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AXA Structured Capital Strategies Variable Annuity – Pros and Cons Explained [Updated January 2020]

What’s Covered in this Review

In this review, we’ll cover the following information on the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity:

  • Product Typeaxa logo
  • Fees
  • Current rates
  • Realistic long term investment expectations
  • How it is used
  • How it is most poorly used

Annuities can be complex. That’s where having an Annuity Investigator who loves math comes in.
We make the complex, simple.

What you will likely notice is that like just about any other annuity, the Structured Capital Strategies Annuity can perform quite well in certain areas. But, there are other areas that may not be up to par, depending on your specific financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

If this is your first visit to our website and you aren’t familiar with us, we are a team of insurance and financial experts who focus on providing in-depth, and unbiased, annuity reviews. In these reviews, we lay out the good, the bad, and even the ugly – which is necessary if you truly want to determine whether or not an annuity is right for you.

So, let’s get started!

AXA Structured Capital Strategies Annuity

Product Name
Structured Capital Strategies
IssuerAXA
Type of ProductVariable Annuity
Standard & Poor's RatingA+ (Positive)
Phone Number(800) 245-1230
Websitewww.us.axa.com

Opening Thoughts on the AXA Structured Capital Strategies Variable Annuity

AXA has been providing stability and reliability to its clients since 1859. The products that are offered through AXA allows investors to live with confidence and peace of mind, and can enable them to grow and protect wealth, as well as to leave a legacy.

The company is the world’s second largest financial services provider, based on revenue (just behind Berkshire Hathaway), which stands at more than $147 billion for 2018, and a market cap of over $63.5 billion. AXA is also listed on the Global 2000 list for 2019, and holds the positions of #33 for sales, #382 for profit, #28 for assets, and #164 for market value.

This insurer is an affiliate of AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc., a company that began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in May 2018. The company is considered strong and stable financially, and in turn, has earned high ratings from the insurer ratings agencies, including a(n):

  • A (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company
  • A2 (Good) from Moody’s
  • A+ (Strong) from S&P

In general, variable annuities are supposed to do two things – grow principal and produce income. But the reality is that they aren’t very good at producing income. This is because of the risk that these vehicles present to both the investor and to the insurance company that offers the annuity.

In fact, because their value can fluctuate so much, insurance companies can actually guarantee less income than safer options like fixed annuities can provide. So in essence, for every dollar that you put into a variable annuity, it’s going to promise you less income that a fixed annuity would for the exact same money. With this in mind, if your primary goal is to produce income, then a variable annuity may not be the way to go.

On the investment side, a variable annuity can offer investors the opportunity for unlimited growth. But along with that also comes downside risk. There are also a number of fees. First, within a variable annuity, you are invested in mutual funds. These will generally have their own fees within the funds themselves. With this fund, the fee is between 0.61 and 0.71%.

But the annuity itself also charges a front-end sales charge – so investors immediately start off with a loss. This can make it difficult for your account to grow when it is starting from behind. Then you have the uncertainty of the market.

Over the years, investors who have had funds in the market have been worried about not meeting their retirement goals. This has been due in large part to the substantial volatility of the market, giving way to potential loss of investor principal.

The AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity has the ability to help investors to build long-term wealth with a tax-deferred structured growth strategy, while at the same time providing a built-in feature for protection of a certain amount of principal from downside market risk.

That’s because this particular annuity is “combination” of a variable and an index-linked deferred contract. So, in a nutshell, it allows investors to pursue the accumulation of assets via equities and other investment options up to a certain performance “cap rate.”

Investors can basically “customize” the strategy that works the best for them, based on the underlying index (or indices) that is suitable, as well as their preferred time frame, and level of protection that meets their individual needs.

What this means to the investor is that a portion of their account can be protected from downside risk, but it’s important to understand that in order for that portion to be protected, a limit on earnings will be placed on that money. When the index used grows, you’ll see a cap (limit on earnings), which might be a turnoff to some – especially when you take into account the account fees, which we’ll talk about later in this review.

Before we get into the gritty details, here is some necessary legal information that needs to be disclosed…

This is an independent AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity product review and it does not constitute any type of recommendation to purchase or sell an annuity. AXA has not endorsed this review in any way, and I do not receive any compensation for providing this review. This information is meant to be an independent opinion so that readers may see my personal perspective when determining the potential advantages and/or drawbacks of this particular financial vehicle, and how it may or may not fit into their specific financial portfolio. Prior to purchasing any type of investment or investment product, it is important to pursue your own due diligence and to consult with a competent and properly licensed financial professional before moving forward. This way, you can more precisely ensure that the product and/or service fits in with your individual circumstances. All names, trademarks, and materials that were used in this annuity review are the property of their respective owners.

How AXA Describes The Structured Capital Strategies Variable Annuity

Based on AXA’s website, the Structured Capital Strategies annuity is a variable annuity that can “adapt to your unique investment style.”

To take a more in-depth look at how this particular annuity could work for you, go HERE and then click on your state of residence in the drop-down menu.

The AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity allows the investor to choose one or more segments to invest in, each providing a return that is linked to the performance of an underlying market index. Some examples of these include the S&P 500, the NASDAQ 100, and the Russell 2000.

With the Structured Capital Strategies annuity from AXA, you can keep your money at work, while at the same time, limiting your potential risk of loss. For instance, similar to with an indexed annuity, you can participate in the performance of various market indices such as the S&P 500 and the Russell 2000 – up to a set maximum, or “cap.”

You can also customize a strategy that is right for you by choosing the index (or indices) you want to track, as well as the maturity date of the investments – I this case, for one, three, or five years.

For more details on the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity, you can visit the product page HERE.

Even with all of the nice features that are included with the Structured Capital Strategies product, it hasn’t been without issue (although most of the customer ratings have been positive, giving this annuity an overall customer rating of 4.5 stars out of five.

To view customer reviews and complaints regarding the Structured Capital Strategies annuity from AXA, go HERE.

How Financial Advisors Might “Pitch” The AXA Structured Capital Strategies Annuity

While variable annuities are not quite as popular today as they were several years ago, index annuities have grown a great deal in popularity – especially over the past three to four years. One reason for this is their “win-win” scenario of providing the opportunity for growth, along with protection of principal factor.

So, certainly one of the key features that are offered on the Axa Structured Capital Strategies Annuity – even though it is a variable product – is the fact that it also provides investors protection of principal, at least up to a certain extent, while at the same time offering the potential for growing funds based on market performance. Investors may also like the fact that they can transfer between investment options at the end of one, three, or five-year segments.

Although this is touted as a benefit or feature – an investor should keep in mind that in some cases, having a quarterly review with their advisor may not be often enough to make necessary changes to really make a difference when the markets are rising or falling. Now think about being restricted to making changes every one, three, or five years. It sounds like it might be too little, too late to really make a difference.

Likewise, because people are living so much longer today, one of the biggest fears on the minds of many retirees and investors who are saving for the future is running out of income. With that in mind, the guaranteed income for life is also a big selling feature here, as with any annuity.

If you plan to use the Structured Capital Strategies annuity from AXA as a source of income, you should take into careful consideration the projected income from this annuity. There are other products out there that will offer higher levels of guaranteed income and even greater protection from market downsides.

There is no perfect product or investment, so your priorities should be clear right at the start. You should know before signing any contract whether your objective is to create a source of income or to grow your money over time to build a legacy for your family, because as much as your advisor might lead you to believe that both can be done inside of the same account, the truth is quite the opposite.

It’s important to be careful, though. Why?

For one thing, this annuity can still be exposed to extensive market downturns – and along with that, investors can still suffer the loss of principal. With that in mind, you still need to take stock of your true risk tolerance prior to moving forward with this particular annuity contract.

Regardless of how an insurance or financial advisor might present this Structured Capital Strategies annuity from AXA to you – which quite frankly, will typically be in the best light possible – one way to really tell how a product performs is to read reviews from real customers.

In order to check out the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity reviews, go HERE; so that you can see for yourself the good, the bad, and possibly even the ugly.

Also, because it has the index feature – and therefore the performance cap – you could be limited in your upside returns.  If you’re wondering if this annuity is right for you, or if you have questions and need a little help getting pointed in the right direction; just reach out via our secure contact form here.

What About the AXA Structured Capital Strategies Annuity’s Fees?

Variable annuities tend to be some of the more expensive investment vehicles available, and the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity is no different. Investing in Choice Segments can provide you with access to higher Performance Cap Rates, and potentially greater Segment performance. However, this can also come at a cost.

For instance, according to the product’s fact card, “the cost to invest in a Choice Segment is 1% per year of duration. As an example, this cost would be 3% for a 3-Year Segment and 5% for a 5-Year Segment. However, the Choice cost is waived if your Index returns are negative, and is partially waived if your Index returns are positive but less than your applicable Choice Cost.”

The annual account fee will range from .65% to 1.25%. This is what you pay AXA to administer the account, send you statements, and take your phone calls when you have any questions – a hefty amount for simply answering the phone and sending out your account information.

Remember, you have intervals of three and five years when you can make adjustments to your investments, and this option also has a fee of 1%. Additionally, when those “Choice Segments” make a positive return, you will be deducted 3% from the returns on the three-year option, and 5% off the top of the earning for the 5-year segment.

Now, what about the investments themselves? Well, that’s actually the cheapest part of this whole account. The annual operating expenses for the portfolios you invest in ranges from just 0.61% to 0.71%, which leads us to believe that if you want capital growth, it’s very likely you could go out there and find similar investment options – if not the exact same options – and cut out the middleman completely.

The Annuity Gator’s End Take on the AXA Structured Capital Strategies Variable Annuity

Where it works best:

  • When considering the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity, it can often work best in scenarios where an investor wants to be invested in the market, but yet is concerned with taking on too much market risk. This is because this contract will provide the ability to invest in equities, while at the same time offering a built-in downside protection feature.
  • This product is also a good option for those who are worried about outliving their savings/income in retirement, as it provides a guaranteed lifetime income feature.
  • Because there are surrender charges for withdrawing funds in the early stages of this contract (through Year 5), investors should consider this to be a longer-term financial endeavor.
  • The contract also offers the opportunity of a death benefit for a named beneficiary (minus any fees or withdrawals), so it can provide a way for an investor to leave a legacy to his or her heirs.

Where it works worst:

  • If an investor is not planning to use the income benefit, then this may not be an ideal product, and other, more suitable alternatives should probably be reviewed.
  • Also, because of the index component of this annuity, the maximum opportunity for market growth can be cut short due to the cap. Therefore, in exceptionally high growth periods, the investor may not be able to realize their full potential return.

In Summary

In analyzing any type of financial vehicle, it is important for investors to determine what their overall goals are. In some cases, for example, a product may appear to offer the “best of both worlds,” such as the opportunity for growth, along with protection of principal. Yet, in doing so, it is essential to also have a good understanding of just exactly what it is that you are giving up in order to get those benefits.

In the case of the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity, there are many good features, such as the wide variety of segment types to choose from, and the fact that investors can opt for going with either just one or several indices and maturity options.

Also, due to its segment buffer, investors will be protected from market risk – but only up to a certain amount such as -10%, -20%, or -30%. After that, the investor will absorb the loss that is in excess of their segment buffer. This means that a significant amount of loss could still occur.

With this in mind, the only way to truly know if this Structured Capital Strategies annuity from Axa will be a good fit for you is to have it tested. We offer this for free – so just contact us and we will use the calculator from the video in order to provide you with a better illustration of what this annuity could return for you. Use the form below to get in contact:

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Have Questions on the AXA Structured Capital Strategies Annuity? See any Mistakes?

If you have any additional questions regarding the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity, or if you see any information that doesn’t look quite right, please contact us.

Over the past several years, annuities have become much more popular – primarily due to their guaranteed lifetime income features. Because of that, a lot of financial advisors have been pushing their clients to purchase them – regardless of whether or not they make good sense for the client. But annuities can also be confusing, and you need to know exactly what it is that you are buying. After all, this is your retirement savings that you are investing here, so you don’t want to make quick financial decisions that you will later regret. These are long-term financial endeavors that are difficult to get out of once you’ve gotten in. If an annuity doesn’t make sense, you need to know now. If an annuity does make sense, however, it can be an essential component of your overall financial picture.

There may be others whom you know that could also benefit from an annuity. If so, please share this post with them. There are lots of people who are getting conflicting information about these retirement products. Our goal is to provide information about annuities in an objective manner. If you have a Facebook account, you can just simply click on the “Facebook” icon and share this article so that more people can find it, and hopefully, will benefit from it.

If you do happen to see anything in this review that may be outdated or out of place, please contact us and let us know. Financial products like annuities can often change – so it can be difficult to keep up with all of the information that is available. We are always happy to make any corrections as they are needed, as well as to add any information that may be required in order to clarify a topic to make it less confusing and more enjoyable for readers.

If you’re wondering if the AXA Structured Capital Strategies is right for you, or if you have questions and need a little help getting pointed in the right direction; just reach out via our secure contact form here.

Best,

The Annuity Gator

AXA Structured Capital Strategies Variable Annuity

9 Comments
  • Edwin Napoleoni
    10:20 AM, 9 March 2018

    Interested in the Structured Capital Strategies from AXA. A 5 years segment.

  • Annuity Gator
    10:38 AM, 12 April 2018

    Hi Edwin – Thank you. We will also add the AXA Structured Capital Strategies annuity to our list of future reviews. Let us know if we can help further by contact us directly at (888) 440-2468, or through our secure online contact form at http://www.annuitygator.com/contact/. Thanks again! The Annuity Gator

  • G Shimamoto
    10:05 AM, 12 March 2019

    Are there any services that track the actual performance of these products for different start dates, combination of index types, segment buffers, etc. The good, bad, and ugly comments address only professional services support.

  • Annuity Gator
    3:41 PM, 16 March 2019

    Hi and thank you for your comment. While much of the annuity literature and websites only provide general information, our software can actually track using various start dates, etc. We would be happy to provide you with this information if you are looking for more details on an annuity that you currently own and / or one that you are considering purchasing. In order to do so, we would need some additional information from you. Rather than sending sensitive info back and forth via email, though, please reach out to us at your convenience by phone at (888) 440-2468. We look forward to talking with you. Best! Annuity Gator

  • jackie reynolds
    11:53 AM, 6 July 2019

    Yes, I am interested in having you test this Axa annuity before I think about buying it.

  • Annuity Gator
    9:06 AM, 11 July 2019

    Hi Jackie– Thank you for your message.
    We would be happy to test this annuity for you. In order to best support you, we would need some additional information from you. Rather than sending the info back and forth via email, it would be best to discuss by phone. Please feel free to contact us directly, toll-free, at (888) 440-2468 to chat with one of our annuity specialists or visit http://annuitygator.com/contact/

    We look forward to hearing from you.
    Best. Annuity Gator

  • Steve Stempien
    5:54 PM, 9 January 2020

    Regarding AXA Structured Capital Strategies 16 Series B annuity :
    What is annuitized percentage rate after 10 years , and after 30 years ? So for example , I invest 200k into a variable annuity with the plans to withdraw money after 10 years and say it grows to 500k , for example, in 10 years. What percentage of that 500k can I withdraw in year 11 ( the first year I am eligible to withdraw and will it be different in years , 12, 13, 14 …etc ?

  • Annuity Gator
    5:17 PM, 10 January 2020

    Hi Steve– Thank you for your message.
    We would be happy to provide you more details on AXA Structured Capital Strategies 16 Series B annuity. In order to best support you, we would need some additional information from you. Rather than sending the info back and forth via email, it would be best to discuss it by phone. Please feel free to contact us directly, toll-free, at (888) 440-2468 to chat with one of our annuity specialists or visit http://annuitygator.com/contact/
    We look forward to hearing from you.
    Best,
    Annuity Gator

  • Sean
    1:49 PM, 19 March 2020

    Hey G Shimamoto,
    Yes there are, and quite frankly, this article is missing many important material facts in regards to this product. There are segments that charge no explicit fees and the cap rates are based on market volatility. The caps are extremely high today and there is even an international segment that offers an uncapped growth potential, also no fees.

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