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.
You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the variable annuity and its underlying investment options before investing. You may obtain a prospectus for the variable annuity and prospectuses or summary prospectuses (if available) for the underlying investment options by calling our Service Center at 1-800-888-2461. You should read the prospectuses carefully before investing. Investing in variable annuities involves risk and there is no guarantee of investment results.
Investing in a variable annuity through a tax-qualified contract such as an IRA offers no additional tax benefit. Security Benefit does not offer investment advice or tax-benefit advice. 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.
In all states except New York, the EliteDesigns & EliteDesigns II variable annuities (form V6029) are flexible purchase payment deferred variable annuities issued by SBL. Variable annuities are distributed by Security Distributors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBL. SBL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Security Benefit Corporation (“Security Benefit”). EliteDesigns and EliteDesigns II may not be available in all states. SBL is not authorized in the state of New York and does not transact the business of insurance in the state of New York.
All guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of SBL.
- NOT A DEPOSIT
- NOT FDIC INSURED
- NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
- NOT GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK - MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE
1 Mutual Funds involve risk including the possible loss of principal. The Fund and Portfolio’s investments in secured and unsecured participations in bank loans and assignments of such loans may create substantial risk. The use of leverage by the Fund and Portfolio or an Underlying Fund, such as borrowing money to purchase securities or the use of derivatives, will indirectly cause the Fund and Portfolio to incur additional expenses and magnify the Fund and Portfolio's gains or losses. Derivative instruments involve risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund and Portfolio, resulting in losses to the Fund and Portfolio. Mutual Funds involve risk including the possible loss of principal. Investments in foreign securities could subject the Fund and Portfolio to greater risks including, currency fluctuation, economic conditions, and different governmental and accounting standards. In addition to the risks generally associated with investing in securities of foreign companies, countries with emerging markets also may have relatively unstable governments, social and legal systems that do not protect shareholders, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets that trade a small number of issues. Adverse changes in currency exchange rates may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund and Portfolio’s investments. Non-diversification risk may result in the Fund and Portfolio being more vulnerable to events affecting a single issuer. In general, the price of a fixed income security falls when interest rates rise. The Fund and Portfolio invest in high yield securities, also known as "junk bonds." High yield securities provide greater income and opportunity for gain, but entail greater risk of loss of principal. When the Fund and Portfolio invests in other investment companies, including ETFs, they will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the other investment company’s or ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying investments the ETF holds. The Fund and Portfolio will use model-based strategies that, while historically effective, may not be successful on an ongoing basis or could contain unknown errors. In addition, the data used in models may be inaccurate.
2 This fund may not be suitable for all investors. The use of derivatives such as futures, options, and swap agreements will expose the fund to additional risks that they would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. A highly liquid secondary market may not exist for the credit default swaps the fund invests in, and there can be no assurance that a highly liquid secondary market will develop. The fund’s market value will change in response to interest rate changes and market conditions, among other factors. You may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. In general, bond prices rise when interest rates fall, and vice versa. The fund’s exposure to the high yield bond market may subject the fund to greater volatility because (i) the fund will be affected by the ability of high yield security issuers’ ability to make principal and interest payments and (ii) the prices of derivatives linked to high yield bonds may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily in relation to interest rates. It is important to note that the fund is not guaranteed by the U.S. government. The fund is subject to active trading risks that may increase volatility and impact its ability to achieve its investment objective. Please read the prospectus for more detailed information regarding these and other risks.
3 An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a fund. Investments in bond funds are subject to interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.
99-00479-06 2016/01/11