Allianz Life has enhanced the Allianz Index Advantage Variable Annuity by adding the Index Guard Strategy and the EURO STOXX 50 Index allocation option for new contracts.
The Index Guard Strategy is an index strategy that may fit a client’s financial objectives and risk tolerance while offering a level of protection from severe index losses. Additionally, clients can now allocate funds to an index strategy using the EURO STOXX 50, a blue-chip representation of supersector leaders in the Eurozone countries, available in the Index Performance Strategy and the Index Guard Strategy. As a part of a well-rounded portfolio, this index variable annuity can help clients plan for uncertainties as they accumulate retirement assets.
“Index Advantage offers unique growth opportunities, a level of protection, and the flexibility to move funds between index strategies,” says President of Allianz Life Financial Services, Robert DeChellis. “Clients who want to accumulate assets but have less tolerance for incurring a large loss may find the new Index Guard Strategy is a great fit for their investment needs.”
The Index Guard Strategy offers clients a level of protection from large index losses while maintaining the potential for performance. It offers competitive annual caps but provides an additional protection to the client’s contract value by providing a floor on negative index performance. If the annual index return is positive, the client will receive an annual performance credit equal to that return, up to the cap. If the annual index return is negative, the client will receive a negative performance credit which will never be less than a specified percentage called the floor. For example, negative index returns beyond the current floor of -10 per cent will not reduce the contract value. The Index Guard Strategy also gives clients the flexibility to allocate all or part of the contract value to the other index strategies each year (on the Index Anniversary) based on their specific goals. This strategy offers the following available indexes:
• S&P 500 Index
• Nasdaq-100 Index
• Russell 2000 Index
• EURO STOXX 50
