METLIFE ENHANCES ITS WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT OFFERINGS

METLIFE ENHANCES ITS WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCT OFFERINGS

New York, April 27, 2013

MetLife today announced the addition of three new enhanced offerings to its MetLife Promise Whole Life series of products –MetLife Promise Whole Life Select 10^SM, MetLife Promise Whole Life Select 20^SM and MetLife Promise Whole Life Select 65^SM. The new products offer three premium durations – 10 years, 20 years and to age 65, after which no further payments will be required to keep a policy in force.

In addition, the new offerings provide death benefit and cash value benefits that can continue to grow after the policy is paid up and may provide a competitive supplemental income stream during retirement.

“These enhancements are designed to help make life easier for consumers looking to balance their insurance needs against their retirement needs,” said Gene Lunman, senior vice president, MetLife. “MetLife’s Promise Whole Life Select series can meet an individual’s specific insurance needs now and create a foundation for supplemental income in retirement. In addition, the optional riders available through the Promise Whole Life Select series enhance the flexibility of the product.”

The optional riders include:

• The Enricher® – this optional rider allows the policyholder to pay additional premiums, if desired, which are used to purchase paid up insurance. This allows clients to put additional money into their life insurance policies, thereby increasing not only the policy’s death benefits but also the cash value which can be accessed to provide for needs like supplementing retirement income.
  
  
• Acceleration of Death Benefit Rider –will provide the policy owner access to all or a portion of the available death benefit should the insured become terminally ill.
  
  
• Disability Waiver of Premiums Benefit – waives premiums should the insured become totally disabled (as defined by the rider) for a continuous period of at least six months.
   

The product enhancements and enhanced rider options come as a response to changing consumer needs around life insurance. The guaranteed rate of return provided through whole life insurance has made it an increasingly attractive option for consumers, especially during times of economic uncertainty. The MetLife Promise Whole Life enhancements build upon this advantage by offering guaranteed level premiums, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed death benefit. These new products provide the benefits of long-term financial protection coupled with the advantages of cash value that is guaranteed to grow each year on a tax-deferred basis and may be accessed on a tax favored basis. In addition, the potential for dividends may increase the cash value and death benefit of the policy over time if paid.