MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) today enhanced the Allianz Index Advantage® Variable Annuity by adding the Index Guard Strategy and the EURO STOXX 50® Index allocation option for new contracts. The Index Guard Strategy is an index strategy that may fit a client’s financial objectives and risk tolerance while offering a level of protection from severe index losses. Additionally, clients can now allocate funds to an index strategy using the EURO STOXX 50®, a blue-chip representation of supersector leaders in the Eurozone countries, available in the Index Performance Strategy and the Index Guard Strategy. As a part of a well-rounded portfolio, this index variable annuity can help clients plan for uncertainties as they accumulate retirement assets.
“Index Advantage offers unique growth opportunities, a level of protection, and the flexibility to move funds between index strategies,” said President of Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC Robert DeChellis. “Clients who want to accumulate assets but have less tolerance for incurring a large loss may find the new Index Guard Strategy is a great fit for their investment needs.”
The Index Guard Strategy offers clients a level of protection from large index losses while maintaining the potential for performance. It offers competitive annual caps but provides an additional protection to the client’s contract value by providing a floor on negative index performance. If the annual index return is positive, the client will receive an annual performance credit equal to that return, up to the cap. If the annual index return is negative, the client will receive a negative performance credit which will never be less than a specified percentage called the floor.1 For example, negative index returns beyond the current floor of -10% will not reduce the contract value. The Index Guard Strategy also gives clients the flexibility to allocate all or part of the contract value to the other index strategies each year (on the Index Anniversary) based on their specific goals. This strategy offers the following available indexes:2
- S&P 500® Index
- Nasdaq-100® Index
- Russell 2000® Index
- EURO STOXX 50®
For index disclosures, go to https://www.allianzlife.com/annuities/index-variable-annuities.
Allianz Index Advantage offers competitive upside potential, as well as a level of protection from index losses, that can help clients address the challenges of low interest rates and market volatility. All features are offered without the use of additional-cost riders. Clients can use a combination of the three traditional variable options with three crediting methods (also known as index strategies).
Deductions for the annual product fee of 1.25%, withdrawal charge, and contract maintenance charges may result in a loss of principal or previously earned performance credits, and will not receive a credit on the next Index Anniversary.
1 The floor will never change after the contract is issued. The minimum floor will never be less than -25%.
2 An allocation to the index options is not a purchase of shares of any stock or index fund, or a direct investment in an index.
For more complete information about Allianz Index Advantage Variable Annuity and the variable options, call Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, member FINRA, at 800.542.5427 for a prospectus. The prospectuses contain details on investment objectives, risks, fees, and expenses, as well as other information about the variable annuity and variable options, which your clients should carefully consider. Encourage your clients to read the prospectuses thoroughly before sending money.
Products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and distributed by its affiliate, Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC, member FINRA, 5701 Golden Hills Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1297. 800.542.5427 www.allianzlife.com
Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and do not apply to the performance of the variable subaccounts, which will fluctuate with market conditions.
About Allianz Life
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2015, has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with 147,000 employees worldwide. More than 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most of financial opportunities.
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America offers insurance and annuities in all states except New York. In New York, products are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York.
