Retirement Portfolio

MetLife Europe Limited is a member of the MetLife group of companies. The MetLife companies (MetLife, Inc. and its affiliates) operate around the world under the brand MetLife. The MetLife companies are a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and group customers.

MetLife Europe Limited is authorised to provide retirement and long-term saving solutions, which can be obtained through Financial Advisers.

In June 2006, we interviewed 100 UK financial advisers about their views on financial strength and its importance. More than three quarters (79%) believed the strength of an organisation to be important to their clients. And more than half (54%) had rejected a financial product because of concerns over financial strength.

MetLife has gained some of the highest ratings from the major ratings agencies see the About MetLife section for more information.

This explains why we have more than 70 million customers around the world and 49,400 employees to look after them. It also shows why we featured as high as 73rd position in Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's largest companies in 2008. In December 2007 we also received the accolade of America’s best managed insurance company in Forbes Magazine’s list of the best big companies in America.

As the MetLife Retirement Portfolio has a number of features including consolidation and income options it can suit a number of clients both at an early stage of their retirement planning or at the point of retirement. Examples include:

• Clients who are at the age where they have built up significant pension funds and wish to protect themselves against market falls.

• Client’s who are approaching retirement and don’t want to take chances with their fund or their future income.

• Client’s who are retiring and want the flexibility of income drawdown but the certainty of a fixed annuity.

• Client’s who have taken income drawdown but wish to protect themselves against market falls and the impact this would have on their income.

The MetLife Retirement Portfolio also includes a number of investment and guarantee options which can suit all types of investors from those seeking active investments to the risk adverse.
Visit our Technical Zone to read some helpful case studies.

Clients might come into the product at an early age and make use of the various options as their priorities change and they move through the various stages of the retirement planning cycle. Or, they might come into the product at a late stage to make use of income drawdown for example.

Or, anywhere in between — it’s that flexible.

You and your clients will decide how to use the MetLife Retirement Portfolio to its best ability.

It is true that guarantees carry an extra charge. However, firstly it is explicit so clients can see exactly what they are paying, and secondly you decide with your client the value the guarantee offers, as this is geared to their circumstances.

For example, you may have a client who is retiring but doesn’t want to take an income yet. You might discuss with him the benefit of a deferred income guarantee to:

• Guarantee the income amount now for when retirement commences
• Guarantee an annual step-up of 3% of the amount invested
• Offer the potential for regular step up if the fund is higher than the guaranteed amount

Suddenly, paying for something that offers these benefits when a client can’t afford to take risks seems like good value.

The idea of guarantees may not, at first glance, appear new to the UK but MetLife guarantees are different.

Traditional guarantees protect capital by limiting exposure to equities, which restricts the potential for growth. The MetLife guarantees allow clients to invest in their chosen level of equity exposure, preserving the opportunity for growth that this brings. Alongside this investment, clever use of derivatives acts as an insurance policy against market falls meaning a client’s original investment is secure. What’s more, over time clients can lock in potential gains, increasing the amount of the guarantee.

This is what sets us apart and is an example of how the vast knowledge and expertise we have gained in the United States can make a difference in the UK.

We don’t see the value in offering choice for choice’s sake. Instead, we offer a range of actively managed and index portfolios. We have put together these portfolios in partnership with Morningstar but only after each individual fund has undergone a thorough and rigorous selection process.

This means we only offer funds that are suitable and with the right levels of quality. We also ensure that all the important global investment arenas are represented — UK, Europe, America, and Asia.

Yes!

Clients can switch out of their guarantee at the fund value review, although switching back is only allowed after six months. Clients can transfer to another provider or purchase an annuity at any time.