Index Guard Strategy Rider

Definitions

Base Contract

The contract to which this rider is attached.

Cap

A Cap is the maximum positive Performance Credit for an Index Option. On the Term Start Date, we declare a Cap or that an Index Option is uncapped and we guarantee it for the Term. If we declare that an Index Option is uncapped, there is no maximum positive Performance Credit for an Index Option on the Term End Date. Caps are shown on your Index Options statement each year and will never be less than the Minimum Cap shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.

Floor

A Floor is the minimum Performance Credit, which may be negative, for an Index Option on a Term End Date. We declare a Floor for each Index Option, and the Floors will not change. The Floors are shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.

Index Option Base

The value used to determine the dollar amount of the Performance Credit. We establish an Index Option Base for each Index Option.

Index Option Value

The value in a selected Index Option. We establish an Index Option Value for each Index Option.

Index Value

The value of an Index at the end of the Business Day. Index Values are shown on your Index Options statement.

Performance Credit

The return you may receive on the Term End Date when you allocate to an Index Guard Strategy Index Option.

Term

The period of time from the Term Start Date to the Term End Date. The Term length is shown on the Index Options Contract Schedule.

Term End Date

The day on which a Term ends. A Term End Date may only occur on an Index Anniversary.

Term Start Date

The day on which a Term begins. A Term Start Date may only occur on the Index Effective Date or an Index Anniversary.

Contract Value

The following is added to the “Contract Value” section of the Base Contract.

How we calculate Index Option Values

On the first Term Start Date, the Index Option Value and Index Option Base for an Index Option are equal to the amount of any Purchase Payments and Transfers into the Index Option.

At the end of each Business Day other than the Term Start Date or Term End Date, the Index Option Value is equal to the Index Option Base plus its Daily Adjustment. We establish a Proxy Value to calculate the Daily Adjustment. The Proxy Value is determined on each Business Day based on the value of a hypothetical set of put and call options as determined by an option pricing formula. The Daily Adjustment is calculated before we process any Partial Withdrawal (including any Withdrawal Charges or corresponding Partial MVAs) or deduct any Contract Charges and Advisory Fees using the Index Option Base, the current Proxy Value, and the Proxy Value as of the Term Start Date.

On the Term End Date, we determine the Index Return for the Index Option. The Index Return is the Index Value for the Term End Date, minus the Index Value from the Term Start Date, divided by the Index Value from the Term Start Date. If the Term Start Date or Term End Date is not a Business Day, we use the Index Value on the next Business Day.

If there is a Cap, and the Index Return is positive and greater than or equal to the Cap for an Index Option, then the Performance Credit for the Index Option is equal to the Cap. If the Index Return is positive, but less than the Cap, or if the Index return is positive and the Index Option is uncapped, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Index Return. If the Index Return is negative, but greater than or equal to the floor, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Index Return. If the Index Return is less than the Floor, then the Performance Credit for that Index Option is equal to the Floor.

Finally, on the Term End Date, for the Index Option we:

•	Increase its Index Option Value and Index Option Base by the amount of any Additional Purchase Payments and Transfers into the Index Option;

•	Reduce its Index Option Value and Index Option Base by the amount transferred out of the Index Option; and

•	Reduce its Index Option Value and Index Option Base for Withdrawals (including any corresponding Withdrawal Charge or Partial MVAs), Contract Charges, and/or Advisory Fees.

Rider Fee

There is no fee for this rider.

Termination of this Rider

This rider terminates on the earlier of the Business Day before the Annuity Date or the date the Base Contract terminates.

In all other respects the provisions, conditions, exceptions and limitations contained in the Base Contract remain unchanged and apply to this rider.

Signed for the Company at its home office.