Your benefit statement – bonus rates FAQs

• A with-profits investment allows savers access to a fund, where their money is pooled with others’ and all share in the investment return.
• The share is in the form of annual (reversionary) bonuses added to the policy. Once added they cannot be taken away.
• A final bonus will often be applied at encashment if you invest for a minimum of three years. This is not guaranteed and will vary depending on the type of investment.

The fund is invested in a mix of equities, commercial property, corporate bonds and cash and therefore not solely dependent on one market.

Any payments made to our members by way of an annual or final bonus must reflect the way in which the value of the fund has performed throughout the period of investment.

The Society aims to avoid large changes in the bonuses paid from year to year by applying smoothing.

It is a process designed to protect the investor from sudden movements in the stock-market.

In practice, smoothing means we hold back some of the high investment returns from the good years and use them to boost with-profits payments in years where returns are lower.

The Society aims to keep charges for its costs as low as possible and these are reviewed annually.

All costs are deducted prior to annual and final bonuses being applied.

We do not pay commission to anyone.

These are endowment type plans which have a sum assured that is slightly lower than the premiums which will be paid by the time the policy matures. 

Tables 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 21.

The value increases as contributions or premiums are paid into the policy.  The Total Benefit (final column) is the amount paid to 31 December plus all annual bonuses from previous years (including 2017). 

Tables 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. 

The Guaranteed Five-Year Savings plan and the various protection protects Metfriendly offer – Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover and Tables 17 (DTA) and 23 (LTA).  These products are not affected by the returns on the with profits fund.

• The ‘Total of Sum Assured & Bonuses’ column is the minimum amount Metfriendly guarantee to pay on death of the policyholder (including any bonuses that have accrued).
• This is also the minimum amount due at maturity assuming all premiums have been paid.
• In keeping the Sum Assured below the full amount which you will have paid in, we allow for the expenses incurred in running the policy, and the cost of providing the death benefit.

• Bonuses take into account investment return less any expenses, smoothing, taxation and the cost of providing death benefits.
• The Annual Bonus is added to applicable plans on 31 December each year. Any that have been applied are guaranteed at maturity or on death.
• On your statement the ‘Bonus Rate’ that we paid at the end of last year is shown and the amount of the 2017 bonus is under ‘New Annual Bonus 2017’ column.
• The Final Bonus (also known as terminal bonus) may be added to your lump sum investment on or after the third anniversary. Other regular contribution contracts may attract a final bonus at maturity and this is factored into surrender values from the 6th anniversary onwards.
• The Final Bonus is for the first time shown on the annual statement for lump sums (where applicable). The rate reflects investment performance and is decided at the time of surrender. Please note the final bonus is not guaranteed and may fluctuate.

We have to reflect the return we make on our investments, even in bad times. Therefore, a negative bonus or market value reduction (MVR) may be applied to adjust the surrender values accordingly.

Please note that an MVR would not apply to maturity values or death claims.

Metfriendly does not currently (as at 1 February 2018) apply an MVR to any of its products but reserves the right to do so in a fair manner.

• The rates are difficult to compare but it is important to note that on conventional (CWP) savings plans our bonuses are calculated from and are added to the sum assured, not just the money you pay in.

• Annual bonuses (currently 1.5%) applied to an ISA investment are a reflection of the return on secure investments over the recent years.
• From April 2018, our monthly savings ISA will attract a guaranteed bonus rate of 2.5% until April 2020 on all contributions made during the 2018/19 tax year (06/04/2018-05/04/2019).
• We are currently paying final bonuses on lump sum investments which have been invested for three or more years.
• Therefore, at the time of encashment, you may also be entitled to a final bonus which represents additional investment growth not already distributed by way of annual bonuses
• The bonuses depend on market conditions. At present (01/02/2018), we are paying 8% after three years, 18% after five and 38% after ten years. 

• View our current and previous bonus rates
• View the past performance of our savings plans. The past performance is not a guide to future returns.

• You can find out more about how we manage the with-profits fund here.
• Alternatively, you can call us on 01689 891454 or e-mail us at [email protected] for more information or with any questions you may have.