New offering provides clients with greater growth potential, enhanced downside protection and legacy-building options
Equitable, a leading financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), today announced the launch of Structured Capital Strategies® Premier (SCS Premier), a new solution within its portfolio of registered index-linked annuities. This new offering enables clients to capture greater upside potential in the market while maintaining a level of downside protection. It also adds several death benefit options designed to help clients leave a legacy.
"Equitable pioneered the first registered index-linked annuity 15 years ago, and the launch of SCS Premier continues our strong track record of innovation in the annuity market," said Steve Scanlon, Equitable's Head of Individual Retirement. "Our research shows that fewer than half of Americans feel prepared to navigate financial challenges in today's unpredictable economic environment.i SCS Premier helps individuals plan with confidence — bolstering their ability to build a secure financial future, weather potential market volatility and leave a legacy for loved ones."
SCS Premier offers 120 investment options that allow clients to accumulate assets based on the performance of well-known indices like the S&P 500, including uncapped segment options. The solution also introduces investment options with enhanced participation rates that multiply positive index returns, allowing for an investment return that exceeds the performance of the selected index. Additionally, SCS Premier includes two new investment options:
- Best Entry - This "do-over" feature helps ease concerns about investing at the wrong time. If the index value is lower on the same day of the month as when the client first invested over the next four months, the client's starting investment value is reset to the lowest of those days. This provides greater potential for growth and limits the percentage of downside risk.
- Dual Step Tier - Designed to help clients weather all market environments, this feature flips investment losses within the buffer to a predetermined positive rate of return. If the market performs well, clients can also benefit from higher returns based on the index's performance above that rate, up to a cap.
Financial professionals and their clients also have greater flexibility to change the asset allocation without waiting until an investment segment reaches maturity after one or six years. Instead, investments can be reallocated every week.ii Clients also benefit from a broader range of investment segment options, including a -40% downside protection buffer.
SCS Premier also includes a new and innovative death benefit option for the RILA market — the greater of roll-up or highest anniversary value death benefit. This feature provides either a simple 5% interest roll-up or the highest anniversary value over the life of the contract, whichever is greater.iii Alternatively, clients can choose only the highest anniversary value death benefit or a traditional return-of-premium death benefit.
"At Equitable, we are committed to helping clients build and protect their financial legacy," added Scanlon. "Our added death benefit options help ensure their loved ones receive the greatest possible benefit, all within the same solution designed to accumulate assets and manage investment risk."
About Structured Capital Strategies:
Equitable pioneered Structured Capital Strategies in 2010, the first registered index-linked, or buffered, annuity in the market. Since then, Equitable has continued to enhance its RILA offerings to meet evolving client needs. In addition to SCS Premier, the suite includes SCS PLUS, which offers partial downside protection and the opportunity for investment growth in both rising and falling markets. Structured Capital Strategies Income builds on SCS PLUS by adding guaranteed lifetime income, while maintaining growth potential and partial downside protection.
About Equitable:
Equitable, a principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), has been one of America's leading financial services providers since 1859. With the mission to help clients secure their financial well-being, Equitable provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families and small businesses. Equitable has more than 8,000 employees and Equitable Advisors financial professionals and serves more than 4 million clients across the country. Please visit equitable.com for more information. Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial, Equitable America, and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN).
Reference to the 1859 founding applies specifically and exclusively to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY).
Structured Capital Strategies® Premier is a variable and index-linked deferred annuity contract with investment options that track indices up to a cap while providing levels of downside protection. Simply stated, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that lets you pursue the accumulation of assets. You may then take payments or a lump-sum amount at a later date. Regarding partial downside protection, there is a risk of substantial loss of principal because the investor agrees to absorb all losses to the extent they exceed the protection provided. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Annuities contain certain restrictions and limitations. For costs and complete details, contact a financial professional.
Variable annuities and index-linked annuities are sold by prospectus, which contains more complete information about the contract, including risks, charges, expenses and investment objectives. You should review the prospectus carefully before sending any money. Contact a financial professional for a copy of the current prospectus.
Certain features and benefits described herein may not be available in all jurisdictions. In addition, some distributors may eliminate and/or limit the availability of certain features or options, based on annuitant issue age or other criteria. Not all types of contracts, features and benefits are available in all jurisdictions and all markets. All contract and rider guarantees, including optional benefits and any fixed subaccount crediting rates or annuity payout rates, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing life insurance company.
The Structured Capital Strategies® Premier, Structured Capital Strategies® PLUS, and Structured Capital Strategies® Income registered index-linked annuities are issued by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company with an admin. office in Charlotte, NC and by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY), depending on the particular contract and its distributor. The obligations of Equitable Financial and Equitable America are backed solely by their own claims-paying abilities. GE-8399502.1 (9/25) (Exp. 9/29)
i Majority of Americans feel unprepared for shifting financial concerns, Equitable survey finds, July 15, 2025.
ii Reallocation between investment options, called Segments, are subject to the Segment Interim Value calculation. The Segment Interim Value calculation is determined by a formula that considers the Segment Buffer and the Index's performance since the Segment Start Date.
iii Greater of roll-up death benefit continues until the contract owner's 85th birthday or the 30th contract date anniversary, whichever is earlier.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250923845540/en/
Abby Cohen
(212) 314-2032
[email protected]