Gary Poster, with essential assists from Galyn Norwood, Phiroon Phihakendr, Jose Quijada, Pavandeep Kalra. Although often hyped, this feature is of dubious value.
Variables also come with some insurance features, such as a death benefit.
In its plain-vanilla form, the death benefit guarantees that when you die your beneficiary will receive the higher of the market value of your account or the amount you invested. Many insurers have a fancier version of this feature. Insurers tout the death benefit as if it were the Second Coming. But I don't see much value in it for long-term investors. Time Inc. All rights reserved.