, capital, or profits of Your employer.
For IRAs (including SEPs and SIMPLEs), the Required Beginning Date by which You must begin receiving withdrawals is the year in which You attain age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949), even if You have not retired, taking Your first distribution no later than April 1 of the year after You reach age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949).
For all subsequent years, including the first year in which You took Your RMD by April 1, You must take the required minimum distribution for the year by December 31st. This will require You to take two distributions in the same calendar year if You wait to take Your first distribution until April 1 of the year after attaining age 72 (age 70 12, if You were born on or before June 30, 1949).
A tax penalty of 50% applies to the shortfall of any required minimum distributions You fail to receive.
You may not satisfy minimum distributions for one employer’s qualified plan (e.g., 401(a), 403(a), 457(b)) with distributions from another qualified plan of the same or a different employer. However, an aggregation rule does apply in the case of IRAs (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) or 403(b) plans. The minimum required distribution is calculated with respect to each IRA, but the aggregate distribution may be taken from any one or more of Your IRAs/SEPs. Similarly, the amount of required minimum distribution is calculated separately with respect to each 403(b) arrangement, but the aggregate amount of the required distribution may be taken from any one or more of the 403(b) plan contracts.
The regulations also require that the value of benefits under a deferred annuity including certain death benefits in excess of Contract value must be added to the amount credited to Your account in computing the amount required to be distributed over the applicable period. We will provide You with additional information regarding the amount that is subject to minimum distribution under this rule. You should consult Your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect Your own distribution under this rule.
If You intend to receive Your minimum distributions in the form of Annuity Payments that are payable over the joint lives of You and a beneficiary or over a guaranteed duration of more than 10 years, be advised that federal tax law may require that, after Your death, any remaining payments be made over a shorter period or be reduced after Your death to satisfy the RMD rules and avoid the 50% excise tax. Other complex rules also apply to RMDs taken in the form of annuity payments. You should consult Your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect Your own Contract.
Required minimum distribution rules that apply to other types of IRAs while You are alive do not apply to Roth IRAs. However, in general, the IRA post-death rules with respect to minimum distributions do apply to beneficiaries of Roth IRAs.
Additional Information Regarding TSA (ERISA and non-ERISA) 403(b)
Special Rules Regarding Exchanges
In order to satisfy tax regulations, contract exchanges within a 403(b) plan after September 24, 2007, must, at a minimum, meet the following requirements: (1) the plan must allow the exchange; (2) the exchange must not result in a reduction in a participant’s or a beneficiary’s accumulated benefit: (3) the receiving contract includes distribution restrictions that are no less stringent than those imposed on the contract being exchanged; and (4) if the issuer
45

 


receiving the exchanges is not part of the plan, the employer enters into an agreement with the issuer to provide information to enable the contract provider to comply with Code requirements. Such information would include details concerning severance from employment, hardship withdrawals, loans and tax basis. You should consult your tax or legal counsel for any advice relating to Contract exchanges or any other matter relating to these regulations.
Withdrawals
If You are under age 59 12, You generally cannot withdraw money from your TSA Contract unless the withdrawal:
1. Related to purchase payments made prior to 1989 and pre-1989 earnings on those purchase payments;
2. Is exchanged to another permissible investment under your 403(b) plan;
3. Relates to contributions to an annuity contract that are not salary reduction elective deferrals, if your plan allows it;
4. Occurs after You die, leave your job or become disabled (as defined by the Code);
5. Is for financial hardship (but only to the extent of elective deferrals), if your plan allows it;
6. Relates to distributions attributable to certain TSA plan terminations, if the conditions of the Code are met;
7. Relates to rollover or after-tax contributions; or
8. Is for the purchase of permissive service credit under a governmental defined benefit plan.
In addition, a Section 403(b) Contract is permitted to distribute retirement benefits attributable to pre-tax contributions other than elective deferrals to the participant no earlier than upon the earlier of the participant’s severance from employment or upon the prior occurrence of some event, such as after a fixed number of years, the attainment of a stated age or disability.
Additional Information regarding IRAs
Purchase payments
Except for permissible rollovers and direct transfers, purchase payments for individuals are limited in the aggregate to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the deductible amount established each year under the Code. A purchase payment up to the deductible amount can also be made for a non-working spouse provided the couple’s compensation is at least equal to their aggregate contributions. Individuals age 50 and older are permitted to make additional “catch-up” contributions if they have sufficient compensation. If You or your spouse are an active participant in a retirement plan of an employer, your deductible contributions may be limited. If You exceed purchase payment limits You may be subject to a tax penalty.
Roth IRA purchase payments for individuals are non-deductible (made on an “after tax” basis) and are limited to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the annual deductible IRA amount. Individuals age 50 and older can make an additional “catch-up” purchase payment each year (assuming the individual has sufficient compensation). You may contribute up to the annual purchase payment limit if your modified adjusted gross income does not exceed certain limits. If You exceed purchase payment limits, You may be subject to a tax penalty.
Withdrawals
If and to the extent that Traditional IRA purchase payments are made on an “after tax” basis, withdrawals would be included in income except for the portion that represents a return of non-deductible purchase payments. This portion is generally determined based upon the ratio of all non-deductible purchase payments to the total value of all your Traditional IRAs (including SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs). We withhold a portion of the amount of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless You elect otherwise. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code.
Generally, withdrawal of earnings from Roth IRAs are free from Federal income tax if (1) they are made at least five taxable years after the tax year for which you made your first purchase payment to a Roth IRA; and (2) they are made on or after the date You reach age 59 12 or upon your death, disability or for a qualified first-home purchase (up to $10,000). Withdrawals from a Roth IRA are made first from purchase payments and then from earnings. We may be required to withhold a portion of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless You elect otherwise. The amount will be determined by the Code.
46

 



Conversion
Traditional IRAs may be converted to Roth IRAs. Except to the extent You have non-deductible contributions, the amount converted from an existing Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA is taxable. Generally, the 10% Federal income tax penalty does not apply. However, the taxable amount to be converted must be based on the fair market value of the entire annuity contract being converted into a Roth IRA. Such fair market value, in general, is to be determined by taking into account the value of all benefits (both living benefits and death benefits) in addition to the Account Balance; as well as adding back certain loads and charges incurred during the prior twelve month period. Your Contract may include such benefits and applicable charges. Accordingly, if You are considering such conversion of your annuity Contract, please consult your tax adviser. The taxable amount may exceed the Account Balance at the date of conversion.
Prior to 2018, contributions made to a Traditional IRA that were converted to a Roth IRA could be recharacterized as made back to the Traditional IRA, if certain conditions were met. Under a provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, recharacterization cannot be used to unwind a conversion from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. For conversions made to a Roth IRA in 2017, the IRS has issued guidance allowing recharacterizations to be made in 2018.
Distinction for Puerto Rico Code
An annuity Contract may be purchased by an employer for an employee under a qualified pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, annuity, or a “cash or deferred” arrangement plan established pursuant to Section 1081.01 of the
Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011 (the “2011 PR Code”). To be tax qualified under the 2011 PR Code, a plan must comply with the requirements of Section 1081.01(a) of the 2011 PR Code which includes certain participation requirements, among other requirements. A trust created to hold assets for a qualified plan is exempt from tax on its investment income.
Contributions
The employer is entitled to a current income tax deduction for contributions made to a qualified plan, subject to statutory limitations on the amount that may be contributed each year. The plan contributions by the employer are not required to be included in the current income of the employee.
Distributions
Any amount received or made available to the employee under the qualified plan is includible in the gross income of the employee in the taxable year in which received or made available. In such case, the amount paid or contributed by the employer shall not constitute consideration paid by the employee for the Contract for purposes of determining the amount of annuity payments required to be included in the employee’s gross income. Thus, amounts actually distributed or made available to any employee under the qualified plan will be included in their entirety in the employee’s gross income. The value of accrued benefits in a qualified retirement plan with respect to which the special 8% tax under Puerto Rico Act No. 77-2014 was prepaid will be considered as part of the participant’s tax basis in his retirement plan account. Thus, any distributions attributable to the benefits for which such taxes were prepaid will not be subject to income taxes when the same are subsequently received by the participant. However, the investment income and the appreciation in value, if any, accrued on the benefits with respect to which the special tax was prepaid, will be taxed as provided by the tax rules in effect at the time of distribution. Lump-sum proceeds from a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan due to separation of employment or termination of a retirement plan will generally be treated as ordinary income but will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 20%. A special withholding tax rate of 10% may apply instead, if the plan satisfies the following requirements:
(1) the plan’s trust is organized under the laws of Puerto Rico, or has a Puerto Rico resident trustee and uses such trustee as paying agent; and
(2) 10% of all plan’s trust assets (calculated based on the average balance of the investments of the trust) attributable to participants who are Puerto Rico residents must be invested in “property located in Puerto Rico” for a three-year period.
If these two requirements are not satisfied, the distribution will generally be subject to the 20% tax rate. The three-year period includes the year of the distribution and the two immediately preceding years. In the case of a defined contribution plan that maintains separate accounts for each participant, the described 10% investment requirement
47

 


may be satisfied in the accounts of a participant that chooses to invest in such fashion rather than at the trust level. Property located in Puerto Rico includes shares of stock of a Puerto Rico registered investment company, fixed or variable annuities issued by a domestic insurance company or by a foreign insurance corporation that derives more than 80% of its gross income from sources within Puerto Rico and bank deposits. The 2011 PR Code does not impose a penalty tax in cases of early (premature) distributions from a qualified plan.
In the case of distributions from a qualified plan in the form of annuity or installments as a result of termination of employment, amounts received are taxable in an amount equal to 3% of the after-tax contributions not previously distributed, which would be considered the tax cost. The remaining portion is not taxable until you have recovered the total after-tax contributions made to the qualified plan. You may be able to exclude from gross income up to $11,000, if you are less than 60 years of age, or up to $15,000, if you are at least 60 years of age, of the taxable portion of the installment payments received every year.
Upon the occurrence of a “Declared Disaster,” like a hurricane, Retirement Plans are allowed to make Eligible Distributions to a participant resident of Puerto Rico who requests the same. The Eligible Distribution may not exceed $100,000, be made during a period of time to be identified by the Puerto Rico Treasury through administrative guidance and be used to cover damages or losses suffered, and extraordinary expenses incurred by the individual as a result of the Declared Disaster. The first $10,000 will be exempted from income taxation, including the alternate basic tax, and amounts exceeding $10,000 will be subject to a 10% income tax to be withheld at the source, in lieu of any other income tax, including the alternate basic tax.
You should consult with a personal tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of purchasing an annuity contract and/or any proposed distribution if You are a resident of Puerto Rico.
Rollover
Deferral of the recognition of income continues upon the receipt of a distribution by a participant from a qualified plan, if the distribution is contributed to another qualified retirement plan or traditional individual retirement account for the employee’s benefit no later than sixty (60) days after the distribution.
ERISA Considerations
In the context of a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan trust, the IRS has held that the transfer of assets and liabilities from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to that type of plan would generally be treated as a distribution includible in gross income for U.S. income tax purposes even if the Puerto Rico retirement plan is a plan described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1). By contrast, a transfer from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan trust that has made an election under ERISA Section 1022(i)(2) is not treated as a distribution from the transferor plan for U.S. income tax purposes because a Puerto Rico retirement plan that has made an election under ERISA Section 1022(i)(2) is treated as a qualified retirement plan for purposes Code Section 401(a). The IRS has determined that the above described rules prescribing the inclusion in income of transfers of assets and liabilities to a Puerto Rico retirement plan trust described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1) would be applicable to transfers taking effect after December 31, 2012. Notwithstanding the above, the IRS has held that a Puerto Rico retirement plan described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1) may participate in a 81-100 group trust because it permits said plan to diversify its investments without adverse tax consequences to the group trust or its investors.
Pursuant to guidance promulgated by the DOL, where the Secretary of Labor has authority to regulate with respect to the provisions of ERISA dealing with the use of the term “spouse” spouse will be read to refer to any individuals who are lawfully married under any state law, including same-sex spouses, and without regard to whether their state of domicile recognizes same-sex marriage. Thus, for ERISA purposes as well as federal tax purposes, an employee benefit plan participant who marries a person of the same sex in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage will continue to be treated as married even if the couple moves to a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
Other Information

The Insurance Company
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is a stock life insurance company originally chartered in Connecticut in 1863 and currently subject to the laws of the State of Delaware. Prior to March 6, 2017, the Company was known as
48

 


MetLife Insurance Company USA. The Company is licensed to conduct business in all states of the United States, except New York, and in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas.
The Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of, and ultimately controlled by, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (“BHF”), a publicly-traded company. BHF, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the largest providers of annuity and life insurance products in the U.S. The Company’s executive offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28277.
Financial Statements
The financial statements for the Company and for the Separate Account are located in the Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution of the Contracts
Distribution and Principal Underwriting Agreement. The Company has appointed Brighthouse Securities, LLC (“Brighthouse Securities”) to serve as the principal underwriter and distributor of the securities offered through this prospectus, pursuant to the terms of a Distribution and Principal Underwriting Agreement. Brighthouse Securities, which is an affiliate of the Company, also acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of other variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by the Company and its affiliated companies. The Company reimburses Brighthouse Securities for expenses Brighthouse Securities incurs in distributing the Contracts (e.g., commissions payable to retail broker-dealers who sell the Contracts). The Company also pays amounts to Brighthouse Securities that may be used for its operating and other expenses, including the following sales expenses: compensation and bonuses for Brighthouse Securities’ management team and other expenses of distributing the Contracts. Brighthouse Securities management team and registered representatives also may be eligible for non-cash compensation items that we may provide jointly with Brighthouse Securities. Non-cash items include conferences, seminars and trips (including travel, lodging and meals in connection therewith), entertainment, merchandise and other similar items. Brighthouse Securities does not retain any fees under the Contracts; however, Brighthouse Securities may receive 12b-1 fees from the Underlying Funds.
Brighthouse Securities’ principal executive offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277. Brighthouse Securities is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the securities commissions in the states in which it operates, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). FINRA provides background information about broker-dealers and their financial representatives through FINRA BrokerCheck. You may contact the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline at 1-800-289-9999, or log on to www.finra.org. An investor brochure that includes information describing FINRA BrokerCheck is available through the Hotline or on-line.
Brighthouse Securities, on behalf of the Company, enters into selling agreements with unaffiliated broker-dealers who are registered with the SEC and are members of FINRA, and with entities that may offer the Contracts but are exempt from registration. Applications for the Contract are solicited by financial representatives who are associated persons of such unaffiliated broker-dealer firms. The Company intends to offer the Contract in all jurisdictions where it is licensed to do business and where the Contract is approved. The Company no longer actively offers the Contracts to new purchasers, but it continues to accept Participants from existing Contracts and Purchase Payments from existing Contract Owners and Plan Participants.
Compensation. Broker-dealers who have selling agreements with Brighthouse Securities are paid compensation for the promotion and sale of the Contracts. Financial representatives who solicit sales of the Contract typically receive a portion of the compensation payable to the broker-dealer firm. The amount the financial representative receives depends on the agreement between the firm and the financial representative. This agreement may also provide for the payment of other types of cash and non-cash compensation and other benefits. A broker-dealer firm or financial representative of a firm may receive different compensation for selling one product over another and/or may be inclined to favor one product provider over another product provider due to differing compensation rates.
Compensation is generally paid as a percentage of the Funding Options invested in the Contract. Alternatively, Brighthouse Securities may pay lower compensation on the Funding Options but pay periodic asset-based compensation based on all or a portion of the Contract Value. The amount and timing of compensation may vary depending on the selling agreement but ranges from 0.50% to 5.0% (6.0% for the New Jersey ABP) of Purchase
49

 


Payments (if up-front compensation is paid to financial representatives) and ranges from 0.20% to 0.35% annually of average Contract Value (if asset-based compensation is paid to financial representatives).
Brighthouse Securities has also entered into preferred distribution arrangements with certain broker-dealer firms. These arrangements are sometimes called “shelf space” arrangements. Under these arrangements, Brighthouse Securities pays separate, additional compensation to the broker-dealer firm for services the broker-dealer provides in connection with the distribution of the Company’s products. These services may include providing the Company with access to the distribution network of the broker-dealer, the hiring and training of the broker-dealer’s sales personnel, the sponsoring of conferences and seminars by the broker-dealer, or general marketing services performed by the broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may also provide other services or incur other costs in connection with distributing the Company’s products.
These preferred distribution arrangements will not be offered to all broker-dealer firms and the terms of such arrangements may differ between broker-dealer firms. Compensation payable under such arrangements may be a flat fee, or based on aggregate, net or anticipated sales of the Contracts, total assets attributable to sales of the Contract by financial representatives of the broker-dealer firm or based on the length of time that a Contract Owner has owned the Contract. Any such compensation payable to a broker-dealer firm will be made by Brighthouse Securities out of its own assets and will not result in any additional direct charge to You. Such compensation may cause the broker-dealer firm and its financial representatives to favor the Company’s products. Brighthouse Securities has entered into preferred distribution arrangements with the unaffiliated broker-dealer firms identified in the Statement of Additional Information. (See the Statement of Additional Information — “Distribution and Principal Underwriting Agreement” for a list of the broker-dealer firms that received compensation during 2019, as well as the range of additional compensation paid.)
Brighthouse Securities may have entered into selling agreements with certain broker-dealer firms that have an affiliate that acts as investment adviser or subadviser to one or more Underlying Funds which are offered under the Contracts. Currently, the investment advisory firms include Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. Financial representatives of broker-dealer firms with an affiliated company acting as an adviser or a subadviser may favor these Funds when offering the Contracts.
From time to time, the Company pays organizations, associations and non-profit organizations fees to sponsor the Company’s Variable Annuity Contracts. The Company may also obtain access to an organization’s members to market Our Variable Annuity Contracts. These organizations are compensated for their sponsorship of Our Variable Annuity Contracts in various ways. Primarily, they receive a flat fee from the Company. The Company also compensates these organizations by funding their programs, scholarships, events or awards, such as a principal of the year award. The Company may also lease their office space or pay fees for display space at their events, purchase advertisements in their publications or reimburse or defray their expenses. In some cases, the Company hires organizations including, for example, MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC or Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, with whom We were previously affiliated, to perform administrative and enrollment services for Us, for which they are paid a fee based upon a percentage of the account balances their members hold in the Contract. The Company also may retain finders and consultants to introduce the Company to potential clients and for establishing and maintaining relationships between the Company and various organizations. The finders and consultants are primarily paid flat fees and may be reimbursed for their expenses. The Company or Our affiliates may also pay duly licensed individuals associated with these organizations cash compensation for the sales of the Contracts.
Conformity with State and Federal Laws
The laws of the state in which We deliver a Contract govern that Contract. Where a state has not approved a Contract feature or Funding Option, it will not be available in that state. Any paid-up Annuity, Cash Surrender Value or death benefits that are available under the Contract are not less than the minimum benefits required by the statutes of the state in which We delivered the Contract. We reserve the right to make any changes, including retroactive changes, in the Contract to the extent that the change is required to meet the requirements of any law or regulation issued by any governmental agency to which the Company, the Contract or the Contract Owner is subject.
Voting Rights
The Company is the legal owner of the shares of the Underlying Funds. However, We believe that when an Underlying Fund solicits proxies in conjunction with a vote of shareholders We are required to obtain from You and from other owners instructions on how to vote those shares. We will vote all shares, including those We may own on Our own
50

 


behalf, and those where We have not received instructions from Contract Owners, in the same proportion as shares for which We received voting instructions. The effect of this proportional voting is that a small number of Contract Owners may control the outcome of a vote. Should We determine that We are no longer required to comply with the above, We will vote on the shares in Our own right. In certain limited circumstances, and when permitted by law, We may disregard voting instructions. If We do disregard voting instructions, a summary of that action and the reasons for such action would be included in the next annual report to Contract Owners.
In accordance with Our view of present applicable law, We will vote shares of the Underlying Funds at regular and special meetings of the shareholders of the funds in accordance with instructions received from persons having a voting interest in the corresponding Subaccounts. We will vote shares for which We have not received instructions in the same proportion as We vote shares for which We have received instructions. However, if the 1940 Act or any regulation thereunder should be amended, or if the present interpretation thereof should change, and as a result We determine that We are permitted to vote shares of the Underlying Funds in Our own right, We may elect to do so.
The number of shares which a person has a right to vote will be determined as of the date concurrent with the date established by the respective mutual fund for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the meeting of the fund, and voting instructions will be solicited by written communication before the meeting in accordance with the procedures established by the mutual fund.
Each person having a voting interest will receive periodic reports relating to the fund(s) in which he or she has an interest, proxy material and a form with which to give such instructions with respect to the proportion of the fund shares held in the Subaccounts corresponding to his or her interest.
Contract Modification
We reserve the right to modify the Contract to keep it qualified under all related law and regulations that are in effect during the term of this Contract. We will obtain the approval of any regulatory authority needed for the modifications.
Postponement of Payment (the “Emergency Procedure”)
Payment of any benefit or determination of values may be postponed whenever: (1) the NYSE is closed; (2) when trading on the NYSE is restricted; (3) when an emergency exists as determined by the SEC so that disposal of the securities held in the Funding Options is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable to determine the value of the Funding Option’s net assets; or (4) during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for the protection of Contract Owners. This Emergency Procedure will supersede any provision of the Contract that specifies a Valuation Date. At any time, payments from the Fixed Account may also be delayed.
Restrictions on Financial Transactions
Federal laws designed to counter terrorism and prevent money laundering might, in certain circumstances, require Us to block a Contract Owner’s ability to make certain transactions and thereby refuse to accept any request for transfers, withdrawals, surrenders, or death benefits, until the instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We may also be required to provide additional information about You and Your Contract to government regulators.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, the Company, similar to other life insurance companies, is involved in lawsuits (including class action lawsuits), arbitrations and other legal proceedings. Also, from time to time, state and federal regulators or other officials conduct formal and informal examinations or undertake other actions dealing with various aspects of the financial services and insurance industries. In some legal proceedings involving insurers, substantial damages have been sought and/or material settlement payments have been made.
It is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of any pending legal proceeding or regulatory action. However, the Company does not believe any such action or proceeding will have a material adverse effect upon the Separate Account or the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under the Contracts.
Exchanges
The Code generally permits You to exchange one Annuity contract for another in a “tax-free exchange.” Therefore, You can transfer the proceeds from another Annuity contract to purchase this Contract. Before making an exchange to acquire this Contract, You should carefully compare this Contract to Your current contract. You may have to pay a
51

 


surrender charge under Your current contract to exchange it for this Contract, and this Contract has its own surrender charges that would apply to You. The other fees and charges under this Contract may be higher or lower and the benefits may be different than those of Your current contract. In addition, You may have to pay federal income or penalty taxes on the exchange if it does not qualify for tax-free treatment. You should not exchange another contract for this Contract unless You determine, after evaluating all the facts that the exchange is in Your best interests. Remember that the person selling You the Contract generally will earn a commission on the sale.
52

 


Appendix A

Underlying Funds Available Under the Contract
The following is a list of Underlying Funds under the Contract. More information about the Underlying Funds is available in the prospectuses for the Underlying Funds, which may be amended from time to time and can be found online at []. You can also request this information at no cost by calling [] or sending an email request to [].
The current expenses and performance information below reflects fees and expenses of the Underlying Fund, but do not reflect the other fees and expenses that your Contract may charge. Expenses would be higher and performance would be lower if these other charges were included. Each Underlying Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.
Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Brighthouse Funds Trust I
Seeks to maximize total return, consistent with income generation and prudent investment management. BlackRock High Yield Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
       
Seeks growth of capital. Brighthouse Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. Brighthouse Small Cap Value Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadvisers: Delaware Investments Fund Advisers; Wells Capital Management Incorporated
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. Brighthouse/Wellington Large Cap Research Portfolio — Class E#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Wellington Management Company LLP
       
Seeks total return through investment in real estate securities, emphasizing both capital appreciation and current income. Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: CBRE Clarion Securities LLC
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. Harris Oakmark International Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Harris Associates L.P.
       
Seeks capital growth and income. Invesco Comstock Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
       
Seeks capital appreciation. Invesco Global Equity Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
       
A-1

 


Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Seeks long-term growth of capital. Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Invesco Advisers, Inc.
       
Seeks long-term capital growth. JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
       
Seeks high total investment return through a combination of capital appreciation and income. Loomis Sayles Global Allocation Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. Loomis Sayles Growth Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
       
Seeks capital appreciation. MFS ® Research International Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
       
Seeks maximum real return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management. PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
       
Seeks maximum total return, consistent with the preservation of capital and prudent investment management. PIMCO Total Return Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
       
Seeks growth of capital and income. SSGA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
       
Seeks growth of capital. SSGA Growth ETF Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: SSGA Funds Management, Inc.
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in common stocks believed to be undervalued. Income is a secondary objective. T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
       
A-2

 


Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in common stocks believed to be undervalued. Income is a secondary objective. T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio — Class E††        
Brighthouse Funds Trust II
Seeks a competitive total return primarily from investing in fixed-income securities. BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: BlackRock Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: BlackRock Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks a high level of current income consistent with preservation of capital. BlackRock Ultra-Short Term Bond Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: BlackRock Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks a high level of current income, with growth of capital as a secondary objective. Brighthouse Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
       
Seeks high total return in the form of income and growth of capital, with a greater emphasis on income. Brighthouse Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
       
Seeks a balance between a high level of current income and growth of capital, with a greater emphasis on growth of capital. Brighthouse Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
       
Seeks growth of capital. Brighthouse Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio — Class B#‡
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation with some current income. Brighthouse/Wellington Balanced Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Wellington Management Company LLP
       
Seeks to provide a growing stream of income over time and, secondarily, long-term capital appreciation and current income. Brighthouse/Wellington Core Equity Opportunities Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Wellington Management Company LLP
       
Seeks maximum capital appreciation. Frontier Mid Cap Growth Portfolio — Class D#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Frontier Capital Management Company, LLC
       
A-3

 


Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Seeks long-term growth of capital. Jennison Growth Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Jennison Associates LLC
       
Seeks to track the performance of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. MetLife Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks to track the performance of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400® Composite Stock Price Index. MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index Portfolio — Class A†
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks to track the performance of the MSCI EAFE® Index. MetLife MSCI EAFE® Index Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. MetLife Russell 2000® Index Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks to track the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index. MetLife Stock Index Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC
       
Seeks a favorable total return through investment in a diversified portfolio. MFS ® Total Return Portfolio — Class F#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
       
Seeks capital appreciation. MFS ® Value Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Massachusetts Financial Services Company
       
Seeks high total return, consisting principally of capital appreciation. Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth Portfolio — Class B†
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
       
Seeks long-term capital growth. T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio — Class B#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
       
A-4

 


Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Seeks to maximize total return consistent with preservation of capital. Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Western Asset Management Company
       
Seeks to maximize total return consistent with preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio — Class A#
Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC
Subadviser: Western Asset Management Company
       
Fidelity ® Variable Insurance Products
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. Contrafund ® Portfolio — Service Class 2#
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
       
Seeks reasonable income. The fund will also consider the potential for capital appreciation. The fund’s goal is to achieve a yield which exceeds the composite yield on the securities comprising the S&P 500® Index. Equity-Income Portfolio — Initial Class#
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
       
Seeks a high level of current income, while also considering growth of capital. High Income Portfolio — Initial Class†
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. Mid Cap Portfolio — Service Class 2#
Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC
       
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust
Seeks long-term capital growth. Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund — Class 2†
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
       
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. Templeton Developing Markets VIP Fund — Class 2#
Templeton Asset Management Ltd.
       
Seeks long-term capital growth. Templeton Foreign VIP Fund — Class 2#
Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC
       
Janus Aspen Series
Seeks long-term growth of capital. Janus Henderson Overseas Portfolio — Service Shares#
Janus Capital Management LLC
       
Legg Mason Partners Variable Equity Trust
Seeks capital appreciation. ClearBridge Variable Aggressive Growth Portfolio — Class I#
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser: ClearBridge Investments, LLC
       
A-5

 


Investment Objectives Portfolio Company and
Adviser/Sub-Adviser
Current Expenses Average Annual
Total Returns
(as of 12/31/2020)
1
Year
5
Year
10
Year
Seeks long-term capital appreciation. ClearBridge Variable Appreciation Portfolio — Class I#
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser: ClearBridge Investments, LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. ClearBridge Variable Large Cap Growth Portfolio — Class I#
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser: ClearBridge Investments, LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital as its primary objective. Current income is a secondary objective. ClearBridge Variable Large Cap Value Portfolio — Class I#
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser: ClearBridge Investments, LLC
       
Seeks long-term growth of capital. ClearBridge Variable Small Cap Growth Portfolio — Class I#
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser: ClearBridge Investments, LLC
       
Trust for Advised Portfolios
Seeks capital appreciation and retention of net investment income. 1919 Variable Socially Responsive Balanced Fund#
1919 Investment Counsel, LLC
       
# Certain Investment Portfolios and their investment advisers have entered into temporary expense reimbursement and/or fee waivers. Please see the Investment Portfolios' prospectuses for additional information regarding these arrangements.
‡ This Investment Portfolio is a fund of funds and invests substantially all of its assets in other underlying funds. Because the Investment Portfolio invests in other funds, it will bear its pro rata portion of the operating expenses of those underlying funds, including the management fee.
† Not available under all Contracts. Availability depends on Contract issue date.
†† Closed to new investments except under dollar cost averaging and rebalancing programs in existence at the time of closing.
A-6

 


Appendix B

Underlying Funds with Different Legal and Marketing Names
Series Fund/Trust   Portfolio/Series   Marketing Name
Fidelity ® Variable Insurance Products   Contrafund ® Portfolio   Fidelity VIP Contrafund® Portfolio
Fidelity ® Variable Insurance Products   Equity-Income Portfolio   Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio®
Fidelity ® Variable Insurance Products   High Income Portfolio   Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio
Fidelity ® Variable Insurance Products   Mid Cap Portfolio   Fidelity VIP Mid Cap Portfolio
B-1

 


    
    
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

 


Appendix C

What You Need To Know If You Are A Texas Optional Retirement Program Participant
If You are a Participant in the Texas Optional Retirement Program, Texas law permits Us to make withdrawals on Your behalf only if You die, retire or terminate employment in all Texas institutions of higher education, as defined under Texas law. Any withdrawal You ask for requires a written statement from the appropriate Texas institution of higher education verifying Your vesting status and (if applicable) termination of employment. Also, We require a written statement from You that You are not transferring employment to another Texas institution of higher education. If You retire or terminate employment in all Texas institutions of higher education or die before being vested, amounts provided by the state’s matching contribution will be refunded to the appropriate Texas institution. We may change these restrictions or add others without Your consent to the extent necessary to maintain compliance with the law.
C-1

 


    
    
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

 


Appendix D

The Fixed Account
The Fixed Account is part of the Company’s general account assets. These general account assets include all assets of the Company other than those held in the Separate Account and other separate accounts sponsored by the Company or its affiliates.
The staff of the SEC does not generally review the disclosure in this prospectus relating to the Fixed Account. Disclosure regarding the Fixed Account and the general account may, however, be subject to certain provisions of the federal securities laws relating to the accuracy and completeness of statements made in this prospectus.
Under the Fixed Account, the Company assumes the risk of investment gain or loss, guarantees a specified interest rate, and guarantees a specified periodic Annuity Payment. Contract Value allocated to the Fixed Account, interest credited to the Fixed Account and amounts paid under a fixed payment option are subject to Our financial strength and claims paying ability. The investment gain or loss of the Separate Account or any of the Funding Options does not affect the Fixed Account Contract Value, or the dollar amount of Fixed Annuity Payments made under any payout option.
We guarantee that, at any time, the Fixed Account Contract Value will not be less than the amount of the Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account, plus interest credited as described below, less any applicable Premium Taxes or prior withdrawals.
Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account and any transfers made to the Fixed Account become part of the Company’s general account, which supports insurance and Annuity obligations. Where permitted by state law, We reserve the right to restrict Purchase Payments into the Fixed Account whenever the credited interest rate on the Fixed Account is equal to the minimum guaranteed interest rate specified in Your Contract. The general account and any interest therein is not registered under, or subject to the provisions of, the Securities Act of 1933 or Investment Company Act of 1940. We will invest the assets of the Fixed Account at Our discretion. Investment income from such Fixed Account assets will be allocated to Us and to the Contracts participating in the Fixed Account.
Investment income from the Fixed Account allocated to Us includes compensation for mortality and expense risks borne by Us in connection with Fixed Account Contracts. The amount of such investment income allocated to the Contracts will vary from year to year in Our sole discretion at such rate or rates as We prospectively declare from time to time.
We guarantee that for the life of the Contract We will credit interest at a rate not less than the minimum interest rate allowed by state law. We reserve the right to change the rate subject to applicable state law. We will determine any interest We credit to amounts allocated to the Fixed Account in excess of the minimum guaranteed rate in Our sole discretion. You assume the risk that interest credited to the Fixed Account may not exceed the minimum guaranteed rate for any given year. We have no specific formula for determining the interest rate. Some factors We may consider are regulatory and tax requirements, general economic trends and competitive factors.
Transfers
You may make transfers from the Fixed Account to any other available Funding Option(s) twice a year during the 30 days following the semiannual anniversary of the Contract Date. We limit transfers to an amount of up to 10% of the Fixed Account Contract Value on the semiannual Contract Date anniversary. (This restriction does not apply to Qualified Contracts or transfers under the Dollar Cost Averaging Program.) Amounts previously transferred from the Fixed Account to Funding Options may not be transferred back to the Fixed Account for a period of at least six months from the date of transfer. We reserve the right to waive either of these restrictions.
It is important to note that it will take over 10 years (assuming no additional Purchase Payments or transfers into the Fixed Account and discounting any accrued interest) to make a complete transfer of Your balance from the Fixed Account because of the transfer allowance restriction indicated above. This is because the transfer allowance is based on a declining Contract Value in the Fixed Account rather than withdrawals based upon a fixed number of years. For example (based on the assumptions above), if Your initial Contract Value in the Fixed Account is $100, the transfer allowance only allows You to transfer up to $20 that Contract Year. If You transfer the maximum transfer allowance that Contract Year, You may only transfer up to $16 the following Contract Year based on the transfer allowance of the
D-1

 


$80 Contract Value remaining in the Fixed Account for such Contract Year. It is important to consider when deciding to invest in the Fixed Account whether this transfer allowance restriction fits Your risk tolerance and time horizon.
Automated transfers from the Fixed Account to any of the Funding Options may begin at any time. Automated transfers from the Fixed Account may not deplete Your Fixed Account value in a period of less than twelve months from Your enrollment in the Dollar Cost Averaging Program.
D-2

 


The statement of additional information (SAI) includes additional information. The SAI is dated the same as this prospectus and is incorporated by reference. The SAI is available, without charge, upon request. For a free copy of the SAI, call us at (800) 343-8496, visit our website at www.brighthousefinancial.com, or write to us at: 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Reports and other information about Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and that copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
EDGAR Contract Identifier No. is C000068739


Universal Annuity
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dated
[April 30, 2021]
For Variable Annuity Contracts
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities
ISSUED BY
BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus but relates to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus dated [April 30, 2021]. A copy of the Variable Annuity Contract Prospectus may be obtained by writing to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, 4700 Westown Parkway, Ste. 200, West Des Moines, IA 50266, or by calling 1-800-233-3591, or by accessing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
The SAI contains information in addition to the information described in the Prospectus for the Variable Annuity Contracts (the “Contract(s)”) offered by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“we”, “our”, or the “Company”).
BLIC-Book-01

 



 


THE INSURANCE COMPANY
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“BLIC” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation originally incorporated in Connecticut in 1863. Prior to March 6, 2017, BLIC was known as MetLife Insurance Company USA. BLIC is licensed to conduct business in all U.S. states (except New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. BLIC is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of, and ultimately controlled by, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (“BHF”), a publicly-traded company. Prior to August 4, 2017, the Company was an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. On that date, MetLife, Inc. distributed approximately 80.8% of BHF’s common stock to holders of MetLife Inc.’s common stock, and BHF became a separate, publicly-traded company. BHF, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the largest providers of annuity and life insurance products in the United States. BLIC’s executive offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company History
MetLife Insurance Company USA: From the close of business on November 14, 2014 to March 6, 2017, BLIC was called MetLife Insurance Company USA (MetLife USA). MetLife USA was established following the close of business on November 14, 2014, when MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, MetLife Investors Insurance Company and Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd. were merged into MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, and MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut was then renamed MetLife Insurance Company USA. Simultaneously, MetLife Insurance Company USA changed its domicile from Connecticut to the state of Delaware. As a result of this merger, MetLife USA assumed legal ownership of all of the assets of these predecessor companies, including assets held in the separate accounts, and became responsible for administering the contracts and paying any benefits due under all contracts issued by each of its corporate predecessors. These predecessor companies that issued contracts on and prior to November 14, 2014 were the following:
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut: MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (MICC), originally chartered in Connecticut in 1863, was known as Travelers Insurance Company prior to May 1, 2006. MICC changed its name to MetLife Insurance Company USA and its state of domicile to Delaware after November 14, 2014 as described under “MetLife Insurance Company USA” above.
MetLife Life and Annuity Company of Connecticut: MetLife Life and Annuity Company of Connecticut (MLAC), originally chartered in Connecticut in 1973, was known as Travelers Life and Annuity Company prior to May 1, 2006. On or about December 7, 2007, MLAC merged with and into MICC.
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company: MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (MLI USA), originally chartered in Delaware in 1960, was known as Security First Life Insurance Company prior to January 8, 2001. MLI USA was merged into BLIC after the close of business on November 14, 2014, as described under “MetLife Insurance Company USA” above.
MetLife Investors Insurance Company: MetLife Investors Insurance Company (MLI), originally chartered in Missouri in 1981, was known as Cova Financial Services Life Insurance Company prior to February 12, 2001. MLI was merged into BLIC after the close of business on November 14, 2014, as described under “MetLife Insurance Company USA” above.
MetLife Investors Insurance Company of California: MetLife Investors Insurance Company of California (MLI-CA), originally chartered in California in 1972, was known as Cova Financial Life Insurance Company prior to February 12, 2001. On November 9, 2006 MLI-CA merged with and into MLI.
THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
We have established a Separate Account, Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven (Separate Account), to hold the assets that underlie the contracts. The Board of Directors of our predecessor, MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (MICC), adopted a resolution to establish the Separate Account under Delaware insurance law on November 14, 2002. We have registered the Separate Account with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Separate Account is divided into subaccounts.
2

 


NON-PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE CONTRACTS
All non-principal risks of investing in Contracts is in the prospectus in their appropriate sections.
SERVICES
BLIC maintains certain books and records of Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities (the "Separate Account") and provides certain issuance and other administrative services for the Contracts. Pursuant to a services agreement, Computer Sciences Corporation, through its affiliate Alliance-One Services, Inc., provides certain other administrative and recordkeeping services for the Contracts as well as other contracts and policies issued by BLIC. We compensate Computer Sciences Corporation for their services.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Brighthouse Securities, LLC (“Brighthouse Securities”) serves as principal underwriter for the Separate Account and the Contracts. The offering is continuous. Brighthouse Securities’ principal executive offices are located at 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277. Brighthouse Securities and the Company are affiliates because they are both under common control of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
CUSTODIAN
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277, is the custodian of the assets of the Separate Account. The custodian has custody of all cash of the Separate Account and handles the collection of proceeds of shares of the underlying funds bought and sold by the Separate Account.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
[To Be Updated By Amendment]
Information about the distribution of the Contracts is contained in the prospectus (see “Other Information — Distribution of the Variable Annuity Contracts”). Additional information is provided below.
Under the terms of the Principal Underwriting and Distribution Agreement among the Separate Account, Brighthouse Securities and the Company, Brighthouse Securities acts as agent for the distribution of the Contracts and as principal underwriter for the Contracts. The Company reimburses Brighthouse Securities for certain sales and overhead expenses connected with sales functions.
The following table shows the amount of commissions paid to and the amount of commissions retained by the principal underwriter. Brighthouse Securities was the recipient of these commissions thereafter.
Underwriting Commissions
Year   Underwriting Commissions Paid
to the Distributor by the
Company
  Amount of Underwriting
Commissions Retained by the
Distributor
2020

  [$ ]   [$ ]
2019

  $649,095,230   $0
2018

  $604,739,251   $0
The Company and Brighthouse Securities have also entered into preferred distribution arrangements with certain broker-dealer firms. These arrangements are sometimes called “shelf space” arrangements. Under these arrangements, the Company and Brighthouse Securities pay separate, additional compensation to the broker-dealer firms for services the broker-dealer firms provide in connection with the distribution of the Company’s products. These services may include providing the Company with access to the distribution network of the broker-dealer firms, the hiring and training of the broker-dealer firms’ sales personnel, the sponsoring of conferences and seminars by the broker-dealer firms, or general marketing services performed by the broker-dealer firms. The broker-dealer firms may also provide other services or incur other costs in connection with distributing the Company’s products.
3

 


These preferred distribution arrangements will not be offered to all broker-dealer firms and the terms of such arrangements may differ between broker-dealer firms. Compensation payable under such arrangements may be based on aggregate, net or anticipated sales of the Contract, total assets attributable to sales of the Contract by registered representatives of the broker-dealer firms or based on the length of time that a Contract Owner has owned the Contract. Any such compensation payable to a broker-dealer firm will be made by Brighthouse Securities or the Company out of their own assets and will not result in any additional direct charge to You. Such compensation may cause the broker dealer firms and their registered representatives to favor the Company’s products.
The principal underwriter or the Company paid the following amounts during 2020. The amount of additional compensation (noncommission amounts) paid to selected broker-dealer firms during 2020 is [$ ]*. The amount of commissions paid to selected broker-dealer firms during 2020 is [$ ]. The amount of total compensation (includes non-commission as well as commission amounts) paid to selected broker-dealer firms during 2020 is [$ ]*.
* For purposes of this calculation, the additional compensation (non-commission) amounts received by a selling firm includes additional compensation received by the firm for the sale of insurance products issued by our affiliates Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY.
The following list sets forth the names of broker-dealer firms that have entered into preferred distribution arrangements with the Company and Brighthouse Securities under which the broker-dealer firms received additional compensation in 2020 in connection with the sale of Our Variable Annuity contracts, variable life policies and other insurance products (including the Contracts). The broker-dealer firms are listed in alphabetical order:
[Cetera Advisor Networks LLC]
There are other broker-dealer firms who receive compensation for servicing our contracts, and the account value of the contracts or the amount of added purchase payments received may be included in determining their additional compensation, if any.
Reduction or Elimination of the Withdrawal Charge. We may reduce or eliminate the withdrawal charge under the Contract when certain sales or administration of the Contract result in savings or reduced expenses and/or risks. We will not reduce or eliminate the withdrawal charge where such reduction or elimination would be unfairly discriminatory to any person.
CALCULATION OF ANNUITY UNIT VALUE
The initial Annuity Unit value applicable to each Funding Option was established at $1.00. An Annuity Unit value as of any business day is equal to (a) the value of the Annuity Unit on the preceding business day, multiplied by (b) the corresponding net investment factor for the business day just ended, divided by (c) the assumed net investment factor for the Valuation Period. (For example, the assumed net investment factor based on an annual assumed net investment rate of 3.0% for a Valuation Period of one day is 1.000081 and, for a period of two days, is 1.000081 × 1.000081.)
LEGAL OR REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSACTIONS
If mandated under applicable law, the Company may be required to reject a Purchase Payment. The Company may also be required to block a contract Owner’s account and thereby refuse to pay any request for transfers, withdrawals, surrenders, death benefits or continue making Annuity Payments until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator.
ADVERTISEMENT OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
From time to time, We advertise the performance of various Funding Options of the Separate Account, including standardized and non-standardized performance. Performance may be calculated based upon historical performance of the Underlying Funds and may assume that the Funding Options were in existence prior to their inception dates. Any performance data that includes all or a portion of the time between the Underlying Fund inception date and the Funding Option inception date is hypothetical. Hypothetical returns indicate what the performance data would have been if the Funding Option had been introduced as of the Underlying Fund inception date. After the inception date, actual accumulation unit or annuity unit data is used. Historical performance information should not be relied on as a guarantee of future performance results.
4

 


Advertisements regarding the Separate Account may contain comparisons of hypothetical after-tax returns of currently taxable investments versus returns of tax deferred investments. From time to time, the Separate Account may compare the performance of its Funding Options with the performance of common stocks, long-term government bonds, long-term corporate bonds, intermediate-term government bonds, Treasury Bills, certificates of deposit and savings accounts. The Separate Account may use the Consumer Price Index in its advertisements as a measure of inflation for comparison purposes. From time to time, the Separate Account may advertise its performance ranking among similar investments or compare its performance to averages as compiled by independent organizations, such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., VARDS® and The Wall Street Journal. The Separate Account may also advertise its performance in comparison to appropriate indices, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any illustration should not be relied on as a guarantee of future results.
TAXES
Non-Qualified Annuity Contracts
Diversification
In order for your non-qualified Contract to be considered an annuity contract for Federal income tax purposes, we must comply with certain diversification standards with respect to the investments underlying the Contract. We believe that we satisfy and will continue to satisfy these diversification standards. Failure to meet these standards would result in immediate taxation to Contract owners of gains under their Contracts. Inadvertent failure to meet these standards may be correctable.
Changes to Tax Rules and Interpretations
Changes to applicable tax rules and interpretations can adversely affect the tax treatment of your Contract. These changes may take effect retroactively.
We reserve the right to amend your Contract where necessary to maintain its status as a Variable Annuity Contract under Federal tax law and to protect You and other Contract owners in the Investment Divisions from adverse tax consequences.
The 3.8% so-called Medicare tax described in the Prospectus will result in the following top tax rates on investment income:
Capital Gains Ordinary Dividends Other
23.8% 40.8% 40.8%
Qualified Annuity Contracts
Annuity contracts purchased through tax qualified plans are subject to limitations imposed by the Code and regulations as a condition of tax qualification. There are various types of tax qualified plans which have certain beneficial tax consequences for Contract owners and plan participants.
Types of Qualified Plans
The following list includes individual account-type plans which may hold an annuity Contract as described in the Prospectus. Except for Traditional IRAs, they are established by an employer for participation of its employees.
IRA
A traditional IRA is established by an individual under Section 408(a) or 408(b) of the Code. See also Roth IRAs below.
SEP
Established by a for-profit employer under Section 408(k) of the Code, based on IRA accounts for each participant. Generally, only employer contributions. If the SEP-IRA permits non-SEP contributions, an employee can make regular IRA contributions (including IRA catch up contributions) to the SEP-IRA, up to the maximum annual limit.
5

 


401(k), 401(a)
Established by for-profit employers, Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt and non-tax exempt entities, Indian Tribes.
403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity (“TSA”)
Established by Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt entities, public schools (K-12), public colleges, universities, churches, synagogues and mosques.
457(b) - Governmental Sponsor
Established by state and local governments, public schools (K-12), public colleges and universities.
457(b) - Non-Governmental Sponsor
Established by a tax-exempt entity. Under a non-governmental plan, which must be a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c) of the Code, all such investments of the plan are owned by and are subject to the claims of the general creditors of the sponsoring employer. In general, all amounts received under a non-governmental Section 457(b) plan are taxable and are subject to Federal income tax withholding as wages.
Additional Information Regarding 457(b) Plans
A 457(b) plan may provide a one-time election to make special one-time “catch-up” contributions in one or more of the participant’s last three taxable years ending before the participant’s normal retirement age under the plan. Participants in governmental 457(b) plans may make two types of catch-up contributions, the age 50 or older catch-up and the special one-time catch-up contribution. However, both catch-up contribution types cannot be made in the same taxable year. In general, contribution limits with respect to elective deferral and to age 50 plus catch-up contributions are not aggregated with contributions under the other types of qualified plans for the purposes of determining the limitations applicable to participants.
403(a) Annuity Plans
Similar in structure to 401(a) plans except that, instead of trusts, annuity contracts are the funding vehicle.
Roth Accounts
Individual or employee plan contributions made to certain plans on an after-tax basis. An IRA may be established as a Roth IRA under Section 408A, and 401(k), 4013(b) and 457(b) plans may provide for Roth accounts. Contributions to a Roth IRA are limited based on the level of your modified adjusted gross income.
Comparison of Plan Limits for Individual Contributions:
Plan Type Elective Contribution Catch-up Contribution
IRA $6,000 $1,000
401(k) $19,500 $6,500
SEP/401(a) (Employer contributions only)
403(b) (TSA) $19,500 $6,500
457(b) $19,500 $6,500
Dollar limits are for 2020 and subject to cost-of-living adjustments in future years. Employer-sponsored individual account plans (other than 457(b) plans) may provide for additional employer contributions such that total annual plan contributions do not exceed the lesser of $57,000 and 100% of an employee’s compensation for 2020.
ERISA
If your plan is subject to ERISA and You are married, the income payments, withdrawal provisions, and methods of payment of the death benefit under your Contract may be subject to your spouse’s rights as described below.
Generally, the spouse must give qualified consent whenever you:
(a). choose income payments other than on a qualified joint and survivor annuity basis (“QJSA”) (one under which we make payments to You during your lifetime and then make payments reduced by no more than
6

 


  50% to your spouse for his or her remaining life, if any): or choose to waive the qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity benefit (“QPSA”) (the benefit payable to the surviving spouse of a participant who dies with a vested interest in an accrued retirement benefit under the plan before payment of the benefit has begun);
(b). make certain withdrawals under plans for which a qualified consent is required;
(c). name someone other than the spouse as your beneficiary; or
(d). Use your accrued benefit as security for a loan, if available, exceeding $5,000.
Generally, there is no limit to the number of your elections as long as a qualified consent is given each time. The consent to waive the QJSA must meet certain requirements, including that it be in writing, that it acknowledges the identity of the designated beneficiary and the form of benefit be selected, dated, signed by your spouse, witnessed by a notary public or plan representative, and that it be in a form satisfactory to us. The waiver of the QJSA generally must be executed during the 180 day period (90 days for certain loans) ending on the date on which income payments are to commence, or the withdrawal or the loan is to be made, as the case may be. If You die before benefits commence, your surviving spouse will be your beneficiary unless he or she has given a qualified consent otherwise.
The qualified consent to waive the QPSA benefit and the beneficiary designation must be made in writing that acknowledges the designated beneficiary, dated, signed by your spouse, witnessed by a notary public or plan representative and in a form satisfactory to us. Generally, there is no limit to the number of beneficiary designations as long as a qualified consent accompanies each designation. The waiver of, and the qualified consent for, the QPSA benefit generally may not be given until the plan year in which You attain age 35. The waiver period for the QPSA ends on the date of your death.
If the present value of your benefit is worth $5,000 or less, your plan generally may provide for distribution of your entire interest in a lump sum without spousal consent.
Federal Estate Taxes
While no attempt is being made to discuss the Federal estate tax implications of the Contract, You should bear in mind that the value of an annuity contract owned by a decedent and payable to a beneficiary by virtue of surviving the decedent is included in the decedent’s gross estate. Depending on the terms of the annuity contract, the value of the annuity included in the gross estate may be the value of the lump sum payment payable to the designated beneficiary or the actuarial value of the payments to be received by the beneficiary. Consult an estate planning adviser for more information.
Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
Under certain circumstances, the Code may impose a “generation-skipping transfer tax” when all or part of an annuity contract is transferred to, or a death benefit is paid to, an individual two or more generations younger than the contract owner. Regulations issued under the Code may require us to deduct the tax from your contract, or from any applicable payment, and pay it directly to the IRS.
Annuity Purchase Payments By Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities
The discussion above provides general information regarding U.S. Federal income tax consequences to annuity purchasers that are U.S. citizens or residents. Purchasers that are not U.S. citizens or residents will generally be subject to U.S. Federal withholding tax on taxable distributions from annuity contracts at a 30% rate, unless a lower treaty rate applies. In addition, purchasers may be subject to state and/or municipal taxes and taxes that may be imposed by the purchaser’s country of citizenship or residence. Prospective purchasers are advised to consult with a qualified tax adviser regarding U.S., state and foreign taxation with respect to an annuity contract purchase.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[To Be Updated By Amendment]
The financial statements comprising each of the Subaccounts of Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities included in this Statement of Additional Information, have been audited by [ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein. Such financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
7

 


The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedules of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries included in this Statement of Additional Information, have been audited by [ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The principal business address of [ ] is [ ].
Financial Statements
The financial statements comprising each of the Subaccounts of the Separate Account and the consolidated financial statements of the Company are to be filed by amendment.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of the Company to meet its obligations under the contracts.
8


PART C – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 27.Exhibits
  
  
  
(b) Not Applicable
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 


  
  
  
  
(g)(vi)(b) Commutation and Release Agreement pertaining to the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Reinsurance Agreements between MetLife Insurance Company USA (formerly ceded as The Travelers Insurance Company and The Travelers Life and Annuity Company, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (formerly ceded as First Citicorp Life Insurance Company and Citicorp Life Insurance Company) and Munich American Reassurance Company (formerly ceded as Continental Assurance Company of Chicago, Illinois) and novated to Munich American Reassurance Company effective June 30, 2001 and January 1, 2002, respectively) Atlanta, Georgia (effective November 1, 2015). (Incorporated by herein by reference to Exhibit 7(f)(ii) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to MetLife of CT Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities’ Registration Statement on Form N-4, File Nos. 333-152189/811-21262, filed on April 6, 2016.)
  
  
  
  

 


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 


  
(h)(iv)(f)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(i) Not applicable

 


(j) Not applicable
  
  
(l) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (To be filed by amendment.)
  
(m) Not applicable
  
(n) Not applicable
  
  
Item 28. Directors and Officers of the Depositor
Name and Principal
Business Address
  Positions and Offices
with Depositor
    
Eric T. Steigerwalt
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
    
Myles Lambert
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Director and Vice President
    
Conor Murphy
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Director and Vice President
    
John Rosenthal
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
    
Edward Spehar
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    
Michele Abate
One Financial Center, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Vice President
    
Devon Arendosh
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer
    
D. Burt Arrington
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Secretary
    
Kimberly Berwanger
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
David Chamberlin
18205 Crane Nest Drive
Tampa, FL 33647
Vice President
    

 


Patrisha Cox
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Ruth Damian
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Kumar Das Gupta
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Christine DeBiase
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
    
David Dooley
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President
    
Meghan Doscher
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Micah Dowling
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Lynn Dumais
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
    
Tara Figard
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Kevin Finneran
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Illustration Officer
    
Jason Frain
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Jeffrey Halperin
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
    
Christopher Hartsfield
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
    
Jeffrey Hughes
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
    

 


Gregory Illson
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 29277
Vice President
    
Jacob Jenkelowitz
285 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
    
Donald Leintz
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
John Lima
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Chief Derivatives Officer
    
Philip Melville
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
    
Janet Morgan
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Treasurer
    
Gerard Nigro
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Alan Otis
One Financial Center, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02117
Vice President
    
Melissa Pavlovich
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Tax Director
    
Marc Pucci
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President
    
Jose Singer-Freeman
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Kristi Slavin
One Financial Center, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02117
Vice President
    
Roger Andrew Vigar
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Michael Villella
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Illustration Actuary
    

 


Antoine Walthour
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Mark Wessel
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
James Wiviott
334 Madison Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President
    
Natalie Wright
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor or Registrant
The Registrant is a separate account of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company under Delaware insurance law. The Depositor is an indirect subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc., a publicly traded company. No person is controlled by the Registrant. The following outline indicates those entities that are controlled by Brighthouse Financial, Inc. or are under the common control of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.

 


ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
The following is a list of subsidiaries of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. as of September 30, 2020.
That entity which is listed at the left margin (labeled with a capital letter) is a direct subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (DE)
Each entity which is indented under another entity is a subsidiary of that other entity and, therefore, an indirect subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
The voting securities of the subsidiaries listed are 100% owned by their respective parent corporations. The jurisdiction of domicile of each subsidiary listed is set forth in the parenthetical following such subsidiary. All of the entities listed below are included in the consolidated financial statements of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Each of the entities listed under Section 2 are included in the consolidated financial statements of BLIC. Both Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and BLIC file consolidated financial statements with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A. Brighthouse Holdings, LLC (DE)
  1. New England Life Insurance Company (MA)
  2. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (DE)
    a.   Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware (DE)
    b.   Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY (NY)
    c.   Brighthouse Connecticut Properties Ventures, LLC (DE)
    d.   Brighthouse Renewables Holdings, LLC (DE)
      (i.) Greater Sandhill I, LLC (DE)
    e.   Daniel/Brighthouse Midtown Atlanta Master Limited Liability Company (DE)
      (i.) 1075 Peachtree LLC (DE)
    f.   Brighthouse Assignment Company (CT)
    g.   ML 1065 Hotel, LLC (DE)
    h.   TIC European Real Estate LP, LLC (DE)
    i.   Euro TL Investments LLC (DE)
    j.   TLA Holdings LLC (DE)
      (i.) The Prospect Company (DE)
    k.   Euro TI Investments LLC (DE)
    l.   TLA Holdings II LLC (DE)
  3. Brighthouse Securities, LLC (DE)
  4. Brighthouse Services, LLC (DE)
  5. Brighthouse Investment Advisers, LLC (DE)
Item 30. Indemnification
Pursuant to applicable provisions of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s by-laws or internal corporate policies adopted by Brighthouse Life Insurance Company or Brighthouse Financial, Inc., its ultimate parent, the directors, officers and other controlling persons of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s affiliate and the underwriter, Brighthouse Securities, LLC, who are made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, may be eligible to obtain indemnification against judgments, fines, amounts paid in

 


settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred as a result of such action or proceeding. Under the principal underwriting agreement between Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and Brighthouse Securities, LLC the parties have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities and expenses from legal proceedings arising out of Brighthouse Securities LLC’s distribution of the Contracts.
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. also maintains directors and officers and professional liability insurance policies under which the Registrant, the Depositor and the Underwriter, as well as certain other subsidiaries of Brighthouse, are covered. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. also has secured a financial institutions bond.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Principal Underwriter
(a) Brighthouse Securities, LLC serves as principal underwriter and distributor for the following investment companies (including the Registrant):
  Brighthouse Fund UL for Variable Life Insurance
Brighthouse Fund UL III for Variable Life Insurance
Brighthouse Funds Trust I
Brighthouse Funds Trust II
Brighthouse Separate Account A
Brighthouse Separate Account Eleven for Variable Annuities
Brighthouse Separate Account QPN for Variable Annuities
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account B
Brighthouse Variable Annuity Account C
Brighthouse Variable Life Account A
Brighthouse Variable Life Account One
New England Variable Annuity Separate Account
New England Variable Life Separate Account
(b) Brighthouse Securities, LLC is the principal underwriter for the Contracts. The following persons are officers and managers of Brighthouse Securities, LLC. The principal business address for Brighthouse Securities, LLC is 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.
   
Name and Principal
Business Address
  Positions and Offices
with Underwriter
Myles Lambert
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
  Manager, President and Chief Executive Officer
    
Philip Beaulieu
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Manager and Vice President
    
Melissa Cox
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Manager and Vice President
    

 


Michael Davis
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Manager and Vice President
    
Gerard Nigro
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Manager and Vice President
    
Jeffrey Halperin
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel
    
Christopher Hartsfield
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
    
Donald Leintz
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
Janet Morgan
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Treasurer
    
Jacob Jenkelowitz
285 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Vice President and Assistant Secretary
    
D. Burt Arrington
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Secretary
    
John Lima
334 Madison Avenue, Floor 3
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President and Chief Derivatives Officer
    
Melissa Pavlovich
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President and Tac Director
    
Jose Singer-Freeman
11225 North Community House Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
Vice President
    
James Wiviott
334 Madison Avenue, Floor 3
Morristown, NJ 07960
Vice President
(c) Compensation to the Distributor. The following aggregate amount of commissions and other compensation was received by the Distributor, directly or indirectly, from the Registrant and the other separate accounts of the Depositor, which also issue variable annuity contracts, during their last fiscal year: [To be updated by amendment.]:
   
(1)
Name of Principal
Underwriter
  (2)
Net Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions
  (3)
Compensation On
Redemption
  (4)
Brokerage
Commissions
  (5)
Other Compensation
Brighthouse Securities, LLC

  $   $   $   $

 


Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records
Omitted.
Item 33. Management Services
Pursuant to a services agreement, the amount paid by Brighthouse Services, LLC on behalf of BLIC to Computer Sciences Corporation for the provision of certain administrative and recordkeeping services relating to the Contracts and other contracts and policies issued by BLIC for the period ended December 31, 2018 was $3,648,125, and for the period ended December 31, 2019 was $5,747,547.
Item 34. Fee Representation
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company hereby represents that the aggregate charges under the Contracts of the Registrant described herein are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by the Brighthouse Life Insurance Company under the Contracts.
(a) The undersigned registrant represents that it is relying on the exemptions from certain provisions of Sections 22(e) and 27 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 provided by Rule 6c-7 under the Act. The registrant further represents that the provisions of paragraph (a) - (d) of Rule 6c-7 have been complied with.
(b) The undersigned registrant represents that for its TSA variable annuities it is relying on the “no-action” position of the Commission staff as contained in its November 7, 1988 letter to the American Council of Life Insurance and has complied with the provisions of numbered paragraphs (1) - (4) of such letter.
(c) The undersigned registrant represents that with respect to its TSA ERISA variable annuities, it is relying on the “no-action” position of the Commission staff as contained in its August 20, 2012 letter to the ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company and has complied with the provisions of such letter.


Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, and State of North Carolina, on the 16th day of December, 2020.
BRIGHTHOUSE SEPARATE ACCOUNT ELEVEN FOR VARIABLE ANNUITIES
(Registrant)
    
By: BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Gregory E. Illson
  Gregory E. Illson, Vice President
    
By: BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
  (Depositor)
By: /s/ Gregory E. Illson
  Gregory E. Illson, Vice President

 


Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 16, 2020.
/s/ Eric T. Steigerwalt*

Eric T. Steigerwalt
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
/s/ Myles J. Lambert*

Myles J. Lambert
Director and Vice President
/s/ Conor E. Murphy*

Conor E. Murphy
Director and Vice President
/s/ John L. Rosenthal*

John L. Rosenthal
Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
/s/ Edward A. Spehar*

Edward A. Spehar
Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Lynn A. Dumais*

Lynn A. Dumais
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
    
*By: /s/ Michele H. Abate
  Michele H. Abate, Attorney-in-Fact,
December 16, 2020
* Brighthouse Life Insurance Company. Executed by Michele H. Abate, Esquire on behalf of those indicated pursuant to powers of attorney filed herewith.

 


Exhibit Index
(o) Form of Initial Summary Prospectus
(p) Powers of Attorney