EQ ADVISORS TRUST AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Exhibit (d)(38)(iii)

EQ ADVISORS TRUST

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 2 effective as of May 1, 2017 (“Amendment No. 2”) to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of October 21, 2013 (the “Agreement”) between AXA Equitable Funds Management Group, LLC (“FMG LLC” or “Manager”) and Palisade Capital Management L.L.C. (“Palisade” or “Adviser”).

FMG LLC and Palisade agree to modify the Agreement as follows:

1. Name Change. The name of EQ/Convertible Securities Portfolio is changed to 1290 VT Convertible Securities Portfolio.

2. Appendix A. Appendix A to the Agreement setting forth the fee payable to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio or Allocated Portion of the Portfolio is hereby replaced in its entirety by Appendix A attached hereto.

3. Ratification. Except as modified and amended hereby, the Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Amendment No. 2 effective as of the date first set forth above.

AXA EQUITABLE FUNDS MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC						PALISADE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.L.C.
By:		/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx				By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
		Xxxxxx Xxxx Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer				Name: Title:		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Chief Operating Officer

APPENDIX A

AMENDMENT NO. 2

TO

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

WITH

PALISADE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.L.C.

Convertible Securities Portfolios		Annual Sub-Advisory Fee Rate **
Convertible Securities Portfolios, which shall consist of the following Portfolio and Other Portfolio(s) or Allocated Portion(s)*: 1290 VT Convertible Securities Portfolio (fka, EQ/Convertible Securities Portfolio)*** 1290 Convertible Securities Fund, a series of 1290 Funds		0.40% of the Convertible Securities Portfolios’ average daily net assets up to and including $50 million; 0.35% of the Convertible Securities Portfolios’ average daily net assets in excess of $50 million and up to and including $100 million; and 0.30% of the Convertible Securities Portfolios’ average daily net assets in excess of $100 million

* Other Portfolios or Allocated Portions are other registered investment companies (or series or portions thereof) that are Advised by the Manager and sub-advised by the Adviser, which are classified as “Convertible Securities Portfolios.”

** The daily advisory fee for the Convertible Securities Portfolios is calculated by multiplying the aggregate net assets of the Convertible Securities Portfolios at the close of the immediately preceding business day by the Annual Sub-Advisory Fee Rate calculated as set forth above and then dividing the result by the number of days in the year.

*** Fees paid with respect to this Portfolio shall be based only on the portion of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets sub-advised by the Adviser.