Prudential Launches FlexGuard 2.0: Enhanced Retirement RILA Annuity

Prudential Financial has introduced FlexGuard 2.0, an updated version of its registered index-linked annuity (RILA) product designed for the U.S. retirement market. This enhancement builds on Prudential's established RILA program by integrating feedback from customers and financial professionals to offer improved flexibility, usability, and protection in retirement planning solutions. Key features of FlexGuard 2.0 include a new flexible allocation option, a simplified fee structure without contract fees, expanded buffers, and a wider range of index and exchange-traded fund crediting strategies. These innovations aim to enhance growth potential and provide greater downside protection based on market performance. Prudential's advancement in the RILA segment highlights its strategic emphasis on combining product flexibility with accessible retirement security solutions. The updated FlexGuard 2.0 addresses evolving retirement market needs by allowing investors to tailor their protection levels and investment strategies as their circumstances change. This approach supports Prudential's commitment to delivering industry-leading retirement income products that balance risk and growth. The launch reflects Prudential's broader retirement offerings, which include over $15 billion in annual protected income payments to more than 3 million individual and institutional clients. Prudential’s Retirement Strategies business collaborates with over 100,000 financial professionals and manages diverse products ranging from individual retirement accounts to institutional solutions such as pension risk transfer and stable value contracts. FlexGuard 2.0 is issued by Pruco Life Insurance Company and distributed by Prudential Annuities Distributors. Like other RILAs, the product carries investment risks, including potential principal loss if index returns are negative beyond selected protection levels. Regulatory disclosures emphasize the complexity and long-term nature of these annuities, including the impacts of fees, surrender charges, and underlying index or ETF costs. Prudential Financial, with $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of late 2025, leverages its global presence and investment management expertise to innovate within the U.S. retirement market. The company’s ongoing evolution of its annuity products underscores the importance of aligning product design with customer needs and market trends, as well as regulatory and compliance considerations in retirement planning solutions.