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Registered index-linked annuities

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Balancing growth potential and a level of protection

Registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) like Guardian MarketPerform™ can help you reach your financial goals for retirement, as they offer growth potential for your retirement assets, while providing a level of protection during market downturns. RILAs offer you the choice of the stock market index and investment approach that best fits your goals.

Reasons to consider a RILA:

  • Limit your exposure to market risk

    You can limit or may even avoid losses due to poor market performance.

  • Tailor to your goals

    Choose from a range of investment options that may support your unique goals for retirement.

  • Potential to grow your investment

    Your investment can track indices with upside potential, subject to a possible cap you will know in advance, so you are able to take advantage of market growth.

  • No explicit fees apply

    Unlike many types of annuities where fees reduce your contract value, there are no fees on money invested in this contract.1 This allows you to keep more of your money working toward accomplishing your retirement goals.

Investment growth potential

With a registered index-linked annuity, your growth potential is determined in part based on the performance of an underlying index or indices, so your money isn’t directly invested in the market. You have the flexibility to choose one or more indices that align with your investment preferences and objectives. At the end of your Strategy Term,2 your contract value will change based on the Index Performance3 and your selected Index Protection and Crediting Strategy (IPCS).4

Understanding the Index Protection Strategy

Guardian MarketPerformTM allows you to select from different levels of index protection , or Buffer5 Rates, which can help limit losses due to negative Index Performance.

At the end of your Strategy Term, if the index has negative performance, you are protected up to the Buffer Rate, meaning you only realize losses that are beyond the Buffer Rate. To limit downside risk, you can select from -10%, -20%, or -30% Buffer Rates.

Understanding the Index Crediting Strategies

With Guardian MarketPerform™, you capture index growth through a Crediting Strategy6 at the end of a Strategy Term.

To understand how Crediting Strategies work, it’s important to understand the following key terms. This way, you can make sure the selections you make will provide an amount of growth potential that aligns with your investment objectives.

Note: If you do not remain invested in your IPCS options until the Term End Date, you could experience a loss that is greater than the level of protection the Protection Strategy provides or a gain that is lower than the return the Crediting Strategy provides on the Term End Date. Please review the important disclaimers for details on the risks associated with Guardian MarketPerform™

Customize your investment

  • 1

    Pick a Strategy Term

    1-, 3-, or 6-year time frames

    Track the performance of an index for 1, 3, or 6 years.

  • 2

    Select a level of protection

    -10%, -20%, or -30%

    Choosing less protection gives you increased upside potential.

  • 3

    Select indices to track

    4 indices to choose from7

    Decide on your investment selection(s) and the percentage of your investment to allocate toward them.

Performance Lock

You can lock in performance prior to the Term End Date with the Performance Lock feature. For important information on how the Performance Lock feature works, carefully review the Performance Lock flyer and product prospectus. To see the IPCSs currently offered with Performance Lock, consult the product disclosure document.

Want to see how it works?

Try our digital tool to view hypothetical outcomes for an investment in Guardian MarketPerform™.

Step 1 of 4

Guardian MarketPerform™

Get Started

Learn what to expect when investing in Guardian MarketPerform™, a registered index-linked annuity. 
Use this interactive tool to understand the possible outcomes for your annuity investment.

Step 1: Your initial investment

The principal you’ll invest in the annuity. Enter an amount between $25,000 to $1,000,000.

Go to the tool

Important information

Learn more about Guardian MarketPerformTM with these resources you can read or download anytime.

  • Guardian MarketPerform™ prospectus
  • Guardian MarketPerform™ brochure
  • Cap Rate flyer
  • Disclosure Document

Talk to a financial professional about RILAs

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Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY.

Copyright© 2024 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. All rights reserved.

1 Withdrawals may be subject to surrender charge. Expenses related to administration, sales and certain risks in the contract are factored into the Cap Rate.

2 The amount of time between the Term Start Date and Term End Date of a Strategy. Strategy Terms can be for 1, 3, or 6 years.

3 Index Performance is calculated by using a point-to-point approach. We compare the Index Value on the Term End Date to the Index Value on the Term Start Date. The difference is the Index Performance. Note that the Index Value is published by the Index provider at the close of each business day. Index Performance is adjusted based on the application of the Buffer Protection and the applicable Crediting Strategy in order to determine the gain or loss, as applicable.

4 These are your allocation options. You can select different IPCSs. Each will have its own Strategy Term, index, Buffer Rate, and Crediting Strategy Rate.

5 A Buffer is a protection strategy that applies when there is negative Index Performance. At the end of your Strategy Term, if the index has negative performance, you are protected up to the Buffer Rate, meaning you only realize losses that are beyond the Buffer Rate. The Buffer only applies on the Term End Date. Any negative Index Performance beyond the Buffer Rate will reduce the Strategy Value by the Strategy Credit Rate. Other than for a 1-Year Strategy Term, the Buffer Rate is not an annual rate.

6 The Crediting Strategy is applied to positive Index Performance to determine the Strategy Credit Rate on the Term End Date. Cap and Participation Rates will be guaranteed for one Strategy Term. Cap and Participation Rates for renewals may differ from those that apply to newly issued contracts.

7 A Fixed Rate Strategy (FRS) is also available. See the prospectus for additional information.

This material must be preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for Guardian MarketPerform™. This product is sold by prospectus only. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. The prospectus contains important information regarding this product, including fees and expenses. A prospectus may be obtained by calling 888-Guardian (888-482-7342). To download a prospectus, please click the link above, or visit guardianlife.com

IPCSs are not a permanent part of the contract and may be removed due to circumstances beyond the control of GIAC. These circumstances and the special rules that govern how assets in a discontinued IPCS may be reallocated are outlined in the contract.

The renewal rates under each Strategy are based on the economic environment at the time renewal rates are declared and may be less favorable than those declared at issue. Renewal rates may be reduced as the contract approaches the end of the surrender charge period.

Guardian MarketPerform™ is subject to investment risk, the value will fluctuate, and loss of principal is possible. The Contract is not designed to be a short-term investment, and it is not appropriate for an investor who intends to take early or frequent withdrawals.

Strategy Interim Value: The Index Strategy Value on any day during the Strategy Term other than the Term Start Date or Term End Date. It is the value that is available for withdrawals and surrenders from an IPCS, and it is the value you may lock in if you exercise the Performance Lock feature on an IPCS (if available). It will also be used to determine the amount available for annuitization under your contract, the payment of the Standard Death Benefit, or your right to return the contract (unless the return of premium is greater).

The contract Interim Value may reflect a negative Index Performance even if the Index increases, may reflect a positive Index Performance even if the Index decreases, and may be lower than the amount available on the Term End Date.

The Strategy Value Base is equal to the amount allocated to the IPCS on the Term Start Date, reduced thereafter on a pro-rata basis for withdrawals (including any applicable surrender charges). This means that the Strategy Value Base will be reduced by the same percentage that the withdrawal reduces the sum of Index Strategy Values for the IPCS options that have not yet reached their Term End Dates and are not locked in pursuant to exercise of the Performance Lock feature. Such reduction may be more, even significantly more, than the dollar amount withdrawn.

This material is intended for general public use. By providing this content, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. and their affiliates and subsidiaries are not undertaking to provide advice or recommendations for any specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Please contact a financial representative for guidance and information that is specific to your individual situation.

All guarantees are backed exclusively by the strength and claims-paying ability of The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (GIAC). Guardian MarketPerform™ is issued by GIAC, a Delaware corporation, and distributed through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). GIAC and PAS are wholly owned subsidiaries of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian). Guardian, GIAC and PAS are located at 10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

Guardian MarketPerformTM products are issued on contract forms 23-RILA, ICC24-RILA, 23-RILA BUFFER, ICC24-RILA BUFFER, 23-RILA FRS, ICC24-RILA FRS, 23-RILA ROPDB, ICC24-RILA ROPDB, 23-RILA WSC, ICC24-RILA WSC, 23-RILA STRATEGY SPEC, ICC24-RILA STRATEGY SPEC (or state equivalent forms). Product availability and features may vary by state.

For more information about Guardian MarketPerform™, please contact your financial professional or call 888-GUARDIAN (888-482-7342).

Under this Crediting Strategy, the Cap Rate with Participation Rate is used to determine the amount of a Strategy Credit Rate. It utilizes two components: a Cap Rate and a Par Rate. The Cap Rate and Par Rates we declare for each Strategy Term will never be less than the Minimum Guaranteed Rate shown in your contract. The Cap Rate may have a defined rate or be uncapped. If we declare a defined Cap Rate, the Par Rate will be 100% and the Strategy Credit Rate will equal the Index Performance up to the Cap Rate.

If we declare an IPCS has no Cap Rate, it is Uncapped and you will receive 100% of the positive performance.

If we declare that there is no Cap Rate (Uncapped), and the Participation Rate as described in the prospectus is greater than 100%, we refer to that as your Upside+ Rate. In this event, your Crediting Strategy will return any positive index performance multiplied by the Upside+ Rate.