Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 18,
September 15, 2023
(1) Applicability and Scope. This rule
applies to all group and individual annuity contracts and certificates except-
(A) Immediate and deferred annuities that
contain no non-guaranteed elements;
(B)
(Reserved)
1. Annuities used to fund-
A. An employee pension plan which is covered
by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA);
B. A plan described by Sections 401(a),
401(k), or 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, where the
plan, for purposes of ERISA, is established or maintained by an
employer;
C. A governmental or
church plan defined in Section 414 or a deferred compensation plan of a state
or local government or a tax exempt organization under Section 457 of the
Internal Revenue Code; or
D. A nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangement established or maintained by an employer or plan sponsor.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph
(1)(B)1., the rule shall apply to annuities used to fund a plan or arrangement
that is funded solely by contributions an employee elects to make whether on a
pre-tax or after-tax basis, and where the insurance company has been notified
that plan participants may choose from among two (2) or more fixed annuity
providers and there is a direct solicitation of an individual employee by a
producer for the purchase of an annuity contract. As used in this subsection,
direct solicitation shall not include any meeting held by a producer solely for
the purpose of educating or enrolling employees in the plan or
arrangement;
(C)
Non-registered variable annuities issued exclusively to an accredited investor
or qualified purchaser as those terms are defined by the Securities Act of 1933
( 15
U.S.C. Section 77a et seq.), the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (
15 U.S.C. Section
80a-1 et seq.), or the regulations
promulgated under either of those acts, and offered for sale and sold in a
transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (
15
U.S.C. Section 77a et seq.);
(D)
(Reserved)
1. Transactions involving variable annuities
and other registered products in compliance with Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) rules and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
rules relating to disclosures and illustrations, provided that compliance with
section (3) of this rule shall be required after January 1, 2014, unless, or
until such time as, the SEC has adopted a summary prospectus rule or FINRA has
approved for use a simplified disclosure form applicable to variable annuities
or other registered products.
2.
Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(D)1., the delivery of the Buyer's Guide is
required in sales of variable annuities, and when appropriate, in sales of
other registered products.
3.
Nothing in this rule shall limit the director's ability to enforce the
provisions of this rule or to require additional disclosure;
(E) Structured settlement
annuities.
(2)
Definitions. For the purposes of this rule-
(A) "Buyer's Guide" means the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) approved
Annuity Buyer's
Guide, as appropriate for the annuity being offered for sale, either
the
Buyer's Guide for Deferred Annuities - Variable, Buyer's Guide for
Deferred Annuities - Fixed, or the Buyer's Guide for Deferred
Annuities; use of the
Buyer's Guide for Deferred
Annuities is considered appropriate in all sales and is included
herein as Appendix A. A current version of the NAIC
Annuity Buyer's
Guide and its various formats, available on the NAIC website,
www.naic.org, is an acceptable
substitute;
(B) "Contract owner"
means the owner named in the annuity contract or certificate holder in the case
of a group annuity contract;
(C)
"Determinable elements" means elements that are derived from processes or
methods that are guaranteed at issue and not subject to company discretion, but
where the values or amounts cannot be determined until some point after issue.
These elements include the premiums, credited interest rates (including any
bonus), benefits, values, non-interest based credits, and/or charges or
elements of formulas used to determine any of these. These elements may be
described as guaranteed but not determined at issue. An element is considered
determinable if it was calculated from underlying deter-minable elements only,
or from both determinable and guaranteed elements;
(D) "Generic name" means a short title
descriptive of the annuity contract being applied for or illustrated such as
"single premium deferred annuity;"
(E) "Guaranteed elements" means the premiums,
credited interest rates (including any bonus), benefits, values, non-interest
based credits, charges, or elements of formulas used to determine any of these,
that are guaranteed or have determinable elements at issue. An element is
considered guaranteed if all of the underlying elements that go into its
calculation are guaranteed;
(F)
"Illustration" means a personalized presentation or depiction prepared for and
provided to an individual consumer that includes non-guaranteed elements of an
annuity contract over a period of years. A sample illustration is included
herein as Appendix B;
(G) "Market
Value Adjustment" or "MVA" feature is a positive or negative adjustment that
may be applied to the account value and/or cash value of the annuity upon
withdrawal, surrender, contract annuitization, or death benefit payment based
on either the movement of an external index or on the company's current
guaranteed interest rate being offered on new premiums or new rates for renewal
periods, if that withdrawal, surrender, contract annuitization, or death
benefit payment occurs at a time other than on a specified guaranteed benefit
date;
(H) "Non-guaranteed elements"
means the premiums, credited interest rates (including any bonus), benefits,
values, dividends, non-interest based credits, charges, or elements of formulas
used to determine any of these, that are subject to company discretion and are
not guaranteed at issue. An element is considered non-guaranteed if any of the
underlying non-guaranteed elements are used in its calculation;
(I) "Registered product" means an annuity
contract or life insurance policy subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933;
(J) "Structured settlement annuity" means a
"qualified funding asset" as defined in Section 130(d) of the Internal
Revenue Code or an annuity that would be a qualified funding asset
under Section 130(d) but for the fact that it is not owned by an assignee under
a qualified assignment.
(3) Standards for the Disclosure Document and
Buyer's Guide.
(A)
(Reserved)
1. Where the
application for an annuity contract is taken in a face-to-face meeting, the
applicant shall at or before the time of application be given both the
disclosure document described in subsection (3)(B) of this rule and the Buyer's
Guide, if any.
2. Where the
application for an annuity contract is taken by means other than in a
face-to-face meeting, the applicant shall be sent both the disclosure document
and the Buyer's Guide no later than five (5) business days after the completed
application is received by the insurer.
A.
With respect to an application received as a result of a direct solicitation
through the mail-
(I) Providing a Buyer's
Guide in a mailing inviting prospective applicants to apply for an annuity
contract shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement that the Buyer's Guide be
provided no later than five (5) business days after receipt of the
application;
(II) Providing a
disclosure document in a mailing inviting a prospective applicant to apply for
an annuity contract shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement that the
disclosure document be provided no later than five (5) business days after
receipt of the application.
B. With respect to an application received
via the Internet-
(I) Taking reasonable steps
to make the Buyer's Guide available for viewing and printing on the insurer's
website shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement that the Buyer's Guide be
provided no later than five (5) business days after receipt of the
application;
(II) Taking reasonable
steps to make the disclosure document available for viewing and printing on the
insurer's website shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement that the
disclosure document be provided no later than five (5) business days after
receipt of the application.
C. A solicitation for an annuity contract
provided in other than a face-to-face meeting shall include a statement that
the proposed applicant may contact the insurance department of the state for a
free annuity Buyer's Guide. In lieu of the foregoing statement, an insurer may
include a statement that the prospective applicant may contact the insurer for
a free annuity Buyer's Guide.
D.
Where the Buyer's Guide and disclosure document are not provided at or before
the time of application, a free look period of no less than fifteen (15) days
shall be provided for the applicant to return the annuity contract without
penalty. This free look shall run concurrently with any other free look
provided under state law or rule.
(B) At a minimum, the following information
shall be included in the disclosure document required to be provided under this
rule:
1. The generic name of the contract, the
company product name, if different, and form number, and the fact that it is an
annuity;
2. The insurer's legal
name, physical address, website address, and telephone number;
3. A description of the contract and its
benefits, emphasizing its long-term nature, including examples where
appropriate:
A. The guaranteed, and
non-guaranteed elements of the contract, and their limitations, if any,
including for fixed indexed annuities, the elements used to determine the
index-based interest, such as the participation rates, caps or spread, and an
explanation of how they operate;
B.
An explanation of the initial crediting rate, or for fixed indexed annuities,
an explanation of how the index-based interest is determined, specifying any
bonus or introductory portion, the duration of the rate, and the fact that
rates may change from time to time and are not guaranteed;
C. Periodic income options both on a
guaranteed and non-guaranteed basis;
D. Any value reductions caused by withdrawals
from or surrender of the contract;
E. How values in the contract can be
accessed;
F. The death benefit, if
available, and how it will be calculated;
G. A summary of the federal tax status of the
contract and any penalties applicable on withdrawal of values from the
contract; and
H. Impact of any
rider, including, but not limited to, a guaranteed living benefit or long-term
care rider;
4. Specific
dollar amount or percentage charges and fees shall be listed with an
explanation of how they apply; and
5. Information about the current guaranteed
rate or indexed crediting rate formula, if applicable, for new contracts that
contains a clear notice that the rate is subject to change.
(C) Insurers shall define terms
used in the disclosure statement in language that facilitates the understanding
by a typical person within the segment of the public to which the disclosure
statement is directed, however, insurers' definitions of terms defined in this
rule may not deviate from the definitions in this rule.
(D) Failure to comply with the requirements
set forth in section (3) of this rule shall constitute false information and/or
misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies and/or
misrepresentation in insurance applications as those terms are used in section
375.936(4), (6), and
(7), RSMo.
(4) Standards for Annuity Illustrations.
(A) An insurer or producer may elect to
provide a consumer an illustration at any time, provided that the illustration
is in compliance with this section and-
1.
Clearly labeled as an illustration;
2. Includes a statement referring consumers
to the disclosure document and Buyer's Guide provided to them in connection
with their purchase for additional information about their annuity;
and
3. Is prepared by the insurer
or third party using software that is authorized by the insurer prior to its
use, provided that the insurer maintains a system of control over the use of
illustrations.
(B) An
illustration furnished an applicant for a group annuity contract or contracts
issued to a single applicant on multiple lives may be either an individual or
composite illustration representative of the coverage on the lives of members
of the group or the multiple lives covered.
(C) The illustration shall not be provided
unless accompanied by the disclosure document referenced in section (3) of this
rule.
(D) When using an
illustration, the illustration shall not-
1.
Describe non-guaranteed elements in a manner that is misleading or has the
capacity or tendency to mislead;
2.
State or imply that the payment or amount of non-guaranteed elements is
guaranteed; or
3. Be
incomplete.
(E) Costs
and fees of any type shall be individually noted and explained.
(F) An illustration shall conform to the
following requirements:
1. The illustration
shall be labeled with the date on which it was prepared;
2. Each page, including any explanatory notes
or pages, shall be numbered and show its relationship to the total number of
pages in the disclosure document (e.g., the fourth page of a seven-page
disclosure document shall be labeled "page 4 of 7 pages");
3. The assumed dates of premium receipt and
benefit payout within a contract year shall be clearly identified;
4. If the age of the proposed insured is
shown as a component of the tabular detail, it shall be issue age plus the
numbers of years the contract is assumed to have been in force;
5. The assumed premium on which the
illustrated benefits and values are based shall be clearly identified,
including rider premium for any benefits being illustrated;
6. Any charges for riders or other contract
features assessed against the account value or the crediting rate shall be
recognized in the illustrated values and shall be accompanied by a statement
indicating the nature of the rider benefits or the contract features, and
whether or not they are included in the illustration;
7. Guaranteed death benefits and values
available upon surrender, if any, for the illustrated contract premium shall be
shown and clearly labeled guaranteed;
8. The non-guaranteed elements underlying the
non-guaranteed illustrated values shall be no more favorable than current
non-guaranteed elements and shall not include any assumed future improvement of
such elements. Additionally, non-guaranteed elements used in calculating
non-guaranteed illustrated values at any future duration shall reflect any
planned changes, including any planned changes that may occur after expiration
of an initial guaranteed or bonus period;
9. In determining the non-guaranteed
illustrated values for a fixed indexed annuity, the index-based interest rate
and account value shall be calculated for three (3) different scenarios: one
(1) to reflect historical performance of the index for the most recent ten (10)
calendar years; one (1) to reflect the historical performance of the index for
the continuous period of ten (10) calendar years out of the last twenty (20)
calendar years that would result in the least index value growth (the "low
scenario"); one (1) to reflect the historical performance of the index for the
continuous period of ten (10) calendar years out of the last twenty (20)
calendar years that would result in the most index value growth (the "high
scenario"). The following requirements apply:
A. The most recent ten (10) calendar years
and the last twenty (20) calendar years are defined to end on the prior
December 31, except for illustrations prepared during the first three (3)
months of the year, for which the end date of the calendar year period may be
the December 31 prior to the last full calendar year;
B. If any index utilized in determination of
an account value has not been in existence for at least ten (10) calendar
years, indexed returns for that index shall not be illustrated. If the fixed
indexed annuity provides an option to allocate account value to more than one
(1) indexed or fixed declared rate account, and one (1) or more of those
indexes has not been in existence for at least ten (10) calendar years, the
allocation to such indexed account(s) shall be assumed to be zero;
C. If any index utilized in determination of
an account value has been in existence for at least ten (10) calendar years but
less than twenty (20) calendar years, the ten (10) calendar year periods that
define the low and high scenarios shall be chosen from the exact number of
years the index has been in existence;
D. The non-guaranteed element(s), such as
caps, spreads, participation rates, or other interest crediting adjustments,
used in calculating the non-guaranteed index-based interest rate shall be no
more favorable than the corresponding current element(s);
E. If a fixed indexed annuity provides an
option to allocate the account value to more than one indexed or fixed declared
rate account-
(I) The allocation used in the
illustration shall be the same for all three (3) scenarios; and
(II) The ten (10) calendar year periods
resulting in the least and greatest index growth periods shall be determined
independently for each indexed account option;
F. The geometric mean annual effective rate
of the account value growth over the ten (10) calendar year period shall be
shown for each scenario;
G. If the
most recent ten (10) calendar year historical period experience of the index is
shorter than the number of years needed to fulfill the requirement of
subsection (4)(H), the most recent ten (10) calendar year historical period
experience of the index shall be used for each subsequent ten (10) calendar
year period beyond the initial period for the purpose of calculating the
account value for the remaining years of the illustration;
H. The low and high scenarios:
1) need not show surrender values (if
different than account values);
2)
shall not extend beyond ten (10) calendar years (and therefore are not subject
to the requirements of subsection (4)(H) beyond subparagraph (4)(H)1.A.;
and
3) may be shown on a separate
page. A graphical presentation shall also be included comparing the movement of
the account value over the ten (10) calendar year period for the low scenario,
the high scenario and the most recent ten (10) calendar year scenario;
and
I. The low and high
scenarios should reflect the irregular nature of the index performance and
should trigger every type of adjustment to the index-based interest rate under
the contract. The effect of the adjustments should be clear; for example,
additional columns showing how the adjustment applied may be included. If an
adjustment to the index-based interest rate is not triggered in the
illustration (because no historical values of the index in the required
illustration range would have triggered it), the illustration shall so
state;
10. The guaranteed
elements, if any, shall be shown before corresponding non-guaranteed elements
and shall be specifically referred to on any page of an illustration that shows
or describes only the non-guaranteed elements (e.g., "see page 1 for guaranteed
elements");
11. The account or
accumulation value of a contract, if shown, shall be identified by the name
this value is given in the contract being illustrated and shown in close
proximity to the corresponding value available upon surrender;
12. The value available upon surrender shall
be identified by the name this value is given in the contract being illustrated
and shall be the amount available to the contract owner in a lump sum after
deduction of surrender charges, bonus forfeitures, contract loans, contract
loan interest, and application of any market value adjustment, as
applicable;
13. Illustrations may
show contract benefits and values in graphic or chart form in addition to the
tabular form;
14. Any illustration
of non-guaranteed elements shall be accompanied by a statement indicating that-
A. The benefits and values are not
guaranteed;
B. The assumptions on
which they are based are subject to change by the insurer; and
C. Actual results may be higher or
lower;
15. Illustrations
based on non-guaranteed credited interest and non-guaranteed annuity income
rates shall contain equally prominent comparisons to guaranteed credited
interest and guaranteed annuity income rates, including any guaranteed and
non-guaranteed participation rates, caps, or spreads for fixed indexed
annuities;
16. The annuity income
rate illustrated shall not be greater than the current annuity income rate
unless the contract guarantees are in fact more favorable;
17. Illustrations shall be concise and easy
to read;
18. Key terms shall be
defined and then used consistently throughout the illustration;
19. Illustrations shall not depict values
beyond the maximum annuitization age or date;
20. Annuitization benefits shall be based on
contract values that reflect surrender charges or any other adjustments, if
applicable; and
21. Illustrations
shall show both annuity income rates per one thousand dollars ($1000.00) and
the dollar amounts of the periodic income payable.
(G) An annuity illustration shall include a
narrative summary that includes the following unless there is provided at the
same time in a disclosure document:
1. A
brief description of any contract features, riders or options, guaranteed
and/or nonguaranteed, shown in the basic illustration and the impact each may
have on the benefits and values of the contract;
2. A brief description of any other optional
benefits or features that are selected, but not shown in the illustration and
the impact each has on the benefits and values of the contract;
3. Identification and a brief definition of
column headings and key terms used in the illustration;
4. A statement containing in substance the
following:
A. For other than fixed indexed
annuities-
(I) This illustration assumes the
annuity's current nonguar-anteed elements will not change. It is likely that
they will change and actual values will be higher or lower than those in this
illustration but will not be less than the minimum guarantees;
(II) The values in this illustration are
not guarantees or even estimates of the amounts you can expect
from your annuity. Please review the entire Disclosure Document and Buyer's
Guide provided with your Annuity Contract for more detailed
information;
B. For
fixed indexed annuities-
(I) This
illustration assumes the index will repeat historical performance and that the
annuity's current non-guaranteed elements, such as caps, spreads, participation
rates, or other interest crediting adjustments, will not change. It is likely
that the index will not repeat historical performance, the
non-guaranteed elements will change, and actual values will be
higher or lower than those in this illustration but will not be less than the
minimum guarantees;
(II) The values
in this illustration are not guarantees or even estimates of
the amounts you can expect from your annuity. Please review the entire
Disclosure Document and Buyer's Guide provided with your Annuity Contract for
more detailed information; and
5. Additional explanations as follows:
A. Minimum guarantees shall be clearly
explained;
B. The effect on
contract values of contract surrender prior to maturity shall be
explained;
C. Any conditions on the
payment of bonuses shall be explained;
D. For annuities sold as an IRA, qualified
plan, or in another arrangement subject to the required minimum distribution
(RMD) requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, the effect of RMDs on the
contract values shall be explained;
E. For annuities with recurring surrender
charge schedules, a clear and concise explanation of what circumstances will
cause the surrender charge to recur; and
F. A brief description of the types of
annuity income options available shall be explained, including:
(I) The earliest or only maturity date for
annuitization (as the term is defined in the contract);
(II) For contracts with an optional maturity
date, the periodic income amount for at least one (1) of the annuity income
options available based on the guaranteed rates in the contract, at the later
of age seventy (70) or ten (10) years after issue, but in no case later than
the maximum annuitization age or date in the contract;
(III) For contracts with a fixed maturity
date, the periodic income amount for at least one (1) of the annuity income
options available, based on the guaranteed rates in the contract at the fixed
maturity date; and
(IV) The
periodic income amount based on the currently available periodic income rates
for the annuity income option in part (4)(G)5.F.(II) or part (4)(G)5.F.(III),
if desired.
(H) Following the narrative summary, an
illustration shall include a numeric summary which shall include at minimum,
numeric values at the following durations:
1.
(Reserved)
A. First ten (10)
contract years; or
B. Surrender
charge period if longer than ten (10) years, including any renewal surrender
charge period(s);
2.
Every tenth contract year up to the later of thirty (30) years or age seventy
(70); and
3.
(Reserved)
A. Required
annuitization age; or
B. Required
annuitization date.
(I) If the annuity contains a MVA, the
following provisions apply to the illustration:
1. The MVA shall be referred to as such
throughout the illustration;
2. The
narrative shall include an explanation, in simple terms, of the potential
effect of the MVA on the value available upon surrender;
3. The narrative shall include an
explanation, in simple terms, of the potential effect of the MVA on the death
benefit;
4. A statement, containing
in substance the following, shall be included:
A. When you make a withdrawal the amount you
receive may be increased or decreased by a Market Value Adjustment (MVA). If
interest rates on which the MVA is based go up after you buy your annuity, the
MVA likely will decrease the amount you receive. If interest rates go down, the
MVA will likely increase the amount you receive;
5. Illustrations shall describe both the
upside and the downside aspects of the contract features relating to the
MVA;
6. The illustrative effect of
the MVA shall be shown under at least one (1) positive and one (1) negative
scenario. This demonstration shall appear on a separate page and be clearly
labeled that it is information demonstrating the potential impact of a
MVA;
7. Actual MVA floors and
ceilings as listed in the contract shall be illustrated; and
8. If the MVA has significant characteristics
not addressed by paragraphs (4)(I)1.-(4)(I)6., the effect of such
characteristics shall be shown in the illustration.
(J) A narrative summary for a fixed indexed
annuity illustration also shall include the following unless provided at the
same time in a disclosure document:
1. An
explanation, in simple terms, of the elements used to determine the index-based
interest, including, but not limited to, the following elements:
A. The Index(es) which will be used to
determine the index-based interest;
B. The Indexing Method - such as
point-to-point, daily averaging, monthly averaging;
C. The Index Term - the period over which
indexed-based interest is calculated;
D. The Participation Rate, if
applicable;
E. The Cap, if
applicable; and
F. The Spread, if
applicable;
2. The
narrative shall include an explanation, in simple terms, of how index-based
interest is credited in the indexed annuity;
3. The narrative shall include a brief
description of the frequency with which the company can re-set the elements
used to determine the index-based credits, including the participation rate,
the cap, and the spread, if applicable; and
4. If the product allows the contract holder
to make allocations to declared-rate segment, then the narrative shall include
a brief description of-
A. Any options to
make allocations to a declared-rate segment, both for new premiums and for
transfers from the indexed-based segments; and
B. Differences in guarantees applicable to
the declared-rate segment and the indexed-based segments.
(K) A numeric summary for a fixed
indexed annuity illustration shall include, at a minimum, the following
elements:
1. The assumed growth rate of the
index in accordance with paragraph (4)(F)9.;
2. The assumed values for the participation
rate, cap, and spread, if applicable; and
3. The assumed allocation between
indexed-based segments and declared-rate segment, if applicable, in accordance
with paragraph (4)(F)9.
(L) If the contract is issued other than as
applied for, a revised illustration conforming to the contract as issued shall
be sent with the contract, except that non-substantive changes, including, but
not limited to, changes in the amount of expected initial or additional
premiums and any changes in amounts of exchanges pursuant to Section 1035 of
the Internal Revenue Code, rollovers or transfers, which do
not alter the key benefits and features of the annuity as applied for will not
require a revised illustration unless requested by the applicant.
(M) Failure to comply with the requirements
set forth in section (4) of this rule shall constitute false information and/or
misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies and/or
misrepresentation in insurance applications as those terms are used in section
375.936(4), (6), and
(7), RSMo.
(5) Report to Contract Owners. For annuities
in the payout period that include non-guaranteed elements, and for deferred
annuities in the accumulation period, the insurer shall provide each contract
owner with a report, at least annually, on the status of the contract that
contains at least the following information:
(A) The beginning and end date of the current
report period;
(B) The accumulation
and cash surrender value, if any, at the end of the previous report period and
at the end of the current report period;
(C) The total amounts, if any, that have been
credited, charged to the contract value, or paid during the current report
period; and
(D) The amount of
outstanding loans, if any, as of the end of the current report
period.
(E) Failure to comply with
the requirements set forth in section (5) of this rule shall constitute false
information and/or misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance
policies as those terms are used in section
375.936(4) and
(6), RSMo.
(6) Separability. If any provision of this
rule or its application to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to
be invalid by any court of law, the remainder of the rule and its application
to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
(7) Recordkeeping. Insurers or insurance
producers shall maintain or be able to make available to the director records
of the information collected from the consumer and other information provided
in the disclosure statement (including illustrations) for not less than three
(3) years after the contract is delivered by the insurer. An insurer is
permitted, but shall not be required, to maintain documentation on behalf of an
insurance producer. Records required to be maintained by this rule may be
maintained in paper, photographic, microprocess, magnetic, mechanical or
electronic media, or by any process that accurately reproduces the actual
document.
Adopted by
Missouri
Register February 15, 2017/Volume 42, Number 04, effective
3/31/2017