Focused Growth Annuity

The Focused Growth Annuity offers features to optimize your growth potential. It’s a good fit if you’re a long-term saver who likes the benefits of tax-deferred growth and protection as part of your retirement strategy. Few taxable investments provide this blend of safety, growth and flexibility.

Initial Rate Guarantee Period
We guarantee the annual interest rate in effect at the time you buy the annuity for 3, 5, 7 or 10 years, depending on the option you select. Interest is calculated and credited daily. At the end of the term, you may withdraw your money or automatically start a new guaranteed-rate period.

Subsequent Rate Guarantee Period
If you choose to continue your annuity, new interest rate guarantee periods and surrender-charge periods automatically begin at the end of your initial term, then again at the end of each subsequent term.
All subsequent terms will be for the same duration as your initial guarantee period. For example, if you chose a Focused Growth Annuity 3, all subsequent guarantee periods will be 3 years.
During the first 30 days of each term, you may withdraw some or all of your funds without a surrender charge or market value adjustment.
The Standard sets a new interest rate at the beginning of each rate guarantee period, and we guarantee the rate for that period. The new rate may be higher or lower than the interest rate of your initial rate guarantee period.

Premium Amounts
The minimum premium is $15,000 and maximum premium is $1,000,000. Greater amounts may be possible if preapproved by The Standard before you submit an application. You may add additional premium in the first 90 days.

Access to Funds
There are times when you may need to access your funds during the surrender-charge period. We have created withdrawal options without a surrender charge or market value adjustment to help in certain situations. There may be a 10 percent early-withdrawal IRS penalty for surrenders that occur before age 59½. Please consult a tax professional for guidance.
30-Day Window. During the frst 30 days of each subsequent surrender-charge period, you can withdraw some or all of your funds without a surrender charge.

Payments of Interest Earnings
After 30 days, you can withdraw your interest earned without a surrender charge. Payments may be scheduled monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Market Value Adjustment
A market value adjustment applies to withdrawals or surrenders that are subject to a surrender charge. We base the adjustment on a formula that takes into account changes in the MVA Index at that time. We will waive the MVA when the surrender charge is waived. The MVA can increase or decrease the surrender value of the annuity. Generally, if interest rates have risen since the beginning of the current surrender-charge period, the MVA will decrease the surrender value. If interest rates have fallen, the MVA will generally increase the surrender value.

Death Benefits
Death benefit payments are available without a surrender charge. After the death of an annuitant, the owner may elect a withdrawal within 180 days of the death and surrender charges will be waived.

Annuitization
Annuitization is the process of changing from accumulating savings to generating a guaranteed income stream. You may convert your deferred annuity to a payment stream with The Standard at any time without a surrender charge. You must choose either a lifetime income payment option or a certain period of at least five years.

Plan Type
Inherited IRAs for spouses only
Note: TSP funds have to be rolled into an IRA.