Enhanced Preference Plus Account (EPPA) Product Microsite

Enhanced Preference Plus Account is a tax sheltered variable annuity1,2 issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) to provide a retirement savings vehicle for employees of public schools, colleges and universities, nonprofit hospitals and nonprofit organizations under IRC §501(c)(3). Enhanced Preference Plus Account variable annuity is designed to help individuals accumulate assets for retirement. It can also provide a steady stream of income throughout their retirement years, if annuitized. Enhanced Preference Plus Account variable annuity offers:

EPPA Facts-at-a-Glance

What is a variable annuity?

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EPPA Performance

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Minimum contribution

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Funding Options

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Transfers among funding options

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Benefitsensitivity prospectus

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Income for life

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Death Benefit

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Minimum Distribution

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Fees andCharges5

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Loan Provision

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A variable annuity is a long-term retirement savings vehicle specifically designed to help individuals save for retirement, providing them with a stream of retirement income that they cannot outlive.

Although a variable annuity may be an appropriate choice for some people as part of an overall retirement portfolio, it is not suitable for everyone. Please read the prospectus thoroughly and completely before investing.

A variable annuity offers the following advantages:

Tax-deferral
Individuals pay no income tax on contributions until the money is withdrawn from their account (unlike Roth contributions which are deducted after tax withholdings).1,2

Death benefit
If the individual dies before income payments begin, the individual’s beneficiary is guaranteed to receive a specified amount. The beneficiary will get a benefit from this feature if, at the time of death, the account balance is less than the guaranteed amount.5

Range of underlying funding options
The underlying funding options available in a variable annuity typically invest in stocks, bonds, money market instruments or some combination of the three.7

Periodic payments
Individuals can elect to receive periodic income payments that continue for their lifetime (and the lifetime of their spouse).8

1. There is no additional tax deferral advantage to funding a qualified retirement plan with an annuity such as FFA. All accounts under qualified plans, including section 403(b) plans and IRAs, are eligible for tax deferral. There should be reasons other than tax deferral, such as the opportunity for lifetime payouts and the other benefits offered under the FFA certificate, for purchasing an annuity certificate under the qualified retirement plan.

2. May not be available in all states.

3. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. Only one investment strategy may be in effect at a time.

4. Restrictions may apply. See the prospectus for more details.

Click below to review performance reports and prospectuses:

Annuity
Performance Reports
Prospectus
Enhanced Preference Plus Account - 457(b)
Performance Reports
Prospectus
Enhanced Preference Plus Account - IRC 401 Performance Reports Prospectus
Enhanced Preference Plus Account - Maximum Deferred Comp Performance Reports Prospectus
Enhanced Preference Plus Account - MetLife Employer Group Performance Reports Prospectus
Enhanced Preference Plus Account - TSA Performance Reports Prospectus

None. If no purchase payments are made for more than 36 months and the account balance is under $2,000, MetLife may cancel the certificate, if permitted by law, by paying the account balance less any outstanding loans (if loans are permitted by plan). Early withdrawal charges may apply. No certificate will be terminated due solely to negative investment performance.

  • Asset Allocation Portfolios
  • “Fund-of-Funds”
  • Index Portfolios
  • Fixed Interest Account
  • Portfolios that invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

Note: Purchase payments allocated to the investment divisions are not guaranteed and bear the risk of loss

Free. Non-taxable. Unlimited. Other restrictions may apply. Please see prospectus for more details.

No contract withdrawal charge will apply:5

  • At retirement, provided 10 years of uninterrupted contract participation unless the plan defines retirement and the individual retires under that provision.
  • Upon separation from service from the employer sponsor (for some contract variations).
  • To purchase a life annuity or an income arrangement for a noncommutable period of 5 years or more.
  • In any given contract year, for partial withdrawals of up to 20% of the account balance.
  • Upon death.
  • To any withdrawal required to avoid federal income tax penalties or satisfy federal income tax rules for this annuity. (Does not apply to 72(t) distributions).
  • If the plan permits withdrawal for hardship and a request is made for a withdrawal as a result of unforeseen hardship or emergency.

Create a stream of income for life — guaranteed by MetLife.

Assuming income has not started, the standard death benefit is the greatest of:

  • Account balance;
  • Total purchase payments less withdrawals (including any applicable withdrawal charges);
  • Highest account balance on 12/31 following the end of any fifth certificate anniversary less withdrawals, fees and charges since that 12/31 date. In each case, the amount is reduced by outstanding loans, where loans are permitted by plan.

The minimum distribution generally required each year once individuals reach age 73, or when they retire, whichever is later, by federal income tax rules can be calculated and forwarded from the Financial Freedom Account by enrolling in MetLife’s automated required minimum distribution service. Failure to take required minimum distributions for a year will result in a penalty tax on the amount of the shortfall. MetLife will guarantee the calculation for this annuity against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalties for this annuity (based upon the information provided). May not be available in all markets.

Annual contract fee
There is no Separate Account annual contract fee. Depending on the plan provisions, there may be a $20 annual contract fee from the Fixed Interest Account.

Annual Separate Account charge
0.95% (as a percentage of an individual’s average account balance in the Separate Account).

Withdrawal Charges5
A declining 7-year withdrawal charge applies to each contribution. 7-year withdrawal charge schedule: 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0%.

Note: The fees and charges mentioned above do not include investment management fees and other expenses of the funding options under individuals’ contract. Please refer to the prospectus for more information.

The amount that may be borrowed, the interest rate charged, the loan repayment schedules and loan application fees are described in the loan application form and the certificate (TSA only). Loan availability may be subject to the provisions of the employer’s plan.

Automated investment strategies4

  • * The AllocatorSM
    Each month, a dollar amount individuals choose is transferred from the Fixed Interest Account to any of the funding options they choose. The Allocator uses dollar cost averaging to take advantage of ups and downs in the market by investing the same amount at regular intervals of time.9

  • * The EqualizerSM
    Take the emotion out of investing by automating the process with the Equalizer, a feature that helps individuals try to buy low and sell to mated strategy that allocates money equally between the Fixed Interest Account and one of two stock investment divisions, either the MetLife Stock Index Division or the Frontier Mid Cap Growth Division. The transaction occurs automatically each quarter. If one investment division or the Fixed Interest Account outperforms the other, units or amounts are redeemed and transferred to the other so that they have equal balances.

  • * The Equity Generator®
    Purchase payments go into the Fixed Interest Account, where they earn an interest rate guaranteed by MetLife and are protected from investment risk. Then each month, an amount equal to the accrued interest is transferred into one investment division of individuals' choice. The guarantee associated with the Fixed Interest Account is subject to the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.9

  • * The Rebalancer®
    Once individuals select a specific asset allocation, the Rebalancer seeks to keep the account in balance. Each quarter, the Rebalancer automatically returns the account balance to the allocation initially selected. 100% of the account balance must be allocated to this strategy.

  • * The Index Selector®
    Individuals select one of five asset allocation models which are designed to correlate to various risk tolerance levels. Each asset allocation model is comprised of one or more index portfolio and, depending on the model, the Fixed Interest Account. 100% of the account balance must be allocated to the model of individuals' choice. Each quarter, the model percentages of the model of individuals' choice are maintained by automatic transfers among the index portfolios and the Fixed Interest Account.9

  • * Asset Allocation Funding Options
    A diversified funding option that offers fully managed funding choices across a wide selection of asset classes PPA offers Asset classes and is designed to meet a specific investment objective and risk tolerance. Each Asset Allocation Portfolio is a "fund of funds" that invests in other underlying portfolios. Because of this two-tier structure, each Asset Allocation Portfolio bears its own investment management fees and expenses, as well as its pro rata share of the investment management fees and expenses of the underlying portfolios.10 Combining the investment strategies of several managers in a single portfolio may help to manage investment risk and provides individuals with a wide range of investment management expertise. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.

These fees and charges mentioned above do not include investment management fees and other expenses of the funding options under the certificate. For more information please refer to the:
- Initial Summary Prospectus (“ISP”) - which is provided to clients at point of sale.
- The Updating Summary Prospectus (“USP”) which is provided to in-force clients as  part of their annual prospectus mailing.
- Statutory Prospectus (full prospectus) is available for more detailed inquiries.

1 There is no additional tax deferral advantage to funding a qualified retirement plan with an annuity such as EPPA. All accounts under qualified plans, including section 403(b) plans and IRAs are eligible for tax deferral. There should be reasons other than tax deferral, such as the opportunity for lifetime payouts and the other benefits offered under the EPPA contract, for purchasing an annuity contract under the qualified retirement plan. Roth not available in all plans or all states.

2 May not be available in all states.

3 No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. Only one investment strategy may be in effect at a time. 

4 Income payments which guarantee payments for a specific time period are usually smaller than those which have no such guarantee. Also, guarantee periods that are shorter usually produce larger payments than those that have longer guarantee periods. 

5 Ordinary income taxes generally apply at withdrawal. Withdrawal charges may also apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59½ before separation of service are generally prohibited. Where allowed, distributions of taxable amounts are generally subject to ordinary income taxes and, if made before 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. In the case of 457(b) governmental plans, the 10% federal income tax penalty may apply to distributions of amounts rolled over from another type of qualified retirement plan or IRA. Consult a tax advisor to determine whether an exception to these tax rules may apply. Withdrawals reduce the death benefits.

6 Restrictions may apply. See the prospectus for more details.

7 While the investment divisions and their comparably named portfolios may have names, investment objectives and management which are identical or similar to publicly available mutual funds, these portfolios are not those mutual funds. The portfolios most likely will not have the same performance experience as any publicly available mutual fund.

8 After death distributions to non-Eligible Designated Beneficiaries must be distributed by the end of the tenth (10th) calendar year following the year of the employee or IRA owner’s death.

9 No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. Only one investment strategy may be in effect at a time. The Equity Generator and The Allocator are dollar cost averaging strategies that involve continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating price levels. Participants should consider their ability to continue purchases through periods of low price levels. The Equity Generator will automatically be discontinued if the Fixed Interest Account balance at the time of a scheduled transfer is zero. We will continue to implement the Index Selector strategy using the percentage allocations of the model that have been in effect. These percentage allocations will not change. Individuals should consider whether it is appropriate for them to continue this strategy over time if their risk tolerance, time horizon, or financial situation changes. This strategy may experience more volatility than other strategies. The asset allocation models used in the Index Selector strategy may change from time to time. Individuals should speak with their plan administrator for an updated model.

10 Individuals may be able to realize lower aggregate expenses by investing directly in the underlying portfolios rather than investing in the Asset Allocation Portfolios.

Enhanced Preference Plus Account variable annuity is issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166, and distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company (member FINRA). Both are MetLife companies. Policy Form number G4333-7.

Distributions of 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) salary reduction contributions allocated to an account, and any earnings on such contributions, are generally not permitted prior to attaining normal retirement age under the retirement plan except under certain circumstances, such as an individual’s severance from employment with the employer sponsoring the plan or the individual’s death, disability or hardship (or 457(b) unforeseeable emergency) as permitted by the plan. Distributions of contributions and any earnings may also be restricted as defined in the plan documents. Contact the plan administrator to determine when and under what circumstances the individual may request a distribution from the plan.