Bonus Gold Bonus Gold fixed index annuity with Lifetime Income Benefit Rider is a 16-year annuity designed to help protect hard-earned dollars from index fluctuations while offering interest growth opportunities based on increases in an index.
About American Equity Annuities
American Equity Financial Strength
Bonus Gold
Premium Bonus
The Bonus Gold includes a Premium Bonus, which is applied to the Contract Value immediately.
This provides a jump start for the Contract Value because the premiums paid during the first year receive a bonus and can help increase interest growth from the start.
Premium Bonus Allocations
The Bonus Gold offers a 10% Premium Bonus on all premium received in the first contract year.
This is added to the Contract Value on the date received and allocated to the same values as the premiums.
The initial premium payment can be allocated, in any combination, to either the fixed interest or any of the index strategies.
Payments received after the initial premium automatically go into the fixed interest strategy.
On each contract anniversary, there is an opportunity to transfer between the different strategies.
Money Access Options and Features
With the Bonus Gold, there is always access to money in the annuity.
American Equity annuities provide withdrawal flexibility and a variety of liquidity options.
Penalty-Free Withdrawals
This is a once a year opportunity (after the first contract year) to take a Penalty-Free Withdrawal of up to 10% of the Contract Value.
Waiver of Surrender Charge Riders
Nursing Care Rider
Included automatically for owners under age 75 at issue.
After the first contract year, a one-time withdrawal of up to 100% of the contract value is allowed if the owner is confined to a qualified nursing care facility for a minimum of 90 days.
Confinement must begin after the contract issue date, and written proof is required from both the qualified nursing care facility and recommending physician.
Any payment made under this rider will not be subject to withdrawal charges, surrender charges, or MVAs.
Terminal Illness Rider
Included automatically for owners under age 75 at issue.
After the first contract year, a one-time withdrawal of up to 100% of the contract value is allowed if the owner is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The diagnosis must occur after the contract issue date, and written proof with supporting documentation is required from a qualified physician.
Any payment made under this rider will not be subject to withdrawal charges, surrender charges, or MVAs.
Death Benefit
Death Benefit proceeds are paid to the named beneficiary(ies) with no Surrender Charges. Generally paid in a lump-sum, other income options are also available.
Life Insurance is also an inexpensive way to leave a death benefit for beneficiaries tax-free.
Lifetime Income Benefit Rider
The fixed index annuity and income rider work together to provide a lifetime of benefits.
What is the optional Lifetime Income Benefit Rider (LIBR)?
Available for issue ages 50+, the LIBR helps secure a lifelong income source.
The amount of income to be received is measured by the Income Account Value (IAV).
The IAV is credited over time and grows until the earlier income payments beginning or the end of the Accumulation Period.
A Rider Fee is deducted from the Contract Value each year the rider is attached to the contract.
Income payments may begin any time after the first contract anniversary and are available without a Surrender Charge or having to Annuitize the contract.
Lifetime Income Benefit Rider Options
The optional LIBR has options to help individuals reach their income goals and meet their lifestyle needs.
Option 1: LIBR
This option has a set Initial IAV Rate, declared at issue and guaranteed for 10 years.
After that guarantee period, the rate credited for the remainder of the 20 year accumulation period will not change and will never be less than a stated minimum.
The IAV is calculated on a compounding interest basis.
Option 2: LIBR with Wellbeing Benefit
In addition to the benefits of Option 1, the Wellbeing Benefit option is designed to help address the financial burden related to significant health issues.
Plus, the Wellbeing Benefit Enhanced Income Payment increases the amount of income by an income payment factor for up to five years, should the contract owner or their spouse become unable to perform multiple activities of daily living outlined in the contract.
This option is not confinement driven, so it is available to those receiving home care.
There is a two year waiting period before the Wellbeing Benefit can be activated.
Check out a Long Term Care Annuity to supplement your long term care insurance needs.
Option 3: LIBR with Indexing Income
With this option, the IAV is calculated based on the rate of return on the contract from the previous anniversary.
The Contract Value rate of return is then multiplied by the IAV Multiplier to determine the percentage of IAV credit for the year.
Every anniversary, the IAV credit is applied to the IAV.
If there are no interest credits for the year, the IAV will not increase.
The IAV is calculated using compounding interest.
Income and Withdrawals
The Lifetime Income Benefit Rider offers guaranteed income through a secure revenue source.
Income Payment Election Income payments can begin any time after the first contract anniversary.
At the time of the election, contract owners select either Single Life or Joint Life Payouts.
Once income payments begin, these choices are locked in and may not be changed.
- Single Life – payout factors are determined by the owner’s sex and age at the time of payout election.
- Joint Life – payout is based on the youngest age of the contract owner or spouse, who is at least age 50, and income payments are guaranteed until the death of the surviving spouse subject to the spousal continuation provision.
Excess Withdrawals
Any Partial Withdrawals taken from the Contract Value after income payments have started are considered excess withdrawals and will reduce future income payment amounts and your IAV on a pro-rata basis.
For example, an additional withdrawal of 5% of your Contract Value reduces your future income payments by 5%.
If an excess withdrawal plus income payment exceeds the Penalty-Free Withdrawal amount allowed in any contract year, Surrender Charges will be applied to any amount in excess of the Penalty-Free Withdrawal amount.
Should excess withdrawals reduce the Contract Value to zero, the IAV will also be reduced to zero, and the contract, as well as the rider, will be considered surrendered.
Any remaining income payments would also terminate.
Death of Owner
American Equity’s annuities have a Death Benefit that allows the beneficiaries immediate access to contract value at the time of death.
This can help avoid a costly prolonged probate process.
If the owner’s spouse is the sole primary beneficiary of the contract, elects spousal continuation, and is at least age 50, then income benefits may continue.
Details and available options are in the contract.
The LIBR terminates, and income payments stop upon the earliest of either the owner’s written request, the date the contract terminates, the date the contract is Annuitized, or the date the owner of the contract changes.
Once the LIBR terminates, it may not be reinstated.
Tax Treatment
All income payments are considered a withdrawal from the Contract Value, and any part of the withdrawal that is deferred interest is taxable as income.
If the contract is in a qualified plan, the entire amount of the withdrawal may be taxable.
The taxation of income payments is calculated as outlined in the Internal Revenue Code.
In addition, the taxable portion of any withdrawal taken before age 59½ may be subject to an additional penalty of 10% by the Internal Revenue Service.
