Exhibit 99.b.4.w.
MYPATH/TM/ ASCEND [2.0] - JOINT RIDER
GUARANTEED LIFETIME WITHDRAWAL BENEFIT [MINNESOTA LIFE LOGO]
Minnesota Life Insurance Company - A Securian Company Fax 000-000-0000
Annuity Services . A3-9999 0-000-000-0000
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx . St. Xxxx, Minnesota 55101-2098 xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx
This rider is attached to and made part of this contract as of the Rider
Effective Date. Terms not defined in this rider have the meaning given to them
in the contract to which this rider is attached. To the extent any of the
provisions contained in this rider are contrary to or inconsistent with those of
the contract, the provisions of this rider will control.
The purpose of the benefit provided by this rider is to provide security through
a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) amount that can be withdrawn each Contract
Year, regardless of Contract Value, until this rider's termination. This benefit
will terminate upon assignment of the contract or a change in Owner unless the
new assignee or Owner meets the qualifications specified in the Rider
Termination section.
Rider Specifications
Rider Effective Date: [September 1, 2014]
Designated Life: [Xxxx Xxx]
Joint Designated Life: [Xxxx Xxx]
Benefit Date: [September 1, 2014]
The later of the Contract Anniversary following the [59th] birthday of the
youngest Designated Life or the Rider Effective Date.
Annual Rider Charge: The Annual Rider Charge of [1.50%], subject to a maximum charge of
[2.25%], of the greater of Contract Value or Benefit Base is deducted
quarterly from Contract Values allocated to the Variable Account.
The Annual Rider Charge may increase, subject to the maximum charge shown
above, at the time of a Benefit Base Reset.
Enhancement Period: [12] Contract Years following the Rider Effective Date.
Enhancement Rate: [7.00%]
Annual Income Percentage: Age Annual Income Percentage
---------------- ------------------------
[through age 64] [3.75%]
[65-74] [4.75%]
[75-79] [5.00%]
[80 and older] [5.75%]
Benefit Base Guarantee:
Adjustment Date: The later of the [12/th/] Contract Anniversary or the Contract Anniversary
on or following the [70/th/] birthday of the youngest Designated Life.
Guarantee Percentage: [200%]
Benefit Base Maximum: [$4,000,000]
Maximum Additional Purchase Payments: [$25,000]
Contract Value Allocation: While this rider is in effect, the full Contract Value must be allocated
to an allocation plan approved by us for use with this rider.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 1
Definitions
Benefit Base
The value that is used to determine the amount of Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI)
available for withdrawal under this rider. In no event will the Benefit Base
exceed the Benefit Base Maximum as shown in the Rider Specifications.
Benefit Base Enhancement
The dollar amount added to the Benefit Base on any Contract Anniversary during
the Enhancement Period when there are no withdrawals in the prior Contract Year.
Benefit Base Reset
The Benefit Base is reset on any Contract Anniversary where the Contract Value
is greater than the Benefit Base after application of the Benefit Base
Enhancement, if any. The Benefit Base will increase to the Contract Value, but
will not exceed the Benefit Base Maximum. The Benefit Base will continue to be
eligible for an increase due to a Benefit Base Reset on each Contract
Anniversary until a Benefit Base Reset is declined as described in the Annual
Rider Charge section.
Designated Life
The person listed in the Rider Specifications upon whose lifetime, along with
the Joint Designated Life, will be used to determine the benefits under this
rider. The Designated Life is the Owner of the contract. If the Owner of the
contract is other than a natural person, such as a trust or other similar
entity, the Designated Life is the Annuitant. A Designated Life may be removed
due to divorce but otherwise may not be added or changed after the Rider
Effective Date.
Enhancement Base
The amount that is multiplied by the Enhancement Rate to calculate any
applicable Benefit Base Enhancement. The Enhancement Base will not exceed the
Benefit Base Maximum as shown in the Rider Specifications.
Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI)
The maximum amount that can be withdrawn in any Contract Year after the Benefit
Date without affecting the Benefit Base, Enhancement Base, or the GAI in future
Contract Years.
Guaranteed Interest Options
A type of investment option that provides an interest rate guaranteed for a
specified period of time. These options are as defined in your contract and may
also be referred to as Guaranteed Interest Accounts. For purposes of this
rider, references to Guaranteed Interest Options also include any options
defined in your contract as Guaranteed Interest Accounts.
Joint Designated Life
The person listed in Rider Specifications upon whose lifetime, along with the
Designated Life, will be used to determine the benefits under this rider. The
Joint Designated Life is the Joint Owner or the sole primary beneficiary on the
contract unless otherwise agreed to by us. A Joint Designated Life may be
removed due to divorce but otherwise may not be added or changed after the Rider
Effective Date. All references to Designated Life will include the Designated
Life and Joint Designated Life.
Qualified Contract
A contract issued to a retirement plan or arrangement that receives favorable
tax treatment under Section 401, 404, 408, 408A and 457 of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended.
General Provisions
Reports to Owners
In addition to the information stated in the Reports to Owners section in the
contract, the annual report will also provide additional information about this
rider. Prior to the Benefit Date, the annual report will provide a projected
Benefit Base and GAI as of the Benefit Date assuming no Benefit Base Resets and
no further contract activity. After the Benefit Date, the annual report will
provide the GAI as of the date of the report.
Subsequent Purchase Payments
Cumulative Purchase Payments after the first Contract Year are limited to the
Maximum Additional Purchase Payments shown in the Rider Specifications, without
our consent. Purchase Payments are allocated to the Guaranteed Interest Options
and/or the Sub-Accounts as you direct, subject to the provisions in the Contract
Value Allocation Options section.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 2
Minimum Contract Value
Any provision in your contract requiring there be a minimum Contract Value as of
the date of any withdrawal is waived while this rider is in effect.
Impact of Divorce
If a Designated Life is removed from the contract due to a divorce and no
withdrawals have been taken, the benefits provided by this rider will be
adjusted, as necessary, based on the age of the remaining Designated Life. The
rider charge and all terms of this rider will continue to be based on a joint
rider even though benefits are provided for only one Designated Life.
Spousal Continuation
If a Designated Life dies and the surviving spouse continues the contract, this
rider may be continued provided the spouse is also a Designated Life.
Recovery of Excess Payments
We may recover from you or your estate any payments made after the death of both
Designated Lives.
Calculation of Benefit Values
Benefit Base
The initial Benefit Base will be set to the initial Purchase Payment.
For each subsequent Purchase Payment prior to the later of the first Contract
Anniversary or the date of the first withdrawal, the Benefit Base will be
increased by the amount of the subsequent Purchase Payment(s). For any
subsequent Purchase Payment on or after the later of the first Contract
Anniversary or the date of the first withdrawal, there will be no increase to
the Benefit Base as a result of the Purchase Payment(s).
Prior to the Benefit Date, any amount you withdraw is considered an excess
withdrawal and will cause the Benefit Base to be reduced by an amount equal to
(a) multiplied by (b) divided by (c) where:
(a) is the Benefit Base immediately prior to the withdrawal,
(b) is the amount of the withdrawal, and
(c) is the Contract Value immediately prior to the withdrawal.
After the Benefit Date, if the total amount you withdraw in a single Contract
Year is less than or equal to the GAI, as described below, the Benefit Base will
not be reduced.
After the Benefit Date, if the total amount you withdraw in a single Contract
Year is in excess of the GAI, the additional amount withdrawn is considered an
excess withdrawal and will cause the Benefit Base to be reduced by an amount
equal to (a) multiplied by (b) divided by (c) where:
(a) is the Benefit Base immediately prior to the excess portion of the
withdrawal,
(b) is the excess portion of the withdrawal, and
(c) is the Contract Value immediately prior to the excess portion of the
withdrawal.
The Benefit Base is separate from your Contract Value. The Benefit Base may not
be withdrawn as a lump sum and is not payable at death.
Enhancement Base
The initial Enhancement Base will be set to the initial Purchase Payment.
For each subsequent Purchase Payment prior to the later of the first Contract
Anniversary or the date of the first withdrawal, the Enhancement Base will be
increased by the amount of the subsequent Purchase Payment. For any subsequent
Purchase Payment on or after the later of the first Contract Anniversary or the
date of the first withdrawal, there will be no increase to the Enhancement Base
as a result of the Purchase Payment.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 3
Prior to the Benefit Date, any amount you withdraw will cause the Enhancement
Base to be reduced by an amount equal to (a) multiplied by (b) divided by (c)
where:
(a) is the Enhancement Base immediately prior to the withdrawal,
(b) is the amount of the withdrawal, and
(c) is the Contract Value immediately prior to the withdrawal.
After the Benefit Date, if the total amount you withdraw in a single Contract
Year is less than or equal to the GAI, the Enhancement Base will not be reduced.
After the Benefit Date, if the total amount you withdraw in a single Contract
Year is in excess of the GAI, the Enhancement Base will be reduced by an amount
equal to (a) multiplied by (b) divided by (c) where:
(a) is the Enhancement Base immediately prior to the excess portion of
the withdrawal,
(b) is the excess portion of the withdrawal, and
(c) is the Contract Value immediately prior to the excess portion of the
withdrawal.
Benefit Base Enhancement
On each Contract Anniversary during the Enhancement Period, after each Contract
Year in which there have been no withdrawals, the Benefit Base will be increased
by an amount equal to (a) multiplied by (b), where:
(a) is the Enhancement Rate, and
(b) is the Enhancement Base immediately prior to application of the
Benefit Base Enhancement.
Benefit Base Reset
On each Contract Anniversary, immediately following application of any
applicable Benefit Base Enhancement, the Benefit Base will be increased to the
Contract Value if the Contract Value is greater than the Benefit Base.
If a Benefit Base Reset occurs during the Enhancement Period, the Enhancement
Base will increase to the value of the Benefit Base following the Benefit Base
Reset. The Enhancement Period will not be affected by a Benefit Base Reset.
The annual rider charge may increase at the time of a Benefit Base Reset as
described under the Annual Rider Charge section.
Benefit Base Guarantee
On the Adjustment Date, if no withdrawals have been taken from the contract
since the Rider Effective Date, the Benefit Base Guarantee will equal the sum of
(a) and (b), where:
(a) is all Purchase Payments made before the first Contract Anniversary
multiplied by the Guarantee Percentage, and
(b) is all subsequent Purchase Payments made on or after the first
Contract Anniversary.
If the Benefit Base Guarantee is greater than the current Benefit Base,
following any applicable Benefit Base Reset or Benefit Base Enhancement, the
Benefit Base will be set equal to the Benefit Base Guarantee, subject to the
Benefit Base Maximum.
Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI)
Beginning at the Benefit Date, you may withdraw an amount up to the GAI each
Contract Year until the rider terminates as described under Rider Termination.
The amount received will be in the form of a withdrawal of Contract Value, if
available, or in the form of Annuity Payments if your Contract Value reaches
zero.
Prior to the first withdrawal, the GAI will be equal to (a) multiplied by (b)
where:
(a) is the Benefit Base, and
(b) is the Annual Income Percentage shown in the Rider Specifications
based on the age of the youngest Designated Life.
The Annual Income Percentage will be determined based on the age of the youngest
Designated Life at the time of the first withdrawal and will not change
thereafter except in the case of a Benefit Base Reset. Upon a Benefit Base
Reset, the Annual Income Percentage will be re-determined based on the age of
the youngest Designated Life on the date of the Benefit Base Reset.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 4
At the time of the first withdrawal and at any time thereafter, the GAI will be
equal to (a) multiplied by (b) where:
(a) is the Benefit Base, and
(b) is the Annual Income Percentage shown in the Rider Specifications
based on the age of the youngest Designated Life as of the later of
the date of the first withdrawal or the date of the most recent
Benefit Base Reset.
The GAI will be recalculated immediately following any change to the Benefit
Base.
Withdrawals may be required to be made from your values in the Guaranteed
Interest Options and each Sub-Account of the Variable Account on a pro-rata
basis relative to your Contract Value. If withdrawals in any Contract Year are
less than the GAI, the remaining GAI may not be carried forward to future
Contract Years.
Timing of Calculations
If the Contract Anniversary falls on a day that is not a Valuation Date, rider
benefit values will be calculated based on the next available Valuation Date.
Automatic Payment Phase
If the Contract Value is reduced to zero, other than by an excess withdrawal,
the contract will enter an automatic payment phase and no future Benefit Base
increase will occur. You will receive an annual amount equal to the GAI in the
form of an Annuity Payment until the death of both Designated Lives. You may
elect to receive payments at any frequency offered by us, but at least annually.
Once selected, the frequency may not be changed without our consent. During
this phase, no additional Purchase Payments may be made and all other contract
features, benefits, riders, and guarantees except the guarantees provided by
this rider are terminated. Upon the death of both Designated Lives, this rider
terminates and no further benefits are payable.
Annuity Payments
If you elect to receive Annuity Payments, you may apply your Contract Value to
any Annuity Payment option in accordance with your contract terms. If you apply
less than the entire Contract Value to provide Annuity Payments under an Annuity
Payment option, that amount will be treated as a withdrawal for purposes of
adjusting the Benefit Base, Enhancement Base, and GAI.
If Annuity Payments are required to begin and the oldest Annuitant is a
Designated Life, you may elect from an additional annuity payment option to
receive an annual amount equal to the GAI at any frequency offered by us, but at
least annually, until the death of both Designated Lives.
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
This provision applies if your contract is a Qualified Contract and is subject
to required minimum distribution (RMD) provisions pursuant to the Internal
Revenue Code (the "Code"), as amended from time to time, and the Treasury
Regulations issued thereunder.
A withdrawal in any Contract Year after you are eligible for RMD will not be
treated as an excess withdrawal if that withdrawal does not cause the total
withdrawals for the Contract Year to exceed the greater of the GAI or your RMD
for the current calendar year. Such treatment is contingent on your acceptance
of our calculation of the RMD amounts. RMD calculations will be based solely on
the value of this contract and any attached riders, and will be determined for
the calendar year in which the RMD withdrawal is requested. Each RMD amount is
calculated based on information provided by you and our understanding of the
Code. We reserve the right to make changes in our calculations, as needed, to
comply with the Code and Treasury Regulations.
While this contract is subject to RMD provisions, the benefit will be treated as
follows:
. Each Contract Year the GAI will be calculated as described in the
Guaranteed Annual Income section above. The GAI will not be changed
based on the RMD requirement.
. If the RMD amount is greater than the GAI, the Benefit Base,
Enhancement Base, and GAI will not be reduced for withdrawals up to
the RMD amount.
Amounts withdrawn in any Contract Year in excess of the greater of GAI or RMD
will be treated as an excess withdrawal.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 5
If the RMD amount for two calendar years is withdrawn in a single Contract Year,
your withdrawal may be subject to excess withdrawal treatment to the extent the
Contract Year withdrawals exceed the greater of the GAI or current calendar year
RMD amount.
Excess Withdrawal Considerations
An excess withdrawal is any withdrawal prior to the Benefit Date or a withdrawal
after the Benefit Date that exceeds the GAI for the Contract Year. The portion
of each individual withdrawal during a Contract Year that is treated as an
excess withdrawal is equal to the amount withdrawn, including any applicable
deferred sales charge, less any GAI remaining prior to the withdrawal for that
Contract Year.
Excess withdrawals can reduce future benefits by more than the dollar amount of
the excess withdrawal.
A deferred sales charge, as defined in the contract to which this rider is
attached, may apply if excess withdrawals exceed the contract's free withdrawal
amount.
Any forms provided by us to facilitate Written Request of a withdrawal will
include:
(a) A warning that any excess withdrawal under this rider could reduce
future benefits by more than the dollar amount of the excess
withdrawal, and
(b) An option to contact us by telephone to determine if, as of the most
recent Valuation Date, such withdrawal would be considered an excess
withdrawal under this rider.
If you request a withdrawal by telephone, we will inform you if, as of the most
recent Valuation Date, such withdrawal will be considered an excess withdrawal
under this rider.
Contract Value Allocation Options
Allocation Plans
While this rider is in effect, the full Contract Value must be allocated to an
allocation plan approved by us. The Contract Value may be required to be
automatically rebalanced each quarter according to the allocation plan then in
effect. You may reallocate the full Contract Value from the current allocation
plan to another allocation plan available for use with this rider at the time of
the reallocation request. Any reallocation request must be received in our home
office by Written Request or other form acceptable to us. The reallocation will
be effective on the Valuation Date coincident with or next following the day we
receive the complete request at our home office.
We reserve the right to add, delete, or modify allocation plans. In the event
you make an additional Purchase Payment or request a transfer to an allocation
plan that is no longer available, you may be required to provide a new
allocation to one of the allocation plans available at the time of your request.
We will notify you in writing of any changes to the allocation plans available
for use with this rider.
In regard to the Guaranteed Interest Options, to the extent participation in the
allocation plan or automatic rebalancing exceeds contract maximums or transfer
limitations, such limitations will be waived while this rider is in effect.
Rider Charge
Annual Rider Charge
Beginning three months after the Rider Effective Date, and every three months
thereafter, an amount equal to one quarter of the Annual Rider Charge will be
multiplied by the greater of the Contract Value or the Benefit Base on the date
of the charge. It will be deducted on a pro-rata basis from Contract Values
allocated to the Variable Account. For purposes of calculating the Annual Rider
Charge, the greater of the Contract Value or the Benefit Base will be subject to
the Benefit Base Maximum.
The Annual Rider Charge may increase at the time of a Benefit Base Reset. The
Annual Rider Charge following the increase will not exceed the current Annual
Rider Charge for new issues. If we are no longer issuing this rider, we reserve
the right to increase the Annual Rider Charge to an amount that will not exceed
the maximum Annual Rider Charge.
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 6
You may elect to decline the Annual Rider Charge increase. Declining the Annual
Rider Charge increase will result in no increase to the Benefit Base. You will
be notified in writing a minimum of 30 days prior to the Contract Anniversary
that you may decline the Annual Rider Charge increase. If you elect to decline
the Annual Rider Charge increase, you must provide a Written Request to us no
less than seven calendar days prior to the Contract Anniversary. Once you
notify us of your decision to decline the Annual Rider Charge increase, you will
no longer be eligible for future Benefit Base increases.
A proportionate amount of the Annual Rider Charge will be deducted upon
termination of this rider or surrender of the contract. The Annual Rider Charge
will be discontinued upon termination of the rider as described in the Rider
Termination section.
Rider Termination
The rider will automatically terminate at the earliest of:
(a) termination or surrender of the contract, including the date any
death benefits are paid as a lump sum under the terms of the contract;
or
(b) the date we receive due proof of death of the last remaining
Designated Life; or
(c) the Annuity Commencement Date where all the remaining amount
available has been applied to provide Annuity Payments; or
(d) the date of an ownership change or assignment under the contract
unless:
. the new Owner assumes full ownership of the contract and is
essentially the same person (this includes but is not limited to
the change from joint ownership to sole ownership by the
surviving spouse when one of them dies, or the removal of an
Owner due to a divorce or qualified dissolution order); or
. the assignment is for the purposes of effectuating a 1035
exchange of the contract.
The rider cannot be terminated prior to the earliest of the above dates. Upon
termination of this rider, the benefits and charges within this rider will
terminate. Once terminated, this rider may not be reinstated.
[SIGNATURE] [SIGNATURE]
Secretary President]
ICC14-70271 Minnesota Life 7
