MetLife Financial Freedom Select® (MFFS) Product Site

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MetLife Financial Freedom Select* is a variable annuity issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) to provide a retirement savings vehicle for employees of public schools, colleges and universities, nonprofit hospitals and nonprofit organizations under IRC §501(c)(3). A variable annuity is a long-term retirement savings vehicle specifically designed to help individuals save for retirement, and can provide them with a stream of retirement income that they cannot outlive. A variable annuity contains funding options that have the potential to grow and other features, such as a death benefit and the ability to make payments to an individual for the individual's lifetime. State variations may apply.

MFFS Facts at a Glance

Funding Options

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MFFS Performance

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Automated investment strategies

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Minimum contributions

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Transfers

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3% Purchase Payment Credit (eBonus)

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3% Rollover Distribution and Direct Transfer Credit (B & L Class)

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Income for life

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Benefit sensitivity

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Optional Guaranteed

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Optional Lifetime Withdrawal Guarantee

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Standard Death Benefit

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Optional annual step-up death benefit

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  • Asset Allocation Portfolios
  • “Fund-of-Funds”
  • Index Portfolios 
  • Fixed Interest Account
  • Portfolios that invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

For a list of funding options available for MFFS, please click here

For up-to-date information on the funds serving as investment vehicles for our products, please visit our Fund Resources page. 

 Annuity  Performance Reports  Prospectus
 MetLife Financial Freedom Select Variable Annuity - C Class  Performance Reports  Prospectus
 MetLife Financial Freedom Select Variable Annuity - e Class  Performance Reports  Prospectus
 MetLife Financial Freedom Select Variable Annuity - eBonus Class  Performance Reports  Prospectus
 MetLife Financial Freedom Select Variable Annuity - L Class  Performance Reports  Prospectus
 MetLife Financial Freedom Select Variable Annuity - B Class  Performance Reports  Prospectus
  • The AllocatorSM
  • The Equity Generator®
  • The Index Selector®
  • The Rebalancer®

None. If no contributions are made for more than 24 months (36 months in New York*) and the account balance is under $2,000, MetLife may cancel the contract/certificate, if permitted by law, by paying the account balance less any outstanding loans (if loans are permitted by plan). Early withdrawal charges may apply.

Free, non-taxable, unlimited. Restrictions may apply. See prospectus for more details.

The 3% bonus is only available on eligible eBonus purchase payments.**

Subject to certain limitations, during the first two Contract Years, for the B and L Classes, we currently credit 3% (2% in New York State*) to each of your purchase payments which consist of money from eligible rollover distributions or direct transfers from an investment vehicle (such as an annuity or a mutual fund) that was not sold by MetLife or one of its affiliates.

Subject to certain limitations, under the e Bonus Class Deferred Annuity we credit 3% to each of your eligible purchase payments made during the first contract year. No bonus is available if the individual is over age 65 on the certificate issue date. It should be noted that the expenses for the B, L, and e Bonus Classes of the Deferred Annuity may be higher than similar contracts without a bonus. The purchase payment credits (“Bonus”) may be more than offset by the higher expenses for these classes.

Guarantee a stream of lifetime income.

No contract/certificate withdrawal charge will apply upon:

  • annuitization
  • death
  • a direct transfer to another MetLife approved product
  • any withdrawal required to avoid federal income tax penalties or satisfy federal income tax rules (for this annuity contract/certificate only)

Immediately, for the 403(a) arrangement or 457 or TSA ERISA plan that is funded by the Deferred Annuity, no contract/certificate withdrawal charges will apply upon (for Non ERISA Plans):

  • retirement
  • severance from employment with the employer individuals had at the time they purchased the contract/certificate

After the first contract/certificate year, no contract/ certificate withdrawal charge will apply upon:

  • disability1
  • terminal illness1
  • confinement to a nursing home1
  • 10% annual non-cumulative free withdrawal allowance

After five years2 from the issue date of the contract, no contract/certificate withdrawal charges will apply upon (for Non ERISA Plans):

  • retirement
  • severance from employment with the employer individuals had at the time they purchased the contract/certificate

1 Terminal illness and confinement to a nursing home do not apply to the 403(b) ERISA, 403(a), 457(b), and 401 markets. May not be available in all states, all ages or all tax markets. Must also be less than age 65 to receive the Disability Benefit. Social Security definition applies. Must be less than age 80 on contract/certificate issue to receive the nursing care and terminal illness waivers of withdrawal charges. Other restrictions apply. See the prospectus for details.

2 No five-year wait for retirement and severance in the 403(b) ERISA, 403(a), 457(b), and 401 markets.

The GMIB is no longer available for purchase. The optional GMIB has an additional charge of 0.70% of the guaranteed minimum income base (as shown in the Prospectus), deducted at the end of each contract year by withdrawing amounts on a pro-rata basis from your Fixed Interest Account Balance (net of any outstanding loans) and Separate Account Balance (See Prospectus)

The LWG is no longer available for purchase. The LWG has an additional charge of 0.95% of the Total Guaranteed Withdrawal Amount (as shown in the Prospectus), deducted at the end of each contract year after applying any 5% Compounding Income Amount and prior to taking into account any Automatic Annual Step-up occuring on the contract Anniversary by withdrawing amounts on a pro-rata basis from your Fixed Interest Account Balance and Separate Account Balance. (See Prospectus)

Assuming income has not started, the standard death benefit is the greatest of:

(1) Account balance;

(2) Total purchase payments (excluding any rollover credits) reduced proportionately for withdrawals.

The Optional Annual Step-Up Death Benefit is the greatest of (less outstanding loans, where loans are permitted by plan):

(1) Account balance;

(2) Total purchase payments (excluding any rollover credits) reduced proportionately for withdrawals;

(3) “Highest Anniversary Value” on any contract/certificate anniversary prior to owner’s 81st birthday, plus any subsequent purchase payments and reduced proportionately for withdrawals. This benefit must be elected at the time of purchase and is irrevocable. There is an additional charge of 0.10% annually.

*As of the close of the NYSE on 1/1/2024, only the L Class is available in New York State for new enrollments on or after January 1, 2024.

** Subject to certain limitations, during the first three Contract Years (two Contract Years in New York State), for the B and L Classes, we currently credit 3% (2% in New York State) to each of your purchase payments which consist of money from eligible rollover distributions or direct transfers from an investment vehicle (such as an annuity or a mutual fund) that was not sold by MetLife or one of its affiliates. Subject to certain limitations, under the e Bonus Class Deferred Annuity we credit 3% to each of your purchase payments made during the first contract year. No bonus is available if the individual is over age 65 on the certificate issue date. It should be noted that the expenses for the B, L, and e Bonus Classes of the Deferred Annuity may be higher than similar contracts without a bonus. The purchase payment credits (“Bonus”) may be more than offset by the higher expenses for these classes.

MFFS Share Class1 and M&E Comparison

(B, L, C, E, eBonus)

Share Classes Share Class Features
  Annual Contract/certificate fee Annual Separate Account charge Withdrawal charges
MFFS B A $30 annual contract/certificate fee is deducted on a pro rata basis. This fee will be waived if: (1) Account balance exceeds $25,000, or (2) purchase payments exceed $2,000 within the last 12 months (fee not deducted from the Fixed Interest Account).

1.15%
1.25% with optional death benefit rider.
Annual Separate Account charges for American Funds funding options are an additional 0.25%. Additional investment-related fees and expenses will apply to the selected funding options and optional death benefit.

12-year withdrawal charge schedule: 9%, 9%, 9%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0%
The fees and charges mentioned above do not include investment management fees and other expenses of the funding options under the contract/certificate. Withdrawal charge schedule may vary by state. Please refer to the prospectus for more information.

MFFS L A $30 annual contract/certificate fee is deducted on a pro rata basis. This fee will be waived if: (1) Account balance exceeds $25,000, or (2) purchase payments exceed $2,000 within the last 12 months (fee not deducted from the Fixed Interest Account).

1.30%
1.40% with optional death benefit rider.
Annual Separate Account charges for American Funds funding options are an additional 0.25%. Additional investment-related fees and expenses will apply to the selected funding options and optional death benefit.

7-year withdrawal charge schedule: 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 2%, 0%
The fees and charges mentioned above do not include investment management fees and other expenses of the funding options under the contract/certificate. Withdrawal charge schedule may vary by state. Please refer to the prospectus for more information.

MFFS C

A $30 annual contract/certificate fee is deducted on a pro rata basis. This fee will be waived if: (1) Account balance exceeds $25,000, or (2) purchase payments exceed $2,000 within the last 12 months (fee not deducted from the Fixed Interest Account).

1.45%
1.55% with optional death benefit rider.
Annual Separate Account charges for American Funds funding options are an additional 0.25%. Additional investment-related fees and expenses will apply to the selected funding options and optional death benefit.

No withdrawal charges apply.
The fees and charges mentioned above do not include investment management fees and other expenses of the funding options under the contract/certificate. Withdrawal charge schedule may vary by state. Please refer to the prospectus for more information.

MFFS e

There is a $30 annual contract/certificate fee from the investment
divisions. The fee will be waived if the account balance is $50,000
or greater. No fee is deducted from the Fixed Interest Account.

0.50%
0.60% per year with optional death benefit rider.
Additional investment-related fees and expenses will apply to the
selected funding options.

No withdrawal charges apply.

MFFS eBonus

There is a $30 annual contract/certificate fee from the investment
divisions. The fee will be waived if the account balance is $50,000
or greater. No fee is deducted from the Fixed Interest Account.

0.95% per year for first 7 years, 0.50% for year 8 and after.
1.05% per year for first 7 years, 0.60% for year 8 and after with optional death benefit rider.
Additional investment-related fees and expenses will apply to the
selected funding options.

The following withdrawal charges apply to the amount withdrawn from
the account balance based on the age of the employee’s account.
7-year withdrawal charge schedule: 3%, 3%, 3%, 3%,
3%, 3%, 3%, 0%

Participants in non-ERISA 403b arrangements may select B or L class, unless the plan sponsor has offered e or eBonus (if available). For participants of 403(b) ERISA , 401, and 457 plans, your plan sponsor has selected one share class from either B,L, or C class, or e or eBonus (if available).

State Variations

State variations

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