ECI Plus Just Got a Power Boost

June 2, 2025

Big news! We recently rolled out powerful new features to our flagship Fixed Index Annuity product, the Enhanced Choice Index Plus annuity. These enhancements are designed to give your clients even more choice and more guarantees. New features include built-in guarantees, innovative crediting strategies, and the introduction of the S&P 500® Dynamic Intraday TCA Index.

The Enhanced Choice Index Plus is a fixed index annuity designed for clients seeking growth, protection, guarantees and the opportunity to maximize their legacy.

“We’re incredibly excited to expand The Standard’s already strong portfolio of annuity product options,” said Alan Assner, assistant vice president and head of Individual Annuities at The Standard. “With new crediting strategies and additional guarantees, clients can further customize their annuity to meet their financial needs.”

The ECI Plus now offers 10 allocation options with guaranteed rates for five to 10 years, depending on the selected strategy. This includes fixed interest crediting, now enhanced with a multi-year rate guarantee. Additionally, the newly added Locked Cap Rate and Locked Trigger Rate strategies allow clients to secure an annual locked rate on the S&P 500® that will not change for five or seven years. These rate guarantees help provide clients with added confidence and stability, even in volatile market conditions.

The newly introduced Trigger Rate and Trigger Rate Plus strategies help clients achieve dependable growth — even when an index underperforms. With the Trigger Rate strategy, clients benefit from any flat or positive movement in the index, while the Trigger Rate Plus strategy offers built-in growth, even when index performance declines.

The S&P 500 Dynamic Intraday TCA Index introduces a simple, innovative approach to volatility control, adapting quickly to changing rate environments. Rebalanced up to 13 times a day, the index responds more efficiently to market fluctuations. A 15% volatility target allows for greater exposure to the S&P 500 while maintaining more stable volatility compared to traditional risk control indices. Clients can access this newly added index using a Cap Rate, Participation Rate, Trigger Rate or Trigger Rate Plus strategy — all of which offer guaranteed rates throughout the withdrawal charge period.

These new features are tailored to help you meet evolving client needs while staying ahead in this ever-changing market.

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