How to Grow Retirement Income Even If Your Annuity Account Doesn’t Grow

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the recent ups and downs of the investment markets, individuals at or nearing retirement have put a premium on finding safe, predictable ways to fuel their retirement incomes. Now, for an additional cost, a new optional withdrawal benefit in Pacific Life’s Pacific Index Choice^SM deferred, fixed indexed annuity provides the opportunity to increase retirement income whether or not the product earns interest.

“We know clients want a predictable retirement income they can count on for life—and they also want the opportunity to maximize the amount of that income”

The optional benefit is called the Enhanced Lifetime Income Benefit. “We know clients want a predictable retirement income they can count on for life—and they also want the opportunity to maximize the amount of that income,” says Christine Tucker, Pacific Life’s vice president of marketing, Retirement Solutions Division. “With this benefit, even if the annuity contract earns no interest, clients can boost the base amount from which they draw income by eight percent per year, for up to 10 years, simply by deferring the date they start their withdrawals.”

This can mean significantly more retirement income for the client. Let’s take the example of an individual who purchases a $100,000 Pacific Index Choice contract with Enhanced Lifetime Income Benefit and waits 10 years before making withdrawals. Instead of having a base of $100,000 from which to draw income, the eight percent Annual Credit will, after 10 years, result in a base of $180,000. Depending on the contract owner’s age at the time withdrawals begin, and whether he or she has chosen guaranteed withdrawals over just his or her life or both the owner’s life and the life of a spouse, the withdrawal amount could be as much as seven percent annually.

What’s more, this base, called the Protected Payment Base, is separate from the contract’s account value. Even if the account value drops all the way to zero, guaranteed lifetime withdrawals can be made based on the Protected Payment Base amount.

To learn more about Pacific Index Choice, visit the Pacific Life website at www.PacificLife.com.

About Pacific Life

Offering insurance since 1868, Pacific Life provides a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit Pacific Life online at www.PacificLife.com.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of May 2011 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2011 FORTUNE 500® list.

Enhanced Lifetime Income Benefit payments received prior to converting the contract to annuity payouts are treated as withdrawals and may be subject to surrender charges, taxes, and if prior to age 59½ , a 10% federal tax penalty. A withdrawal charge and a market value adjustment also may apply. Annuity withdrawals and other distributions of taxable amounts, including death benefit payouts, will be subject to ordinary income tax.

No guaranteed rate will be less than the minimum guaranteed rate stated in the contract. Pacific Life determines, at its discretion, annual interest rates in excess of the stated minimum guarantee in the contract.

Credit enhancements are not counted as purchase payments, are treated as additional earnings for tax purposes, and are not returned under the free-look provision. If the death benefit is payable in the first year, the credit enhancement will be recaptured on a proportionate basis (except in Connecticut).

Insurance products are issued by Pacific Life Insurance Company in all states except New York and in New York by Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Product availability and features may vary by state. Each company is solely responsible for the financial obligations accruing under the products it issues. Insurance product and rider guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Pacific Index Choice is not available in New York.

Fixed annuities issued by Pacific Life are available through licensed, independent third parties.