Security Benefit Offers 19 New VA Investment Options

TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Security Benefit Life Insurance Company (SBL), Topeka, KS is pleased to announce that it has expanded the underlying fund options available within the EliteDesigns suite of investment-oriented variable annuities.

Nineteen new investment options have been added to both EliteDesigns and EliteDesigns II variable annuities, and include a single offering each from FormulaFolio Investments of Grand Rapids, MI., Redwood Investment Management of Los Angeles, CA., and Guggenheim Investments of New York, as well as 16 funds from Vanguard of Valley Forge, PA. These additional underlying funds are being added to provide enhanced options and greater choice of investments. (Please see the full list of new offerings below.)

“Today, advisors and their clients desire a combination of passive index and active investment management options, along with the added tax benefits afforded by many variable annuities,” said Doug Wolff, President, SBL. “With these additions, we now offer 316 subaccounts from 44 different investment managers. That means advisors can more closely mirror their existing investment methodology, but with the advantages of a competitively priced tax-deferred platform.”

The FormulaFolio US Equity Portfolio utilizes a proprietary formula-driven strategy that selects up to 50 stocks based on top-down fundamental analysis. The manager screens companies that are growth leaders within their peer group for desirable balance sheets and income statements, as well as a history of paying increasing dividends.

The Redwood Managed Volatility¹ subaccount attempts to limit downside risk, in addition to seeking to produce satisfying returns over a market cycle, by taking advantage of market trends within certain income-oriented asset classes. The fund’s quantitative investment process seeks to minimize discretionary biases when determining allocation opportunities.

The Rydex High Yield Strategy VIF² is a tradable fund that utilizes a quantitative strategy that expects to provide consistent, systematic, and highly correlated exposure to the high yield market. Rydex, a pioneer in the tradable fund marketplace, will allow for unlimited exchanges with no required holding periods between this fund and other Rydex variable insurance funds on the EliteDesigns platform. This feature caters to the needs of sector rotators who require the flexibility to move in and out of the high yield sector.

Vanguard³ was founded in 1975 by index fund visionary John (Jack) Bogle, and is one of the largest investment managers with $3 trillion in global assets. This well-known investment manager utilizes various passive investment strategies depending upon the fund(s) selected, all of which invest under a cost-conscious mandate.

“Our ultimate goal is to provide a full array of targeted, compelling and innovative investment options that will allow advisors to choose and integrate among both active and passive strategies, all geared for retirement savings,” Wolff added.

The EliteDesigns suite of variable annuities features a cost-efficient fee structure and no trading limits or redemption fees on a large number of the portfolios for actively managed strategies. In addition, there are no surrender or withdrawal charges or annual policy fees. The result is a competitive variable annuity product offering that allows advisors to help clients manage their tax burdens on investment income.

FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio			Vanguard® VIF High Yield Bond
Redwood Managed Volatility			Vanguard® VIP International
Rydex VIF High Yield Strategy			Vanguard® Mid-Cap Index
Vanguard® VIF Balanced			Vanguard® VIF Moderate Allocations
Vanguard® VIF Capital Growth			Vanguard® VIF REIT Index
Vanguard® VIF Conservative Allocation			Vanguard® VIF Short Term Investment Grade
Vanguard® VIF Diversified Value			Vanguard® VIF Small Company Growth
Vanguard® VIF Equity Income			Vanguard® VIF Total Bond Market Index
Vanguard® VIF Equity Index			Vanguard® VIF Total Stock Market Index
Vanguard® VIF Growth

About Security Benefit

Security Benefit, a 123-year-old Kansas-based insurance company with approximately $30 billion in assets under management, is a leading retirement savings and income solutions provider. Through a combination of innovative products, exceptional investment management and a unique distribution strategy, Security Benefit is a leader in a full range of retirement markets and wealth segments. To learn more about Security Benefit, visit www.securitybenefit.com.