Product Details
Refer to your distributor Product Spreadsheet for state availability.
Customize your retirement strategy through a combination of indices, crediting options and enhanced product features.
The Enhanced Choice Index Plus is a single-premium, deferred index annuity offering multiple crediting strategies linked to index performance. Through a combination of indices, crediting options and enhanced product features, you can customize a retirement strategy that best aligns with your financial goals.
New! Optional Legacy Max Enhanced Death Benefit Rider1
Legacy Max is a new optional death benefit rider available to help maximize what you pass along to your heirs. It provides opportunities for guaranteed growth in declining markets, as well as performance-based growth in positive markets. If your clients are 80 or younger, they may choose the new Legacy Max rider at purchase. The rider may provide beneficiaries with a greater death benefit than what’s included in the base annuity policy.
Legacy Max offers:
- Opportunities for guaranteed growth in declining markets
- Performance-based growth in positive markets
- A way to maximize your client's financial legacy for their heirs
ECI Plus Features
Issue Age
- ECI Plus 5: Issue through age 932
- ECI Plus 7: Issue through age 90
- ECI Plus 10: Issue through age 80
Premium
$15,000 – $1,000,000
Greater amounts may be accepted if pre-approved by The Standard before you submit an application. Premium will be allocated to the accounts on the contract effective date. All expected premium must be noted on the application and the policy will not issue until all funds are received. The contract effective date is the day we receive all of the expected premium.
Index Interest Accounts
Index Term
1-year point-to-point
Index Options
- S&P 500® Index
- S&P MARC 5% ER Index
- S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index
- S&P 500 ESG Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index
- NEW! BofA Global MegaTrends Index
Interest Crediting Strategies
- Index Participation Rate
- Enhanced Index Participation Rate3
- NEW! Index Cap Rate on S&P 500® Index only
- NEW! Enhanced Index Cap Rate3 on S&P 500® Index only
Multi-Year Guaranteed Participation Rates
Participation rates guaranteed for the entire surrender-charge period are available on some index crediting options. After that, the participation rate may change annually.
Index | ECI Plus 5 | ECI Plus 7 | ECI Plus 101 |
S&P 500® Index | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
S&P MARC 5% ER Index | 5 years | 7 years | 1 year |
S&P 500 Daily RC 5% ER Index | 5 years | 7 years | 1 year |
S&P 500 ESG Daily RC 5% ER Index | 5 years | 7 years | 1 year |
BofA Global MegaTrends Index | 5 years | 7 years | 1 year |
Fixed Interest Account
A fixed interest rate that credits daily. We guarantee this interest rate for one year.
Account Allocation
On initial allocation at purchase, clients must allocate a minimum of 15% of their total premium to the index interest accounts. Additionally, a minimum allocation amount of $2,000 per account applies. Account allocations may be changed once a year at the end of the index term. If your clients choose to reallocate their funds, they will be transferred on the first day of the next index term.
Surrender Charge Period
There is a choice of a 5, 7, or 10-year surrender-charge period, with no surrender charges thereafter.
ECI Plus 10 is not available in California.
1 Maximum issue age may vary by distributor.
2 The purchase of the annuity for those age 91-93 must be for transfer-of-wealth or estate-planning purposes.
3 In exchange for a fee, clients receive a higher rate. This gives the annuity fund the potential to grow at a higher rate. The annual fee is 1.50% based on the value of the index interest account as of the start of the index term. Fees are deducted from the value of the index interest account at the end of each index term, after interest is credited. Not available with Legacy Max death benefit rider.
Some products and rate guarantee periods available through select distribution only.
Products of Standard Insurance Company. Product features and availability varies by state.
Refer to your distributor Product Spreadsheet for state availability.
ECI Plus Key Features
- Guaranteed minimum accumulation benefit, or GMAB
- Multi-year guaranteed participation rate on some index crediting options
- Market value adjustment feature1
- Single, joint owners and certain non-natural owners
- Surrender charge periods
- ECI Plus 5:
- 5-year surrender charge period:
(9.4%, 8.5%, 7.5%, 6.5%, 5.5%) - California 5-year surrender charge period:
(8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%)
- 5-year surrender charge period:
- ECI Plus 7:
- 7-year surrender charge period:
(9.4%, 8.5%, 7.5%, 6.5%, 5.5%, 4.5%, 3.5%) - California 7-year surrender charge period:
(8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%)
- 7-year surrender charge period:
- ECI Plus 10:
- 10-year surrender-charge period:
(9.4%, 8.5%, 7.5%, 6.5%, 5.5%, 4.5%, 3.5%, 2.5%, 1.5%, 0.5%) - ECI Plus 10 is not available in California
- 10-year surrender-charge period:
- ECI Plus 5:
- Surrender-charge free withdrawal options
If surrender charges are waived, so is the MVA- 10% annual withdrawals2
- IRS required minimum distributions
- Terminal conditions3 with partial index credit available
- Nursing home residency3 with partial index credit available
- Death of owner with partial index credit available
- Annuitization with partial index credit available
- No annual contract fees
- 30-day free look period
Legacy Max Key Features1
- Death Benefit Base
The death benefit base is used to determine the amount that is available for your beneficiaries. The initial benefit base equals your total premium. It is reset each contract anniversary to the greater of:- Guaranteed enhancement value: Provides 6% annual compounded growth
- Performance enhancement value: Applies a growth factor of 200% each anniversary to the total amount of interest credited
- Rider Charge
- 0.80% for ages 69 and younger at issue
- 1.20% for ages 70-80 at issue
- Death Benefit Max
The death benefit base is limited to the greater of:- 125% of your surrender value excluding any MVA
- Premium received accumulated at a 10% annual effective rate, but not to exceed 250% of all premium received — minus any withdrawals including surrender charges
Refer to the Legacy Max brochure for full product details.
1 Not available in California.
2 Available after the first contract year. Withdrawal amount is based on a percentage of the value of the annuity fund as of the contract anniversary. We require a distribution request for payments. Scheduled withdrawals are not allowed.
3 Applies after the first contract year. Additional limitations, state variations and exclusions may apply.
Some products and rate guarantee periods available through select distribution only.
Products of Standard Insurance Company. Product features and availability varies by state.
California only: ECI Plus is pending approval.
Refer to your distributor Product Spreadsheet for state availability.
Index Choices
S&P 500® Index
The S&P 500® Index tracks the performance of 500 of the top companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. It is one of the most commonly followed equity indices and widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities.
S&P MARC 5% ER Index
The S&P Multi-Asset Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index aims for more stable index performance with a diversified multi-asset index that uses an innovative design to manage market volatility. It tracks three underlying asset classes: equities, commodities and fixed income. The index is rebalanced daily to maintain a target volatility of 5%.
S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index
The S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index’s goal is to create stable returns using the existing S&P 500® Index crediting design combined with a volatility target. The index is adjusted daily to target a 5% level of volatility. Clients will see upside potential with less exposure to market fluctuations, while benefiting from the performance of U.S. large-cap markets.
S&P 500 ESG Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index
The S&P 500 ESG Daily Risk Control 5% Excess Return Index’s objective is to provide stable returns using the S&P 500® Index, but focusing on companies with improved environmental, social and governance characteristics. The index is adjusted daily to target a 5% level of volatility. Clients will see upside potential with less exposure to market fluctuations. This index allows your clients to align their investment objective with their sustainable values.
New! BofA Global MegaTrends Index
The BofA Global MegaTrends Index is designed to tap into global innovation and long-term growth trends, while using the latest technology to manage risk. It is made up of four live indices created by MSCI, concentrating on four future-focused themes — robotics, the digital economy, millennials and disruptive technology. The Index applies Salt Financial’s truVol® Risk Control Engine to target 7% annualized volatility.
Some products and rate guarantee periods available through select distribution only.
Products of Standard Insurance Company. Product features and availability varies by state.
Refer to your distributor Product Spreadsheet for state availability.
Index Performance Flyers
ECI Plus 5: A Year in Review of Index Performance (For producers only.)
ECI Plus 7: A Year in Review of Index Performance (For producers only.)
ECI Plus 5: Real Returns — Real Results (For producers only.)
ECI Plus 7: Real Returns — Real Results (For producers only.)
Marketing Materials
State Comparison Flyer (For producers only.)
Sales Guide (For producers only.)
Index Information Guides
S&P 500® Index (SPX)
Index Landing Page with Factsheet and Methodology
Brochure: Understanding the S&P 500®
S&P MARC 5% ER Index (SPMARC5P)
Index Landing Page with Factsheet and Methodology: Choose Excess Return in the drop-down menu
2022 Performance Summary flyer: S&P MARC 5%
S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index (SPXT5UE)
Index Landing Page with Factsheet and Methodology: Choose Excess Return in the drop-down menu
Brochure: S&P 500 Daily Risk Control 5% Index
Limiting Risk Exposure with S&P Risk Control Indices
S&P 500 ESG Daily Risk Control 5% ER Index (SPXESU5E)
Index Landing Page with Factsheet and Methodology: Choose Excess Return in the drop-down menu
Brochure: S&P 500 ESG Daily Risk Control 5% Index
Brochure: S&P 500 ESG Index: Integrating ESG Values into the Core
BofA Global MegaTrends Index (BOFAMEG7)
MSCI Factsheet: Disruptive Technology
MSCI Factsheet: Digital Economy
ECI Plus Sample Policies
ECI Plus 5 Specimen Contract – Generic
California ECI Plus 5 Specimen Contract
ECI Plus 7 Specimen Contract – Generic
California ECI Plus 7 Specimen Contract
ECI Plus 10 Specimen Contract – Generic
ECI Plus With Legacy Max Sample Policies
ECI Plus 5 Specimen Contract with Legacy Max
ECI Plus 7 Specimen Contract with Legacy Max
ECI Plus 10 Specimen Contract with Legacy Max
Some products and rate guarantee periods available through select distribution only.
Products of Standard Insurance Company. Product features and availability varies by state.