Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity
An innovative way to protect and grow retirement income
Deliver guaranteed income with flexible growth potential
With our Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity, you can help your clients grow their wealth, protect their retirement income and leave a legacy for their loved ones.
Talk to our team today
Call our Individual Retirement Sales Desk
(888) 517-9900Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET
For financial professionals only. If you are an individual investor please contact your financial professional for more information.
Clients can lock in an initial 7% deferral and an income Roll-Up Rate that applies for the first 7 contract years. At 8 years and after, Roll-Up Rates are tied to the U.S. 10-year Treasury rates + 2% with maximum of 10% and a minimum of 7%.
An innovative retirement income strategy that fits your clients’ lives and legacies
A level of protection against volatile markets and inflation
A strong retirement income strategy considers inflation rates, market volatility, uncertain interest rates and more. With guaranteed income for life, clients can feel more confident about the future.
Guaranteed income with opportunities to participate in the market
Efficient investment options and tax strategies let retirement income savings grow tax-deferred.Clients can take advantage when interest rates go up and rely on a guaranteed floor in case they don’t.
Build assets and leave a legacy for loved ones
By setting aside funds through one of the death benefits, your clients can leave a legacy and support their loved ones.
Learn more about Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity
Understand how Equitable’s Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity works
Protect and grow income
Retirement income is guaranteed for life based on the optional Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB).
Why does this matter?
We’re living longer and need to plan for longer retirements.
GMIB Roll-Up Rates while deferring or taking withdrawals¹
Years 1 - 7
Compounded 7% (if deferring or taking income)
Years 8+
10-Year Treasury + 2%, between 7 and 10% (Roll-Up Rates apply to the benefit base until the earlier of
20 years and age 95. Withdrawals continue to age 95.)²
1 Rates are effective 11/13/2023. New business rates are declared periodically and may change as frequently as monthly. The Deferral and Annual Roll-Up Rates compound annually and are guaranteed to be locked in for the first 7 contract years. After the lock-in period, the rate becomes a flexible rate tied to the recent average 10-Year Treasury rates plus 2% and is recalculated each contract year. Both the Deferral and Annual Roll-Up Rates can be as high as 10% and will never be less than 7%.
2 GMIB Roll-Up Rates are applied to the benefit base during the GMIB Roll-Up Period, which is until the earlier of the 20th contract anniversary from when the Protected Benefit Account was initially funded and the contract anniversary following the owner’s 95th
birthday. The Annual Withdrawal Amount is determined by the Annual Roll-Up Rate formula and is available until the contract anniversary following the owner’s 95th birthday. Excess withdrawals will adversely affect the benefit base.
The GMIB Multiyear Lock includes a fixed Roll-Up Rate for the first 7 contract years. Afterwards, your Roll-Up Rates are Treasury-tied, with guaranteed annual benefit base growth as high as 10% and never below 7% during the GMIB Roll-Up Period and annual
withdrawals until age 95.
Generally, "income" refers to withdrawals from the GMIB and "lifetime income" refers to annuitization, meaning, converting a certain sum into a series of lifetime payments.
Explore how clients can preserve their wealth and leave a legacy
A strategy to help your clients leave more to their loved ones.
The RMD Wealth Guard Death Benefit presents an innovative solution to taking IRS Required Minimum Distributions (beginning at age 73). Investors can lock in top-performing years before their first RMD withdrawal to pass to their family. Then, once RMD’s begin, take comfort in knowing that death benefit base will not reduce, as long as distributions stay within the RMD amount. Take retirement distributions now while also being able to take care of family later.
Benefits of this feature
- Cost effective
- Market based resets
- Principal protection
Preserve legacy
With the Return of Principal Death Benefit, investors can ensure their principal will be passed on to their loved ones, adjusted for any withdrawals they take. This cost-effective strategy is available for no additional fee.
Benefits of this feature
- Cost effective
- Market based resets
Take advantage of potential market growth
With the Highest Anniversary Value Death Benefit, for an additional fee, investors can lock in possible market gains at contract anniversary dates until they reach age 85 to then pass on their legacy. Take comfort in knowing that loved ones will receive nothing less than the best year of performance adjusted for any withdrawals they take. Withdrawals are treated as dollar for dollar when elected with an income rider.
Benefits of this feature
- Cost effective
- Market based resets
- Principal protection
Make the most of our client-approved tools and resources
Teach your clients about guaranteed retirement income
With volatility, inflation and taxes, the risk of losing your retirement savings can be very real. Despite the uncertainty, you can remain confident with the help of our Retirement Cornerstone® Variable Annuity. It gives you a way to earn tax deferred growth with over 100 investment options to choose from. And guaranteed income for both you and your spouse, built in automatically when you’re ready to take income. It can help provide a level of protection against inflation and volatility, during your lifetime and your loved ones down the road.
Retirement Cornerstone® is a flexible variable annuity with multiple ways to grow, protect and provide income through retirement, for life. Your savings will have the opportunity to continue to build, even after you stop working. Whether you’re building your savings or taking income from it, your money works hard for you. You’re well-positioned to take advantage when interest rates go up — but can rely on a guaranteed floor if they don’t. Whenever you’re ready, you can take your income and stay confident knowing you’ve planned for volatility, inflation and taxes.
Talk to your financial professional about Equitable’s Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity. And learn more in our retirement guide.
We're here to help you build your business
With our support, you can find the variable annuities that meet every client’s retirement income needs.
(888) 517-9900
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. (ET)
For financial professionals only. Individual investors should contact your financial professional for more information.
1 Rates are effective November 13, 2023. New business rates are declared periodically and may change as frequently as monthly. The deferral and annual Roll-Up Rates compound annually and are guaranteed to be locked in for the first 7 contract years. After the lock-in period, the rate becomes a flexible rate tied to the recent average 10-year Treasury rates plus 2% and is recalculated each contract year. Both the deferral and annual Roll-Up Rates can be as high as 10% and will never be less than 7%.
2 GMIB Roll-Up Rates are applied to the benefit base during the GMIB Roll-Up Period, which is until the earlier of the twentieth contract anniversary from when the Protected Benefit Account was initially funded and the contract anniversary following the owner’s 95th birthday. The Annual Withdrawal Amount is determined by the Annual Roll-Up Rate formula and is available until the contract anniversary following the owner’s 95th birthday. Excess withdrawals will adversely affect the benefit base.
Important information
Variable annuities are sold by prospectus only, which contains more complete information about the policy, including risks, charges, expenses and investment objectives. You should review the prospectus carefully before sending any money. Contact a financial professional for a copy of the current prospectus.
The Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity is composed of two separate accounts, each with distinct features that can help your clients address varying goals. The Investment Account enables clients to enhance their accumulation potential on a tax-deferred basis; it offers access to over 100 investment options managed by well-known money managers and the flexibility to transfer among investment options. When the time is right to protect these retirement assets, your clients can utilize the Protected Benefit Account, which funds the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) as applicable for an additional fee. The GMIB contains certain restrictions and limitations. There are also Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits (GMDB) available, some of which have an additional fee.
A variable annuity is a long-term financial product designed for retirement purposes. In essence, annuities are contractual agreements in which payment(s) are made to an insurance company, which agrees to pay out an income or a lump-sum amount at a later date. There are fees and charges associated with a variable annuity contract, which include, but are not limited to, operations charges, sales and withdrawal charges, administrative fees, and additional charges for optional benefits. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax treatment and, if taken prior to age 59½, may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty. Variable annuities are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of principal invested.
Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing life insurance company.
If clients are purchasing an annuity contract to fund an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, they should understand that such annuities do not provide tax deferral benefits beyond those already provided by the Internal Revenue Code.
Clients should carefully consider their investment objectives and the charges, risks and expenses, as stipulated in the prospectus, before investing. For a prospectus containing this and other information, a financial professional can call the Sales Desk at (888) 517-9900. Please have clients read it carefully before investing or sending money.
If clients are purchasing an annuity contract to fund an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, they should understand that such annuities do not provide tax deferral benefits beyond those already provided by the Internal Revenue Code. Variable annuities are sold by prospectus only, which contains more complete information about the policy, including risks, charges, expenses and investment objectives. You should review the prospectus carefully before sending money. For a current prospectus, click here.
When distributed outside of New York state by Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN) through Equitable Advisors Financial Professionals whose business address is not in New York state or when distributed by Equitable Distributors, LLC through financial professionals of unaffiliated broker/dealers when the solicitation state is not New York, the Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity is issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company. When offered by Equitable Advisors Financial Professionals whose business address is in New York state or when distributed by Equitable Distributors, LLC through financial professionals of unaffiliated broker/dealers when the solicitation state is New York, Retirement Cornerstone® is issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY). The obligations of Equitable America and Equitable Financial are backed solely by their own claims-paying abilities.
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company, Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America and their affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice or services. Clients should consult with their own professional tax and legal advisors regarding their particular circumstances.
Equitable refers broadly to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) and to Equitable Financial Life Insurance of America, an AZ stock company, issuers of variable annuity products depending on the particular contract and its distributor.
Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY); Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company; and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). The obligations of Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company and Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America are backed solely by their own claims-paying abilities.
