MetLife Europe Limited is offering investors the opportunity to select guarantee options in their retirement and long-term savings products, with the introduction of a range of index funds.

MetLife Europe Limited is offering investors the opportunity to select guarantee options in their retirement and long-term savings products with low annual management charges, following the introduction of a new range of index funds.

The five new Index Portfolios are made up of six index funds covering the world’s major investment areas and asset classes from America and Europe to Japan and the Far East. A UK fixed-interest fund has also been included.

The six new index funds from BlackRock have an annual management charge of just 0.2 per cent. This enables investors to benefit from guarantees at 1.2 per cent in the Secure Retirement Option, which is available through MetLife’s Trustee Investment Plan (TIP) and 1.4 per cent in the Secure Capital Option, which is available through the MetLife Investment Bond.

Peter Carter, head of product marketing at MetLife Europe Limited, says, ‘Current stock market volatility demonstrates the value of guarantees in retirement and long-term savings and our new proposition proves guarantees can be offered at competitive costs. In addition, most investment professionals agree that asset allocation is the key to long-term investment performance, so these new asset-allocated portfolios fit the bill exactly.

‘The addition of active asset allocation is ideal for investors who do not wish to pay for active fund management. Very few other providers offer a choice between active and index investments and these added fund choices enhance even further the value offered in our bond and TIP products.’