How can EliteDesigns® II Variable Annuity help me save for retirement?

Tax-deferred Accumulation

Market participation and tax-deferred growth can help accumulate wealth over the long term.

EliteDesigns II offers investment options from some of the industry’s most highly regarded money managers. This expertise can help diversify your portfolio according to your unique wealth accumulation objectives and risk tolerance — from conservative to aggressive.1

Choose to manage your own assets or work with a trusted financial professional.

Unlike fixed rate products, you have the ability participate in the market, which means greater potential for returns that may help meet or outpace the rate of inflation. Your financial professional can help you determine if the EliteDesigns II Variable Annuity can complement your investment portfolio.

The Power of Tax Deferral 

By deferring taxes on the returns of your investment, you can benefit:

  1. Tax-free growth — your gains are not taxed until withdrawal, which means 100% of those gains are compounding over time.
  2. As a retirement savings vehicle, many typically wait to take withdrawals until they’re in retirement.

While qualified plans like a 401(k) or IRAs can also offer the advantage of tax deferral, you do have contribution limits. With EliteDesigns II, you can invest as much as $1 million and potentially more into your contract. Keep in mind that investing in a variable annuity through a tax-qualified contract, such as an IRA, offers no additional tax benefit.

Below is an example of how a tax-deferred portfolio can help accumulate wealth faster than a similar portfolio that’s been taxed along the way. This example shows 74% more growth on a tax-deferred

tax-deferred growth

SOURCE: Security Benefit, December 17, 2021. The example above assumes an initial investment of $200,000 with investment earnings of 8% and a federal income tax rate and short-term capital gains tax of 37% and does not reflect the effect of any state taxes. These returns are hypothetical and in no way relate to the actual performance of any investment. The investment return on any particular product may differ substantially. Tax rates and tax treatment of earnings may impact comparative results. The example does not reflect the deduction of the EliteDesigns II annuity fees including mortality and expense risk charge of 1.20% (for contracts with a value over $500,000, the M&E is 1.00%); annual administration fee of 0.25% on all subaccounts except for Dimensional and Vanguard funds, which are 0.65% or the 0.35% optional Return of Premium Death Benefit fee. If such fees were deducted, the values illustrated would be reduced. It is important to note that while taxes on amounts invested in an annuity are deferred until withdrawn, upon withdrawal, tax-deferred performance would be reduced by income taxes on gains. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59½, may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty tax. Conversely, earnings from investments that do not offer tax deferral are taxed currently, and withdrawals from such an investment are not subject to the penalty tax. Lower maximum tax rates on capital gains and dividends would make the return of the taxable investment more favorable, thereby reducing the difference in performance between the accounts shown. Some situations such as your personal investment horizon and income tax brackets (both current and anticipated), changes in tax rates and tax treatment of investment earnings may impact the results of this comparison. Each person’s situation is different, so these and other considerations must be taken into account when making an investment decision. For illustrative purposes, an income tax and short-term capital gains tax rate of 37% has been used; however, a person’s tax rate will likely change over the course of a 20-year period.

Does EliteDesigns II offer a Death Benefit?

EliteDesigns II offers a standard death benefit that provides a cash payment to your named beneficiaries if you die before annuity payments have begun or prior to the payout phase. The standard death benefit is the amount equal to your current contract value.

Additionally, an optional return of premium death benefit is available (age 80 or younger, and must be purchased at Contract issue). This benefit is equal to the greater of the amount you paid into the contract less any withdrawals or fees, or the current contract value. This optional benefit eliminates any downside risk from the underlying funds to your contract value and death benefit.2

In addition to a spousal beneficiary, you can also name a non-spousal beneficiary, including children or charities. You can choose to pass your contract value down to your loved ones or to causes that are important to you by simply naming your beneficiary(ies) or trust. In doing so, your account will typically bypass probate.

Talk to your financial professional to see whether the EliteDesigns II Variable Annuity can complement your retirement portfolio.

1Diversification does not assure a profit.
2Optional Return of Premium Death Benefit, 0.35% Annual Fee

You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment options available under the variable annuities offered. You may obtain a prospectus and/or summary prospectus that contains this and other information about the investment options or variable annuity by calling our Service Center at 800.888.2461. You should read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing. Investing in variable annuities involves risk and there is no guarantee of investment results.
 

Annuities are long-term investments, suitable for retirement investing. The investment return and principal value of an investment in a variable annuity will fluctuate and you may have a gain or loss at redemption.

Guarantees provided by annuities are subject to the financial strength of the issuing insurance company. Annuities are not FDIC or NCUA/NCUSIF insured; are not obligations or deposits of, and are not guaranteed or underwritten by any bank, savings and loan, or credit union or its affiliates; and are unrelated to and not a condition of the provision or term of any banking service or activity. 
 

See the prospectus for complete product details.

The EliteDesigns II Variable Annuity, form V6209 (11-00), is a flexible premium deferred variable annuity issued by Security Benefit Life Insurance Company (SBL) and distributed by Security Distributors, a subsidiary of SBL. SBL is a subsidiary of Security Benefit Corporation (Security Benefit).