Secure a lasting financial legacy with Legacy Ascender

An optional death benefit rider to help take financial futures above and beyond.

Secure a financial future to pass on with the Legacy Ascender rider

When purchasing a fixed-indexed annuity (FIA) from MassMutual Ascend, there may be the opportunity to add the Legacy Ascender rider. It helps leave an enhanced legacy for loved ones, while also protecting the money already accumulated. With competitive features, this optional rider can help plan for the future.

What are the advantages?

Guaranteed growth

The Legacy Ascender rider provides guaranteed growth of the benefit base by 6% or 9% depending on the owner’s age.

Flexibility

The Legacy Ascender rider allows for owners and beneficiaries to have flexibility to choose how benefits are paid, with either a lump sum payment or a series of payments.

No waiting period

There is no waiting period to receive the death benefit.

^{For issue ages 50-79, a 9% simple interest rollup credit would be applied. For issue ages 80-85, a 6% simple interest rollup credit would be applied.}

See the Legacy Ascender rider in action

Tom (75) and Sherri (73) are approaching retirement and are looking to see how they can leave a legacy behind for their children, Pam and Jim.

They want to protect the assets they have, while continuing to build on them. With the help of their financial professional, Tom and Sherri purchase an FIA with a $200,000 purchase payment. They are considering adding the Legacy Ascender rider for enhanced death benefit – how does it work?

By adding the Legacy Ascender rider to an FIA contract, a new value is created referred to as the benefit base. The benefit base is the amount used to calculate rider benefit payments. In contract years 1-10, the benefit base will increase by 9% of all the purchase payments contributed to the annuity in the first contract year, assuming Tom and Sherri don’t take any withdrawals. The benefit base grows regardless of market conditions.

For example, when Tom and Sherri purchased an FIA with a $200,000 purchase payment, they knew their benefit base would increase by $18,000 per year for 10 years.

^{Example assumes no withdrawals are taken and a 9% (issue ages 50-79) simple interest rollup credit. Account values do not reflect actual market performance.}

Tom and Sherri designate Pam and Jim as the beneficiaries on their rider and decide not to put any restrictions on the way they receive the benefit amount. At the time of their death, their account value is $293,065 and their benefit base is $380,000.

Pam and Jim have the option of receiving the rider death benefit as a lump sum or as a series of payments. If they take a lump sum, they'll receive a one-time payment of $380,000. If they choose to receive a series of payments, $380,000 is used to calculate the payments, and they'll receive $77,519 each for five years (for a total of $387,599).

Adding the Legacy Ascender rider to their FIA allowed Tom and Sherri to leave a legacy that is protected and lasting for their children.

Materials to learn more

Financial strength you can count on

We are rated

"A++"

(Superior) by AM Best and have been rated AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor's.

Stability

80%

Fixed income investments make up nearly 80%* of our invested assets, creating a low risk and stable profile.

Commitment to customers

$15B

More than $15 billion in guaranteed income benefits paid since 2000^

AM Best rating of “A++” (Superior affirmed on October 23, 2025). AM Best rating of “A++” is the highest of 16 ratings. S&P rating of “AA” (Very Strong) upgraded on February 20, 2025. S&P rating of "AA" is the 3^rd highest of 21 ratings.

The information presented reflects a hypothetical example. Different assumptions would lead to different results. Results are not guaranteed.

^*Data is as of December 31, 2025. Fixed income investments include bonds, cash, short-term investments and policy loans.

^{^}Data is as of December 31, 2025. The guaranteed income benefit amount includes annuity benefit payments under immediate and deferred annuities, income benefit payments under guaranteed withdrawal benefit riders and contract withdrawals taken by owners after their rider benefit payments began.

Product issued under MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company^SM(Cincinnati, Ohio), a wholly owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). The Legacy Ascender rider issued by MassMutual Ascend (ICC25-R6088925NW) is an optional rider for which there is an annual charge. Contract and rider form numbers may vary by state. Products and features may vary by state, and may not be available in all states.

All guarantees subject to the claims-paying ability of MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company.

This content does not apply in the state of New York.

NOT A BANK OR CREDIT UNION DEPOSIT OR OBLIGATION • NOT FDIC OR NCUA-INSURED • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY • MAY LOSE VALUE • NOT GUARANTEED BY ANY BANK OR CREDIT UNION

F1180126NW

Terms and Conditions Privacy

© 2026 MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Products issued by MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company^SM (MassMutual).