Insurance Products and Services
Product

Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM


Permanent Life Insurance

Four Indexed Options for Potential Cash Value Accumulation

Premium Flexibility

Choice of Two Death Benefit Options


Download Fact Card


This page highlights some of the features and benefits of this product. For more complete details, please download the product fact card, above.

  • Key Features
  • Next Steps

Key Features

Life Insurance with a Safety Net. Learn more. Watch the Video
 

 

Permanent Life Insurance Protection with Potential for Cash Value Accumulation

Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM is flexible premium universal life insurance that offers interest crediting linked to major market indexes, so you can participate in the upside potential of the equities markets with built-in guaranteed downside protection against declines in the value of the applicable index.

When you invest in one of the indexed account options, you receive a crediting rate based on the performance of the index, subject to certain caps, participation rates, and floors.  The floor will be 0% in all years and the cap and participation rate will be established at the beginning of a segment.  

At issue or any time after, you can decide where to allocate your premiums to – any of the indexed options described below or the Guaranteed Interest Account.  Also, you can select allocations for amounts that mature from each indexed option.1

All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable. 

Four Index-Linked Interest Options* and the Guaranteed Interest Account

Index-Linked Interest Options*

A varied selection of point-to-point indexed accounts to help meet your short- and long-term accumulation goals.

One-Year Options:

  • S&P 500 Price Return index — U.S. Large-Cap Index
  • Russell 2000 Price Return index — U.S. Small-Cap Index
  • MSCI EAFE Price Return index — International Index

Three-Year Option: (not available in NY)

  • S&P 500 Price Return index — U.S. Large-Cap Index

Guaranteed Interest Account

The interest rate AXA Equitable credits to the Policy Account Value is declared periodically. The guaranteed minimum interest rate is 2% annually.

Premium Flexibility

Design premium payments according to your budget.

  • Choose the amount and frequency of your premium payments (certain limits apply). Increased frequency in premium payments is more expensive.
  • Pay premiums annually, semiannually, quarterly, monthly, or through automatic monthly or quarterly deductions from your checking account.
  • Allocate premiums to the index-linked interest options or the Guaranteed Interest Account. These allocations can be selected at issue and changed at any time, but you cannot transfer premiums out of a Segment after that Segment has begun.1
  • Premium payments will not be accepted while the Loan Extension Endorsement is keeping the policy in force.

Access to Cash Values2
  • Your cash value can grow tax-deferred.
  • You can access your cash value, through loans and withdrawals, potentially free of current income tax.2,3
  • The cash surrender value equals the Policy Account Value less applicable surrender charges during a surrender charge period, and the Policy Account Value thereafter. The net cash surrender value is equal to the cash surrender value minus any outstanding policy loans and accrued loan interest. 

Death Benefit Options

Two Death Benefit Options

Option A: Level Death Benefit — The Face Amount of the policy.

Option B: Variable Death Benefit — The Face Amount plus the Policy Account Value. Under either option, a higher death benefit may apply if the value in the policy account reaches certain levels relative to the Face Amount.

You can switch from Death Benefit Option A to B and from B to A. Changes in the death benefit option are available at no charge after the second policy year.4

Choice of Riders5

 Depending on your current or anticipated future needs, you can tailor your Athena Indexed Universal Life SM policy by taking advantage of a selection of policy riders that are available for an additional cost.

 

* S&P®, Standard & Poor’s®, S&P 500® and Standard & Poor’s 500TM are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s and have been licensed for use by AXA Equitable. Athena Indexed ULSM is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s and Standard & Poor’s does not make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the product.
The Russell 2000® index is a trademark of Russell Investments and has been licensed for use by AXA Equitable. Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Russell Investments and Russell Investments makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the product.
The product referred to herein is not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such product or any index on which such product is based. The policy contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with AXA Equitable and any related products.

1 AXA Equitable may place limitations on your ability to allocate premiums to the indexed options upon notice.

2 Under current federal tax rules, you generally may take income-tax-free partial withdrawals under a life insurance policy that is not a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), up to your basis in the contract. Additional amounts are includible in income. In certain cases, during the first 15 years of a policy a partial withdrawal may be taxable to the extent there is gain in the policy. The IRS places a limit on how much money can go into life insurance premiums for the policy and how quickly such premiums can be paid in order for the policy to retain all of its tax benefits. If certain limits are exceeded, a MEC results. MEC policyholders may be subject to taxes on distributions on an income-first basis, that is, to the extent there is gain in their policies, and penalties on any taxable amount if they are not 59½ or older.

Loans taken will be free of current income tax as long as the policy remains in effect until the Insured’s death, does not lapse, and is not a MEC. Please note that outstanding loans accrue interest. Income-tax-free treatment also assumes the loan will eventually be satisfied from income- tax-free death benefit proceeds. Loans and withdrawals reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit, may cause certain policy benefits or riders to become unavailable, and may increase the chance the policy may lapse. If the policy lapses, is surrendered or becomes a MEC, the loan balance at such time would generally be viewed as distributed and taxable under the general rules for distribution of policy cash values. In addition, withdrawals, policy loans and any accrued loan interest may cause your policy to lapse even if you are in a period of coverage under the No Lapse Guarantee Rider. Speak to your financial professional before taking any withdrawals or policy loans.

3 Amounts requested as loans or withdrawals will be taken first from amounts in the Guaranteed Interest Account, then from amounts in each Holding Account, on a pro rata basis, then from amounts in the Segments then in effect on a pro rata basis

Policy changes including increases, decreases, option changes or dropping riders, can impact limits for federal income tax qualification and MEC testing. This may impact MEC status and premium limits and, in some cases, require current or future distributions. Refer to your actual policy and the Important Tax Information section of your policy illustration for additional information.

4 Only Death Benefit Option A is available when the Loan Extension Endorsement is in effect. Changes in the Death Benefit Option may result in changes to the policy’s Face Amount and may require evidence of insurability.

5 All of the riders are subject to the terms and conditions of the rider. Not all riders may be available in all jurisdictions. Some states may vary the terms and conditions. There may be an additional charge associated with obtaining certain riders. Some riders may not be available in combination with other riders and/or policy features.

The material is not a complete description of all the material provisions of the Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM policy. Please refer to the product brochure and the actual policy for more complete information.

All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.

Please be advised that this content is based on our general understanding of federal income tax rules for U.S. individuals and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Accordingly, any tax information provided in this content is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The tax information was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed and you should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Athena Indexed Universal Life SM is a flexible premium universal life insurance policy with index-linked interest options. These policies have limitations. Certain types of policies, features and benefits may not be available in all jurisdictions or may be different. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your financial professional.

Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM is a service mark of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10104.

Athena Indexed Universal LifeSM is issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (AXA Equitable), New York, NY and distributed by AXA Network, LCC and AXA Distributors, LLC.  AXA Equitable, AXA Network and AXA Distributors are affiliated companies and do not provide legal or tax advice

Policy form #ICC10-200 or state variations

1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, (212) 554-1234

GE 56842 (7/10)


Next Steps

Professional Guidance Counts

Your financial professional can be an invaluable resource in helping you:
  • Complete a financial needs analysis
  • Evaluate the financial strategies available to you, and
  • Select appropriate financial products designed to help you reach your goals

Find a Financial Professional

Near You:

Or By Name:
City: First Name:
State: Last Name:
ZIP:


Login to AXA Equitable
Login options for Employer Plan Administration clients.


Forgot my User ID or Password
Need a User ID?