Brighthouse Launches Streamlined Index-Linked Annuities

CHARLOTTE, NC, August 14, 2017 - Brighthouse Financial (Nasdaq: BHF), a major provider of annuity and life insurance solutions in the United States, announced today updates to its flagship Shield annuity family with the availability of the Brighthouse Shield Level Select^SM 3-Year and 6-Year Annuities and the Brighthouse Shield Level Select^SM Access Annuity. The portfolio expansion, which reflects the company’s focus on simplicity, transparency and value in product design, establishes a comprehensive suite of Shield solutions for a broader range of advisors and customers.

Brighthouse Shield Annuities are designed to help clients take advantage of growth opportunities in equity markets through index-tracking, while providing a pre-defined level of protection in down markets. Clients have the potential to earn returns up to the contract’s Cap Rate or Step Rate each term, with the assurance of downside protection against index loss up to the contract’s Shield Rate. Shield Level Selector^SM, the first product launched in the Shield family, was recently named one of Barron’s Top 50 Annuities in the “Annuities for Tax-Deferred Investing” category of the publication’s 2017 ranking.

The new Brighthouse Shield Level Select 3-Year and Shield Level Select 6-Year Annuities simplify the experience of purchasing an annuity by streamlining product options down to those most utilized by customers. The updated products feature no annual fee, offer a three or six year surrender charge schedule, and now include a standard Return of Premium Death Benefit¹ to add a layer of security.

The company also announced the availability of the Brighthouse Shield Level Select Access Annuity, a simplified Shield product designed to meet the needs of fee-based advisors who would like to offer annuity solutions as part of their practice. Shield Level Access has no surrender charges, providing consumers with the flexibility to access their money early if needed. The annuity has no annual product fees, although the consumer will pay a fee to the advisor for advisory services.

“The Shield suite offers a powerful combination of market participation and protection,” commented Myles Lambert, Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer, Brighthouse Financial. “We are pleased with the positive market response to our Shield Annuities, and believe the updates we are announcing today will deliver even greater simplicity, transparency and value for financial advisors and the customers they serve.”

Brighthouse Financial reported that sales of its Shield portfolio remained strong in the second quarter of 2017 at $570 million, up 28 percent year-over-year, bringing year-to-date sales of Shield annuities to more than $1 billion. The company completed its separation from MetLife, Inc. on August 4, 2017 and is now an independent, publicly-traded company on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “BHF.”

The announced additions to the Shield portfolio are the latest since the May launch of the Shield Level 10^SM Annuity, an index-linked, single premium deferred annuity distributed initially by Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Brighthouse Shield Level Select 3-Year and 6-Year Annuities as well as the Brighthouse Shield Level Select Access Annuity are immediately available through the company’s independent distribution partners.

For detailed information, please see the product prospectuses at https://www.brighthousefinancial.com/products/annuities/shield-annuities/.

About Brighthouse Financial

Brighthouse Financial (Nasdaq: BHF) is a major provider of annuities and life insurance in the U.S. with over 2.7 million annuity contracts and insurance policies in-force as of June 30, 2017. Established by MetLife, our mission is to help people achieve financial security by offering essential annuity and life insurance solutions designed to protect what they have earned and help ensure it lasts. Learn more at www.brighthousefinancial.com.