Brighthouse

Shield Level Pay Plus

D+
Composite 52.8 / 100Range 49–63

Strong insurer credit (83) offset by weak net value (growth + guarantee) (47).

Best suited for: protection-first buyers who prioritise downside floor.

Methodology v1.5.2 · May 23, 2026 · 2/2 segments verified · 

Contract terms

Flexibility & exit terms

Surrender period6 years
Surrender scheduleY1 7% · Y2 7% · Y3 6% · Y4 5% · Y5 4% · Y6 3%
Free withdrawal10% per year
Hardship waiversnursing-home, terminal-illness
Scoring segments (term · cap or par · buffer/floor · published weight)
1-year term · S&P 500 capped at 16.0% · 10% buffer · 14% of premium6-year term · S&P 500 capped at 133.0% · 15% buffer · 86% of premium
Allocation ruleTerm-weighted (longer terms get more)

Allocation choice & historical performance

Pick an allocation; chart updates. Balanced is the published rating.

Regime
Lost decade (2000-2009) · Balanced allocation
$250,000 starting AV · S&P 500 monthly replay
2000-012001-052002-092004-012005-052006-092008-012009-05$55K$110K$165K$220K$275KStart $250K
Terminal AV
$77,814
After 10 years
Terminal multiple
0.31×
Of starting $250,000
Max drawdown
75.0%
Trough 2009-03
Fees paid (PV)
$35,154
M&E + rider fees
Fee drag (annualised)
1.4%
PV(fees) ÷ starting AV ÷ years
Single deterministic path. Annual cap/buffer crediting applied year-by-year; intra-year shape interpolated from actual monthly S&P 500 returns.

Standardized scoring scenario details ↗

PV(rider claims)$20,298.19
PV(all fees)$51,012.27
Terminal AV (p50)$0
Terminal AV (p95)$390,276.07
Value delivered (p50)$120,388.9
Advanced details (for advisors)

Each axis runs 0–100. The composite is a weighted average — Net Value 80%, SF / IC / BF 6.67% each (v1.5.2). Net Value itself blends expected growth (65%) with guarantee value (35%). See methodology v1.5.2 for the formulas behind each axis.

💰Net Value47 / 100
How much wealth this contract actually builds for you, after fees
Growth 42Guarantee 56
Net Value = 65% growth + 35% guarantee. Growth 42/100 — Value delivered $120,389 (terminal AV + income drawn). Cohort median $178,897 anchors 50; 3× median anchors 100. Guarantee 56/100 — GV combines rider and buffer guarantees. Rider: PV(claims)/PV(rider fees) = 0.40x ($20,298 / $51,012). Closed-form PV(buffer absorption) $16,286 with zero cost base — capped at 100. PV-weighted blend (55% rider / 45% buffer).
🔒Surrender Flexibility70 / 100
How easily you can get your money out
6-yr surrender schedule (max 7.0%); 10% free withdrawal; waivers: nursing-home, terminal-illness.
🏢Insurer Credit83 / 100
How likely the carrier is to pay claims 10–20 years out
AM Best A; not PE-owned; Level 3 assets 22%.
⚖️Behavioral Fairness79 / 100
Track record of treating existing customers fairly
0 major / 1 minor cap-rate cuts in 5yr; NAIC complaints index 0.80; 0 regulatory fines in 5yr.

Reported for transparency — not part of the v1.5.2 composite (TCO weight = 0).

Total Cost of Ownership46 / 100
Annualised explicit fee (M&E + rider): 1.50%. Cohort best: 0.00%; cohort worst: 2.75%.
For the buyer

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