Prudential

FlexGuard

C+
Composite 69.9 / 100Range 67–83

Mostly solid; strongest in strong insurer credit (90), softest in restrictive surrender terms (65).

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

Methodology v1.5.2 · May 23, 2026 · 3/3 segments verified · 

Contract terms

Flexibility & exit terms

Surrender period7 years
Surrender scheduleY1 7% · Y2 6% · Y3 5% · Y4 4% · Y5 3% · Y6 2% · Y7 1%
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 · 10% of premium3-year term · S&P 500 capped at 40.0% · 20% buffer · 30% of premium6-year term · S&P 500 capped at 80.0% · 20% buffer · 60% 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$120K$160K$200K$240K$280KStart $250K
Terminal AV
$194,484
After 10 years
Terminal multiple
0.78×
Of starting $250,000
Max drawdown
49.5%
Trough 2009-03
Fees paid (PV)
$0
M&E + rider fees
Fee drag (annualised)
0.0%
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)$0
PV(all fees)$0
Terminal AV (p50)$560,634.43
Terminal AV (p95)$1,267,436.75
Value delivered (p50)$172,854.06
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 Value67 / 100
How much wealth this contract actually builds for you, after fees
Growth 49Guarantee 100
Net Value = 65% growth + 35% guarantee. Growth 49/100 — Value delivered $172,854 (terminal AV + income drawn). Cohort median $178,897 anchors 50; 3× median anchors 100. Guarantee 100/100 — Closed-form PV(buffer absorption) $32,075 with zero cost base — capped at 100.
🔒Surrender Flexibility65 / 100
How easily you can get your money out
7-yr surrender schedule (max 7.0%); 10% free withdrawal; waivers: nursing-home, terminal-illness.
🏢Insurer Credit90 / 100
How likely the carrier is to pay claims 10–20 years out
AM Best A+; not PE-owned; Level 3 assets 17%.
⚖️Behavioral Fairness90 / 100
Track record of treating existing customers fairly
0 major / 0 minor cap-rate cuts in 5yr; NAIC complaints index 0.50; 0 regulatory fines in 5yr.

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

Total Cost of Ownership100 / 100
Annualised explicit fee (M&E + rider): 0.00%. Cohort best: 0.00%; cohort worst: 2.75%.
For the buyer

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