Pru Replaces VA Options

By Staff Writer

August 24, 2009 at 08:00 PM

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Prudential Annuity is realigning a pair of variable annuity value protection options.

Prudential Annuity, a unit of Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J., says the Highest Daily Lifetime 6 Plus and Spousal Highest Daily Lifetime 6 Plus versions will replace the "Lifetime 7 Plus" versions in all states where the Lifetime 6 Plus versions have been approved.

Consumers who buy Prudential variable annuities can pay extra for a Highest Daily Lifetime option to guarantee that a "protected withdrawal value" will enjoy a minimum annual compounded growth rate.

The replacement of the Lifetime 7 Plus versions with the Lifetime 6 Plus versions changes the annual compound growth rate included in the protected withdrawal value calculations to 6%, from 7%.

Purchasers may end up with better results if VA investment portfolios do well, according to Prudential Annuity.

The Prudential insurance company subsidiaries that write the annuities and the Highest Daily Lifetime withdrawal value protection options are responsible for backing the VA guarantees and the withdrawal value protection guarantees.

The annual cost of the Lifetime 6 Plus option is 0.85% of the account value if the account value is higher than the protected withdrawal value. If the protected withdrawal value is higher than the account value, the annual cost is 0.85% of the protected withdrawal value.

The annual cost of the spousal version is 0.95%.

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