Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M

05/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/01/2024 10:19

Prospectus by Investment Company - Form 497

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Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
Home Office Location:
1301 South Harrison Street
P.O. Box 1110
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(800) 454-6265
Administrative Office:
Customer Service Center
100 N. Greene Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(800) 487-1485
A Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy
This prospectus describes Lincoln VULCV-IV, a flexible premium variable life insurance contract (the "Policy"), offered by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company ("Lincoln Life", the "Company", "We", "Us", "Our"). The Policy provides for death benefits and policy values that may vary with the performance of the underlying investment options. Read this prospectus carefully to understand the Policy being offered. Remember, you are looking to the financial strength of the Company for fulfillment of the contractual promises and guarantees, including those related to death benefits.
The state in which your Policy is issued will govern whether or not certain features, riders, restrictions, limitations, charges and fees will be allowed in your Policy. All material state variations are discussed in this prospectus. However, non-material variations may not be discussed. You should refer to your Policy for these state-specific features. Please contact the Administrative Office or your registered representative regarding availability.
You, the Owner, may allocate Net Premiums to the variable Sub-Accounts of our Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M, established on December 2, 1997 ("Separate Account"), or to the Fixed Account. Each Sub-Account invests in shares of certain funds. These funds are collectively known as the Elite Series. Comprehensive information on the funds may be found in the funds' prospectuses which are available online at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus. More information about the fund can be found in Appendix A later in this prospectus.
You should also review the prospectuses for the funds and keep all prospectuses for future reference. All prospectuses and other shareholder reports will be made available on www.lfg.com/VULprospectus.
Additional information on Lincoln Life, the Separate Account and this Policy may be found in the Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI"). See the last page of this prospectus for information on how you may obtain the SAI. Additional information about certain investment products, including variable life insurance, has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff and is available at Investor.gov.
Certain terms used in this prospectus are defined within the sentences where they appear, within relevant provisions of the prospectus, including footnotes or they may be found in the prospectus Special Terms section.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This Policy may not be available in all states, and this prospectus only offers the Policy for sale in jurisdictions where such offer and sale are approved.
Prospectus Dated: May 1, 2024
Table of Contents
Contents
Page
SPECIAL TERMS
3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER ABOUT THE POLICY
6
OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY
9
What is the purpose of the Policy?
9
When do I have to pay Premiums and how do
they get invested?
9
What are the primary features and options
that the Policy Offers?
9
Fee Table
10
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE
POLICY
12
LINCOLN LIFE, THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND
THE GENERAL ACCOUNT
15
Fund Participation Agreements
16
Distribution of the Policies and
Compensation
17
Sub-Accounts and Funds
18
Sub-Account Availability and Substitution of
Funds
19
Voting Rights
20
POLICY CHARGES AND FEES
21
Premium Load; Net Premium Payment
21
Premium Tax
21
Surrender Charges
22
Partial Surrender Fee
23
Transfer Fee
23
Cost of Insurance Charge
23
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
24
Administrative Fee
24
Policy Loan Interest
24
Rider Charges
24
Case Exceptions
25
YOUR INSURANCE POLICY
25
Application
26
Owner
26
Right To Examine Period
26
Initial Specified Amount
27
Contents
Page
Transfers
27
Market Timing
28
OTHER BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE
POLICY
30
Optional Sub-Account Allocation Programs
34
Continuation of Coverage
35
Termination of Coverage
35
State Regulation
35
PREMIUMS
35
Allocation of Net Premium Payments
36
Planned Premiums; Additional Premiums
36
Policy Values
37
Annual Statement
38
DEATH BENEFITS
38
Death Benefit Proceeds
38
Death Benefit Options
39
Changes to the Initial Specified Amount and
Death Benefit Options
40
POLICY SURRENDERS
41
Partial Surrender
41
POLICY LOANS
42
LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT
42
No-Lapse Provision
43
Reinstatement of a Lapsed Policy
45
TAX ISSUES
46
Taxation of Life Insurance Contracts in
General
46
Policies That Are MECs
47
Policies That Are Not MECs
48
Other Considerations
48
Fair Market Value of Your Policy
49
Tax Status of Lincoln Life
50
RESTRICTIONS ON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
50
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
50
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
51
APPENDIX A: FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE
POLICY
A-1
2
SPECIAL TERMS
The following terms may appear in your prospectus and are defined below:
7-Pay Test-A test that compares actual paid Premium in the first seven years against a pre-determined Premium amount as defined in 7702A of the Code.
1933 Act-The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1940 Act-The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Accumulation Value (Total Account Value)-An amount equal to the sum of the Fixed Account Value, the Separate Account Value, and the Loan Account Value.
Administrative Fee-The fee which compensates the Company for administrative expenses associated with policy issue and ongoing policy maintenance including Premium billing and collection, policy value calculation, confirmations, periodic reports and other similar matters.
Attained Age-An Insured's Issue Age (shown in the Policy Specifications) plus the number of completed Policy Years.
Beneficiary-The person(s) designated to receive the Death Benefit Proceeds.
Cash Value Accumulation Test-A provision of the Code that requires that the death benefit be sufficient to prevent the Accumulation Value from ever exceeding the net single Premium required to fund the future benefits under the Policy.
Code-Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Cost of Insurance Charge-This charge is the portion of the Monthly Deduction designed to compensate the Company for the anticipated cost of paying death benefits in excess of the policy value. It is determined by multiplying the Policy's Net Amount at Risk by the Cost of Insurance rate.
Death Benefit Proceeds-The amount payable to the Beneficiary upon the death of the Insured, based upon the death benefit option in effect. Loans, loan interest, Partial Surrenders, and overdue charges, if any, are deducted prior to payment of the Death Benefit Proceeds. Riders may impact the amount payable as Death Benefit Proceeds in your Policy.
Fixed Account-An allocation option under the Policy, which is a part of our General Account, to which we credit a guaranteed minimum interest rate.
Fixed Account Value-An amount equal to the value of amounts allocated or transferred to the Fixed Account, plus interest credited, and less any deductions or Partial Surrenders.
Full Surrender-The withdrawal of all applicable policy values.
Good Order-The actual receipt of the requested transaction in writing (or other form subject to our consent) along with all information and supporting legal documentation necessary to effect the transaction.
Grace Notice-Written notice to you (or any assignee or other designee of record) that your Policy will terminate unless we receive payment of Premiums (or payment of Indebtedness on Policy Loans). The Grace Notice will state the amount of Premium Payment (or payment of Indebtedness on Policy Loans) that must be paid to avoid termination of your Policy.
Grace Period-The period during which you may make Premium Payments (or repay Indebtedness) to prevent Policy Lapse. That period is the later of (a) 31 days after the Grace Notice was mailed, and (b) 61 days after the Monthly Anniversary Day on which the Policy enters the Grace Period.
Guideline Premium Test-A provision of the Code under which the maximum amount of Premium paid in relation to the death benefit and a minimum amount of death benefit in relation to policy value is determined.
Indebtedness-The sum of all outstanding loans and accrued interest.
Insured-The person on whose life the Policy is issued.
Loan Account (Loan Collateral Account)-The account in which policy Indebtedness accrues once it is transferred out of the Sub-Accounts and/or the Fixed Account. The Loan Account is part of our General Account.
Loan Account Value-An amount equal to any outstanding Policy Loans, including any interest
3
charged on the loans. This amount is held in the Company's General Account.
Market Timing Procedures-Policies and procedures from time to time adopted by us as an effort to protect our Owners and the funds from potentially harmful trading activity.
Modified Endowment Contract (MEC)-A life insurance policy that meets the requirements of Section 7702 and fails the "7-Pay Test" of 7702A of the Code. If the policy is a MEC, withdrawals and loans from your Policy will be treated first as income and then as a recovery of Premium Payments.
Monthly Anniversary Day-The Policy Date and the same day of each month thereafter. If the day that would otherwise be a Monthly Anniversary Day is non-existent for that month, or is not a Valuation Day, then the Monthly Anniversary Day is the next Valuation Day. The Monthly Deductions are made on the Monthly Anniversary Day.
Monthly Deduction-The amount of the monthly charges for the Cost of Insurance Charge, the Administrative Fee, and charges for riders to your Policy.
Net Accumulation Value-An amount equal to the Accumulation Value less the Loan Account Value.
Net Amount at Risk-The death benefit minus the greater of zero or the Accumulation Value. The Net Amount at Risk may vary with investment performance, Premium Payment patterns, and charges.
Net Premium Payment-An amount equal to the Premium Payment, minus the Premium Load.
Owner-The person or entity designated as Owner in the Policy Specifications unless a new Owner is thereafter named, and we receive written notification of such change.
Partial Surrender-A withdrawal of a portion of your policy values.
Planned Premium-The amount of periodic Premium (as shown in the Policy Specifications) you have chosen to pay the Company on a scheduled basis. This is the amount for which we send a Premium reminder notice.
Policy Anniversary-The same date (month and day) each Policy Year equal to the Policy Date, or the next Valuation Day if the Policy Anniversary is not a Valuation Day or is nonexistent for the year.
Policy Date-The date (shown on the Policy Specification pages) on which life insurance begins if the necessary Premium has been paid.
Policy Lapse-The day on which coverage under the Policy ends as described in the Grace Period.
Policy Loan-The amount you have borrowed against the Surrender Value of your Policy.
Policy Loan Interest-The charge made by the Company to cover the cost of your borrowing against your Policy.
Policy Month- The period from one Monthly Anniversary Day up to, but not including, the next Monthly Anniversary Day.
Policy Specifications-The pages of the Policy which show your benefits, Premium, costs, and other policy information.
Policy Year-Twelve month period(s) beginning on the Policy Date and extending up to but not including the next Policy Anniversary.
Premium (Premium Payment)-The amount paid to us for a life insurance policy.
Premium Load-A deduction from each Premium Payment which covers certain policy-related state and federal tax liabilities as well as a portion of the sales expenses incurred by the Company.
Reduction in Specified Amount-A decrease in the Specified Amount of your Policy.
Right to Examine Period-The period during which the Policy may be returned to us for cancellation.
SAI-Statement of Additional Information.
SEC-The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Separate Account Value (Variable Accumulation Value)-An amount equal to the values in the Sub-Accounts.
Specified Amount (Initial Specified Amount)-The amount chosen by you which is used to determine the amount of death benefit and the amount of rider benefits, if any. The Specified Amount chosen at the time of issue is the "Initial Specified Amount". The Specified Amount may be increased or decreased after issue if allowed by and described in the Policy.
Sub-Account(s)-Divisions of the Separate Account created by the Company to which you may allocate
4
your Net Premium Payments and among which you may transfer Separate Account Values.
Surrender Charge-The charge we may make if you request a Full Surrender of your Policy or request a Reduction in Specified Amount. The Surrender Charge is in part a deferred sales charge and in part a recovery of certain first year administrative costs. A schedule of Surrender Charges is included in each Policy.
Surrender Value-An amount equal to the Net Accumulation Value less any applicable Surrender Charge, less any accrued loan interest not yet charged.
Underlying Fund-The mutual fund the shares of which are purchased for all amounts you allocate or transfer to a Sub-Account.
Valuation Day-Each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open and trading is unrestricted.
Valuation Period-The time between Valuation Days.
Variable Accumulation Unit-A unit of measure used in the calculation of the value of each Sub-Account.
5
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD CONSIDER ABOUT THE POLICY
FEES AND EXPENSES
Location in
Prospectus
Charges for
Early
Withdrawals
For a Full Surrender, for up to 15 years from the date of the Policy and
up to 15 years from each increase in Specified Amount, you could pay a
Surrender Charge of up to $54.00 (5.400%) per $1,000 of the Specified
Amount.
For example, if your Policy has a Specified Amount of $100,000 and you
surrender your Policy, you could be assessed a charge of up to $5,400.
•Policy
Charges and
Fees
Transaction
Charges
In addition to Surrender Charges, you may also be charged for other
transactions, such as when you make a Premium Payment, transfer
Policy Value between Sub-Accounts, take a Partial Surrender or exercise
certain benefits.
•Policy
Charges and
Fees
Ongoing Fees
and Expenses
(annual
charges)
•In addition to Surrender Charges and transaction charges, there are
certain ongoing fees and expenses that are charged annually, monthly
or daily.
•These fees include the Cost of Insurance Charge under the Policy,
optional benefit charges, Administrative Fees, mortality and expense
risk charges and Policy Loan Interest.
•Certain fees are set based on characteristics of the Insured (e.g., age,
gender, and rating classification). You should review your Policy
Specifications page for rates applicable to you.
•Owners will also bear expenses associated with the Underlying Funds
under the Policy, as shown in the following table:
•Policy
Charges and
Fees
Annual Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Underlying Fund Fees and Expenses*
0.23%
1.64%
*As a percentage of Underlying Fund assets.
RISKS
Location in
Prospectus
Risk of Loss
You can lose money by investing in the Policy, including loss of
principal.
•Principal
Risks of
Investing in
the Policy
Not a Short-
Term Investment
•This Policy is not a short-term investment vehicle and is not
appropriate for an investor who needs ready access to cash.
•Surrender Charges apply for 15 years from the Policy Date and 15
years from the date of any increase in your Specified Amount.
•Charges may reduce the value of your Policy and death benefit.
•Tax deferral is more beneficial to investors with a long-time horizon.
•Principal
Risks of
Investing in
the Policy
•Policy
Charges and
Fees
6
RISKS
Location in
Prospectus
Risks
Associated with
Investment
Options
•An investment in the Policy is subject to the risk of poor investment
performance of the investment options. Performance can vary
depending on the performance of the investment options available
under the Policy.
•Each investment option (including a Fixed Account investment option)
has its own unique risks. You should review each Underlying Fund's
prospectus before making an investment decision.
•Principal
Risks of
Investing in
the Policy
Insurance
Company Risks
•Any obligations, guarantees, and benefits of the contract including the
Fixed Account investment option are subject to the claims-paying
ability of Lincoln Life. If Lincoln Life experiences financial distress, it
may not be able to meet its obligations to you. More information about
Lincoln Life, including its financial strength ratings, is available upon
request from Lincoln Life by calling 1-800-487-1485 or by visiting
https://www.lfg.com/public/aboutus/investorrelations/
financialinformation.
•You may obtain our audited statutory financial statements, any
unaudited statutory financial statements that may be available as well
as ratings information by visiting our website at www.lfg.com/
VULprospectus.
•Principal
Risks of
Investing in
the Policy
•Lincoln Life,
the Separate
Account and
the General
Account
Policy Lapse
•Sufficient Premiums must be paid to keep your Policy in force. There
is a risk of lapse if Premiums are too small in relation to the insurance
amount and if investment results of the Sub-Accounts you have
chosen are adverse or are less favorable than anticipated.
•Outstanding Policy Loans (plus interest) and Partial Surrenders will
increase the risk of lapse. The death benefit will not be paid if the
Policy has Lapsed.
•Principal
Risks of
Investing in
the Policy
•Lapse and
Reinstatement
RESTRICTIONS
Location in
Prospectus
Investments
•We reserve the right to charge for each transfer between Sub-
Accounts in excess of 24 transfers per year.
•We reserve the right to add, remove, or substitute Sub-Accounts as
investment options under the Policy, subject to state or federal laws
and regulations. An Underlying Fund may be merged into another
Underlying Fund. An Underlying Fund may discontinue offering their
shares to the Sub-Accounts.
•There are significant limitations on your right to transfer amounts in
the Fixed Account and, due to these limitations, if you want to transfer
the entire balance of the Fixed Account to one or more Sub-Accounts,
it may take several years to do so.
•Transfer Fee
•Sub-Account
Availability
and
Substitution of
Funds
7
RESTRICTIONS
Location in
Prospectus
Optional
Benefits
•Riders may alter the benefits or charges in your Policy. Rider
availability and benefits may vary by state of issue or selling broker-
dealer and their election may have tax consequences. Riders may have
restrictions or limitations, and we may modify or terminate a rider, as
allowed. If you elect a particular rider, it may restrict or enhance the
terms of your policy, or restrict the availability or terms of other riders
or Policy features.
•Riders
TAXES
Location in
Prospectus
Tax Implications
•You should always consult with a tax professional to determine the tax
implications of an investment in and payments received under the
Policy.
•Withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, and may be
subject to tax penalties.
•There is no additional tax benefit to you if the Policy is purchased
through a tax-qualified plan or individual retirement account (IRA).
•Tax Issues
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Location in
Prospectus
Investment
Professional
Compensation
•Investment professionals typically receive compensation for selling the
Policy to investors.
•Registered representatives may have a financial incentive to offer or
recommend the Policy over another investment for which the
investment professional is not compensated (or compensated less).
•Registered representatives may be eligible for certain cash and non-
cash benefits. Cash compensation includes bonuses and allowances
based on factors such as sales, productivity and persistency. Non-
cash compensation includes various recognition items such as prizes
and awards as well as attendance at, and payment of the costs
associated with attendance at, conferences, seminars and recognition
trips, and also includes contributions to certain individual plans such
as pension and medical plans.
•Distribution of
the Policies
and
Compensation
Exchanges
Some investment professionals may have a financial incentive to offer
you a new contract in place of the one you already own. You should only
exchange your Policy if you determine, after comparing the features,
fees, and risks of both policies, that it is preferable for you to purchase
the new policy rather than continue to own the existing policy.
Change of Plan
(located in the
SAI)
8
OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY
What is the purpose of the Policy?
Lincoln VULCV-IV is a flexible premium variable life insurance policy. Its primary purpose is to provide Owners with death benefit protection. In exchange for your Premium Payments, upon the death of the Insured, we will pay the Beneficiary a death benefit. For Owners who need death benefit protection, the Policy can also be a helpful financial tool for financial and investment planning.
The Policy may not be appropriate if you do not have a long-term investment time horizon. Although Owners have access to their Surrender Value at any time, it is not intended for people who may need to make frequent withdrawals or access their money within a short time frame, as such withdrawals can reduce the level of death benefit protection.
When do I have to pay Premiums and how do they get invested?
After the initial minimum Premium Payment is made, there is no minimum Premium required except to keep the Policy in force. You may generally select and vary the frequency and the amount of any Premium Payments up to the Insured's Attained Age of 100.
After we deduct the Premium Load from your Premium Payment, we allocate your Net Premium Payment at your direction among the Policy's Sub-Accounts and/or Fixed Account. Please see Principal Risks of Investing in the Policy in the prospectus for more information. For monies allocated to the Sub-Account, we use your Premium Payments to purchase shares of funds that follow investment objectives similar to the investment objectives of the corresponding Sub-Account. We refer to these funds as "Underlying Funds," and they are collectively known as the Elite Series. More information about the Underlying Funds is provided in an Appendix. Please see Appendix A: Funds Available Under the Policy. Comprehensive information on the funds may be found in the funds' prospectuses which are available online at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus. You can also obtain this information at no cost by calling 1-800-487-1485 or by sending an email request to [email protected].
Although Premium Payments are not required, from time to time, there may be insufficient value to cover the Policy's Monthly Deductions. If this happens, a Premium Payment will be needed in order to ensure the Policy's Surrender Value is sufficient to pay the Monthly Deductions. If a Premium Payment is not made, the Policy will lapse.
What are the primary features and options that the Policy Offers?
Death Benefit Protection. Upon the death of the Insured, we will pay your designated Beneficiary a death benefit while this Policy remains in force. See the Death Benefit section of this prospectus for more information.
Access to Policy Values through Surrenders and Withdrawals. You may request a Full Surrender of your Policy, and we will pay you its Surrender Value. You may also request a Partial Surrender, which is a portion of the Surrender Value. You may incur a Surrender Charge if you request a Full Surrender.
Loans. You may take a loan on the Policy, which is subject to interest. See the Policy Loan section of this prospectus for more information.
Transfers. Generally, you may transfer funds among the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account. We also offer two automated transfer programs: Dollar Cost Averaging and Automatic Rebalancing. These transfers do not count against the free transfers available. You may incur an additional fee for transfers in excess of 24 transfers in any Policy Year.
Tax Treatment. Variable life insurance policies have significant tax advantages under current tax law. Policy values accumulate on a tax-deferred basis until withdrawn, and transfers from one Sub-Account to another or to the Fixed
9
Account generate no current taxable gain or loss. There may be adverse tax consequences (i.e. a 10% penalty) in the event of a Surrender or Partial Surrender if the Owner is under the age of 59½.
Additional Benefits. There are several additional benefits you may add to your Policy by way of riders to help manage the risk of Policy Lapse. An additional charge may apply if you elect a rider. The riders available with this Policy are listed in the Riders section of this prospectus.
Fee Table
The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering or making withdrawals from the Policy. Please refer to your Policy Specifications for information about the specific fees you will pay each year based on the options you have elected.
The fees shown in the tables below are the maximums we can charge.
Transaction Fees
The first table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay at the time that you buy your Policy, surrender or make withdrawals from your Policy, or transfer cash value between Sub-Accounts.
Charge
When Charge
is Deducted
Amount
Deducted
Maximum Sales Charge
Imposed on Premiums
(Load)
When you pay a Premium
As a percentage of the Premium
Payment paid:
•5%
Premium Tax
When you pay a Premium
Up to 3% charge included in the Sales
Charges included in the Premium
(Load)1
Maximum Deferred Sales
Charge (Load)*
When you take a Full Surrender or
reduce the Specified Amount2,3
•Maximum Charge: $54.00 per
$1,000 of Specified Amount
•Maximum Charge for a
Representative Insured (male, age
45, standard non-tobacco, in year
one): $34.34 per $1,000 of Specified
Amount
Partial Surrender Fee
When you take a Partial Surrender of
your Policy
•The lesser of $25 or 2% of the
amount surrendered.
Transfer Fee
Applied to any transfer request in
excess of 24 made during any Policy
Year
$25 for each additional transfer
*
These charges and costs vary based on individual characteristics of the Insured. The charges and costs shown in the table may not be representative of the charges and costs that a particular Owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that would apply to you by requesting a personalized policy illustration from your registered representative.
1
The Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Premiums (Premium Load) is anticipated to cover the Company's costs for sales expenses and any policy-related state and federal tax liabilities. Policy-related taxes imposed by
10
states range from 0% to 5%. In considering policy-related state taxes component of the sales charge, the Company considers the average of the taxes imposed by the states rather than any taxes specifically imposed by the state in which the Owner resides. We use an average of 3% to account for state and federal tax obligations.
2
During the life of the Policy, you may request one or more Partial Surrenders, each of which may not exceed 90% of your Policy's Surrender Value as of the date of your request. If you wish to surrender more than 90% of your Policy's Surrender Value, you must request a Full Surrender of your Policy, which is subject to the Surrender Charge reflected in the table above. (See section headed "Partial Surrenders" for a discussion of Partial Surrenders of your Policy.)
3
For up to 15 years from the Policy Date and up to 15 years from the effective date of each increase in Specified Amount, a Surrender Charge will be deducted at the time you effect a Full Surrender of your Policy. For up to 15 years from the Policy Date or up to 15 years from the effective date of each increase in Specified Amount, a Surrender Charge may be deducted at the time you effect a Reduction in Specified Amount.
Periodic Charges Other Than Annual Underlying Fund Fees and Operating Expenses
The next table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the Policy, not including Underlying Fund fees and operating expenses.
Charge
When Charge is Deducted
Amount Deducted
Base Contract Charges
Cost of Insurance*
Monthly
As a dollar amount per $1,000 of Net
Amount at Risk1:
•Maximum: $83.33 per $1,000
•Minimum: $0.00 per $1,000
•Maximum Charge for a
Representative Insured (male, age
45, standard non-tobacco, in year
one): $0.38 per $1,000
Mortality and Expense Risk
Charge ("M&E")
At end of each Valuation Period
Maximum of 0.60%, effective annual
rate, as a percentage of Separate
Account Value, calculated daily2
Administrative Fee
Monthly
Maximum of $15.003
Policy Loan Interest
Annually
As an annualized percentage of amount
held in the Loan Account4
5%
Overloan Protection Rider
Upon use of the benefit
One-time charge subject to a maximum
of 5%, as a percentage of current
Accumulation Value
11
Charge
When Charge is Deducted
Amount Deducted
Optional Benefit Charges
Supplemental Term
Insurance Rider*
Monthly
A dollar amount per $1,000 of Net
Amount at Risk:1
•Maximum: $83.33 per $1,000
•Minimum: $0.00 per $1,000
•Maximum Charge for a
Representative Insured (male, age
45, standard non-tobacco): $0.38
per $1,000
Waiver of Monthly
Deduction Rider*
Monthly
Rate factor as a percentage of all other
covered monthly charges:
•Maximum: 12%
•Minimum: 2%
•Maximum Charge for a
Representative Insured (male, age
45, standard non-tobacco): 3.5%
*
These charges and costs vary based on individual characteristics of the Insured. The charges and costs shown in the table may not be representative of the charges and costs that a particular Owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that would apply to you by requesting a personalized policy illustration from your registered representative.
1
Individuals with a higher mortality risk than standard issue individuals can be charged from 125% to 800% of the standard rate. However, under no circumstances would the charge be higher than the maximum amount shown in the table above.
2
Guaranteed at an effective annual rate of 0.60% in Policy Years 1-10, and 0.20% in Policy Years 11 and beyond.
3
$15 per month for the first Policy Year, and $5 per month afterward, guaranteed not to exceed $10 per month after the first Policy Year.
4
Annual interest rate of 5% in years 1-10, and 4% in years 11 and beyond.
The next table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the Underlying Funds that you may pay periodically during the time that you own the Policy. A complete list of Underlying Funds available under the Policy, including their annual expenses, may be found in Appendix A: Funds Available Under the Policy.
Annual Fund Expenses
Minimum
Maximum
(expenses are deducted from fund assets, including management fees, distribution,
and/or 12b-1 fees, and other expenses)
0.23%
1.64%1
1
The Total Annual Operating Expenses shown in the table do not reflect waivers and reductions. Refer to the Underlying Fund's prospectus for specific information on any waivers or reductions in effect.
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE POLICY
Fluctuating Investment Performance. A Sub-Account will increase and decrease in value according to investment performance of the Underlying Fund. Policy values in the Sub-Accounts are not guaranteed. If you put money into
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the Sub-Accounts, you assume all the investment risk on that money. A comprehensive discussion of each Sub-Account's and Underlying Fund's objective and risk is found in this prospectus and in each Underlying Fund's prospectus, respectively. You should review these prospectuses before making your investment decision. Your choice of Sub-Accounts and the performance of the Underlying Funds will impact the Policy's Accumulation Value and will impact how long the Policy remains in force, its tax status, and the amount of Premium you need to pay to keep the Policy in force.
Policy Values in the Fixed Account.Premium Payments and policy values allocated to the Fixed Account are held in the Company's General Account. Note that there are significant limitations on your right to transfer amounts in the Fixed Account and, due to these limitations, if you want to transfer the entire balance of the Fixed Account to one or more Sub-Accounts, it may take several years to do so. Therefore, you should carefully consider whether the Fixed Account meets your investment needs. We issue other types of insurance policies and financial products. In addition to any amounts we are obligated to pay in excess of policy value under the Policy, we also pay our obligations under other types of insurance policies and financial products. Obligations under these policies and financial products that are funded by our General Account include: (1) the obligation to keep the policy and any riders in force when the policy value is below zero and a no-lapse guarantee is in effect; (2) the obligation to pay or accelerate Death Benefits that exceed the Separate Account Value; Payment of these benefits and obligations is subject to our claims-paying ability and financial strength. We are also responsible for providing for all of the administrative services necessary in connection with the contracts (and bearing all of the associated expenses). Moreover, unlike assets held in the Separate Account, the assets of the General Account are subject to the general liabilities of the Company and, therefore, to the Company's General Account creditors. In the event of an insolvency of receivership, payments we make from our General Account to satisfy claims under the Policy would generally receive the same priority as our other Owners' obligations.
The General Account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of the insurance company's creditors. Investors look to the financial strength of the insurance company's fulfillment of the contractual promises and guarantees we make to you in the Policy, including those relating to the payment of death benefits. Therefore, guarantees provided by the insurance company as to benefits promised in the prospectus are subject to the claims-paying ability of the insurance company and are subject to the risk that the insurance company may not be able to cover or may default on its obligations under those guarantees.
For more information, please see the "Lincoln Life, The Separate Account and The General Account" sections of the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) or the "Transfers" section of this prospectus.
Unsuitable for Short-Term Investment. This Policy is intended for long-term financial and investment planning for persons needing death benefit protection, and it is unsuitable for short-term goals. Your Policy is not designed to serve as a vehicle for frequent trading.
Policy Lapse. Sufficient Premiums must be paid to keep your Policy in force. There is a risk of lapse if Premiums are too small in relation to the insurance amount and if investment results of the Sub-Accounts you have chosen are adverse or are less favorable than anticipated. Outstanding Policy Loans and Partial Surrenders will increase the risk of lapse.
Policy Loans. Outstanding Policy Loans and accrued interest reduce the Policy's death benefit and Accumulation Value. If at any time the total Debt against your Policy, including interest accrued but not due, equals or exceeds the then current Accumulation Value less Surrender Charges, the Policy will terminate subject to the conditions in the Grace Period provision. If your Policy lapses while a loan is outstanding, the borrowed amount may be taxable to you to the extent your Policy's value exceeds your basis in the Policy. There may be adverse tax consequences in the event that your Policy lapses with an outstanding loan balance.
Decreasing Death Benefit. Any outstanding Policy Loans and any amount that you have surrendered will reduce your Policy's death benefit. Depending upon your choice of death benefit option, adverse performance of the Sub-Accounts you choose may also decrease your Policy's death benefit.
Consequences of Surrender. Surrender Charges are assessed if you surrender your Policy within 15 years of issue or within 15 years of a Specified Amount increase, and fees assessed for Partial Surrenders in all Policy Years.
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Depending on the amount of Premium paid, or any Reduction in Specified Amount, there may be little or no Surrender Value available. Partial Surrenders may reduce the policy value and death benefit, and may increase the risk of lapse. To avoid lapse, you may be required to make additional Premium Payments. Full or Partial Surrenders may result in tax consequences.
Tax Consequences. As noted in greater detail in the section headed "Tax Issues", the federal income tax treatment of life insurance is complex and the current tax treatment of life insurance may change. There are other federal tax consequences such as estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes, as well as state and local income, estate and inheritance tax consequences. You should always consult a tax advisor about the application of federal, state and local tax rules to your individual situation. The following discussion highlights tax risks in general, summary terms. There may be adverse tax consequences (i.e. a 10% penalty) in the event of a Surrender or withdrawal if the Owner is under the age of 59½.
Tax Treatment of Life Insurance Contracts. Your Policy is designed to qualify for the favorable tax treatment afforded life insurance, including the exclusion of death benefits from income tax, the ability to take distributions and loans over the life of your Policy, and the deferral of taxation of any increase in the value of your Policy. If the Policy does fail to qualify as life insurance, you will be subject to the denial of those important benefits. In addition, if you pay more Premiums than permitted under the federal tax law your Policy will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract ("MEC") whereby only the tax benefits applicable to death benefits will apply and distributions will be subject to immediate taxation and to an added penalty tax.
Tax Law Compliance. We believe that the Policy will satisfy the federal tax law definition of life insurance, and we will monitor your Policy for compliance with the tax law requirements. The discussion of the tax treatment of your Policy is based on the current Policy, as well as the current rules and regulations governing life insurance. Please note that changes made to the Policy, as well as any changes in the current tax law requirements, may affect the Policy's qualification as life insurance or may have other tax consequences.
Cybersecurity and Business Interruption Risks. We rely heavily on interconnected computer systems and digital data to conduct our variable products business. Because our business is highly dependent upon the effective operation of our computer systems and those of our business partners, our business is vulnerable to disruptions from utility outages, and susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from information systems failure (e.g., hardware and software malfunctions), and cyber-attacks, including ransomware and malware attacks. These risks include, among other things, the theft, loss, misuse, corruption and destruction of data maintained online or digitally, interference with or denial of service, attacks on websites and other operational disruption and unauthorized release of confidential customer information. The risk of cyber-attacks may be higher during periods of geopolitical turmoil. Such systems failures and cyber-attacks affecting us, any third-party administrator, the Underlying Funds, intermediaries and other affiliated or third-party service providers may adversely affect us and your policy value. For instance, systems failures and cyber-attacks may interfere with our processing of policy transactions, including the processing of orders from our website or with the Underlying Funds, impact our ability to calculate your policy value, cause the release and possible destruction of confidential customer or business information, impede order processing, subject us and/or our service providers and intermediaries to regulatory fines, litigation, and financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. Cyber-security risks may also impact the issuers of securities in which the Underlying Funds invest, which may cause the funds underlying your Policy to lose value. There can be no assurance that we or the Underlying Funds or our service providers will avoid losses affecting your Policy due to system disruptions, cyber-attacks or information security breaches in the future.
In addition to cyber-security risks, we are exposed to risks related to natural and man-made disasters, such as (but not limited to) storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, public health crises, malicious acts, and terrorist acts, any of which could adversely affect our ability to conduct business. A natural or man-made disaster, including a pandemic (such as COVID-19), could affect the ability or willingness of our employees or the employees of our service providers to perform their job responsibilities. They could also result in our business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances and could lead to delays in our processing of policy-related transactions, including orders from Owners. Disasters may negatively affect the computer and other systems on which we rely,
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impact our ability to calculate accumulation unit values, or have other possible negative impacts. They may also impact the issuers of securities in which the Underlying Funds invest, which may negatively affect the value of the Underlying Funds and the value of your Policy. There can be no assurance that we or the Underlying Funds or our service providers will be able to successfully avoid negative impacts associated with natural and man-made disasters.
LINCOLN LIFE, THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND THE GENERAL ACCOUNT
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (Lincoln Life, the Company, we, us, our) (EIN 35-0472300), organized in 1905, is an Indiana-domiciled insurance company, engaged primarily in the direct issuance of life insurance policies and annuities. Lincoln Life is wholly owned by Lincoln National Corporation (LNC), a publicly held insurance and financial services holding company incorporated in Indiana. Lincoln Life is obligated to pay all amounts promised to Owners under the policies. Death Benefit Proceeds and rider benefits to the extent those proceeds and benefits exceed the then current Accumulation Value of your Policy are backed by the claims-paying ability of Lincoln Life. Our claims-paying ability is rated from time to time by various rating agencies. Information with respect to our current ratings is available at our website noted below under "How to Obtain More Information."Those ratings do not apply to the Separate Account, but reflect the opinion of the rating agency companies as to our relative financial strength and ability to meet contractual obligations to Owners of our policies. Ratings can and do change from time to time. Additional information about ratings is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. Through its affiliates, Lincoln Financial Group offers annuities, life, group life and disability insurance, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.
General Account. The General Account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of the insurance company's creditors. Investors look to the financial strength of the insurance companies for these insurance guarantees. Therefore, guarantees provided by the insurance company as to benefits promised in the prospectus are subject to the claims-paying ability of the insurance company and are subject to the risk that the insurance company may not be able to cover or may default on its obligations under those guarantees. The General Account represents all of the general assets of the Company. Our general assets include all assets other than those held in separate accounts which we sponsor. We will invest the assets of the General Account in accordance with applicable law. Additional information concerning laws and regulations applicable to the investment of the assets of the General Account is included in the Statement of Additional Information.
Fixed Account. The Fixed Account assets are general assets of the Company, and are held in the Company's General Account. Amounts allocated to the Fixed Account are not subject to market fluctuation and interest is credited at a daily rate of 0.010746% (equivalent to a compounded annual rate of 4%) or a higher rate determined by the Company. The current interest rate is shown on the Annual Statement.
The Fixed Account is not registered under the 1933 Act. The Fixed Account is not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Disclosures in the prospectus regarding the Fixed Account are subject to certain generally applicable provisions of the Federal Securities Laws regarding the accuracy and completeness of disclosures.
Separate Account. The investment performance of assets in the Separate Account is kept separate from that of the Company's General Account. Separate Account assets attributable to the Policies are not charged with the general liabilities of the Company. Separate Account income, gains and losses are credited to or charged against the Separate Account without regard to the Company's other income, gains or losses. The Separate Account's values and investment performance are not guaranteed. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") and meets the definition of "separate account." We may change the investment policy of the Separate Account at
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any time. If required by the Insurance Commissioner, we will file any such change for approval with the Department of Insurance in our state of domicile, and in any other state or jurisdiction where this Policy is issued.
Our Financial Condition. As an insurance company, we are required by state insurance regulation to hold a specified amount of reserves in order to meet all the contractual obligations of our General Account to our Owners. In order to meet our claims-paying obligations, we regularly monitor our reserves to ensure we hold sufficient amounts to cover actual or expected policy and claim payments.
State insurance regulators also require insurance companies to maintain a minimum amount of capital in excess of reserves, which acts as a cushion in the event that the insurer suffers a financial impairment, based on the inherent risks in the insurer's operations. These risks include those associated with losses that we may incur as the result of defaults on the payment of interest or principal on assets held in our General Account, which include bonds, mortgages, general real estate investments, and stocks, as well as the loss in value of these investments resulting from a loss in their market value.
How to Obtain More Information. We encourage both existing and prospective Owners to read and understand our financial statements. We prepare our financial statements on both a statutory basis and according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Our audited GAAP financial statements, as well as the financial statements of the Separate Account, are located in the Statement of Additional Information. If you would like a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information please contact our Administration Office at the address or telephone number listed on the first page of this prospectus. In addition, the Statement of Additional Information is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain our audited statutory financial statements, any unaudited statutory financial statements that may be available as well as ratings information by visiting our website at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus.
Fund Participation Agreements
In order to make the Underlying Funds available, Lincoln Life has entered into agreements with the Underlying Fund company and their advisors or distributors. In some of these agreements, we must perform certain services for the Underlying Fund advisors or distributors. Such services include, but are not limited to, recordkeeping; aggregating and processing purchase and redemption orders; providing Owners with statements showing their positions within the funds; processing dividend payments; providing sub-accounting services for shares held by Owners; and forwarding shareholder communications, such as proxies, shareholder reports, dividend and tax notices, and printing and delivering prospectuses and updates to Owners. For these administrative functions, we may be compensated at annual rates of between 0% and 0.30% based upon the assets of an Underlying Fund attributable to the Policies. Additionally, an Underlying Fund's advisor and/or distributor (or its affiliates) may provide us with certain services that assist us in the distribution of the Policies and may pay us and/or certain affiliates amounts to participate in sales meetings. We may also receive compensation for marketing and distribution which may come from 12b-1 fees, or be paid by the advisors or distributors. The Underlying Funds offered by the following trusts or corporations make payments to Lincoln Life under their distribution plans in consideration of the administrative functions Lincoln Life performs: American Funds Insurance Series, Fidelity Variable Insurance Products, Janus Aspen Series, Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust, Northern Lights Variable Trust, and PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust.
Payments made out of the assets of an Underlying Fund will reduce the amount of assets that otherwise would be available for investment and will reduce the return on your investment. The dollar amount of future asset-based fees is not predictable because these fees are a percentage of the Underlying Fund's average net assets, which can fluctuate over time. If, however, the value of the Underlying Fund goes up, then so would the payment to us (or our affiliates). Conversely, if the value of the Underlying Fund goes down, payments to us (or our affiliates) would decrease.
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Distribution of the Policies and Compensation
The Policy is distributed by broker-dealer firms through their registered representatives who are appointed as life insurance agents for the Company, subject to the terms of selling agreements entered into by such firms, the Company and the Company's Principal Underwriter, Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc. ("LFD"). The Company's affiliates, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation (collectively, "LFN"), have such agreements in effect with LFD and the Company. In addition to compensation for distributing the Policy as described below, the Company provides financial and personnel support to LFD and LFN for operating and other expenses, including amounts used for recruitment and training of personnel, production of literature and similar services.
The maximum total compensation we pay to any broker-dealer firm in the form of commission or expense reimbursement allowance, inclusive of any bonus incentives, with respect to policy sales is 140% of the first year Premium and generally 5% of all other Premiums paid. The actual amount of such compensation or the timing and manner of its receipt may be affected by a number of factors including: (a) choices the Owner has made at the time of application for the Policy, including the choice of riders, and the Premium amounts and timing; (b) the volume of business produced by the firm and its representatives; or (c) the profitability of the business the firm has placed with the Company. Also, in lieu of premium-based commission, equivalent amounts may be paid over time based on Accumulation Value.
In some situations, the broker-dealer may elect to share its commission or expense reimbursement allowance with its registered representatives. Registered representatives of broker-dealer firms may also be eligible for cash bonuses and "non-cash compensation.""Non-cash compensation", as defined under FINRA's rules, includes but is not limited to, merchandise, gifts, marketing support, sponsorships, seminars, entertainment and travel expenses.
Broker-dealers or their affiliates may be paid additional amounts for: (1) "preferred product" treatment of the Policies in their marketing programs, which may include marketing services and increased access to sales representatives; (2) sales incentives relating to the Policies; (3) costs associated with sales conferences and educational seminars for their sales representatives; (4) other sales expenses incurred by them; and (5) inclusion in the financial products the broker-dealer offers. Loans may be provided to broker-dealers or their affiliates to help finance marketing and distribution of the Policies, and those loans may be forgiven if aggregate sales goals are met. In addition, staffing or other administrative support and services may be provided to broker-dealers who distribute the Policies.
These additional types of compensation are not offered to all broker-dealers. The terms of any particular agreement governing compensation may vary among broker-dealers and the amounts may be significant. The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional compensation may provide broker-dealers and/or their registered representatives with an incentive to favor sales of the Policies over other variable life insurance policies (or other investments) with respect to which a broker-dealer does not receive additional compensation, or receives lower levels of additional compensation. You may ask your registered representative how he/she will personally be compensated, in whole or in part, for the sale of the Policy to you or for any alternative proposal that may have been presented to you. You may wish to take such payments into account when considering and evaluating any recommendation made to you in connection with the purchase of a Policy.
Depending on the particular selling arrangements, there may be others who are compensated for distribution activities. For example, LFD may compensate certain "wholesalers", who control access to certain selling offices, for access to those offices or for referrals, and that compensation may be separate from the compensation paid for sales of the Policies. LFD may compensate marketing organizations, associations, brokers or consultants which provide marketing assistance and other services to broker-dealers who distribute the Policies, and which may be affiliated with those broker-dealers. Commissions and other incentives or payments described above are not charged directly to Owners or the Separate Account. The potential of receiving, or the receipt of, such marketing assistance or other services and the payment to those who control access or for referrals, may provide broker-dealers and/or their registered representatives an incentive to favor sales of the Policies over other variable life insurance policies (or other investments) with respect to which a broker-dealer does not receive similar assistance
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or disadvantage issuers of other variable life insurance policies (or other investments) which do not compensate for access or referrals. All compensation is paid from our resources, which include fees and charges imposed on your Policy.
We do not anticipate that the Surrender Charge, together with the portion of the Premium Load attributable to sales expense, will cover all sales and administrative expenses which we will incur in connection with your Policy. Any such shortfall would be available for recovery from the Company's General Account, which supports insurance and annuity obligations.
Sub-Accounts and Funds
The variable investment options in the Policy are Sub-Accounts of the Separate Account ("Sub-Accounts"). Each Sub-Account invests in shares in a single Underlying Fund. All amounts allocated or transferred to a Sub-Account are used to purchase shares of the appropriate Underlying Fund. You do not invest directly in these Underlying Funds. The investment performance of each Sub-Account will reflect the investment performance of the Underlying Fund.
We create Sub-Accounts and select the Underlying Funds, the shares of which are purchased by amounts allocated or transferred to the Sub-Accounts, based on several factors, including, without limitation, asset class coverage, the strength of the manager's reputation and tenure, brand recognition, performance, and the capability and qualification of each sponsoring investment firm. Another factor we consider during the initial selection process is whether the fund (or an affiliate, investment advisor or distributor of the fund) being evaluated is an affiliate of ours and whether we are compensated for providing administrative, marketing, and/or support services that would otherwise be provided by the fund, its investment advisor or its distributor. Some funds pay us significantly more than others and the amount we receive may be substantial. We often receive more revenue from an affiliated fund than one that is not affiliated with us. These factors give us an incentive to select a fund that yields more revenue, and this is often an affiliated fund.
We review each Underlying Fund periodically after it is selected. Upon review, we may either close a Sub-Account or restrict allocation of additional Premium Payments to a Sub-Account if we determine the Underlying Fund no longer meets one or more of the selection factors discussed above and/or if the Sub-Account has not attracted significant Owner assets. Alternatively, we may seek to substitute another fund which follows a similar investment objective as the Underlying Fund, subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. Finally, when we develop a variable life insurance product in cooperation with a fund family or distributor (e.g., a "private label" product), we generally will include funds based on recommendations made by the fund family or distributor, whose selection criteria may differ from our selection criteria.
A given Underlying Fund may have an investment objective and principal investment strategy similar to those for another fund managed by the same investment advisor or subadvisor. However, because of timing of investments and other variables, there will be no correlation between the two investments. Even though the management strategy and the objectives of the funds are similar, the investment results may vary.
Certain Underlying Funds invest their assets in other funds. As a result, you will pay fees and expenses at both fund levels. This will reduce your investment return. These arrangements are referred to as "funds of funds", which may have higher expenses than funds that invest directly in debt or equity securities. An advisor affiliated with us may manage some of the available funds of funds. Our affiliates may promote the benefits of such funds to Owners and/or suggest that Owners consider whether allocating some or all of their policy value to such portfolios is consistent with their desired investment objectives. In doing so, we may be subject to conflicts of interest insofar as we may derive greater revenues from the affiliated fund of funds than certain other funds available to you under your Policy.
Certain of the Underlying Funds, including funds managed by an advisor affiliated with us, employ risk management strategies that are intended to control the Underlying Funds' overall volatility, and for some Underlying Funds, to also reduce the downside exposure of the Underlying Funds during significant market downturns. These funds usually, but not always, have "Managed Risk" or "Managed Volatility" in the name of the fund. These risk management strategies could limit the positive growth potential of the Underlying Fund in rising equity markets
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relative to other funds. Also, several of the Underlying Funds may invest in non-investment grade, high-yield, and high-risk debt securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") as detailed in the individual Underlying Fund prospectus. For more information about the Underlying Funds and the investment strategies they employ, please refer to the Underlying Funds' current prospectuses.
Shares of the Underlying Fund are available to insurance company separate accounts which fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, including the Policy described in this prospectus. Because shares are offered to separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies, it is conceivable that, in the future, it may not be advantageous for variable life insurance separate accounts and variable annuity separate accounts to invest in these Underlying Funds simultaneously, since the interests of such Owners or contract holders may differ. Although neither the Company nor the Underlying Funds currently foresees any such disadvantages either to variable life insurance or to variable annuity Owners, each Underlying Fund's Board of Trustees/Directors has agreed to monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts which may possibly arise and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response thereto. If such a conflict were to occur, the Separate Account might withdraw its investment in an Underlying Fund. This might force that Underlying Fund to sell the securities it holds at disadvantageous prices. Owners will not bear the attendant expense.
There is no assurance that the investment objective of any of the Underlying Funds will be met. You assume all of the investment performance risk for the Sub-Accounts you select. The amount of risk varies significantly among the Sub-Accounts. You should read each Underlying Fund's prospectus carefully before making investment choices. In particular, also please note, there can be no assurance that any money market fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value per share. During extended periods of low interest rates, and due in part to Policy fees and expenses, the yields of any Sub-Account investing in a money market fund may become extremely low and possibly negative.
Additional Sub-Accounts and Underlying Funds may be made available in our discretion. The right to select among Sub-Accounts will be limited by the terms and conditions imposed by the Company.
If an Underlying Fund imposes restrictions with respect to the acceptance of Premium allocations or transfers, we reserve the right to reject an allocation or transfer request at any time that the Underlying Fund has notified us that such would not be accepted. We will notify you if your allocation or transfer request is or becomes subject to such restrictions.
Information regarding each Underlying Fund, including (i) its name; (ii) its investment objectives; (iii) its investment advisor and any sub-investment advisers; (iv) its current expenses; and (v) and certain performance is available in Appendix A: Funds Available Under the Policy at the back of this prospectus. Comprehensive information on each Underlying Fund may be found in that Underlying Fund's prospectus or summary prospectus. Prospectuses for each of the Underlying Funds are available by calling 1-800-487-1485, by emailing a request to [email protected], or on-line at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus.
Sub-Account Availability and Substitution of Funds
We reserve the right to add, remove, or substitute Sub-Accounts as investment options under the Policy, subject to state or federal laws and regulations. An Underlying Fund may be merged into another Underlying Fund. An Underlying Fund may discontinue offering their shares to the Sub-Accounts. If we change any Sub-Accounts or substitute any Underlying Funds, we will make appropriate endorsements to the Policies.
Placing or transferring money into the money market Sub-Account may have impacts on other features of your Policy. Prior to moving money into the money market Sub-Account or allowing it to default into the money market Sub-Account as a result of a fund liquidation, refer to your Policy for specific impacts that may apply, if any. We will notify you of any change that is made.
If we obtain appropriate approvals from Owners and securities regulators, we may:
Change the investment objective of the Separate Account;
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Operate the Separate Account as a management investment company, unit investment trust, or any other form permitted under applicable securities laws;
Deregister the Separate Account; or
Combine the Separate Account with another Separate Account.
If required by law, we will obtain any required approvals from Owners, the SEC, and state insurance regulators before substituting any Underlying Funds. Substitute Underlying Funds may have higher charges than the Underlying Funds being replaced.
We may close Sub-Accounts to Owners that purchase a new Policy after a specified date, and these Owners may not allocate Net Premium Payments or policy value to the closed Sub-Account. Owners that purchased a Policy prior to the specified date may continue to allocate Net Premium Payments and policy value to the Sub-Account.
From time to time, certain of the Underlying Funds may merge with other funds. If a merger of an Underlying Fund occurs, the policy value allocated to the existing fund will be transferred into the surviving fund. Any future Net Premium Payments allocated to the existing fund will automatically be allocated to the surviving fund unless otherwise instructed by you.
In addition, a Sub-Account may become unavailable due to the liquidation of its Underlying Fund portfolio. To the extent permitted by applicable law, upon notice to you and unless you otherwise instruct us, we will transfer any policy value in the liquidated Underlying Fund to the money market Sub-Account or a Sub-Account investing in another Underlying Fund designated by us. Any future Net Premium Payments allocated to the liquidated fund will automatically be allocated to the money market Sub-Account or a Sub-Account investing in another Underlying Fund designated by us unless otherwise instructed by you.
Voting Rights
The Underlying Funds do not hold regularly scheduled shareholder meetings. When an Underlying Fund holds a special meeting for the purpose of approving changes in the ownership or operation of the Underlying Fund, the Company is entitled to vote the shares held by our Sub-Account in that Underlying Fund. Under our current interpretation of applicable law, you may instruct us how to vote those shares. If the 1940 Act or any other regulation under it should be amended or if present interpretations should change, and if as a result we determine that we are permitted to vote the fund shares in our own right, we may elect to do so.
We will notify you when your instructions are needed and will provide information from the Underlying Fund about the matters requiring the special meeting. We will calculate the number of votes for which you may instruct us based on the amount you have allocated to that Sub-Account, and the value of a share of the corresponding Underlying Fund, as of a date chosen by the Underlying Fund (record date). If we receive instructions from you, we will follow those instructions in voting the shares attributable to your Policy. If we do not receive instructions from you, we will vote the shares attributable to your Policy in the same proportion as we vote other shares based on instructions received from other Owners. Since Underlying Funds may also offer their shares to entities other than the Company, those other entities also may vote shares of the Underlying Funds, and those votes may affect the outcome.
Each Underlying Fund is subject to the laws of the state in which it is organized concerning, among other things, the matters which are subject to a shareholder vote, the number of shares which must be present in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders (a "quorum"), and the percentage of such shareholders present in person or by proxy which must vote in favor of matters presented. Because shares of the Underlying Fund held in the Separate Account are owned by the Company, and because under the 1940 Act the Company will vote all such shares in the same proportion as the voting instructions which we receive, it is important that each Owner provide their voting instructions to the Company. For funds un-affiliated with Lincoln, even though Owners may choose not to provide voting instructions, the shares of an Underlying Fund to which such Owners would have been entitled to provide voting instructions will be voted by the Company in the same proportion as the voting instructions which we actually receive. For funds affiliated with Lincoln, shares of a fund to which such Owners would have been entitled
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to provide voting instructions will, once we receive a sufficient number of instructions we deem appropriate to ensure a fair representation of Owners eligible to vote, be voted on by the Company in the same proportion as the voting instructions which we actually receive. As a result, the instructions of a small number of Owners could determine the outcome of matters subject to shareholder vote. In addition, because the Company expects to vote all shares of the Underlying Fund which it owns at a meeting of the shareholders of an Underlying Fund, all shares voted by the Company will be counted when the Underlying Fund determines whether any requirement for a minimum number of shares be present at such a meeting to satisfy a quorum requirement has been met.
POLICY CHARGES AND FEES
Policy charges and fees compensate us for providing your insurance benefits, administering your Policy, assuming risks associated with your Policy, and incurring sales related expenses. We may profit from any of these charges, and we may use this profit for any purpose, including covering shortfalls from other charges.
In addition to policy charges, the investment advisor for each of the Underlying Funds deducts a daily charge as a percent of the value in each Underlying Fund as an asset management charge. The charge reflects asset management fees of the investment advisor. Other expenses (including 12b-1 fees for Class 2 shares and other expenses) are incurred by the Underlying Funds and deducted from Underlying Fund assets as described in the fund prospectus. Values in the Sub-Accounts are reduced by these charges. Future Underlying Fund expenses may vary. Detailed information about charges and expenses incurred by each Underlying Fund is contained in that Underlying Fund's prospectus.
The Monthly Deductions, including the Cost of Insurance Charges, may be deducted in two ways:
1)
Proportionately from the Net Accumulation Value of each Sub-Account and the Fixed Account subject to the charge.
2)
From the Net Accumulation Value of specific Underlying Funds which you have designated.
If you have selected designated Underlying Funds, and in a given month there is not sufficient value in those Underlying Funds to cover the Monthly Deduction, we will take the remaining Monthly Deduction pro rata from the rest of the Underlying Funds in your Policy that have value.
If you have not selected designated Underlying Funds, the Monthly Deductions will be taken pro rata from all of the Underlying Funds in your Policy that have value.
The Monthly Deductions are made on the "Monthly Anniversary Day" (the Date of Issue and the same day of each month thereafter). If the day that would otherwise be a Monthly Anniversary Day is non-existent for that month, or is not a Valuation Day, then the Monthly Anniversary Day is the next Valuation Day. You may select or change designated funds at any time prior to a Monthly Anniversary Day by contacting our Administrative Office.
If the Net Accumulation Value is insufficient to cover the current Monthly Deduction, you have a 61-day Grace Period to make a payment sufficient to cover that deduction. If payment is not received before the end of the Grace Period, the Policy may lapse. (Please see the "Lapse and Reinstatement" section of this prospectus.)
Premium Load; Net Premium Payment
We make a deduction from each Premium Payment. This amount, referred to as "Premium Load," covers certain policy-related state and federal tax liabilities. It also covers a portion of the sales expenses incurred by the Company. We reserve the right to change this charge, but guarantee it will not exceed 5% from each Premium Payment. The Premium Payment, net of the Premium Load, is called the "Net Premium Payment".
Premium Tax
States impose premium taxes on us based on premiums received from policyholders. These taxes range from 0% to 5%. There is no explicit charge in the Policy for this, but it is factored in when developing the premium load. In
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considering the state premium tax component of the sales charge, the Company considers the average of the taxes imposed by the states rather than any taxes specifically imposed by the state in which the Owner resides. We use an average of 3% to account for premium tax obligations.
Surrender Charges
A Surrender Charge may apply if the Policy is totally surrendered or has a decrease in the Specified Amount of death benefit. The Surrender Charge is in part a deferred sales charge and in part a recovery of certain first year administrative costs. A schedule of Surrender Charges is included in each Policy.
The Surrender Charge varies by age of the Insured, the number of years since the date of policy issue or the date of an increase in Specified Amount, and the Specified Amount. The Surrender Charge will never exceed $54.00 (5.400%) per $1,000 of Specified Amount. A personalized schedule of Surrender Charges is included with each Policy. You may obtain more information about the Surrender Charges that would apply to your Policy by requesting a personalized illustration from your insurance representative.
The duration of the Surrender Charge is 15 years for Full Surrenders and 10 years for decreases in Specified Amount. The length of the Surrender Charge Period varies based on the age of the Insured on the Date of Issue or the date of an increase in your Specified Amount as follows:
• Ages 0-50, 15 years
• Age 51, 14 years
• Age 52, 13 years
• Age 53, 12 years
• Age 54, 11 years
• Ages 55 and above, 10 years
Surrender Charges are assessed by withdrawing value from the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account proportionately. The Surrender Charge will not exceed the policy value. All Surrender Charges decline to zero within 15 years following policy issue, or any increase in Specified Amount.
Upon either a Full Surrender of the Policy or a decrease in Specified Amount, the charge will be subject to the following conditions:
A. For decreases in Specified Amount, excluding Full Surrender of the Policy, no Surrender Charge will be applied where the decrease:
1)
occurs after the tenth Policy Anniversary following Policy issue; or
2)
is directly caused by a death benefit option change; or
3)
is caused by a Partial Surrender; or
4)
when added to the sum of all prior decreases, does not exceed 25% of the Initial Specified Amount.
B. For all other decreases, the charge will be calculated as 1) minus 2), then divided by 3) and then multiplied by 4), where:
1)
is the amount of this decrease plus any prior decreases;
2)
is the greater of an amount equal to 25% of the Initial Specified Amount or the sum of all prior decreases;
3)
is the Initial Specified Amount; and
4)
is the then applicable Surrender Charge from the schedule in the Policy.
We may refuse or limit requests for decreases in Specified Amount, to the extent there is insufficient value to cover the necessary Surrender Charges.
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If you increase the Specified Amount, a new Surrender Charge will be applicable to each increase. This charge is in addition to any Surrender Charge on the existing Specified Amount. Upon an increase in Specified Amount, we will send you a confirmation of the increase.
Upon Full Surrender of your Policy following a decrease in Specified Amount, the Surrender Charge will be calculated as the entire amount shown in the Policy Specifications, multiplied by one minus the percentage of the Initial Specified Amount for which a Surrender Charge was previously assessed. The charge assessed upon a Full Surrender will not exceed the Policy's value.
Any surrender may have tax implications. Consult your tax or other registered representative before initiating a surrender.
Partial Surrender Fee
No Surrender Charge is imposed on a Partial Surrender, but an Administrative Fee of 2% of the amount withdrawn, not to exceed $25, is imposed. This fee is allocated pro rata among the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account from which the Partial Surrender proceeds are taken.
Transfer Fee
For each transfer request in excess of 24 made during any Policy Year, we reserve the right to charge you an Administrative Fee of $25.
In the event that we make a material change in the investment strategy of a Sub-Account, you may transfer the Accumulation Values allocated to that Sub-Account to any other Sub-Account or to the Fixed Account without being charged a fee and may do so even if you have requested 24 transfers during that Policy Year. This option to transfer from a Sub-Account must be exercised within 60 days after the effective date of such change in investment strategy of that Sub-Account. You will be provided with a supplement to your prospectus in the event that such a change is made.
Cost of Insurance Charge
A significant cost of variable life insurance is the "Cost of Insurance Charge". This charge is the portion of the Monthly Deduction designed to compensate the Company for the anticipated cost of paying death benefits in excess of the policy value.
The Cost of Insurance Charge for your Policy depends on the current "Net Amount at Risk". The Net Amount at Risk is the death benefit, without regard to any benefits payable at the Insured's death under any riders, minus the greater of zero or the Policy's Accumulation Value. Because the Accumulation Value will vary with investment performance, Premium Payment patterns and charges, the Net Amount at Risk will vary accordingly.
The Cost of Insurance Charge is determined monthly by dividing the death benefit at the beginning of the Policy Month by 1 plus .0032737 (the monthly equivalent of an effective annual rate of 4%), subtracting the Accumulation Value at the beginning of the Policy Month, and multiplying the result (the "Net Amount at Risk") by the applicable current cost of insurance rate as determined by the Company.
The maximum rates that we may use are found in the guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rate table in your Policy's Specifications. The applicable cost of insurance rate used in this monthly calculation for your Policy depends upon the Policy's duration, the age, gender (in accordance with state law) and underwriting category of the Insured. Please note that it will generally increase each Policy Year as the Insured ages. Current cost of insurance rates, in general, are determined based on our expectation of future mortality, investment earnings, persistency and expenses (including, but not limited to, taxes and reinsurance). For this reason, they may be less than the guaranteed maximum rates shown in the Policy. Accordingly, your monthly Cost of Insurance Charge may be less than the amount that would be calculated using the guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rate shown in the table
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in your Policy. Also, your monthly Cost of Insurance Charge will never be calculated at a rate higher than the maximum Cost of Insurance Charge shown in the "Periodic Charges Other Than Underlying Fund Fees and Operating Expenses" table in this prospectus.
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
We assess a daily Mortality and Expense Risk Charge ("M&E") as a percentage of the Policy's Separate Account Value. The mortality risk assumed is that the Insured may live for a shorter period than we originally estimated. The expense risk assumed is that our expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Policies will be greater than we originally estimated. We reserve the right to change this charge, but guarantee it will not exceed the maximum rates as shown in the "Periodic Charges Other Than Annual Underlying Fund Fees and Operating Expenses" table of this prospectus.
The charge is guaranteed not to exceed an annual rate of:
Policy Years 1 - 10
0.60%
Policy Years 11 and beyond
0.20%
Administrative Fee
There is a flat Monthly Deduction of $15 during the first Policy Year and, currently, $5 monthly thereafter (guaranteed not to exceed $10 monthly after the first Policy Year). This fee compensates the Company for administrative expenses associated with policy issue and ongoing policy maintenance including premium billing and collection, policy value calculation, confirmations, periodic reports and other similar matters.
Policy Loan Interest
If you borrow against your Policy, interest will be charged to the Loan Account Value. The annual effective interest rate is 5% in years 1-10, 4% in years 11 and beyond. The amount of your loan, plus any accrued but unpaid interest, is added to your outstanding Policy Loan balance. We will credit 4% interest on the Loan Account Value in all years.
Rider Charges
The following paragraphs describe the charges for the riders listed below. The features of the riders available with this Policy and any limitations on the selection of riders are discussed in the section headed "Riders".
Overloan Protection Rider. There is a one-time charge for this rider if you choose to elect the benefit. This charge will not exceed 5% of the then current Accumulation Value.
Supplemental Term Insurance Rider. This optional rider provides term life insurance on the life of the Insured, which is annually renewable to Attained Age 100. There are monthly Cost of Insurance Charges for this rider, based on the Policy duration, and the age, gender and underwriting category of the Insured. We may adjust the monthly rider rate from time to time, but the rate will never exceed the guaranteed cost of insurance rates for the rider for that Policy Year.
Waiver of Monthly Deduction Rider. The monthly charge for this benefit is equal to the sum of all other covered monthly charges for the Policy and all riders, multiplied by a rate factor. The rate factor depends on the age, underwriting category and gender of the Insured. The maximum rate factor is 12%. If you have elected this rider, a table of rate factors appears on the rider pages in your Policy.
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Case Exceptions
Charges and fees may be reduced in some circumstances where Policies are purchased by corporations and other groups or sponsoring organizations on a multiple-life case basis.
YOUR INSURANCE POLICY
Your Policy is a life insurance contract that provides for a death benefit payable on the death of the Insured. The Policy and the application constitute the entire contract between you and Lincoln Life.
The Policy includes Policy Specifications pages, with supporting schedules. These pages and schedules provide important information about your Policy such as: the identity of the Insured and Owner; Date of Issue; the Initial Specified Amount; the death benefit option selected; issue age; named Beneficiary; initial Premium Payment; Surrender Charges; expense charges and fees; No-Lapse Premium (subject to state availability); and guaranteed maximum cost of insurance rates.
Note: The Policy Specifications pages (and any specifications pages relating to riders you may purchase) reference certain dates that are very important in understanding when your coverage begins and ends, when certain benefits become available and when certain rights or obligations arise or terminate. Generally, terms such as "Policy Date", "Effective Date" or "Policy Effective Date" (or "Rider Date", "Rider Effective Date") refer to the date that coverage under the Policy (or rider) becomes effective and is the date from which Policy Years, Policy Anniversary and ages are determined. Terms such as "Issue Date" or "Policy Issue Date" (or "Rider Issue Date") generally refer to when we print or produce the Policy (or rider), but such dates may have importance beyond that date. For example, the period of time we may have to contest a claim submitted in the first couple years of the Policy will typically start on the date the Policy is issued and not the date the Policy goes into effect. Please read your Policy carefully and make sure you understand which dates are important and why.
When your Policy is delivered to you, you should review it promptly to confirm that it reflects the information you provided in your application. If not, please notify us immediately.
The Policy is nonparticipating. This means that no dividends are payable to you. In addition, your Policy does not share in the profits or surplus earnings of the Company.
Before purchasing the Policy to replace, or to be funded with proceeds from an existing life insurance policy or annuity, make sure you understand the potential impact. The Insured will need to prove current insurability and there may be a new contestable period for the new Policy. The death benefit and policy values may be less for some period of time in the new Policy.
Once your Policy is in force, the effective date of payments and requests you send us is usually determined by the day and time we receive them.
We cannot process your requests for transactions relating to the Policy until we have received the request in "Good Order" at our Administrative Office. "Good Order" means the actual receipt of the requested transaction in writing (or other form subject to our consent) along with all information and supporting legal documentation necessary to effect the transaction. We may, in our sole discretion, determine whether any particular transaction is in Good Order, and we reserve the right to change or waive any Good Order requirements at any time.
We allow telephone or other electronic transactions when you complete our authorization form and return it to us. Contact our Administrative Office for information on permitted electronic transactions and authorization for electronic transactions.
Any telephone or other electronic transmission, whether it is yours, your service provider's, your agent's, or ours, can experience outages or slowdowns for a variety of reasons. Although we have taken precautions to help our systems handle heavy use, we cannot promise complete reliability under all circumstances. If you experience problems, you should send your request in writing to our Administrative Office.
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Application
If you decide to purchase a Policy, you must first complete an application. A completed application identifies the proposed Insured and provides sufficient information to permit us to begin underwriting risks in the Policy. We require a medical history and may require an examination of the proposed Insured. Based on our review of medical information about the proposed Insured, we may decline to provide insurance, or we may place the proposed Insured in a special underwriting category. The monthly Cost of Insurance Charge deducted from the policy value after issue varies depending on the Insured's age, underwriting category, and gender (if applicable state law allows charges to vary based on gender), the Policy duration, and the current Net Amount at Risk.
A Policy may only be issued upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of insurability, and generally when the Insured is at least age 18 and at most age 85. Age will be determined by the nearest birthday of the Insured.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you apply for a Policy, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license, photo i.d. or other identifying documents.
Owner
The Owner on the date of policy issue is designated in the Policy Specifications. You, as Owner, will make the following choices:
1)
initial death benefit amount and death benefit option;
2)
optional No-Lapse Protection and riders;
3)
the amount and frequency of Premium Payments; and
4)
the amount of Net Premium Payment to be allocated to the selected Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account.
You are entitled to exercise rights and privileges of your Policy as long as the Insured is living. These rights generally include the power to select the Beneficiary, request Policy Loans, make Partial Surrenders, surrender the Policy entirely, name a new Owner, assign the Policy and make transfers. You must inform us of any change in writing. We will record change of Owner and Beneficiary forms to be effective as of the date of the latest signature on the written request. In addition to changes in ownership or Beneficiary designations, you should make certain that our records are up to date with respect to your address and contact information and, to the extent possible, the address and contact information of any Beneficiaries. This will ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in effecting any changes you wish to make, ownership privileges you wish to exercise or payments of proceeds to you or your Beneficiaries. Exercising a change in ownership may cause a taxable event. You should consult a tax advisor prior to exercising a change in ownership to determine the tax consequences of such exercise.
Right To Examine Period
You may return your Policy to us for cancellation within 10 days after you receive it (or a greater number of days if required by your state). This is called the Right to Examine Period. If the Policy is returned for cancellation within the Right to Examine Period, we will refund to you either all Premium Payments or the policy value plus any charges and fees depending on the state of issue of your Policy. If a Premium Payment was made by check, there may be a delay until the check clears.
If your Policy is issued in a state that requires return of Premium Payments or you are 60 years or over and your Policy is issued in California, any Net Premium Payments received by us within 10 days (or a greater number of days if required by your state; 30 days in California) of the date the Policy was issued will be held in the money market Sub-Account. At the end of that period, it will be allocated to the Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account, if applicable, as you designate. If the Policy is returned for cancellation within the Right to Examine Period, we will return the full amount of any Premium Payments made.
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If your Policy is issued in a state that provides for return of value, any Net Premium Payments received before the end of the Right to Examine Period will be allocated directly to the Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account, if applicable, as you designate. The Owner bears the risk of a decline in Sub-Account values. If the Policy is returned for cancellation within the Right to Examine Period, we will return the policy value, plus any charges and fees deducted, as of the date the cancelled Policy is received at our Administrative Office. (Note: For California policies, you may direct us, in writing, to proceed to allocate your Net Premiums before the end of the 30 days.)
Initial Specified Amount
You will select the Initial Specified Amount of death benefit on the application. This may not be less than $100,000. This amount, in combination with a death benefit option, will determine the initial death benefit. The Initial Specified Amount is shown on the Policy Specifications page.
Transfers
You may make transfers among the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account, subject to certain provisions. You should carefully consider current market conditions and each Underlying Fund's objective and investment policy before allocating money to the Sub-Accounts. (Note: Prior to moving money into the money market Sub-Account or allowing it to default into the money market Sub-Account as a result of a fund liquidation, refer to your Policy for specific impacts that may apply, if any.)
During the first Policy Year, transfers from the Fixed Account to the Sub-Accounts may be made only as provided for in the Dollar Cost Averaging program described below. The amount of all transfers from the Fixed Account in any other Policy Year may not exceed the greater of:
1)
25% of the Fixed Account Value as of the immediately preceding Policy Anniversary, or
2)
the total dollar amount transferred from the Fixed Account in the immediately preceding Policy Year.
Due to these limitations, if you want to transfer all of your value from the Fixed Account to one or more Sub-Accounts, it may take several years to do so. We reserve the right to waive these transfer restrictions from the Fixed Account at any time. Please contact your registered representative to determine if a waiver is currently in effect.
Requests for transfers must be made in writing, electronically, or by telephone if you have previously authorized telephone or other electronic transfers in writing, subject to our consent. We will use reasonable procedures, such as requiring identifying information from callers, recording telephone instructions, and providing written confirmation of transactions, in order to confirm instructions are genuine. Any instructions, which we reasonably believe to be genuine, will be your responsibility, including losses arising from any errors in the communication of instructions. As a result of this procedure, you will bear the risk of loss. If we do not use reasonable procedures, as described above, we may be liable for losses due to unauthorized instructions.
Up to 24 transfer requests (a request may involve more than a single transfer) may be made in any Policy Year without charge. Any transfer among the Sub-Accounts or to the Fixed Account will result in the crediting and cancellation of accumulation units. This will be based on the accumulation unit values determined after our Administrative Office receives a request in writing or adequately authenticated electronic transfer request. Transfer and financial requests received in Good Order before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 pm Eastern time on a business day) will normally be effective that day. There may be circumstances under which the New York Stock Exchange may close before 4:00 pm. In such circumstances transactions requested after such early closing will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed the following trading day.
Some of the Underlying Funds have reserved the right to temporarily or permanently refuse payments or transfer requests from us if, in the judgment of the Underlying Fund's investment advisor, the Underlying Fund would be unable to invest effectively in accordance with its investment objective or policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected. To the extent permitted by applicable law, we reserve the right to defer or reject a transfer
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request at any time that we are unable to purchase or redeem shares of any of the Underlying Funds, including any refusal or restriction on purchases or redemptions of the Sub-Account units as a result of the Underlying Funds' own policies and procedures on market timing activities. We may also defer or reject an allocation or transfer request that is subject to a restriction that is imposed by the Underlying Fund at any time. If an Underlying Fund refuses to accept a transfer request we have already processed, we will reverse the transaction within 1-2 business days of the day on which we receive notice of the refusal. We will notify you in writing if we have reversed, restricted or refused any of your transfer requests.
We reserve the right to change the terms and conditions of the "Transfers" section in response to changes in legal or regulatory requirements. Further, we reserve, at our sole discretion, the right to limit or modify transfers in the interest of overall fund management or transfers that may have an adverse effect on other Owners. Transfer rights may be restricted in any manner or terminated until the beginning of the next Policy Year if we determine that your use of the transfer right may disadvantage other Owners.
Market Timing
Frequent, large, or short-term transfers among Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account, such as those associated with "market timing" transactions, can affect the Underlying Funds and their investment returns. Such transfers may dilute the value of the fund shares, interfere with the efficient management of the Underlying Fund's portfolio, and increase brokerage and administrative costs of the Underlying Funds. As an effort to protect our Owners and the Underlying Funds from potentially harmful trading activity, we utilize certain market timing policies and procedures (the "Market Timing Procedures"). Our Market Timing Procedures are designed to detect and prevent such transfer activity among the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account that may affect other Owners or shareholders.
In addition, the Underlying Funds may have adopted their own policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of their respective shares. The prospectuses for the Underlying Funds describe any such policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the frequent trading policies and procedures of other funds and the Market Timing Procedures we have adopted to discourage frequent transfers among Sub-Accounts. While we reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures, Owners and other persons with interests under the Policies should be aware that we may not have the contractual authority or the operational capacity to apply the frequent trading policies and procedures of the Underlying Funds. You should note that, these policies and procedures may result in an Underlying Fund deferring or permanently refusing to accept Premium Payments or transfers for the reasons described in "Transfers", above. In such case, our rights and obligations will be as described in "Transfers". Some of the Underlying Funds may also impose Redemption Fees on short-term trading (i.e., redemptions of Underlying Fund shares within a certain number of business days after purchase). We reserve the right to administer and collect any such Redemption Fees on behalf of the Underlying Funds. You should read the prospectuses of the Underlying Funds for more details on their ability to refuse or restrict purchases or redemptions of their shares.
However, under the SEC rules, we are required to: (1) enter into written agreement with each Underlying Fund or its principal underwriter that obligates us to provide to the Underlying Fund promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of individual Owners, and (2) execute instructions from the Underlying Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or transfers by specific Owners who violate excessive trading policies established by the Underlying Fund.
You should be aware that the purchase and redemption orders received by Underlying Funds generally are "omnibus" orders from intermediaries such as retirement plans or Separate Accounts to which Premium Payments and policy values of variable insurance policies are allocated. The omnibus orders reflect the aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual retirement plan participants and/or individual Owners of variable insurance policies. The omnibus nature of these orders may limit the Underlying Funds' ability to apply their respective disruptive trading policies and procedures. We cannot guarantee that the Underlying Funds (and thus our Owners) will not be harmed by transfer activity relating to the retirement plans and/or other insurance companies that may purchase the Underlying Funds. In addition, if an Underlying Fund believes that an omnibus order we
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submit may reflect one or more transfer requests from Owners engaged in disruptive trading activity, the Underlying Fund may reject the entire omnibus order.
Our Market Timing Procedures detect potential "market timers" by examining the number of transfers made by Owners within given periods of time. In addition, managers of the Underlying Funds might contact us if they believe or suspect that there is market timing. If requested by an Underlying Fund company, we may vary our Market Timing Procedures from Sub-Account to Sub-Account to comply with specific Underlying Fund policies and procedures.
We may increase our monitoring of Owners who we have previously identified as market timers. When applying the parameters used to detect market timers, we will consider multiple policies owned by the same Owner if that Owner has been identified as a market timer. For each Owner, we will investigate the transfer patterns that meet the parameters being used to detect potential market timers. We will also investigate any patterns of trading behavior identified by the Underlying Funds that may not have been captured by our Market Timing Procedures.
Once an Owner has been identified as a "market timer" under our Market Timing Procedures, we will notify the Owner in writing that future transfers (among the Sub-Accounts and/or the Fixed Account) will be temporarily permitted to be made only by original signature sent to us by U.S. mail, standard delivery for the remainder of the Policy Year. Overnight delivery or electronic instructions (which may include telephone, facsimile, or Internet instructions) submitted during this period will not be accepted. If overnight delivery or electronic instructions from or on behalf of an Owner who has been identified as a market timer are inadvertently accepted, we will reverse the transaction within 1 - 2 business days of our discovery of such acceptance. We will impose this "original signature"restriction on that Owner even if we cannot identify, in the particular circumstances, any harmful effect from that Owner's particular transfers.
Owners seeking to engage in frequent, large, or short-term transfer activity may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection. Our ability to detect such transfer activity may be limited by operational systems and technological limitations. The identification of Owners determined to be engaged in such transfer activity that may adversely affect other Owners or Underlying Fund shareholders involves judgments that are inherently subjective. We cannot guarantee that our Market Timing Procedures will detect every potential market timer. If we are unable to detect market timers, you may experience dilution in the value of your Underlying Fund shares and increased brokerage and administrative costs in the Underlying Funds. This may result in lower long-term returns for your investments.
Our Market Timing Procedures are applied consistently to all Owners. An exception for any Owner will be made only in the event we are required to do so by a court of law. In addition, certain Underlying Funds available as investment options in your Policy may also be available as investment options for Owners of other, older life insurance policies issued by us.
Some of these older life insurance policies do not provide a contractual basis for us to restrict or refuse transfers which are suspected to be market timing activity. In addition, because other insurance companies and/or retirement plans may invest in the Underlying Funds, we cannot guarantee that the Underlying Funds will not suffer harm from frequent, large, or short-term transfer activity among Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account of variable contracts issued by other insurance companies or among investment options available to retirement plan participants.
In our sole discretion, we may revise our Market Timing Procedures at any time without prior notice as necessary to better detect and deter frequent, large, or short-term transfer activity, to comply with state or federal regulatory requirements, and/or to impose additional or alternate restrictions on market timers (such as dollar or percentage limits on transfers). If we modify our Market Timing Procedures, they will be applied uniformly to all Owners or as applicable to all Owners with policy values allocated to Sub-Accounts investing in particular Underlying Funds. We also reserve the right to implement and administer Redemption Fees imposed by one or more of the Underlying Funds in the future.
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OTHER BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE POLICY
In addition to the Death Benefit under the Policy, other standard and optional benefits may also be available to you. The following table summarizes information about those benefits. Information about the fees associated with each benefit included in the table may be found in the Fee Table. More information about each rider follows the table.
Name of Benefit
Purpose
Standard or
Optional
Brief Description of
Restrictions/Limitations
Overloan
Protection Rider
Provides that your
Policy will not lapse
solely based on Debt
exceeding the
Surrender Value.
Standard
•Automatically issued at Policy purchase.
•Once you exercise the benefit, the following changes
will be made to your Policy:
•We will no longer allow Premium Payments, Partial
Surrenders, or changes to the Specified Amount.
•All other riders except the Supplemental Term
Insurance Rider will be terminated.
•No additional Monthly Deductions will be taken.
•No additional loans will be allowed.
•The Separate Account Value will be transferred to the
Fixed Account.
•The Policy will become paid-up insurance (i.e. no
further payment will be required).
Accounting Value
Rider
Provides enhanced
Surrender Values by
using a table of
alternate Surrender
Charges if the Policy
is surrendered in
Policy Years 1 - 5.
Optional
•Available at Policy purchase only.
•Underwriting and minimum Premium requirements
apply.
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Name of Benefit
Purpose
Standard or
Optional
Brief Description of
Restrictions/Limitations
Change of
Insured Rider
Permits a change in
the person who is
Insured under the
Policy.
Optional
•Available at Policy purchase or until the Attained Age
of 65.
•Availability may vary by selling broker dealer. You
may obtain information about the optional benefits
that are available through your broker dealer by
contacting your broker dealer or our Administrative
Office.
•Benefit ceases to be available on the contract
anniversary nearest to the current Insured's 65th
birthday.
•The new Insured is subject to underwriting
requirements.
•Policy value requirements apply.
•Policy charges applicable to the new Insured may
differ from charges applicable to the current Insured.
•Any change in Insured is a taxable event.
Supplemental
Term Insurance
Rider
Provides annually
renewable non-
convertible term
insurance on the life
of the Insured.
Optional
•Available at Policy purchase only.
•Will limit the maximum period during which your
Policy is guaranteed not to lapse under the No-Lapse
Provision.
Waiver of
Monthly
Deduction Rider
Waives Monthly
Deductions during
periods of total
disability.
Optional
•Available at Policy purchase only.
•The disability must meet conditions and commence
prior to the Policy Anniversary nearest the Insured's
65th birthday to qualify for payments.
Dollar Cost
Averaging
An investment
strategy that divides
up the total amount
to be invested in one
or more Sub-
Accounts over a
specified period of
time. This averages
the purchase cost of
the assets over time
and helps to reduce
the potential impact
of market volatility.
Optional
•Available at Policy purchase or by contacting our
Administrative Office.
•Transfers from the Fixed Account can only be elected
at Policy Issue.
•Value in the Money Market Sub-account or Fixed
Account must be at least $1,000 initially.
•Minimum amount that may be allocated is $50
monthly.
•Automatically terminates under certain conditions.
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Name of Benefit
Purpose
Standard or
Optional
Brief Description of
Restrictions/Limitations
Automatic
Rebalancing
To periodically
restore Sub-Account
exposure to a pre-
determined level
selected by the
policyholder to
reduce potential risk
of exposure to
market volatility.
Optional
•You may select a quarterly, semi-annual or annual
basis.
•The Fixed Account is not subject to rebalancing.
•May be elected, terminated, or the allocation may be
changed at any time.
Policy Loans
Borrow against the
Surrender Value of
your Policy.
Optional
•We may limit the amount of your loan so that total
Debt under the Policy will not exceed 90% of an
amount equal to the Accumulation Value less
Surrender Charge.
•Amounts transferred to the Loan Account do not
participate in the performance of the Sub-Accounts or
the Fixed Account.
Overloan Protection Rider.  If this rider is issued with your Policy, you meet the requirements as described in the rider (see below) and you choose to take advantage of the benefit it provides, your Policy will not lapse due to insufficient value. It is a limited benefit, in that it does not provide any additional death benefit or any increase in Accumulation Value. Also, it does not provide any type of market performance guarantee.
If your Policy was issued on or after May 22, 2006, we will automatically issue this rider with your Policy. The benefit is not available to you if the Policy is a Modified Endowment Contract. While there is no charge for adding this rider to your Policy, if you choose to exercise this benefit, there is a one-time charge shown in the Policy Specifications. (See Policy Charges and Fees and the Periodic Charges Other than Annual Underlying Fund Fees and Operating Expenses table of this prospectus.)
In addition to the conditions mentioned above the following must be met at the time the benefit is exercised:
Policy Indebtedness is larger than the Specified Amount;
The Policy has been in force for a minimum number of Policy Years ("Minimum Policy Years in Force") as shown in the Policy Specifications;
Any Insured identified in the Policy Specifications has attained the age shown as the "Minimum Attained Age" in the Policy Specifications;
A level Death Benefit must be in effect;
The Policy's Accumulation Value less Indebtedness must be enough to cover the charge as shown in the Policy Specifications;
The sum of three Monthly Deductions and the election charge must exceed the Surrender Value.
Once you exercise the benefit, the following changes will be made to your Policy:
1. We will no longer allow Premium Payments, Partial Surrenders, or changes to the Specified Amount;
2. All other riders, except the Supplemental Term Insurance Rider, if any, will be terminated;
3. No additional Monthly Deductions will be taken;
4. No additional loans will be allowed;
5. The Separate Account Value (also referred to the "Variable Account Value" in the rider), if any, will be transferred
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to the Fixed Account. (This transfer will not be subject to any limitations that may otherwise be in effect and will not be assessed a charge. Also, no further transfers will be allowed, and Automatic Rebalancing will end); and
6. The Policy will become paid-up insurance (i.e. no further payments will be required) and the death benefit will be determined as provided by the Policy but will be no less than the greater of the following amounts, less Indebtedness:
(i) Accumulation Value plus $10,000; or
(ii) An amount determined by us equal to the amount required to qualify the Policy as life insurance under the Internal Revenue Code.
You should consult with a qualified tax advisor before exercising this rider, as there may be tax consequences. Also, we will provide you with notice the first time your Policy meets all the conditions and requirements noted above. We strongly recommend that you carefully monitor the performance of your Policy by annually reviewing a projection of the Policy's benefits and values (an "illustration") in order to improve your opportunity of meeting the requirements and conditions of the rider.
Accounting Value Rider. If desired, you must select this rider when you initially apply for insurance. You must meet the underwriting and minimum Premium requirements for this rider. If your Policy is fully surrendered in the first four Policy Years, this rider provides enhanced Surrender Values by using a table of alternate Surrender Charges. The rider does not provide for enhanced Surrender Value for Partial Surrenders and loans. There is no charge for this rider.
Change of Insured Rider. If desired, you must select this rider prior to January 1, 2009. This rider will no longer be available on and after this date. With this rider, you may name a new Insured in place of the current Insured. Underwriting and policy value requirements must be met. The benefit expires on the anniversary nearest to the current Insured's 65th birthday. There is no separate charge for this rider; however, policy charges applicable to the new Insured may differ from charges applicable to the current Insured. Exercising the Change of Insured Rider is a fully taxable event to the extent that there is taxable gain at the time of the change of Insured.
Supplemental Term Insurance Rider. If desired, you must select this rider when you initially apply for insurance. The rider provides annually renewable non-convertible term insurance to age 100 on the life of the Insured. Upon the Insured's death, we will pay the Term Insurance Benefit Amount, in addition to Death Benefit Proceeds of the death benefit option in effect on your Policy.
There is a monthly cost for this rider, similar to the cost of insurance of the base Policy's duration. This rate is determined by the Company, is based on the Policy's duration, the age, underwriting category and gender of the Insured, and is applied against the Term Insurance Benefit Amount shown on the Policy Specifications page.
This rider will limit the maximum period during which your Policy is guaranteed not to lapse under the No-Lapse Provision. If you have chosen the age 100 No-Lapse Provision, the maximum period will now be the first 20 Policy Years up to age 100. For the 10 year and 20 year No-Lapse Provisions, the maximum period will now be the first 5 Policy Years. All other provisions set forth in the age 100, 20 year and 10 year No-Lapse Provisions will still apply.
This rider terminates on the earliest of:
1)
the date you request termination of the rider;
2)
when your Policy lapses;
3)
when your Policy is fully surrendered;
4)
when the Insured reaches age 100; or
5)
upon death of the Insured.
If your Policy is reinstated, this rider will likewise be reinstated. However, sufficient Premium must be paid to cover the Monthly Deduction including monthly rider costs.
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Waiver of Monthly Deduction Rider. If desired, you must select this rider when you initially apply for insurance. Monthly Deductions will be waived during periods of covered total disability commencing prior to the Policy Anniversary nearest the Insured's 65th birthday. Charges for this rider, if elected, are part of the Monthly Deductions.
Policy Loans. Outstanding Policy Loans and accrued interest reduce the Policy's death benefit and Accumulation Value. We may limit the amount of your loan so that total Debt under the Policy will not exceed 90% of an amount equal to the Accumulation Value less Surrender Charge. If at any time the total Debt against your Policy, including interest accrued but not due, equals or exceeds the then current Accumulation Value less Surrender Charges, the Policy will terminate subject to the conditions in the Grace Period provision. If your Policy lapses while a loan is outstanding, the borrowed amount may be taxable to you to the extent your Policy's value exceeds your basis in the Policy. Amounts transferred to the Loan Account do not participate in the performance of the Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account. There may be adverse tax consequences if your Policy lapses with an outstanding loan balance. Please see "POLICY LOANS" section for additional information.
Optional Sub-Account Allocation Programs
You may elect to participate in Dollar Cost Averaging or Automatic Rebalancing. There is currently no charge for these programs. You may participate in only one program at any time.
Dollar Cost Averagingsystematically transfers amounts from the money market Sub-Account or the Fixed Account. Transfer allocations may be made to one or more of the Sub-Accounts (not the Fixed Account) on a monthly or quarterly basis. These transfers do not count against the free transfers available. Transfers from the Fixed Account can only be elected at the time your Policy is issued. Transfers from the money market Sub-Account may be elected at any time while your Policy is in force. By making allocations on a regularly scheduled basis, instead of on a lump sum basis, you may reduce exposure to market volatility. Dollar Cost Averaging will not assure a profit or protect against a declining market.
If the Owner elects Dollar Cost Averaging from either the money market Sub-Account or the Fixed Account the value in that account must be at least $1,000 initially. The minimum amount that may be allocated is $50 monthly.
You may elect Dollar Cost Averaging on your application, or contact our Administrative Office for information.
Dollar Cost Averaging terminates automatically:
1)
if the value in the money market Sub-Account or the Fixed Account is insufficient to complete the next transfer;
2)
7 calendar days after our Administrative Office receives a request for termination in writing or by telephone, with adequate authentication;
3)
after 12 or 24 months (as elected on your application); or
4)
if your Policy is surrendered or otherwise terminates.
Automatic Rebalancingperiodically restores to a pre-determined level the percentage of policy value allocated to each Sub-Account. The Fixed Account is not subject to rebalancing. The pre-determined level is the allocation initially selected on the application, until changed by the Owner. If Automatic Rebalancing is elected, all Net Premium Payments allocated to the Sub-Accounts will be subject to Automatic Rebalancing. Transfers among the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account as a result of Automatic Rebalancing do not count against the number of free transfers available.
Automatic Rebalancing provides a method for reestablishing fixed proportions among your allocations to your Sub-Accounts on a systematic basis. Automatic Rebalancing helps to maintain your allocation among market segments, although it entails reducing your policy values allocated to the better performing segments. Therefore, you should carefully consider market conditions and the investment objectives of each Sub-Account and Underlying Fund before electing to participate in Automatic Rebalancing.
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You may select Automatic Rebalancing on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis. Automatic Rebalancing may be elected, terminated, or the allocation may be changed at any time, by contacting our Administrative Office.
Continuation of Coverage
If the Insured is still living at age 100, and the Policy is still in force and has not been surrendered, the Policy will remain in force until policy surrender or death of the Insured. However, there are certain changes that will take place:
1)
we will not accept Premium Payments;
2)
we will make no further deductions;
3)
policy values held in the Separate Account will be transferred to the Fixed Account;
4)
we will continue to credit interest to the Fixed Account; and
5)
we will not transfer amounts to the Sub-Accounts.
Loan interest will continue to accrue on any outstanding loans. Provisions may vary in certain states.
This provision will not continue any rider attached to this Policy beyond the date for such rider's termination, as provided in the rider.
If this Policy is in the Grace Period at the Insured's Attained Age 100, you will need to pay the minimum amount required to remove this Policy from the Grace Period in order to guarantee continuation of this Policy beyond the Insured's Attained Age 100.
Termination of Coverage
All policy coverage terminates on the earliest of:
1)
Full Surrender of the Policy;
2)
death of the Insured; or
3)
failure to pay the necessary amount of Premium to keep your Policy in force.
State Regulation
The state in which your Policy is issued will govern whether or not certain features, riders, charges, restrictions, limitations and fees will be allowed in your Policy. You should refer to your Policy for these state specific features. All material state variations are discussed in this prospectus, however, non-material variations may not be discussed. Please contact the Administrative Office or your registered representative regarding availability.
PREMIUMS
You may select and vary the frequency and the amount of Premium Payments and the allocation of Net Premium Payments. After the initial Premium Payment is made there is no minimum Premium required, except to maintain the No-Lapse Provision or to keep the Policy in force. Premium Payments may be required from time to time in order to insure that the Net Accumulation Value of the Policy is sufficient to pay the Monthly Deductions. Otherwise, the Policy will lapse. (See the "Lapse and Reinstatement" section of this prospectus.) Premiums may be paid any time before the Insured attains age 100, subject to our right to limit the amount or frequency of additional Premium Payments. (See the "Planned Premiums; Additional Premiums" section of this prospectus.)
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The initial Premium must be paid for policy coverage to be effective. This payment must be equal to or exceed the amount necessary to provide for two Monthly Deductions.
Allocation of Net Premium Payments
Your Net Premium Payment is the portion of a Premium Payment remaining, after deduction of the Premium Load. The Net Premium Payment is available for allocation to the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account.
You first designate the allocation of Net Premium Payments among the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account on form provided by us for that purpose. Net Premium Payments will be allocated on the same basis as the initial Net Premium Payment unless we are instructed otherwise, in writing. You may change the allocation of Net Premium Payments among the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account at any time.
The amount of Net Premium Payments allocated to the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account must be in whole percentages and must total 100%. We credit Net Premium Payments to your Policy as of the end of the "Valuation Period" in which it is received in Good Order at our Administrative Office. Premium Payments received from you or your broker-dealer in Good Order at our Administrative Office prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on a business day), will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed on that Valuation Date. Premium Payments received in Good Order after market close will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed on the next Valuation Date. Premium Payments submitted to your registered representative will generally not be processed by us until they are received from your representative's broker-dealer. Premium Payments placed with your broker-dealer after market close will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed on the next Valuation Date. There may be circumstances under which the New York Stock Exchange may close early (prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). In such instances, Premium Payments received after such early market close will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed on the next Valuation Date.
The Valuation Period is the time between Valuation Days. A Valuation Day is every day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open and trading is unrestricted. Your policy values are calculated on every Valuation Day.
Planned Premiums; Additional Premiums
Planned Premiums are the amount of periodic Premium (as shown in the Policy Specifications) you choose to pay the Company on a scheduled basis. This is the amount for which we send a Premium reminder notice. We reserve the right to stop sending Premium reminder notices if no Premium Payment has been made within 2 Policy Years. Premium Payments may be billed annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. You may arrange for monthly pre-authorized automatic Premium Payments at any time.
In addition to any Planned Premium, you may make additional Premium Payments. These additional payments must be sent directly to our Administrative Office, and will be credited when received by us.
Unless you specifically direct otherwise, any payment received (other than any Premium Payment necessary to prevent, or cure, Policy Lapse) will be applied as Premium and will not repay any outstanding loans. There is no Premium Load on any payment which you specifically direct as repayment of an outstanding loan.
You may increase Planned Premiums, or pay additional Premiums, subject to certain limitations. We reserve the right to limit the amount or frequency of additional Premium Payments. You may decrease Planned Premiums. However, doing so will impact your policy values and may impact how long your Policy remains in force.
We may require evidence of insurability if any payment of additional Premium (including Planned Premium) would increase the difference between the death benefit and the Accumulation Value. If we are unwilling to accept the risk, your increase in Premium will be refunded without interest.
We may decline any additional Premium (including Planned Premium) or a portion of a Premium that would cause total Premium Payments to exceed the limit for life insurance under federal tax laws. Our test for whether or not your Policy exceeds the limit is referred to as the Guideline Premium Test. The excess amount of Premium will be
36
returned to you. We may accept alternate instructions from you to prevent your Policy from becoming a MEC. Refer to the section headed "Tax Issues" for more information.
Policy Values
Policy value in your variable life insurance policy is also called the Accumulation Value.
The Accumulation Value equals the sum of the Fixed Account Value, Separate Account Value, and Loan Account Value. At any point in time, the Accumulation Value reflects:
1)
Net Premium Payments made;
2)
the amount of any Partial Surrenders;
3)
any increases or decreases as a result of market performance of the Sub-Accounts;
4)
interest credited to the Fixed Account or the Loan Account; and
5)
all charges and fees deducted.
The Separate Account Value, if any, is the portion of the Accumulation Value attributable to the Separate Account. The value is equal to the sum of the current values of all the Sub-Accounts in which you have invested. The current value of each Sub-Account is determined by multiplying the number of Variable Accumulation Units credited or debited to that Sub-Account with respect to this Policy by the Variable Accumulation Unit Value of that Sub-Account for such Valuation Period.
The "Variable Accumulation Unit" is a unit of measure used in the calculation of the value of each Sub-Account. It may increase or decrease from one Valuation Period to the next. The Variable Accumulation Unit Value for a Sub-Account for a Valuation Period is determined as follows:
1)
the total value of Underlying Fund shares held in the Sub-Account is calculated by multiplying the number of Underlying Fund shares owned by the Sub-Account at the beginning of the Valuation Period by the net asset value per share of the Underlying Fund at the end of the Valuation Period, and adding any dividend or other distribution of the Underlying Fund made during the Valuation Period; minus
2)
the liabilities of the Sub-Account at the end of the Valuation Period. Such liabilities include daily charges imposed on the Sub-Account, and may include a charge or credit with respect to any taxes paid or reserved for by Lincoln Life that we determine result from the operations of the Separate Account; and
3)
the result of (1) minus (2) is divided by the number of Variable Accumulation Units for that Sub-Account outstanding at the beginning of the Valuation Period.
In certain circumstances, and when permitted by law, we may use a different standard industry method for this calculation, called the Net Investment Factor method. We will achieve substantially the same result using either method.
The daily charge imposed on a Sub-Account for any Valuation Period is equal to the daily Mortality and Expense Risk Charge multiplied by the number of calendar days in the Valuation Period.
The Fixed Account Value, if any, reflects amounts allocated or transferred to the Fixed Account, plus interest credited, and less any deductions or Partial Surrenders. Fixed Account principal is not subject to market fluctuation and interest is credited at a daily rate of 0.010746% (equivalent to a compounded annual rate of 4%) or a higher rate determined by the Company.
The Loan Account Value, if any, reflects any outstanding Policy Loans, including any interest charged on the loans. This amount is held in the Company's General Account. We do not guarantee the Loan Account Value. Interest is credited based on the Loan Account Value at an effective annual rate of 4% in all years and is allocated to the Policy in accordance with your allocation instructions on file with us at the time the interest is credited.
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The Net Accumulation Value is the Accumulation Value less the Loan Account Value. It represents the net value of your Policy and is the basis for calculating the Surrender Value.
Annual Statement
We will tell you at least annually the Accumulation Value, the number of accumulation units credited to your Policy, current accumulation unit values, Sub-Account values, the Fixed Account Value and the Loan Account Value. We strongly suggest that you review your statements to determine whether additional Premium Payments may be necessary to avoid lapse of your Policy.
DEATH BENEFITS
The Death Benefit Proceeds is the amount payable to the Beneficiary upon the death of the Insured, based upon the death benefit option in effect. Loans, loan interest, Partial Surrenders, and overdue charges, if any, are deducted from the Death Benefit Proceeds prior to payment. may impact the amount payable as Death Benefit Proceeds in your Policy. Refer to the "Riders" section of this prospectus for more information.
Death Benefit Proceeds
Proof of death should be furnished to us at our Administrative Office as soon as possible after the death of the Insured. This notification must include a certified copy of an official death certificate, a certified copy of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding of death, or any other proof satisfactory to us.
After receipt at our Administrative Office of proof of death of the Insured and any other necessary claims requirements, the Death Benefit Proceeds will be paid. Payment of the Death Benefit Proceeds may be delayed if your Policy is contested or if Separate Account Values cannot be determined. You may choose from the following payment methods: 1) a lump sum; 2) a settlement option; or 3) a SecureLine® interest-bearing checking account if the proceeds are $50,000 or greater. The default payment method is a lump sum in one single check.
If you elect SecureLine®, an interest-bearing account is established from the proceeds payable on a policy administered by us. The recipient is the Owner of the account, and is the only one authorized to transfer proceeds from the account. Instead of mailing the recipient a check, we will send a checkbook so that the recipient will have access to the account by writing a check. The recipient may choose to leave the proceeds in this account, or may begin writing checks right away. If the recipient decides he or she wants the entire proceeds immediately, the recipient may write one check for the entire account balance. The recipient can write as many checks as he or she wishes. We may at our discretion set minimum withdrawal amounts per check. The total of all checks written cannot exceed the account balance. The SecureLine® account is part of our General Account. It is not a bank account and it is not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency. As part of our General Account, it is subject to the claims of our creditors. We receive a benefit from all amounts left in the SecureLine® account.
Interest credited in the SecureLine® account is taxable as ordinary income in the year such interest is credited, and is not tax deferred. We recommend that the recipient consult a tax advisor to determine the tax consequences associated with the payment of interest on amounts in the SecureLine® account. The balance in the recipient's SecureLine® account starts earning interest the day the account is opened and will continue to earn interest until all funds are withdrawn. Interest is compounded daily and credited to the recipient's account on the last day of each month. The interest rate will be updated monthly. The minimum interest rate is 1% and we may increase the rate from time to time. The interest rate credited to the recipient's SecureLine® account may be more or less than the rate earned on funds held in Lincoln's General Account.
There are no monthly fees. The recipient may be charged a fee for a stop payment or if a check is returned for insufficient funds.
Every state has unclaimed property laws which generally declare property, including monies owed (such as death benefits) to be abandoned if unclaimed or uncashed after a period (typically three to five years) from the date the
38
property is intended to be delivered or date the death benefit is due and payable. For example, if the payment of a death benefit has been triggered and, if after a thorough search, we are still unable to locate the Beneficiary of the death benefit, or the Beneficiary does not come forward to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, the death benefit will be paid to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the state in which the Beneficiary or the Owner last resided, as shown on our books and records, or to our state of domicile. This "escheatment" is revocable, however, and the state is obligated to pay the death benefit (without interest) if your Beneficiary steps forward to claim it with the proper documentation. To prevent such escheatment, it is important that you contact us and update your Beneficiary designations, including addresses, if and as they change.
Death Benefit Options
Three different death benefit options are available. Regardless of which death benefit option you choose, the Death Benefit Proceeds payable will be the greater of:
1)
the amount determined by the death benefit option in effect on the date of the death of the Insured, less any Indebtedness; or
2)
a percentage of the Accumulation Value equal to that required by the Internal Revenue Code to maintain the Policy as a life insurance policy, less Indebtedness. A schedule of these percentages is in your Policy. (Please note that the investment performance of the Sub-Accounts you have chosen will impact the Accumulation Value and therefore may affect the amount of Death Benefit Proceeds payable.)
The following table provides more information about the death benefit options.
Option
Death Benefit Proceeds Equal to the
Variability
1
The greater of: the Specified Amount less Debt or a percentage of
the Accumulation Value equal to that required by the Internal
Revenue Code to maintain the Policy as a life insurance policy less
Debt. The Death Benefit Proceeds are reduced by any Partial
Surrenders after the date of death.
May increase or decrease over
time, depending on the amount
of Premium paid and the
investment performance of the
underlying Sub-Accounts or the
Fixed Account.
2
Sum of the Specified Amount plus the Net Accumulation Value as of
the date of the Insured's death.
May increase or decrease over
time, depending on the amount
of Premium paid and the
investment performance of the
underlying Sub-Accounts or the
Fixed Account.
3
Sum of the Specified Amount plus the accumulated Premiums (all
Premiums paid minus the cumulative policy factor, if that factor is
elected) up to the limit shown in the Policy Specifications, as of the
date of the Insured's death. Any Premium paid that will cause the
Death Benefit Proceeds to exceed this limit will be applied to the
Policy, but will not increase the death benefit. The cumulative policy
factor, normally used in business situations, is calculated as:
a)the applicable monthly rate then used by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS); or
b)an alternative monthly rate permitted by the IRS; times
c)the Specified Amount divided by 1000.
Will generally increase,
depending on the amount of
Premium paid.
If for any reason the Owner does not elect a particular death benefit option, Option 1 will apply until changed by the Owner.
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Changes to the Initial Specified Amount and Death Benefit Options
Within certain limits, you may decrease (reduce) or, with satisfactory evidence of insurability, increase the Specified Amount. Any increase in Specified Amount may increase the Net Amount at Risk and the Cost of Insurance Charge. (See the "Cost of Insurance Charge" section of this prospectus.) The minimum Specified Amount is currently $100,000.
A Partial Surrender may reduce the Specified Amount. If the Specified Amount is reduced as a result of a Partial Surrender, the death benefit may also be reduced. (See section headed "Policy Surrenders - Partial Surrender" for details as to the impact a Partial Surrender may have on the Specified Amount.)
The death benefit option may be changed by the Owner, subject to our consent, as long as the Policy is in force.
You must submit all requests for changes among death benefit options and changes in the Specified Amount in writing to our Administrative Office. The minimum increase in Specified Amount currently permitted is $1,000. If you request a change, a supplemental application and evidence of insurability must also be submitted to us.
Option change
Impact
1 to 2
The Specified Amount will be reduced by the Accumulation Value as of the effective date of
change.
2 to 1
The Specified Amount will be increased by the Accumulation Value as of the effective date of
change.
1 to 3
The Specified Amount will not change.
3 to 1
The Specified Amount will be increased by accumulated Premiums (less the cumulative policy
factor if that factor is elected) as of the effective date of change.
2 to 3
The Specified Amount will be increased by the Accumulation Value as of the effective date of
change.
3 to 2
•If the Accumulation Value is greater than the accumulated Premium (less cumulative policy
factor if that factor elected), the Specified Amount will be reduced by the Accumulation Value
less accumulated Premium (plus cumulative policy factor if that factor is elected) as of the
effective date of change.
•If the Accumulation Value is less than the accumulated Premium (less the cumulative policy
factor if elected), the Specified Amount will be increased by the accumulated Premium (less
the cumulative policy factor if that factor is elected), less the Accumulation Value as of the
effective date of change.
If you increase the Specified Amount, there will be additional Surrender Charges in the event you request a surrender of the Policy. A Surrender Charge may apply to a decrease in Specified Amount. Please refer to the Surrender Charges section of this prospectus for more information on conditions that would cause a Surrender Charge to be applied. A schedule of Surrender Charges is included in each Policy.
Any Reduction in Specified Amount will be made against the Initial Specified Amount and any later increase in the Specified Amount on a last in, first out basis. Any increase in the Specified Amount will increase the amount of the Surrender Charge applicable to your Policy. Changes in Specified Amount do not affect the Premium Load as a percentage of Premium.
We may decline any request for change of the death benefit option or Reduction in Specified Amount if, after the change, the Specified Amount would be less than the minimum Specified Amount or would reduce the Specified Amount below the level required to maintain the Policy as life insurance for purposes of federal income tax law according to the Guideline Premium Test.
The Guideline Premium Test provides for a maximum amount of Premium paid in relation to the death benefit and a minimum amount of death benefit in relation to policy value. As a result, we may increase the Policy's death benefit
40
above the Specified Amount in order to satisfy the Guideline Premium Test. If the increase in the Policy's death benefit causes an increase in the Net Amount at Risk, charges for the cost of insurance will increase as well.
Any change is effective on the first Monthly Anniversary Day on, or after, the date of approval of the request by Lincoln Life. If the Monthly Deduction amount would increase as a result of the change, the changes will be effective on the first Monthly Anniversary Day on which the Accumulation Value is equal to, or greater than, the Monthly Deduction amount.
POLICY SURRENDERS
You may surrender your Policy at any time by submitting a written request for surrender. If you surrender your Policy, all coverage will automatically terminate and may not be reinstated. Consult your tax advisor to understand tax consequences of any surrender you are considering.
The Surrender Value of your Policy is the amount you can receive by surrendering the Policy. The Surrender Value is the Net Accumulation Value (which is the Policy's Accumulation Value less any Indebtedness) less any applicable Surrender Charge, less any accrued loan interest not yet charged (the "Surrender Value").
If we receive a surrender or Partial Surrender request in Good Order at our Administrative Office before the close of the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on a business day), we will process the request using the accumulation unit value computed on that Valuation Date. If we receive a surrender or Partial Surrender request in our Administrative Office after market close, we will process the request using the accumulation unit value computed on the next Valuation Date. There may be circumstances under which the New York Stock Exchange may close early (prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). In such circumstances, surrenders or Partial Surrenders requested after such early market close will be processed using the accumulation unit value computed on the next Valuation Date.
Any surrender results in a withdrawal of values from the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account that have values allocated to them. Any surrender from a Sub-Account will result in the cancellation of Variable Accumulation Units. The cancellation of such units will be based on the Variable Accumulation Unit Value determined at the close of the Valuation Period during which the surrender is effective. Surrender proceeds will generally be paid within seven days of our receipt of your request.
As of January 17, 2012, we no longer offer SecureLine® for surrenders. SecureLine® is an interest bearing account established from the proceeds payable on a policy or contract administered by us. We will, however, continue to offer SecureLine® for Death Benefit Proceeds. Please see "Death Benefit Proceeds" section in this prospectus for more information about SecureLine®.
Partial Surrender
You may make a Partial Surrender, withdrawing a portion of your policy values. You must request a Partial Surrender in writing. The amount of any Partial Surrender may not exceed 90% of the Policy's Surrender Value as of the date of your request for a Partial Surrender. We may limit Partial Surrenders to the extent necessary to meet the federal tax law requirements. Each Partial Surrender must be at least $500. Partial Surrenders are subject to other limitations as described below.
Partial Surrenders may reduce the Accumulation Value and the Specified Amount. The amount of the Partial Surrender and our Administrative Fee will be withdrawn from the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account in proportion to their values. The effect of Partial Surrenders on the Death Benefit Proceeds depends on the death benefit option in effect at the time of the Partial Surrender.
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Death Benefit
Option in Effect
Impact of Partial Surrender
1
Will reduce the Accumulation Value and the Specified Amount.
2
Will reduce the Accumulation Value, but not the Specified Amount.
3
Will reduce the accumulated Premiums, and the Specified Amount to the extent that the amount
of the Partial Surrender exceeds the accumulated Premiums.
Partial Surrender proceeds will generally be paid within seven days of our receipt of your request.
We may at our discretion decline any request for a Partial Surrender.
POLICY LOANS
You may borrow against the Surrender Value of your Policy. The loan may be for any amount up to 100% of the current Surrender Value. However, we reserve the right to limit the amount of your loan so that total policy Indebtedness will not exceed 90% of an amount equal to the Accumulation Value less Surrender Charge. A loan agreement must be executed and your Policy assigned to us free of any other assignments. Outstanding Policy Loans and accrued interest reduce the Policy's death benefit and Accumulation Value.
The amount of your loan will be withdrawn from the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account in proportion to their values. The Loan Account is the account in which Indebtedness (outstanding loans and interest) accrues once it is transferred out of the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account. Amounts transferred to the Loan Account do not participate in the performance of the Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account. Loans, therefore, can affect the Policy's death benefit and Accumulation Value whether or not they are repaid. Interest on Policy Loans accrues at an effective annual rate of 5% in years 1-10 and 4% thereafter, and is payable once a year in arrears on each Policy Anniversary, or earlier upon Full Surrender or other payment of proceeds of your Policy. Policy values in the Loan Account are part of the Company's General Account.
The amount of your loan, plus any accrued but unpaid interest, is added to your outstanding Policy Loan balance. Unless paid in advance, loan interest due will be transferred proportionately from the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account. This amount will be treated as an additional Policy Loan, and added to the Loan Account Value. Lincoln Life credits interest to the Loan Account Value at a rate of 4% in all years, so the net cost of your Policy Loan is 1% in years 1-10 and 0% thereafter. Such interest credited is transferred to the Policy in accordance with your Net Premium Payment allocation instructions on file with us at the time the interest is credited.
Your outstanding loan balance may be repaid at any time during the lifetime of the Insured. The Loan Account will be reduced by the amount of any loan repayment. Any repayment, other than loan interest, will be allocated to the Sub-Accounts and Fixed Account in the same proportion in which Net Premium Payments are currently allocated, unless you instruct otherwise.
If at any time the total Indebtedness against your Policy, including interest accrued but not due, equals or exceeds the then current Accumulation Value less Surrender Charges, the Policy will terminate subject to the conditions in the Grace Period provision, unless the No-Lapse Provision is in effect. If your Policy lapses while a loan is outstanding, the borrowed amount may be taxable to you to the extent your Policy's value exceeds your basis in the Policy.
Please note that there may be adverse tax consequences in the event that your Policy lapses with an outstanding loan balance.
LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT
If at any time the Net Accumulation Value is insufficient to pay the Monthly Deduction, unless the No-Lapse Provision is in effect, all policy coverage will terminate. This is referred to as "Policy Lapse". The Net Accumulation Value may be insufficient:
42
1)
because it has been exhausted by earlier deductions;
2)
as a result of poor investment performance;
3)
due to Partial Surrenders;
4)
due to Indebtedness for Policy Loans; or
5)
because of a combination of any of these factors.
If we have not received your Premium Payment (or payment of Indebtedness on Policy Loans) necessary so that the Net Accumulation Value of your Policy is sufficient to pay the Monthly Deduction amount on a Monthly Anniversary Day, and the Premium requirements of the No-Lapse Provision have not been satisfied, we will send a Grace Notice to you, or any assignee of record. The Grace Notice will state the amount of the Premium Payment (or payment of Indebtedness on Policy Loans) that must be paid to avoid termination of your Policy.
If the amount stated in the Grace Notice is not paid to us within the Grace Period, then the Policy will terminate. The Grace Period is the later of (a) 31 days after the Grace Notice was mailed, and (b) 61 days after the Monthly Anniversary Day on which the Monthly Deduction could not be paid. If the Insured dies during the Grace Period, we will deduct any charges due to us from any death benefit that may be payable under the terms of the Policy.
No-Lapse Provision
Your Policy includes a No-Lapse Provision. This means that your Policy will not lapse as long as you have paid the required No-Lapse Premium. The No-Lapse Premium is the cumulative Premium required to maintain the No-Lapse Provision, preventing your Policy from lapse, and is shown in the Policy Specifications.
There is no difference in the calculation of policy values and death benefit between a policy that has the No-Lapse Provision, and a policy that does not. This is true whether or not the No-Lapse Provision is active and keeping the Policy from lapsing.
Availability of the No-Lapse Provision may vary in some states. Where available, there is no charge for this feature. It is only available with death benefit options 1 and 2.
There are three levels of No-Lapse Protection:
1)
a guarantee until the Insured reaches age 100 (must be selected at time of Policy application);
2)
a guarantee for the first 20 Policy Years; and
3)
a guarantee for the first 10 Policy Years.
43
Level
Lapse Protection
Provision will terminate
upon the earliest of
Age 100
If elected, a payment of the age
100 No-Lapse Premium is due
as of the Date of Issue and each
Monthly Anniversary Day to
guarantee the Policy will not
lapse before the Insured
reaches age 100. All, or a
portion of, the remaining
monthly Premiums can be paid
in advance at any time.
As long as the sum of all
Premium Payments (less any
Indebtedness and Partial
Surrenders) is at least equal to
the sum of the age 100 No-
Lapse Premiums since the Date
of Issue, the Policy will not
lapse until the Insured reaches
age 100, even if the Net
Accumulation Value is
insufficient to meet the Monthly
Deductions.
1)the age 100 Premium requirement is not met,
2)there is a change in the death benefit option,
or
3)the Insured reaches age 100.
A period of at least 61 days will be granted for
the age 100 No-Lapse Premium if on any
Monthly Anniversary Day it is determined that
the age 100 No-Lapse Premium has not been
met. At least 31 days before the end of that
period, we will notify you of the amount of
Premium necessary to maintain the age 100
No-Lapse Provision.
Once the age 100 No-Lapse Provision is
terminated, it cannot be reinstated. However,
you may still qualify for either the 20 year or 10
year No-Lapse Provision.
First 20 Policy Years
During the first 20 years the
Policy will not lapse, even if the
Net Accumulation Value is
insufficient to meet the Monthly
Deductions, as long as the sum
of:
•all Premium Payments (less
any Partial Surrenders)
accumulated at 4% interest
•minus any Indebtedness is at
least equal to the sum of the
20 year No-Lapse Premiums
due since Date of Issue
(shown in the Policy
Specifications), accumulated
at 4% interest.
1)a change in the death benefit option,
2)the Insured reaches age 100, or
3)the beginning of the 21st Policy Year.
Failure to meet the No-Lapse Premium
requirement during the first 20 years does not
terminate the No-Lapse Provision. Any Premium
shortfall can be made up while the Policy is in
force or during the Policy's Grace Period.
Continuing to pay the 20 year No-Lapse
Premium beyond the termination of the 20 year
No-Lapse Provision does not guarantee that the
Policy will not lapse. Payments must be
sufficient to cover your Monthly Deductions.
However, you may still qualify for the 10 year
No-Lapse Provision.
44
Level
Lapse Protection
Provision will terminate
upon the earliest of
First 10 Policy Years
During the first 10 years the
Policy will not lapse, even if the
Net Accumulation Value is
insufficient to meet the Monthly
Deductions, as long as the sum
of:
•all Premium Payments (less
any Partial Surrenders)
accumulated at 4% interest
•minus any Indebtedness is at
least equal to the sum of the
10 year No-Lapse Premiums
due since Date of Issue
(shown in the Policy
Specifications), accumulated
at 4% interest.
1)a change in the death benefit option,
2)the Insured reaches age 100, or
3)the beginning of the 11th Policy Year.
Failure to meet the No-Lapse Premium
requirement during the first 10 years does not
terminate the No-Lapse Provision. Any Premium
shortfall can be made up while the Policy is in
force or during the Policy's Grace Period.
Continuing to pay the 10 year No-Lapse
Premium beyond the termination of the 10 year
No-Lapse Provision does not guarantee that the
Policy will not lapse. Payments must be
sufficient to cover your Monthly Deductions.
If you fail to satisfy the requirements for the age 100, 20 year and 10 year No-Lapse Provisions, and you have paid insufficient Premium to cover your Monthly Deductions, the Policy, after Grace Notice and expiration of the Policy's Grace Period, will lapse.
Your levels of No-Lapse Premiums are shown on the Policy Specifications pages. To determine if you are meeting the cumulative Premium Payment required to retain the No-Lapse Protection, review your most recent quarterly statement or contact our Administrative Office.
If the No-Lapse Provision terminates, the Premiums you must pay to keep the Policy in force may be significantly higher than the No-Lapse Premium would have been. If you pay only the minimum Premium needed to keep the No-Lapse Provision in force, you may be foregoing the potential for increased Accumulation Value that higher Premium Payments could provide.
If you have selected the Supplemental Term Insurance Rider, as described in the Riders section of this prospectus, it will shorten the maximum time for you to keep your No-Lapse protection. If you have chosen the Age 100 No-Lapse Provision, the maximum period will now be the first 20 years or the date the Insured reaches age 100. For the 10 year and 20 year No-Lapse Provisions, the maximum period will now be the first 5 Policy Years.
Your Policy may also include the Overloan Protection Rider. If this rider is issued with your Policy, you meet the requirements as described in this rider and have elected this benefit, your Policy will not lapse solely based on Indebtedness exceeding the Accumulation Value less the Surrender Charges.
Reinstatement of a Lapsed Policy
If the No-Lapse Provision is not in effect, and your Policy has lapsed, you may reinstate your Policy within five years of the Policy Lapse date, provided:
1)
it has not been surrendered;
2)
there is an application for reinstatement in writing;
3)
satisfactory evidence of insurability of the Insured is furnished to us and we agree to accept the risk for the Insured;
4)
we receive a payment sufficient to keep your Policy in force for at least two months; and
45
5)
any accrued loan interest is paid and any remaining Indebtedness is either paid or reinstated.
The reinstated Policy will be effective as of the Monthly Anniversary Day after the date on which we approve your application for reinstatement. Surrender Charges will be based on the duration from the original Policy Date as though the Policy never lapsed. Your Accumulation Value at reinstatement will be the Net Premium Payment then made less all Monthly Deductions due. If a Policy Loan is being reinstated, the Policy's Accumulation Value at reinstatement will be the Accumulation Value on the date the Policy lapsed plus the Net Premium Payment made less all Monthly Deductions due.
TAX ISSUES
The federal income tax treatment of your Policy is complex and sometimes uncertain. The federal income tax rules may vary with your particular circumstances. This discussion does not include all the federal income tax rules that may affect you and your Policy and is not intended as tax advice. This discussion also does not address other federal tax consequences, such as estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes, or any state and local income, estate and inheritance tax consequences, associated with the Policy. You should always consult a tax advisor about the application of tax rules to your individual situation.
Taxation of Life Insurance Contracts in General
Tax Status of the Policy.Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended ("Code") establishes a statutory definition of life insurance for federal tax purposes. We believe that the Policy will meet the statutory definition of life insurance under the Guideline Premium Test, which limits Premiums paid depending upon the Insured's age, gender, and risk classification, provides for a maximum amount of Premium paid in relation to the death benefit and a minimum amount of death benefit in relation to policy value. As a result, the death benefit payable will generally be excludable from the Beneficiary's gross income, and interest and other income credited will not be taxable unless certain withdrawals are made (or are deemed to be made) from the Policy prior to the death of the Insured, as discussed below. This tax treatment will only apply, however, if (1) the investments of the Separate Account are "adequately diversified" in accordance with U.S. Treasury Department ("Treasury") regulations, and (2) we, rather than you, are considered the Owner of the assets of the Separate Account for federal income tax purposes.
The Code also recognizes a Cash Value Accumulation Test, which does not limit Premiums paid, but requires the Policy to provide a minimum death benefit in relation to the policy value, depending on the Insured's age, gender, and risk classification. We do not apply this test to the Policy.
Investments in the Separate Account Must be Diversified.For your Policy to be treated as a life insurance contract for federal income tax purposes, the investments of the Separate Account must be "adequately diversified."Treasury regulations define standards for determining whether the investments of the Separate Account are adequately diversified. If the Separate Account fails to comply with these diversification standards, you could be required to pay tax currently on the excess of the policy value over the Premium Payments. Although we do not control the investments of the Sub-Accounts, we expect that the Sub-Accounts will comply with the Treasury regulations so that the Separate Account will be considered "adequately diversified."
Restriction on Investment Options.Federal income tax law limits your right to choose particular investments for the Policy. Because the IRS has issued little guidance specifying those limits, the limits are uncertain and your right to allocate policy values among the Sub-Accounts may exceed those limits. If so, you would be treated as the Owner of the assets of the Separate Account and thus subject to current taxation on the income and gains from those assets. We do not know what limits may be set by the IRS in any guidance that it may issue and whether any such limits will apply to existing Policies. We reserve the right to modify the Policy without your consent to try to prevent the tax law from considering you as the Owner of the assets of the Separate Account.
No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment.We make no guarantee regarding the tax treatment of any life insurance policy or of any transaction involving a life insurance policy. However, the remainder of this discussion assumes
46
that your Policy will be treated as a life insurance contract for federal income tax purposes and that the tax law will not impose tax on any increase in your policy value until there is a distribution from your Policy.
Tax Treatment of Life Insurance Death Benefit Proceeds.In general, the amount of the death benefit payable from a life insurance policy because of the death of the Insured is excludable from gross income. Certain transfers of the Policy for valuable consideration, however, may result in a portion of the death benefit being taxable. If the death benefit is not received in a lump sum and is, instead, applied to one of the settlement options, payments generally will be prorated between amounts attributable to the death benefit, which will be excludable from the Beneficiary's income, and amounts attributable to interest (accruing after the Insured's death) which will be includible in the Beneficiary's income.
Tax Deferral During Accumulation Period.Under existing provisions of the Code, except as described below, any increase in your policy value is generally not taxable to you unless amounts are received (or are deemed to be received) from the Policy prior to the Insured's death. If there is a total withdrawal from the Policy, the Surrender Value will be includible in your income to the extent the amount received exceeds the "investment in the contract."(If there is any Debt at the time of a total withdrawal, such Debt will be treated as an amount received by the Owner.) The "investment in the contract" generally is the aggregate amount of Premium Payments and other consideration paid for the Policy, less the aggregate amount received previously to the extent such amounts received were excludable from gross income. Whether Partial Surrenders (or other amounts deemed to be distributed) from the Policy constitute income to you depends, in part, upon whether the Policy is considered a MEC for federal income tax purposes.
Policies That Are MECs
Characterization of a Policy as a Modified Endowment Contract ("MEC").A MEC is a life insurance policy that meets the requirements of Section 7702 and fails the "7-Pay Test" of 7702A of the Code. Your Policy will be classified as a MEC if Premiums are paid more rapidly than allowed by the "7-Pay Test," a test that compares actual paid Premium in the first seven years or the seven years following a material change against a pre-determined Premium amount as defined in 7702A of the Code. Your Policy may also be classified as a MEC if it is received in exchange for another policy that is a MEC. In addition, even if your Policy initially is not a MEC, it may in certain circumstances become a MEC. The circumstances under which your Policy may become a MEC include a material change to your Policy (within the meaning of tax law), a Policy Lapse and reinstatement more than 90 days following the lapse, or a withdrawal or a reduction in the death benefit during the first seven Policy Years or in the first seven years following a material change.
Tax Treatment of Withdrawals, Loans, Assignments and Pledges under MECs.If your Policy is a MEC, withdrawals and loans from your Policy will be treated first as income and then as a recovery of Premium Payments. Thus, withdrawals will be includible in income to the extent the policy value exceeds the investment in your Policy. The Code treats any amount received as a loan under a policy, and any assignment or pledge (or agreement to assign or pledge) of any portion of your policy value, and any monthly charge for additional benefits that are not qualified additional benefits, as a withdrawal of such amount or portion. The investment in your Policy is increased by the amount includible in income with respect to such assignment, pledge, or loan.
Additional Taxes Payable on Withdrawals.A 10% additional tax may be imposed on any withdrawal (or any deemed distribution) from your MEC which you must include in your gross income. The 10% additional tax does not apply if one of several exceptions exists. These exceptions include withdrawals or surrenders that: you receive on or after you reach age 59 1/2, you receive because you became disabled (as defined in the tax law), or you receive as a series of substantially equal periodic payments for your life (or life expectancy). None of the additional tax exceptions apply to a taxpayer who is not an individual.
Special Rules if You Own More than One MEC.In certain circumstances, you must combine some or all of the life insurance contracts which are MECs that you own in order to determine the amount of withdrawal (including a deemed withdrawal) that you must include in income. For example, if you purchase two or more MECs from the same life insurance company (or its affiliates) during any calendar year, the Code treats all such policies as one
47
contract. Treating two or more policies as one contract could affect the amount of a withdrawal (or a deemed withdrawal) that you must include in income and the amount that might be subject to the 10% additional tax described above.
Policies That Are Not MECs
Tax Treatment of Withdrawals.If your Policy is not a MEC, the amount of any withdrawal from the Policy will generally be treated first as a non-taxable recovery of Premium Payments and then as income from the Policy. Thus, a withdrawal from your Policy that is not a MEC will not be includible in income except to the extent it exceeds the investment in the Policy immediately before the withdrawal.
Certain Distributions Required by the Tax Law in the First 15 Policy Years.Section 7702 places limitations on the amount of Premium Payments that may be made and the policy values that can accumulate relative to the death benefit. Where cash distributions are required under Section 7702 in connection with a reduction in benefits during the first 15 years after the Policy is issued (or if withdrawals are made in anticipation of a reduction in benefits, within the meaning of the tax law, during this period), some or all of such amounts may be includible in income. A reduction in benefits may occur when the Specified Amount is decreased, withdrawals are made, and in certain other instances.
Tax Treatment of Loans.If your Policy is not a MEC, a loan you receive under the Policy is generally treated as your Indebtedness. As a result, no part of any loan constitutes income to you so long as the Policy remains in force. Nevertheless, in those situations where the interest rate credited to the Loan Account equals the interest rate charged to you for the loan, it is possible that some or all of the loan proceeds may be includible in your income. If your Policy lapses (or if all policy value is withdrawn or exchanged to a new policy in a tax-free policy exchange) when a loan is outstanding, the amount of the loan outstanding will be treated as withdrawal proceeds for purposes of determining whether any amounts are includible in your income. Before purchasing a Policy that includes the Overloan Protection Rider, you should note that if you elect to exercise the Overloan Protection Rider at any time during your Policy's life, such exercise could be deemed to result in a taxable distribution of the outstanding loan balance. You should consult a tax advisor prior to exercising the Overloan Protection Rider to determine the tax consequences of such exercise.
Other Considerations
Insured Lives Past Age 100.If the Insured survives beyond the end of the mortality table, which is used to measure charges for the Policy and which ends at age 100, and an option 1 death benefit is in effect, in some circumstances the policy value may equal or exceed the Specified Amount level death benefit. Thus, the policy value may equal the Death Benefit Proceeds. In such a case, we believe your Policy will continue to qualify as life insurance for federal tax purposes. However, there is some uncertainty regarding this treatment, and it is possible that you would be viewed as constructively receiving the Accumulation Value in the year the Insured attains age 100.
Compliance with the Tax Law.We believe that the maximum amount of Premium Payments we have determined for the Policies will comply with the federal tax definition of life insurance. We will monitor the amount of Premium Payments, and, if the Premium Payments during a Policy Year exceed those permitted by the tax law, we will refund the excess Premiums within 60 days of the end of the Policy Year and will pay interest and other earnings (which will be includible in income subject to tax) as required by law on the amount refunded. We may accept alternate instructions from you to prevent your Policy from becoming a MEC. We also reserve the right to increase the death benefit (which may result in larger charges under a policy) or to take any other action deemed necessary to maintain compliance of the Policy with the federal tax definition of life insurance.
Disallowance of Interest Deductions.Interest on Policy Loan Indebtedness is not deductible.
If an entity (such as a corporation or a trust, not an individual) purchases a policy or is the Beneficiary of a policy issued after June 8, 1997, a portion of the interest on Indebtedness unrelated to the Policy may not be deductible by the entity. However, this rule does not apply to a policy owned by an entity engaged in a trade or business which
48
covers the life of one individual who is either (i) a 20% Owner of the entity, or (ii) an officer, director, or employee of the trade or business, at the time first covered by the Policy. This rule also does not apply to a policy owned by an entity engaged in a trade or business which covers the joint lives of the 20% Owner of the entity and the Owner's spouse at the time first covered by the Policy.
Employer-Owned Contracts. In the case of an "employer-owned life insurance contract" as defined in the tax law that is issued (or deemed to be issued) after August 17, 2006, the portion of the death benefit excludable from gross income generally will be limited to the premiums paid for the contract. However, this limitation on the death benefit exclusion will not apply if certain notice and consent requirements are satisfied and one of several exceptions is satisfied. These exceptions include circumstances in which the death benefit is payable to certain heirs of the Insured to acquire an ownership interest in a business, or where the contract covers the life of a director or an Insured who is "highly compensated" within the meaning of the tax law. These rules, including the definition of an employer-owned life insurance contract, are complex, and you should consult with your advisors for guidance as to their application.
Federal Income Tax Withholding.We will withhold and remit to the IRS a part of the taxable portion of each distribution made under your Policy unless you notify us in writing at or before the time of the distribution that tax is not to be withheld. Regardless of whether you request that no taxes be withheld or whether the Company withholds a sufficient amount of taxes, you will be responsible for the payment of any taxes and early distribution penalties that may be due on the amounts received. You may also be required to pay penalties under the estimated tax rules, if your withholding and estimated tax payments are insufficient to satisfy your total tax liability.
Unearned Income Medicare Contribution. Congress enacted the "Unearned Income Medicare Contribution" as a part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This new tax, which affects individuals whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds, is a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (i) the individual's "unearned income," or (ii) the dollar amount by which the individual's modified adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold. Unearned income includes the taxable portion of any annuitized distributions that you take from your Policy, but does not apply to any lump sum distribution, Full Surrender, or other non-annuitized distribution. The tax is effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012. Please consult your tax advisor to determine whether any distributions you take from your Policy are subject to this tax.
Changes in the Policy or Changes in the Law.Changing the Owner, exchanging your Policy, and other changes under your Policy may have tax consequences (in addition to those discussed herein) depending on the circumstances of such change. The above discussion is based on the Code, IRS regulations, and interpretations existing on the date of this prospectus. However, Congress, the IRS, and the courts may modify these authorities, sometimes retroactively.
Reportable Policy Sales. Section 6050Y, added to the Code on December 22, 2017, imposes information reporting requirements on the acquirer and issuer in the case of the acquisition, or notice of the acquisition, of an existing life insurance contract in a reportable policy sale. In addition, there is a new reporting requirement on each person who makes a payment of reportable death benefits. A reportable policy sale means the acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract, directly or indirectly, where the acquirer has no substantial family, business, or financial relationship with the Insured apart from the acquirer's interest in such life insurance contract. A reportable death benefit means the amount paid by reason of the death of the Insured under a life insurance contract that has been transferred in a reportable policy sale.
The IRS and Treasury issued Final Regulations under section 6050Y in 2019. Under the Regulations, compliance with 6050Y is required for any reportable policy sale that occurred after December 31, 2018, and any reportable death benefits paid after December 31, 2018.
Fair Market Value of Your Policy
It is sometimes necessary for tax and other reasons to determine the "value" of your Policy. The value can be measured differently for different purposes. It is not necessarily the same as the Accumulation Value or the Net
49
Accumulation Value. You, as the Owner, should consult with your advisors for guidance as to the appropriate methodology for determining the fair market value of your Policy.
Tax Status of Lincoln Life
Under existing federal income tax laws, the Company does not pay tax on investment income and realized capital gains of the Separate Account. However, the Company does expect, to the extent permitted under Federal tax law, to claim the benefit of the foreign tax credit as the Owner of the assets of the Separate Account. Lincoln Life does not expect that it will incur any federal income tax liability on the income and gains earned by the Separate Account. We, therefore, do not impose a charge for federal income taxes. If federal income tax law changes and we must pay tax on some or all of the income and gains earned by the Separate Account, we may impose a charge against the Separate Account to pay the taxes.
RESTRICTIONS ON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
In accordance with money laundering laws and federal economic sanction policy, the Company may be required in a given instance to reject a Premium Payment and/or freeze an Owner's account. This means we could refuse to honor requests for transfers, withdrawals, surrenders, loans, assignments, Beneficiary changes or death benefit payments. Once frozen, monies would be moved from the Separate Account to a segregated interest-bearing account maintained for the Owner, and held in that account until instructions are received from the appropriate regulator. We also may be required to provide additional information about an Owner's account to government regulators.
Also, we may postpone payment whenever: (a) the New York Stock Exchange is closed, (b) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted by the SEC, (c) the SEC determines if an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of securities held in the Variable Account is not reasonably practicable or is not reasonably practicable to determine the value of the Variable Account's net assets (d) if, pursuant to SEC rules, an underlying money market fund suspends payment of redemption proceeds in connection with a liquidation of the fund, we may delay payment of any transfer, Partial Surrender, Full Surrender, or death benefit from a money market Sub-Account until the fund is liquidated, or (e) during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits for the protection of the Owner.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the ordinary course of its business and otherwise, the Company and its subsidiaries or its separate accounts and Principal Underwriter may become or are involved in various pending or threatened regulatory or legal proceedings, including purported class actions, arising from the conduct of its business. In some instances, the proceedings include claims for unspecified or substantial punitive damages and similar types of relief in addition to amounts for alleged contractual liability or requests for equitable relief.
After consultation with legal counsel and a review of available facts, it is management's opinion that the proceedings, after consideration of any reserves and rights to indemnification, ultimately will be resolved without any material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, or the financial position of its separate accounts or Principal Underwriter. However, given the large and indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these proceedings and the inherent difficulty in predicting the outcome of such proceedings, it is reasonably possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could be material to the Company's operating results for any particular reporting period.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for possible additional information regarding legal proceedings.
50
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The December 31, 2023 financial statements of the Separate Account and the December 31, 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company are located in the SAI.
51
APPENDIX A: FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE POLICY
The following is a list of Underlying Funds currently available under the Policy. More information about the Underlying Funds is available in the prospectuses for the funds, which may be amended from time to time and can be found online at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus. You can also request this information at no cost by calling 1-800-487-1485 or by sending an email request to [email protected].
The current expenses and performance information below reflects fees and expenses of the funds, but does not reflect the other fees and expenses that your Policy may charge. Expenses would be higher and performance would be lower if these charges were included. Each fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of future performance.
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Long-term growth of capital.
AB VPS Discovery Value
Portfolio - Class A
advised
by AllianceBernstein L.P.
0.81%
17.18%
10.78%
7.55%
Long-term growth of capital.
AB VPS International Value
Portfolio - Class A
advised
by AllianceBernstein L.P.
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2012. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.90%
15.15%
5.81%
2.09%
Long-term growth of capital.
AB VPS Large Cap Growth
Portfolio - Class A
advised
by AllianceBernstein L.P.
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2005. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.66%2
35.13%
17.86%
14.89%
Long-term growth of capital.
AB VPS Relative Value
Portfolio - Class A
advised
by AllianceBernstein L.P.
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2011. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.61%2
12.03%
11.85%
9.32%
A-1
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Long-term growth of capital.
AB VPS Sustainable Global
Thematic Portfolio - Class
A
advised
by AllianceBernstein L.P.
0.92%2
16.01%
13.56%
9.60%
Long-term growth of capital.
American Funds Global
Growth Fund - Class 2
0.66%2
22.60%
13.65%
9.58%
Long-term capital growth.
American Funds Global
Small Capitalization Fund -
Class 2
0.91%2
16.17%
8.31%
5.78%
Growth of capital.
American Funds Growth
Fund - Class 2
0.59%
38.49%
18.68%
14.36%
Long-term growth of capital and
income.
American Funds Growth-
Income Fund - Class 2
0.53%
26.14%
13.36%
10.91%
Long-term growth of capital.
American Funds
International Fund - Class
2
0.78%
15.84%
4.83%
3.41%
Long-term growth of capital.
ClearBridge Variable Mid
Cap Portfolio - Class I
advised by Legg Mason
Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
0.83%
12.92%
10.73%
7.10%
Capital Appreciation. A fund of
funds.
DWS Alternative Asset
Allocation VIP Portfolio -
Class A
advised by DWS
Investment Management
Americas, Inc.
0.83%
6.19%
6.09%
2.96%
To replicate, as closely as possible,
before the deduction of expenses,
the performance of the Standard &
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price
Index (the "S&P 500( (Reg. TM))
Index"), which emphasizes stocks
of large US companies.
DWS Equity 500 Index VIP
Portfolio - Class A
advised by DWS
Investment Management
Americas, Inc.
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2007. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.25%2
26.00%
15.40%
11.74%
A-2
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
To replicate, as closely as possible,
before the deduction of expenses,
the performance of the Russell
2000((Reg. TM)) Index, which
emphasizes stocks of small US
companies.
DWS Small Cap Index VIP
Portfolio - Class A
advised by DWS
Investment Management
Americas, Inc.
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2007. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.38%2
16.76%
9.67%
6.89%
Long-term capital appreciation.
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund®
Portfolio - Service Class
0.66%
33.34%
16.54%
11.50%
Reasonable income with
consideration of the potential for
capital appreciation.
Fidelity® VIP Equity-
Income Portfolio - Service
Class
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2005. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.57%
10.53%
12.18%
8.47%
To achieve capital appreciation.
Fidelity® VIP Growth
Portfolio - Service Class
0.68%
36.09%
19.52%
14.68%
Long-term growth of capital.
Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap
Portfolio - Service Class
0.67%
15.00%
12.34%
8.02%
Long-term growth of capital.
Fidelity® VIP Overseas
Portfolio - Service Class
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2011. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.83%
20.41%
9.87%
4.80%
To maximize income while
maintaining prospects for capital
appreciation.
Franklin Income VIP Fund -
Class 1
0.46%2
8.87%
7.25%
5.28%
Capital appreciation; income is a
secondary consideration.
Franklin Mutual Shares VIP
Fund - Class 1
0.68%
13.73%
8.10%
5.70%
Long-term capital growth.
Franklin Small-Mid Cap
Growth VIP Fund - Class 1
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2011. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.83%2
27.12%
13.82%
9.24%
A-3
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Long-term growth of capital.
Invesco V.I. EQV
International Equity Fund -
Series I Shares
0.90%
18.15%
8.42%
4.33%
Long-term capital growth,
consistent with preservation of
capital and balanced by current
income.
Janus Henderson Balanced
Portfolio - Service Shares
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2005. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.87%
15.13%
9.37%
7.73%
Long-term growth of capital.
Janus Henderson
Enterprise Portfolio -
Service Shares
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2005. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.97%
17.78%
13.14%
11.82%
Long-term capital growth.
LVIP AllianceBernstein
Large Cap Growth Fund -
Standard Class
(formerly LVIP T. Rowe
Price Growth Stock Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.63%2
46.32%
13.32%
11.67%
Long-term capital growth and
current income by investing
approximately 60% of its assets in
equity securities and the remainder
in bonds and other fixed-income
securities.
LVIP American Century
Balanced Fund - Standard
Class II
(formerly American
Century VP Balanced Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.77%2
16.41%
8.50%
6.55%
Long-term total return using a
strategy that seeks to protect
against U.S. inflation.
LVIP American Century
Inflation Protection Fund -
Standard Class II
(formerly American
Century VP Inflation
Protection Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.52%2
3.60%
2.90%
2.16%
A-4
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP Baron Growth
Opportunities Fund -
Service Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
1.15%2
17.81%
13.66%
9.35%
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP Baron Growth
Opportunities Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.90%2
18.10%
13.95%
9.62%
Reasonable income.
LVIP BlackRock Dividend
Value Managed Volatility
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.66%2
9.39%
9.55%
6.43%
High total investment return.
LVIP BlackRock Global
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.73%2
13.62%
N/A
N/A
A balance between current income
and growth of capital, with a greater
emphasis on growth of capital. A
fund of funds.
LVIP BlackRock Global
Growth ETF Allocation
Managed Risk Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.42%2
11.68%
4.81%
N/A
To maximize real return, consistent
with preservation of real capital and
prudent investment management.
LVIP BlackRock Inflation
Protected Bond Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.63%
5.07%
3.16%
2.19%
Total return through a combination
of current income and long-term
capital appreciation.
LVIP BlackRock Real Estate
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.82%2
13.06%
4.76%
3.85%
A-5
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
A balance between current income
and growth of capital, with a greater
emphasis on growth of capital. A
fund of funds.
LVIP BlackRock U.S.
Growth ETF Allocation
Managed Risk Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.39%2
12.35%
5.73%
N/A
Long-term growth of capital in a
manner consistent with the
preservation of capital.
LVIP Blended Large Cap
Growth Managed Volatility
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.67%2
34.15%
13.82%
9.28%
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP Blended Mid Cap
Managed Volatility Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.73%2
17.75%
10.22%
6.41%
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP ClearBridge Franklin
Select Large Cap Managed
Volatility Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.66%2
22.54%
11.10%
N/A
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Dimensional
International Core Equity
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.62%2
16.01%
7.99%
N/A
Long-term capital appreciation. A
fund of funds.
LVIP Dimensional
International Equity
Managed Volatility Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.76%
16.69%
5.51%
2.29%
A-6
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Dimensional U.S.
Core Equity 1 Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.40%2
22.78%
14.99%
11.07%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Dimensional U.S.
Core Equity 2 Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.49%
21.65%
14.73%
N/A
Long-term capital appreciation. A
fund of funds.
LVIP Dimensional U.S.
Equity Managed Volatility
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.61%2
21.95%
12.87%
8.02%
Long-term capital growth.
LVIP Franklin Templeton
Global Equity Managed
Volatility Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.73%2
17.24%
8.98%
4.58%
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Franklin Templeton
Multi-Factor Emerging
Markets Equity Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.50%2
10.04%
3.12%
1.60%
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Franklin Templeton
Multi-Factor International
Equity Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.41%2
18.92%
6.73%
4.40%
A-7
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Franklin Templeton
Multi-Factor Large Cap
Equity Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.36%2
17.39%
12.81%
10.06%
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Franklin Templeton
Multi-Factor SMID Cap
Equity Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.39%2
15.54%
11.42%
7.16%
A high level of current income with
some consideration given to growth
of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Global Conservative
Allocation Managed Risk
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.77%2
9.72%
4.23%
3.52%
A balance between a high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Global Growth
Allocation Managed Risk
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.76%2
13.33%
4.97%
3.72%
A balance between a high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with an emphasis on growth
of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Global Moderate
Allocation Managed Risk
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.75%2
11.84%
4.56%
3.56%
Current income while (i)maintaining
a stable value of your shares
(providing stability of net asset
value) and (ii) preserving the value
of your initial investment
(preservation of capital).
LVIP Government Money
Market Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.39%2
4.75%
1.61%
0.99%
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP Invesco Select Equity
Income Managed Volatility
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.58%2
12.18%
10.09%
N/A
A-8
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
A high level of current income;
capital appreciation is the
secondary objective.
LVIP JPMorgan High Yield
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.68%2
11.76%
4.95%
3.98%
Current income and some capital
appreciation. A fund of funds.
LVIP JPMorgan Retirement
Income Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.68%2
11.60%
5.02%
3.94%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP JPMorgan Select Mid
Cap Value Managed
Volatility Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.78%2
12.08%
9.25%
5.62%
Maximum current income (yield)
consistent with a prudent
investment strategy.
LVIP Macquarie Bond Fund
- Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Bond Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.37%
5.93%
1.50%
1.99%
Total return.
LVIP Macquarie Diversified
Floating Rate Fund -
Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Diversified Floating Rate
Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.63%2
5.57%
2.38%
1.68%
Maximum long-term total return
consistent with reasonable risk.
LVIP Macquarie Diversified
Income Fund - Standard
Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Diversified Income Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.54%2
6.24%
2.07%
2.09%
A-9
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Total return and, as a secondary
objective, high current income.
LVIP Macquarie High Yield
Fund - Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
High Yield Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.74%2
12.67%
5.51%
3.53%
Maximum total return, consistent
with reasonable risk.
LVIP Macquarie Limited-
Term Diversified Income
Fund - Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Limited-Term Diversified
Income Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.53%2
5.00%
1.88%
1.63%
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie Mid Cap
Value Fund - Standard
Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Mid Cap Value Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.43%
11.24%
11.88%
8.62%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie SMID Cap
Core Fund - Standard
Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
SMID Cap Core Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.80%2
16.45%
12.25%
8.36%
To maximize long-term capital
appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie Social
Awareness Fund -
Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Social Awareness Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.45%
30.17%
15.86%
11.32%
A-10
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie U.S.
Growth Fund - Standard
Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
U.S. Growth Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.72%
48.35%
18.38%
12.54%
Maximum long-term total return,
with capital appreciation as a
secondary objective.
LVIP Macquarie U.S. REIT
Fund - Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
U.S. REIT Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.83%2
12.58%
6.45%
6.23%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie Value Fund
- Standard Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Value Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.68%
3.49%
8.10%
7.84%
To provide a responsible level of
income and the potential for capital
appreciation.
LVIP Macquarie Wealth
Builder Fund - Standard
Class3
(formerly LVIP Delaware
Wealth Builder Fund)
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 18, 2009. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.71%2
9.91%
5.95%
4.45%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP MFS International
Growth Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.80%2
14.71%
9.83%
6.58%
Capital Appreciation.
LVIP MFS Value Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.62%2
8.07%
11.38%
8.57%
A-11
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Current income consistent with the
preservation of capital.
LVIP Mondrian Global
Income Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.65%2
4.02%
-0.92%
0.26%
Long-term capital appreciation as
measured by the change in the
value of fund shares over a period
of three years or longer.
LVIP Mondrian
International Value Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.75%2
20.11%
6.03%
3.45%
Long-term growth of capital. A fund
of funds.
LVIP Multi-Manager Global
Equity Managed Volatility
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.79%2
26.01%
10.64%
N/A
To match as closely as practicable,
before fees and expenses, the
performance of the Bloomberg U.S.
Aggregate Index.
LVIP SSGA Bond Index
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.37%2
5.30%
0.78%
1.49%
A high level of current income, with
some consideration given to growth
of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP SSGA Conservative
Index Allocation Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.51%2
10.73%
5.28%
4.09%
Long-term growth of capital. A fund
of funds.
LVIP SSGA Global Tactical
Allocation Managed
Volatility Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.59%2
13.51%
6.28%
3.91%
To approximate as closely as
practicable, before fees and
expenses, the performance of a
broad market index of non-U.S.
foreign securities.
LVIP SSGA International
Index Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.39%2
17.57%
7.96%
4.02%
A-12
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Capital Appreciation. A fund of
funds.
LVIP SSGA International
Managed Volatility Fund -
Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.63%2
17.44%
4.94%
N/A
A balance between a high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP SSGA Moderate Index
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.51%
13.57%
7.38%
5.33%
A balance between high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP SSGA Moderately
Aggressive Index
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.51%
14.82%
8.04%
5.72%
To approximate as closely as
practicable, before fees and
expenses, the total rate of return of
common stocks publicly traded in
the United States, as represented by
the S&P 500 Index.
LVIP SSGA S&P 500 Index
Fund - Standard Class4
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.23%
26.01%
15.41%
11.77%
To approximate as closely as
practicable, before fees and
expenses, the performance of the
Russell 2000® Index, which
emphasizes stocks of small U.S.
companies.
LVIP SSGA Small-Cap
Index Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.38%2
16.50%
9.52%
6.74%
A high level of current income, with
some consideration given to growth
of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Structured
Conservative Allocation
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.60%
10.27%
5.06%
3.97%
A balance between a high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with an emphasis on growth
of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Structured Moderate
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.57%
13.09%
7.12%
5.22%
A-13
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
A balance between high level of
current income and growth of
capital, with a greater emphasis on
growth of capital. A fund of funds.
LVIP Structured
Moderately Aggressive
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.59%
14.27%
7.69%
5.54%
The highest total return over time
consistent with an emphasis on
both capital growth and income. A
fund of funds.
LVIP T. Rowe Price 2020
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 18, 2009. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.66%2
13.54%
7.41%
4.90%
The highest total return over time
consistent with an emphasis on
both capital growth and income. A
fund of funds.
LVIP T. Rowe Price 2030
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 18, 2009. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.68%2
16.14%
9.08%
5.46%
The highest total return over time
consistent with an emphasis on
both capital growth and income. A
fund of funds.
LVIP T. Rowe Price 2040
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 18, 2009. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.70%2
19.19%
10.72%
6.11%
To maximize capital appreciation.
LVIP T. Rowe Price
Structured Mid-Cap
Growth Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.72%2
21.17%
13.50%
10.81%
A-14
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
High level of current income and
growth of capital, with an emphasis
on growth of capital. A fund of
funds.
LVIP U.S. Growth
Allocation Managed Risk
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.79%2
15.02%
6.15%
N/A
Total return consistent with the
preservation of capital. A fund of
funds.
LVIP Vanguard Bond
Allocation Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.37%
6.00%
0.59%
1.27%
Long-term capital appreciation. A
fund of funds.
LVIP Vanguard Domestic
Equity ETF Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.32%2
25.22%
14.84%
11.09%
Long-term capital appreciation. A
fund of funds.
LVIP Vanguard
International Equity ETF
Fund - Standard Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.34%2
15.36%
7.11%
4.00%
Capital growth.
LVIP Wellington Capital
Growth Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.70%2
38.70%
16.98%
13.91%
Long-term capital appreciation.
LVIP Wellington SMID Cap
Value Fund - Standard
Class
advised by Lincoln
Financial Investments
Corporation
0.79%2
17.24%
12.45%
7.71%
Long-term capital appreciation.
Macquarie VIP Emerging
Markets Series - Standard
Class3
(formerly Delaware VIP®
Emerging Markets Series)
advised by Delaware
Management Company
1.18%2
13.79%
4.20%
2.67%
A-15
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Capital Appreciation.
Macquarie VIP Small Cap
Value Series - Standard
Class3
(formerly Delaware VIP®
Small Cap Value Series)
advised by Delaware
Management Company
0.78%
9.45%
10.21%
7.06%
Capital Appreciation.
MFS® VIT Growth Series -
Initial Class
advised by Massachusetts
Financial Services
Company
0.73%2
35.86%
15.89%
12.97%
Capital Appreciation.
MFS® VIT II Core Equity
Portfolio - Initial Class
advised by Massachusetts
Financial Services
Company
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 16, 2005. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.81%2
23.14%
15.08%
11.61%
Total return.
MFS® VIT Total Return
Series - Initial Class
advised by Massachusetts
Financial Services
Company
0.61%2
10.44%
8.54%
6.53%
Total return.
MFS® VIT Utilities Series -
Initial Class
advised by Massachusetts
Financial Services
Company
0.79%2
-2.11%
8.31%
6.39%
Growth of capital.
Neuberger Berman AMT
Mid Cap Growth Portfolio -
I Class
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2007. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.93%
18.15%
12.07%
8.96%
A-16
Investment Objective
Fund and
Adviser/Sub-adviser1
Current Expenses
Average Annual Total
Returns (as of 12/31/2023)
1 year
5 year
10 year
Growth of capital.
Neuberger Berman AMT
Mid Cap Intrinsic Value
Portfolio - I Class
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2007. Consult
your registered
representative.
1.02%
11.00%
8.63%
6.13%
Maximum real return, consistent
with prudent investment
management.
PIMCO VIT
CommodityRealReturn®
Strategy Portfolio -
Administrative Class
advised by Pacific
Investment Management
Company, LLC
1.48%2
-7.85%
8.55%
-0.80%
High current income consistent
with preservation of capital; capital
appreciation is a secondary
objective.
Templeton Global Bond VIP
Fund - Class 1
0.50%2
3.19%
-1.89%
-0.41%
Long-term capital growth.
Templeton Growth VIP
Fund - Class 1
This fund is available only
to existing Owners as of
May 21, 2007. Consult
your registered
representative.
0.87%2
21.23%
6.72%
3.50%
Income and capital appreciation. A
fund of funds.
TOPS® Balanced ETF
Portfolio - Class 2 Shares
advised by Valmark
Advisers, Inc.
0.55%
11.39%
6.39%
4.51%
Capital Appreciation. A fund of
funds.
TOPS® Moderate Growth
ETF Portfolio - Class 2
Shares
advised by Valmark
Advisers, Inc.
0.54%
13.47%
7.96%
5.58%
1
The name of the adviser or sub-adviser is not listed if the name is incorporated into the name of the Underlying Fund or the fund company.
2
This fund is subject to an expense reimbursement or a fee waiver arrangement. As a result, this fund's annual expenses reflect temporary expense reductions. See the fund prospectus for additional information.
3
Investments in Macquarie VIP Series, Delaware Funds, Ivy Funds, LVIP Macquarie Funds or Lincoln Life accounts managed by Macquarie Investment Management Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investments Management Business Trust, are not and will not be deposits with or liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46008 583 542 and its holding companies, including their subsidiaries or related companies, and are subject to
A-17
investment risk, including possible delays in prepayment and loss of income and capital invested. No Macquarie Group company guarantees or will guarantee the performance of the series or funds or accounts, the repayment of capital from the series or funds or account, or any particular rate of return.
4
The Index to which this fund is managed to is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI) and has been licensed for use by one or more of the portfolio's service providers (licensee). Standard & Poor's®, S&P®, S&P GSCI® and S&P 500® are registered trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (S&P) and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones). The trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by the licensee. The licensee's products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, or their third party licensors, and none of these parties or their respective affiliates or third party licensors make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products, nor do they have liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the Index.
A-18
Additional Information.
More information about the Policy and the Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M (the separate account) is in the current Statement of Additional Information (SAI) for the Lincoln VULCV-IV Flexible Premium Variable Insurance Contract, dated May 1, 2024, as amended or supplemented from time to time. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and is legally part of this prospectus. For a free copy of the SAI, or to request other information about the Policy, or to make inquiries about the Policy, call toll-free 1-800-487-1485, or write: The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, PO Box 2348, Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2348. You can also find the SAI and other information about the contract online at www.lfg.com/VULprospectus or by sending an email request to [email protected].
Reports and other information about the separate account are also available on the SEC's internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: [email protected].
SEC File Nos. 333-118478; 811-08557
EDGAR Contract Identifier C000004407
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
Dated May 1, 2024
Relating to Prospectus Dated May 1, 2024 for
Lincoln VULCV-IV product
Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M, Registrant
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Depositor
The SAI is not a prospectus. The SAI provides you with additional information about Lincoln Life, the Separate Account and your Policy. It should be read in conjunction with the product prospectus.
A copy of the product prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to our Administrative Office:
Customer Service Center
100 N. Greene Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
or by telephoning (800) 487-1485, and requesting a copy of the Lincoln VULCV-IV product prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE SAI
Contents
Page
GENERAL INFORMATION
2
Lincoln Life
2
Capital Markets
2
Registration Statement
3
Changes of Investment Policy
3
Principal Underwriter
3
Disaster Plan
3
Advertising & Ratings
3
SERVICES
5
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
5
Accounting Services
5
Checkbook Service for Disbursements
5
POLICY INFORMATION
5
Corporate and Group Purchasers and Case
Exceptions
5
Assignment
5
Contents
Page
Change of Ownership
6
Beneficiary
6
Right to Convert Contract
6
Exchange of Policy
6
Settlement Options
6
Deferment of Payments
7
Incontestability
7
Misstatement of Age or Gender
7
Suicide
7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
CHARGES
8
Surrender Charges
8
PERFORMANCE DATA
8
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9
Separate Account
M-1
Company
S-1
1
GENERAL INFORMATION
Lincoln Life
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company ("Lincoln Life", the "Company", "we", "us", "our") (EIN 35-0472300), organized in 1905, is an Indiana-domiciled insurance company, engaged primarily in the direct issuance of life insurance policies and annuities. Lincoln Life is wholly owned by Lincoln National Corporation (LNC), a publicly held insurance and financial services holding company incorporated in Indiana. Lincoln Life is obligated to pay all amounts promised to Owners under the policies. Death Benefit Proceeds and rider benefits, to the extent those proceeds and benefits exceed the then current Accumulation Value of your Policy, are backed by the claims-paying ability of Lincoln Life.
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. Through its affiliates, Lincoln Financial Group offers annuities, life, group life and disability insurance, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.
Lincoln Life is subject to the laws of Indiana governing insurance companies and to regulation by the Indiana Department of Insurance ("Insurance Department"). An annual statement in a prescribed form is filed with the Insurance Department each year covering the operation of the Company for the preceding year along with the Company's financial condition as of the end of that year. Regulation by the Insurance Department includes periodic examination to determine our contract liabilities and reserves. Our books and accounts are subject to review by the Insurance Department at all times and a full examination of our operations is conducted periodically by the Insurance Department. Among the laws and regulations applicable to us as an insurance company are those which regulate the investments we can make with assets held in our General Account. In general, those laws and regulations determine the amount and type of investments which we can make with General Account assets. Such regulation does not, however, involve any supervision of management practices or policies, or our investment practices or policies.
Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M
On December 2, 1997, the Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M ("Separate Account") was established as an insurance company separate account under Indiana law. It is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). The Separate Account is a segregated investment account, meaning that its assets may not be charged with liabilities resulting from any other business that we may conduct. Income, gains and losses, whether realized or not, from assets allocated to the Separate Account are, in accordance with the applicable variable life policies, credited to or charged against the Separate Account. They are credited or charged without regard to any other income, gains or losses of Lincoln Life. We are the issuer of the policies and the obligations set forth in the Policy, other than those of the Owner, are ours. The Separate Account satisfies the definition of a separate account under the federal securities laws. We do not guarantee the investment performance of the Separate Account. Any investment gain or loss depends on the investment performance of the funds. You assume the full investment risk for all amounts allocated to the Separate Account.
Capital Markets
In any particular year, our capital may increase or decrease depending on a variety of factors - the amount of our statutory income or losses (which is sensitive to equity market and credit market conditions), the amount of additional capital we must hold to support business growth, changes in reserving requirements, our inability to secure capital market solutions to provide reserve relief, such as issuing letters of credit to support captive reinsurance structures, changes in equity market levels, the value of certain fixed-income and equity securities in our investment portfolio and changes in interest rates.
2
Registration Statement
A Registration Statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the policies offered. The Registration Statement, its amendments and exhibits, contain information beyond that found in the prospectus and the SAI. Statements contained in the prospectus and the SAI as to the content of policies and other legal instruments are summaries.
Changes of Investment Policy
We may change the investment policy of the Separate Account at any time. If required by the Insurance Commissioner, we will file any such change for approval with the Department of Insurance in our state of domicile, and in any other state or jurisdiction where this Policy is issued.
If an Owner objects, his or her Policy may be converted to a substantially comparable fixed benefit life insurance policy offered by us on the life of the Insured. The Owner has the later of 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from the date of the investment policy change or 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from being informed of such change to make this conversion. We will not require evidence of insurability for this conversion. The new Policy will not be affected by the investment experience of any separate account. The new Policy will be for an amount of insurance equal to or lower than the amount of the death benefit of the current Policy on the date of the conversion.
Principal Underwriter
Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc. ("LFD"), 130 North Radnor Chester Road, Radnor, PA 19087, is the principal underwriter for the policies, which are offered continuously. LFD is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). The principal underwriter has overall responsibility for establishing a selling plan for the policies. LFD received $167,084,177 in 2023, $156,488,582 in 2022 and $177,598,952 in 2021 for the sale of policies offered through the Separate Account. LFD retains no underwriting commissions from the sale of the policies. The maximum total compensation we pay to any broker-dealer firm in the form of commission or expense reimbursement allowance, inclusive of any bonus incentives, with respect to policy sales is 140% of the first year Premium and generally 5% of all other Premiums paid.
Disaster Plan
Lincoln's business continuity and disaster recovery strategy employs system and telecommunication accessibility, system back-up and recovery, and employee safety and communication. The plan includes documented and tested procedures that will assist in ensuring the availability of critical resources and in maintaining continuity of operations during an emergency situation.
Advertising & Ratings
We may include in certain advertisements, endorsements in the form of a list of organizations, individuals or other parties which recommend Lincoln Life or its policies. Furthermore, we may occasionally include in advertisements comparisons of currently taxable and tax deferred investment programs, based on selected tax brackets, or discussions of alternative investment vehicles and general economic conditions.
Our financial strength is ranked and rated by nationally recognized independent rating agencies. The ratings do not imply approval of the Policy and do not refer to the performance of the Policy, or any separate account, including the underlying investment options. Ratings are not recommendations to buy our policies. Each of the rating agencies reviews its ratings periodically. Accordingly, all ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agencies, and therefore, no assurance can be given that these ratings will be maintained. Our insurer financial strength ratings are on outlook stable except for the ratings assigned by Fitch for all three insurance subsidiaries and the rating assigned by AM Best for First Penn Pacific Life Insurance Company, which are on
3
outlook negative. Our financial strength ratings, which are intended to measure our ability to meet Owners obligations, are an important factor affecting public confidence in most of our policies and, as a result, our competitiveness. A downgrade of our financial strength rating could affect our competitive position in the insurance industry by making it more difficult for us to market our policies as potential customers may select companies with higher financial strength ratings and by leading to increased withdrawals by current customers seeking companies with higher financial strength ratings. For more information on ratings, including outlooks, see www.lfg.com/public/aboutus/investorrelations/financialinformation/ratings.
About the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates ("SPDJI"), and has been licensed for use by Lincoln Financial Investment Corporation ("LFI") on behalf of certain LVIP Funds (the "Funds". S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDS® are registered trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates ("S&P") and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones"). The trademarks have been licensed to SPDJI and have been sublicensed for use for certain purposes by LFI on behalf of the Funds. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, "S&P Dow Jones Indices"). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the S&P 500® Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices' only relationship to the Funds with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. The S&P 500® Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to LFI or the Funds. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take the needs of LFI or the owners of the Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500® Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds. There is no assurance that investment products based on the S&P 500® Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment adviser, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, broker dealer, fiduciary, promoter (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), "expert" as enumerated within 15 U.S.C. § 77k(a) or tax advisor. Inclusion of a security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, commodity, crypto currency or other asset nor is it considered to be investment advice.
NEITHER S&P DOW JONES INDICES NOR A THIRD PARTY LICENSOR GUARANTEES THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P 500® INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FUNDS, OWNERS OF THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAS NOT REVIEWED, PREPARED AND/OR CERTIFIED ANY PORTION OF, NOR DOES S&P DOW JONES INDICES HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER, THE FUNDS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS OR OTHER OFFERING MATERIALS. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND LFI ON BEHALF OF THE FUNDS, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
4
SERVICES
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, has audited a) the financial statements of each of the subaccounts listed in the appendix to the opinion that comprise the Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account M, as of December 31, 2023, the related statements of operations and the statements of changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated in the appendix to the opinion; and b) the consolidated financial statements of The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 as set forth in their reports, which are included in this SAI and Registration Statement. The aforementioned financial statements are included herein in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Accounting Services
All accounts, books, records and other documents which are required to be maintained for the Separate Account are maintained by us or by third parties responsible to Lincoln Life. We have entered into an agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, c/o WeWork, 1100 Main Street, Suite 400, Kansas City, MO 64105, to provide accounting services to the Separate Account. No separate charge against the assets of the Separate Account is made by us for this service.
Checkbook Service for Disbursements
We offer a service in which the Death Benefit Proceeds are transferred into an interest-bearing account, in the Beneficiary's name as Owner of the account. Your Beneficiary has quick access to the proceeds and is the only one authorized to transfer proceeds from the account. This service allows the Beneficiary additional time to decide how to manage Death Benefit Proceeds with the balance earning interest from the day the account is opened.
POLICY INFORMATION
Corporate and Group Purchasers and Case Exceptions
This Policy may be available for purchase by corporations and other groups or sponsoring organizations on a multiple-life case basis. We reserve the right to reduce Premium Loads or any other charges on certain cases, where it is expected that the amount or nature of such cases will result in savings of sales, underwriting, administrative or other costs. Eligibility for these reductions and the amount of reductions will be determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to, the total Premiums expected to be paid, total assets under management for the Owner, the nature of the relationship among the insured individuals, the purpose for which the Policies are being purchased, the expected persistency of the individual Policies and any other circumstances which we believe to be relevant to the expected reduction of its expenses. Some of these reductions may be guaranteed and others may be subject to withdrawal or modification by us on a uniform case basis. Reductions in these charges will not be unfairly discriminatory against any person, including the affected Owners invested in the Separate Account.
Assignment
While the Insured is living, you may assign your rights in the Policy. The assignment must be in writing, signed by you and recorded at our Administrative Office. We will not be responsible for any assignment that is not submitted for recording, nor will we be responsible for the sufficiency or validity of any assignment. Any assignment is subject
5
to any Indebtedness owed to Lincoln Life at the time the assignment is recorded and any interest accrued on such Indebtedness after we have recorded any assignment.
Once recorded, the assignment remains effective until released by the assignee in writing. As long as an assignment remains effective, you may need to obtain the consent of the assignee, in writing, for specific actions.
Change of Ownership
As long as the Insured is living, you may name a new Owner by recording a change in ownership in writing at our Administrative Office. The change will be effective as of the date of the latest signature in Good Order.
Beneficiary
The Beneficiary is initially designated on the application and is the person who will receive the Death Benefit Proceeds payable. Multiple Beneficiaries will be paid in equal shares, unless otherwise specified to the Company.
You may change the Beneficiary at any time while the Insured is living, except when we have recorded an agreement not to change the Beneficiary or you have assigned that right. Any request for a change in the Beneficiary must be in writing, signed by you, and recorded at our Administrative Office. If the Owner has not reserved the right to change the Beneficiary, such a request requires the consent of the Beneficiary. The change will be effective as of the date of the latest signature in Good Order.
If any Beneficiary dies before the Insured, the Beneficiary's potential interest shall pass to any surviving Beneficiaries, unless otherwise specified to the Company. If no named Beneficiary survives the Insured, any Death Benefit Proceeds will be paid to you, as the Owner, or to your executor, administrator or assignee.
Right to Convert Contract
You may at any time transfer 100% of the Policy's Accumulation Value to the General Account and choose to have all future Premium Payments allocated to the General Account. After you do this, the minimum period the Policy will be in force will be fixed and guaranteed. The minimum period will depend on the amount of Accumulation Value, the Specified Amount, the sex, attained age and rating class of the Insured at the time of transfer. The minimum period will decrease if you choose to surrender the Policy, increase the Specified Amount or add a rider or another additional benefit, make a Partial Surrender or make a Policy Loan. The minimum period will increase if you choose to decrease the Specified Amount, make additional Premium Payments, or we credit a higher interest rate or charge a lower cost of insurance rate than those guaranteed for the General Account.
Exchange of Policy
Your Policy may be exchanged for another issued by the Company only if the Company consents to the exchange and all requirements for the exchange, as determined by the Company, are met. Your request for exchange must be in writing.
Settlement Options
You may elect or change a settlement option while the Insured is alive. If you have not irrevocably selected a settlement option, the Beneficiary may elect to change the settlement option within 90 days after the Insured dies. If no settlement option is selected, the Death Benefit Proceeds will be paid in a lump sum.
If you assign your Policy as collateral security, we will pay any amount due the assignee in one lump sum. We will pay any remaining Death Benefit Proceeds as elected.
Your written request to elect, change, or revoke a settlement option must be received in our Administrative Office before payment of the lump sum or any settlement option is initiated. The first payment of the settlement option
6
selected will become payable on the date proceeds are settled. Payments after the first payment will be made on the first day of each month. Once payments have begun, the Policy cannot be surrendered and neither the payee nor the settlement option may be changed.
You have at least four settlement options:
1)
an annuity for the lifetime of the payee;
2)
an annuity for the lifetime of the payee, with monthly payments guaranteed for 60, 120, 180, or 240 months;
3)
monthly payments for a stated number of years, at least five but no more than thirty; or
4)
payment of a maximum of 3% interest annually on the sum left on deposit.
We may offer you or your Beneficiary additional settlement options in the future.
Deferment of Payments
Amounts payable as a result of loans, Surrenders or Partial Surrenders will be paid within seven calendar days upon receipt of documents required to complete the transaction. We may defer payment or transfer from the Fixed Account up to six months at our option. If we exercise our right to defer any payment from the Fixed Account, interest will accrue and be paid (as required by law) from the date you would otherwise have been entitled to receive the payment. We will not defer any payment used to pay Premiums on policies with us.
Incontestability
The Company will not contest your Policy or payment of the Death Benefit proceeds based on the Initial Specified Amount, or an increase in the Specified Amount requiring evidence of insurability, after your Policy or increase has been in force for two years from Date of Issue or increase (in accordance with state law).
Misstatement of Age or Gender
If the age or gender of the Insured has been misstated, benefits will be adjusted based on the following values:
1)
the net amount at risk at the time of the Insured's death;
2)
the ratio of the monthly cost of insurance applied in the Policy Month of death to the monthly cost of insurance that should have been applied at the true age and gender in the Policy Month of death; and
3)
the Accumulation Value at the time of the Insured's death.
The amount of Death Benefit Proceeds will be 1. multiplied by 2. and then the result added to 3.
Suicide
If the Insured dies by suicide, while sane or insane, within two years from the Date of Issue, the Company will pay a death benefit of no more than the sum of the Premiums paid, less any Indebtedness and the amount of any Partial Surrenders. If the Insured dies by suicide, while sane or insane, within two years from the date an application is accepted for an increase in the Specified Amount, the Company will pay a death benefit of no more than the monthly charges paid for the cost of the increased amount. This time period could be less depending on the state of issue.
7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHARGES
Surrender Charges
The initial maximum Surrender Charge is calculated as (a) plus (b), with that result not to exceed (c), minus (d), where
(a)
is 1.25 times the current rate net level Premium for the Specified Amount of insurance, calculated using the 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality table and 4% interest;
(b)
is $10 per $1000 of Specified Amount;
(c)
is $50 per $1000 of Specified Amount; and
(d)
is $60.
Algebraically, this formula is equivalent to Min{a+b,c} -d.
The maximum Surrender Charge decreases from its initial amount during the first 15 years. In general terms, the initial maximum Surrender Charge is amortized in proportion to a 20 year life contingent annuity due. In formulas, the maximum Surrender Charge at a point in time "t" years after issue is (a) times (b), where
(a)
is the initial maximum Surrender Charge; and
(b)
is the ratio of a life contingent annuity due beginning at time t and ending 20 years after issue, divided by a life contingent annuity due beginning at issue and ending 20 years after issue, both calculated using the 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality table and 4% interest.
The actual Surrender Charge may be less than the maximum Surrender Charge, and is included in each policy. No Surrender Charge is applied in the 16th Policy Year or beyond.
PERFORMANCE DATA
Performance data may appear in sales literature or reports to Owners or prospective buyers.
Past performance cannot guarantee comparable future results. Performance data reflects the time period shown on a rolling monthly basis and is based on Sub-Account level values adjusted for your Policy's expenses.
Data reflects:
an annual reduction for fund management fees and expenses, and
a policy level mortality and expense charge applied on a daily equivalent basis, but
no deductions for additional policy expenses (i.e., Premium Loads, Administrative Fees, and Cost of Insurance Charges), which, if included, would have resulted in lower performance.
These charges and deductions can have a significant effect on policy values and benefits. Ask your financial representative for a personalized illustration reflecting these costs.
Sub-Account performance figures are historical and include change in share price, reinvestment of dividends and capital gains and are net of the asset management expenses that can be levied against the Sub-Account.
The Average Annual Returns in the table below are calculated in two ways, one for Money Market Sub-Account, one for all other Sub-Accounts. Both are according to methods prescribed by the SEC.
Money Market Sub-Account:
The Average Annual Return is the income generated by an investment in the Money Market Sub-Account over a seven-day period, annualized. The process of annualizing results when the amount of income generated by the
8
investment during that week is assumed to be generated each week over a 52-week period and is shown as a percentage of the investment.
The Money Market Sub-Account's return is determined by:
a)
calculating the change in unit value for the base period (the 7-day period ended December 31, of the previous year); then
b)
dividing this figure by the unit value at the beginning of the period; then
c)
annualizing this result by the factor of 365/7.
Other Sub-Accounts:
The Average Annual Return for each period is determined by finding the average annual compounded rate of return over each period that would equate the initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value for that period, according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial purchase payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return for the period in question
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value (as of the end of the period in question) of a hypothetical $1,000 purchase
payment made at the beginning of the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year period in question (or fractional period
thereof)
The formula assumes that:
(1)
all recurring fees have been charged to the Owner's accounts; and
(2)
there will be a complete redemption upon the anniversary of the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year period in question.
In accordance with SEC guidelines, we report Sub-Account performance back to the first date that the fund became available, which could pre-date its inclusion in this product. Where the length of the performance reporting period exceeds the period for which the fund was available, Sub-Account performance will show an "N/A".
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The December 31, 2023 financial statements of the Separate Account and the December 31, 2023 consolidated financial statements of the Company are incorporated into this SAI by reference to the Separate Account's most recent Form N-VPFS ("Form N-VPFS") filed with the SEC.
9