Correspondence 0001193125-22-285596 from Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co (CIK 0000727920)
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co (CIK 0000727920)
Date: Nov. 15, 2022 · CIK: 0000727920 · Accession: 0001193125-22-285596
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File numbers found in text: 333-262807
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company SCS PLUS 21 Darin Smith Associate General Counsel (319) 573-2676 November 15, 2022 VIA EDGAR Elisabeth Bentzinger, Esq. United States Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Insurance Products Division of Investment Management Mail Stop 8629 Washington, DC 20549-8629 Re: Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement Registration Statement No. 333-262807 CIK 0000727920 Dear Ms. Bentzinger: The purpose of this letter is to provide a response to the oral comments you provided with respect to the above-referenced filing. We have made the revisions as requested and discussed. Also as requested, we confirm that the Performance Cap Rates in the supplement are reasonable based on several factors including recent suggested bids analysis and current market conditions. I trust that the revisions address your comments adequately. If you have any questions regarding the revisions, please contact the undersigned at (319) 573-2676. Thank you very much for your assistance with this filing. Best regards, /s/ Darin Smith Darin Smith Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America Supplement dated , 2022 to the current prospectus for Structured Capital Strategies® PLUS 21 This Supplement modifies certain information in the above-referenced prospectus (the “Prospectus”) offered by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (the “Company”). You should read this Supplement in conjunction with your Prospectus and retain it for future reference. This Supplement incorporates the Prospectus by reference. Unless otherwise indicated, all other information included in your Prospectus remains unchanged. The terms we use in this Supplement have the same meaning as in your Prospectus. We will send you another copy of any prospectus or supplement without charge upon request. Please contact the customer service center at 877-899-3743. We are offering the following new Segment Options and Segment Types: (1) A new Dual Step Up Segment Option (described below); (2) A new Loss Limiter Segment Option (described below); (3) Additional Standard Segment Types with a -15%, -20% and -40% Segment Buffer; (4) Additional Dual Direction Segment Types with a -10%, -15% and -20% Segment Buffer for 6-year Segment Durations and a -10% and -15% Segment Buffer for 1-year Segment Durations; (5) Additional Annual Lock Segment Types with a 6-year Segment Duration, -10% Segment Buffer; (6) Additional Step Up Segment Types with a -15% Segment Buffer for 1-year Segment Durations and –10% for 6-year Segment Durations; and (7) Additional Enhanced Upside Segment Types with a 1-year Segment Duration, -10% Segment Buffer. The following chart lists the current Segment Types (including any new Segment Types added herein): Segment Option Segment Duration Segment Buffer Minimum Performance Cap Rate Standard1 6 year -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% 12% 1 year -10%; -15%; -20%; -40% 2% DualDirection2 6 year -10%; -15%; -20% 12%; 15%; 20% 1 year -10%; -15% 2% AnnualLock2 6 year -10% 2% StepUp2 6 year -10% 12% 1 year -10%; -15% 2% EnhancedUpside3,4 6 year -10%; -15% 12% 1 year -10% 2% DualStep Up2 1 year -10%; -15% 2% LossLimiter3 6 year5 -10% 12% 1 year6 -10% 2% 1 Indices available: S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return; MSCI EAFE Price Return; NASDAQ-100 Price Return; MSCI Emerging Markets Price Return (not available with 6-year Standard Segments); EURO STOXX 50® Return (not available with 6-year Standard Segments) 2 Indices available: S&P 500 Price Return; Russell 2000® Price Return (not available with 6-year Step Up Segments); MSCI EAFE Price Return (not available with 6-year Step Up Segments); NASDAQ-100 Price Return (not available with 6-year Step Up Segments) 3 Indices available: S&P 500 Price Return 4 Enhanced Upside Rates of 110% and 125%. 5 Segment Investment Protection Level of 95% 6 Segment Investment Protection Level of 90% On a Segment Maturity Date, the highest level of protection is the -40% Segment Buffer and lowest level of protection is the -10% Segment Buffer. Please note: Unless otherwise noted, all discussions about a Segment Option or Segment Type, including discussions and statements about and examples of the Segment Rates of Return, assume that the Return of Premium Death Benefit is not elected. (1) Dual Step Up Segment Option. We are adding a new Segment Option – Dual Step Up. A Dual Step Up Segment is any Segment belonging to a Segment Type whose name includes “Dual Step Up”. For Dual Step Up Segments the Segment Rate of Return is equal to the Performance Cap Rate if the Index Performance Rate is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer or the Index Performance Rate if the Index Performance Rate is negative, subject to the Segment Buffer. Dual Step Up Segment example: For the S&P 500 Price Return Index/Dual Step Up/1 year/-10% Segment Type, a Segment could be established as S&P 500 Price Return Index Dual Step Up/1 year/-10% with a 10% Performance Cap Rate. This means that you will participate in the performance of the S&P 500 Price Return Index for one year starting from the Segment Start Date. If the Index performs equal to or better than the Segment Buffer, your Segment Rate of Return will be 10% for that Segment Duration. This means if the Index performs negatively down to and including -10%, then your Segment Rate of Return will be 10%. If the Index performs more negatively than the Segment Buffer, your Segment Rate of Return will be negative equal to the percentage loss in the Index which exceeds the Segment Buffer. Dual Step Up Segments will generally have lower Performance Cap Rates than Standard Segments with the same Index, Segment Duration and Segment Buffer. This is because the Segment Rate of Return for Dual Step Up Segments is equal to the Performance Cap Rate for certain lower and negative returns. Please note that the Performance Cap Rate and Segment Rate of Return for Dual Step Up Segments are cumulative rates of return from the Segment Start Date to the Segment Maturity Date. They are NOT annual rates. The following Dual Step Up Segment Types are being added: Index Segment Duration Segment Buffer Minimum Performance Cap Rate S&P500 Price Return Index 1 year -10%; -15% 2% Russell2000® Price Return 1 year -10%; -15% 2% MSCIEAFE Price Return 1 year -10%; -15% 2% NASDAQ-100Price Return 1 year -10%; -15% 2% Dual Step Up Segments. For Dual Step Up Segments, the Segment Rate of Return is equal to the Performance Cap Rate unless the Index Performance Rate is less than the Segment Buffer in which case it is equal to the Index Performance Rate subject to the Segment Buffer, minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected, as follows: If the Index Performance Rate: Your Segment Rate of Return will be: is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected is negative by a percentage greater than the Segment Buffer negative, equal to the extent of the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected These values are based on the value of the relevant Index on the Segment Start Date and the Segment Maturity Date. Any fluctuations in the value of the Index between those dates is ignored in calculating the Segment Rate of Return. Please note: Because of the way Segment Rate of Return is calculated for Dual Step Up Segments, when the Index Performance Rate is near the Segment Buffer, a very small difference in the Index Performance Rate on the Segment Maturity Date can result in a very different Segment Rate of Return. For example, if the Performance Cap Rate is 10.00%, the Segment Buffer is -10% and the Index Performance Rate is -10.00% on the Segment Maturity Date, the Segment Rate of Return would be 10.00% whereas, if the Index Performance Rate is -10.01% on the Segment Maturity Date the Segment Rate of Return is -0.01%. Dual Step Up Segment Examples Assume that you invest $1,000 in an S&P 500 Price Return Index Dual Step Up, 1-year Segment with a -10% Segment Buffer, we set the Performance Cap Rate for that Segment at 10%, and you make no withdrawal from the Segment and do not elect the Return of Premium death benefit. If the S&P 500 Price Return Index is 20% higher on the Segment Maturity Date than on the Segment Start Date, you will receive a 10% Segment Rate of Return, and your Segment Maturity Value would be $1,100. We reach that amount as follows: • The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. • The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). • The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). If the S&P 500 Price Return Index is 5% higher on the Segment Maturity Date than on the Segment Start Date, you will receive a 10% Segment Rate of Return, and your Segment Maturity Value would be $1,100. We reach that amount as follows: • The Index Performance Rate (5%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. • The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). • The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). If the S&P 500 Price Return Index is 5% lower on the Segment Maturity Date than on the Segment Start Date, then you will receive a 10% Segment Rate of Return, and your Segment Maturity Value would be $1,100. We reach that amount as follows: • The Index Performance Rate (-5%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (10%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate. • The Segment Return Amount ($100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (10%). • The Segment Maturity Value ($1,100) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($100). If the S&P 500 Price Return Index is 15% lower on the Segment Maturity Date than on the Segment Start Date, then you will receive a -5% Segment Rate of Return, and your Segment Maturity Value would be $950. We reach that amount as follows: • The Index Performance Rate is -15% and the Segment Buffer absorbs the first 10% of negative performance, so the Segment Rate of Return is -5% which is equal to the percentage exceeding the Segment Buffer (5%). • The Segment Return Amount (-$50) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (-5%). • The Segment Maturity Value ($950) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount (-$50). Assume that you invest $1,000 in an S&P 500 Price Return Index Dual Step Up, 1-year Segment with a -10% Segment Buffer, we set the Performance Cap Rate for that Segment at 10%, and you make no withdrawal from the Segment and do elect the Return of Premium death benefit. If the S&P 500 Price Return Index is 20% higher on the Segment Maturity Date than on the Segment Start Date, you will receive a 10% Segment Rate of Return, and your Segment Maturity Value would be $1,098. We reach that amount as follows: • The Index Performance Rate (20%) is greater than or equal to the Segment Buffer, so the Segment Rate of Return (9.8%) is equal to the Performance Cap Rate (10%) minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge (0.20%). • The Segment Return Amount ($98) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) multiplied by the Segment Rate of Return (9.8%). • The Segment Maturity Value ($1,098) is equal to the Segment Investment ($1,000) plus the Segment Return Amount ($98). Risk Factors unique to Dual Step Up Segment Types • For Dual Step Up Segments, your Segment Rate of Return is limited by its Performance Cap Rate, which could cause your Segment Rate of Return to be lower than it would otherwise be if you invested in a mutual fund or exchange traded fund designed to track the performance of the applicable Index. • Dual Step Up Segments will tend to have a lower Performance Cap Rate than Standard Segments with the same Index, Segment Duration and Segment Buffer. (2) Loss Limiter Segment Option. We are adding a new Segment Option – Loss Limiter. A Loss Limiter Segment is any Segment belonging to a Segment Type whose name includes “Loss Limiter”. For Loss Limiter Segments, the Segment Rate of Return is equal to the greater of (a) the Index Performance Rate subject to the Performance Cap Rate and Segment Buffer and (b) the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1. We currently offer a Segment Investment Protection Level of 90% (Loss Limiter 90) for 1-year Segments and a Segment Investment Protection Level of 95% (Loss Limiter 95) for 6-year Segments. The 95% and 90% Segment Investment Protection Levels mean that you will lose no more than 5% or 10%, respectively, of your Segment Investment due to Index performance. Loss Limiter Segment example: For the S&P 500 Price Return Index/ Loss Limiter 90 /1 year/-10% Segment Type, a Segment could be established as S&P 500 Price Return Index Loss Limiter 90 /1 year/-10% with a 9% Performance Cap Rate [and 90% Segment Investment Protection]. This means that you will participate in the performance of the S&P 500 Price Return Index for 1 year starting from the Segment Start Date. If the Index performs equal to or better than the Segment Buffer, your Segment Rate of Return could be as much as 9% for that Segment Duration. If the Index performs more negatively than the Segment Buffer, your Segment Rate of Return will be negative but no more than the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1, in this example, -10%. Loss Limiter Segments will generally have lower Performance Cap Rates than Standard Segments with the same Index, Segment Duration and Segment Buffer. This is because the Segment Rate of Return for Loss Limiter Segments limits the loss for negative returns to the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1. Please note that the Performance Cap Rate and Segment Rate of Return for Loss Limiter Segments are cumulative rates of return from the Segment Start Date to the Segment Maturity Date. They are NOT annual rates, even if the Segment Duration is longer than one year. The following Loss Limiter Segment Types are being added: Index Segment Duration Segment Buffer Minimum Performance Cap Rate S&P500 Price Return Index 6 year* 1 year** -10% -10% 12% 2% * Segment Investment Protection Level of 95% ** Segment Investment Protection Level of 90% Loss Limiter Segments. For Loss Limiter Segments, the Segment Rate of Return is equal to the greater of (a) Index Performance Rate, subject to the Performance Cap Rate and Segment Buffer and (b) the Segment Investment Protection Level minus 1; minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected, as follows: where (a) is equal to: If the Index Performance Rate: Your Segment Rate of Return will be: exceeds the Performance Cap Rate equal to the Performance Cap Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of Premium Death Benefit is elected is positive but less than or equal to the Performance Cap Rate equal to the Index Performance Rate minus the Return of Premium Death Benefit charge if the Return of