News and press releases
March 21, 2024
MassMutual Ascend Adds the First Trust Barclays Edge Index to Its Suite of Fixed-Indexed Annuities
CINCINNATI – March 21, 2024 – MassMutual Ascend announced the addition of the First Trust Barclays Edge Index to its fixed-indexed annuities. The First Trust Barclays Edge Index is a multi-asset index seeking to provide equity and fixed income exposure through a combination of indices, including Capital Strength™ Index and Value Line Dividend™ Index, while aiming to control risk by maintaining a volatility target at or below 7%. The First Trust Barclays Edge Index now joins the diverse array of available strategies in the fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities offerings at MassMutual Ascend.
“We are very excited about working with First Trust® and Barclays,” said Joe Maringer, Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager. “We’ve brought together two great firms to create consumer value while providing an insurance guarantee. Our goal in launching the strategy is to provide more consumer choice, added flexibility and to compound on our success of guaranteed caps and participation rates on our multi-year strategies.”
The First Trust Barclays Edge Index multi-year strategies offer locked, or guaranteed participation rates and caps for term, offering a level of stability in renewal rates. Additionally, multi-year strategies offer the flexibility to reallocate funds out during the participation rate lock or cap lock period.
Tobi Crowder, Senior Vice President at First Trust® shares that, “Working with MassMutual Ascend and Barclays has been a pleasure and we look forward to educating the marketplace about the First Trust Barclays Edge Index.”
Marie-Laure Chandumont, Managing Director at Barclays shares, “It was a privilege to work with these two firms, and help them introduce this investment strategy onto the MassMutual Ascend product platform.”
About MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company
MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of MassMutual, offers traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities in the retail, broker-dealer, financial institutions and registered investment advisor markets. MassMutual Ascend is committed to taking financial futures above and beyond. From products to service to financial strength, the company is always in pursuit of better – so its customers can navigate their futures with confidence.
Media Contact:
Christina Kampe
Head of Marketing, MassMutual Ascend
Source: MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of MassMutual
Index Website: First Trust Barclays Edge Index - FT Indexing Solutions LLC
The First Trust Barclays Edge Index (“FTIS Index”) is a product of FT Indexing Solutions LLC (“FTIS”) and is administered and calculated by Bloomberg Index Service Limited and its affiliates (collectively, “BISL”). FIRST TRUST® and First Trust Barclays Edge Index are trademarks of First Trust Portfolios L.P. (collectively, with FTIS and their respective affiliates, “First Trust”). The foregoing index and trademarks have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Barclays, Bloomberg, and MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company (collectively, the “Licensees”) in connection with the FTIS Index and certain products utilizing the FTIS Index (collectively, the “Products”).
The Capital Strength Index (“Nasdaq Index”) is a product of Nasdaq, Inc. (collectively, with its affiliates, “Nasdaq”). NASDAQ®, CAPITAL STRENGTH INDEX™, NQCAPST™, and NQCAPSTT™ are trademarks of Nasdaq. The foregoing index and trademarks have been licensed for use for certain purposes by FTIS and Licensees in connection with the FTIS Index and the Products.
The Value Line Dividend Index (“Value Line Index”) is a product of Value Line, Inc. (“Value Line”). VALUE LINE® and VALUE LINE DIVIDEND INDEX™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Value Line. The foregoing index and trademarks have been licensed for use for certain purposes by FTIS and Licensees in connection with the FTIS Index and the Products. The FTIS Index is not sponsored, endorsed, recommended, sold or promoted by Value Line and Value Line makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any product utilizing the FTIS Index.
BLOOMBERG® is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. Bloomberg Finance L.P., BISL, and their affiliates (“Bloomberg”) are not affiliated with First Trust or Barclays. Bloomberg’s relationship to First Trust and Barclays is only (1) in the licensing of the FIRST TRUST®, BARCLAYS®, and FIRST TRUST BARCLAYS EDGE INDEX™ trademarks and (2) to act as the administrator and calculation agent of the FTIS Index, which is the property of FTIS. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of the FTIS Index or any data or information relating thereto and shall have no liability in connection with the FTIS Index or any data or information relating thereto.
The Products are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold, recommended, or promoted by First Trust, Bloomberg, Nasdaq, Value Line, or their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Companies”). The Companies do not make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Products or products based on the FTIS Index, Barclays Indices, Nasdaq Index, or Value Line Index, do not make any warranties or bear any liability with respect to such products, and do not make any warranties or bear any liability with respect to the Products, the FTIS Index, or another party’s index.
THE COMPANIES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE PRODUCTS, FTIS INDEX, BARCLAYS INDICES, NASDAQ INDEX, VALUE LINE INDEX, OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR ANY COMMUNICATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, INCLUDING, ORAL, WRITTEN, OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. THE COMPANIES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS IN THE PRODUCTS, FTIS INDEX, BARCLAYS INDICES, NASDAQ INDEX, OR VALUE LINE INDEX. THE COMPANIES MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEES, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCTS OR OF PRODUCTS BASED ON THE FTIS INDEX, BARCLAYS INDICES, NASDAQ INDEX, OR VALUE LINE INDEX, OR BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE FTIS INDEX, BARCLAYS INDICES, NASDAQ INDEX, OR VALUE LINE INDEX, OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN.
Neither Barclays Bank PLC (“BB PLC'') nor any of its affiliates (collectively “Barclays”) is the issuer or producer of MassMutual Ascend’s products and Barclays has no responsibilities, obligations or duties to investors in MassMutual Ascend’s products. The Barclays US 2Y Treasury Futures Index, Barclays US 5Y Treasury Futures Index, Barclays US 10Y Note Index, and Barclays Switch USD Signal Index (collectively, the “Indices”), together with any Barclays indices that are components of the Indices, are trademarks owned by Barclays and, together with any component indices and index data, are licensed for use by FTIS in connection with the First Trust Barclays Edge Index.
Barclays’ only relationship with the MassMutual Ascend in respect of the Indices is the licensing of the Indices to FTIS, which are administered, compiled and published by BB PLC in its role as the index sponsor (the “Index Sponsor”) without regard to MassMutual Ascend’s products or investors in MassMutual Ascend’s products. Additionally, MassMutual Ascend as issuer or producer of MassMutual Ascend’s products may for itself execute transaction(s) with Barclays in or relating to the Indices in connection with MassMutual Ascend’s products. Investors acquire MassMutual Ascend’s products from MassMutual Ascend and investors neither acquire any interest in the Indices nor enter into any relationship of any kind whatsoever with Barclays upon making an investment in MassMutual Ascend’s products. MassMutual Ascend’s products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Barclays and Barclays makes no representation regarding the advisability of MassMutual Ascend’s products or use of the Indices or any data included therein. Barclays shall not be liable in any way to MassMutual Ascend, investors or to other third parties in respect of the use or accuracy of the Indices or any data included therein.