Allstate to Expand Retirement Offerings With AXA Equitable's Retirement Cornerstone® Variable Annuity

NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to retirement, one size doesn't fit all.

"Different personal situations demand different retirement savings choices," said Don Civgin, president and chief executive officer of Allstate Financial. "That's why Allstate has begun offering AXA Equitable's Retirement Cornerstone^® variable annuity – to strengthen and diversify the retirement products available to Allstate customers."

The AXA Equitable Retirement Cornerstone variable annuity is a long-term financial product that allows customers to save for and help protect retirement income. It offers options available for an additional fee to create an income for life and to provide for those you care about, including:

• A guaranteed lifetime income option that keeps pace with inflation and interest rates
• Opportunity to invest in 100+ funds to participate in potential market growth, in a tax-deferred vehicle.
• An enhanced death benefit option that can help protect spouses and beneficiaries
• Features that can help address client concerns, such as longevity, inflation, volatility and interest rate risk.

Allstate chose Retirement Cornerstone because it offers features not found in its current retirement offerings, AXA Equitable has solid financial strength ratings, and it is a member of the global AXA Group, which was ranked as the top global insurance brand by Interbrand in 2012.

"We are pleased to partner with Allstate in adding Retirement Cornerstone to its expanded retirement savings offerings," said Nick Lane, president of the Retirement Savings division at AXA Equitable. "Retirement Cornerstone provides a level of flexibility and efficiency not typical in a variable annuity. Its unique value rests in the way it offers an investment growth strategy, without giving up the comfort of having a reliable guarantee – all in one tax-efficient platform."

Beyond the Retirement Cornerstone annuity, Allstate offers its customers a wide range of retirement savings options, such as other annuity products from Prudential and Protective. For more information on these products and how they may fit your individual situation, contact the financial professional at your local Allstate agency. Additional information about retirement can be found at http://www.myallstatefinancial.com/retirement. 

In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation's premier providers of life insurance, annuity and financial products and services. AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management, with 102 million clients in 57 countries as of April 9, 2013. "AXA Group" refers to AXA, a French holding company for an international group of insurance and financial services companies together with its direct and indirect consolidated subsidiaries. Find AXA Equitable on Facebook and Twitter or visit www.axa-equitable.com. AXA Equitable has sole responsibility for its annuity and life insurance obligations. 

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate^®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

About Retirement Cornerstone
The Retirement Cornerstone® variable annuity contains two distinct accounts within a long-term, tax-deferred product; one account, the Investment Account, offers an extensive selection of over 110 investment portfolios (funds) from well-known investment managers and the other account, the Protected Benefit Account, offers a reduced selection of investment portfolios which fund the guaranteed lifetime income option and the enhanced death benefit option. These options are available for an additional fee and contain certain limitations and restrictions that must be met to avoid reducing benefits. As your needs change over the years, you can simply transfer assets from the Investment Account to the Protected Benefit Account until age 75. Transfers from the Protected Benefit Account to the Investment Account are not allowed.  

Withdrawals from Retirement Cornerstone may also be subject to a contractual withdrawal charge of up to 7% over a seven year period. 

Variable annuities are subject to market risk including loss of principal. Variable annuities are subject to insurance-related charges, including mortality and expense risk charges, administrative fees, and expenses associated with the underlying funds. For costs and complete details contact a financial professional.

Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before purchasing a variable annuity. For a prospectus containing this and other information, please contact a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.

All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. This release does not contain all material provisions of the Retirement Cornerstone contract. Certain types of contracts, features, and benefits may not be available in all jurisdictions. 

AXA Equitable may discontinue contributions and transfers among investment portfolios or make other changes in contribution and transfer requirements and limitations. If we discontinue contributions and transfers into the Protected Benefit Account, you will no longer be able to fund your guaranteed benefits.

Contact form #s: ICC12BASE4 and ICC12BASE3 and any state variations.

Retirement Cornerstone 13.0 is issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY,NY) and is co-distributed by affiliates AXA Advisors, LLC and AXA Distributors, LLC. AXA Equitable, AXA Advisors, and AXA Distributors are not affiliated with Allstate. 

SOURCE The Allstate Corporation; AXA Equitable