Total Control Account - The Wall Street Journal

Total Control Account?

PROVIDING YOU WITH SECURITY AND PEACE OF MIND

Total Control Account?-- Providing You With Security and Peace of Mind

The loss of a loved one can be a devastating and confusing experience. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) is committed to helping you deal with some of the complexities faced during this difficult time. Dealing with certain matters, especially financial ones, can seem difficult and overwhelming after losing a loved one. Often, survivors are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with such money matters. You can take comfort in knowing that your loved one provided insurance protection for you.

Your life insurance benefits are being paid to you through a Total Control Account (TCA) Settlement Option. We think you will find that the ease of this

Account will provide you with some peace of mind and one less thing to worry about during this challenging time.

The TCA is not a checking, savings or money market account from a bank. The TCA is a settlement option or method used to pay claims under our life insurance and annuity contracts. The terms and provisions of your TCA are set out in the Customer Agreement. Information about the TCA and how it works is also provided in this booklet. The information in this booklet does not, however, modify or change the terms of the Customer Agreement. In addition to reviewing this booklet, be sure to take time to read your Customer Agreement.

Quick Overview of Your Account ? You have access to the entire amount of your insurance proceeds. You can access your money at any time with-

out charge or penalty, simply by writing a check from the supplied checkbook, in an amount of $250 or more. This means you may withdraw the entire amount of your benefit payment immediately if you wish. If your account balance falls below $250, we will send you a check for the full remaining balance, if the balance is greater than $1. ? We will pay you interest on the balance in your Account from the date your claim is paid. This gives you time to decide what to do with our proceeds. ? You will receive periodic statements outlining interest earned, checks drawn on your Account and other transactions. ? Information about your TCA is available to you electronically through MetLife's eSERVICE Web site. ? We have established a dedicated customer service toll-free phone number for you to call with any questions about your Account: 800-638-7283. Callers with a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) can call 800-229-3037. ? The principal and interest in your TCA are guaranteed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. These guarantees are subject to the financial strength and claims-paying ability of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

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Using the Enclosed Materials

This booklet was created to help you understand your TCA Total Control Account better and to answer any questions you may have about the TCA. If, after reading your Customer Agreement and this booklet, you have any other questions, we have dedicated Customer Service Representatives ready to help you. Please call our Customer Service Center at: 800-638-7283. Callers with a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call 800-229-3037.

If you prefer, you can also write to us at: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Total Control Account PO Box 6511 Utica, NY 13504-6511

Along with this booklet, you will also find the following items enclosed:

? Customer Agreement ? Personalized Checkbook ? Privacy Notice ? Beneficiary Designation Form ? Business Reply Envelope ? Change of Account Holder Information Form ? eSERVICE Information Form

IMPORTANT: Please verify that the information in your TCA checkbook is accurate. (Please also see Special Circumstances on page 8.) If there are any problems with your name or address, please notify our Customer Service Representatives at 800-638-7283 immediately.

Please be sure to put these materials in a safe place. If your checkbook is stolen, lost or mislaid, or any of your checks are missing or taken, let us know immediately.

IMPORTANT POINTS: ? The assets backing the Total Control Account are maintained in Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's general

account and are subject to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company's creditors. ? Metropolitan Life Insurance Company will bear the positive or negative investment experience of such assets. ? Regardless of the investment experience of such assets, the interest credited to your TCA will never fall below

the rate guaranteed in your Customer Agreement. ? Because Metropolitan Life Insurance Company bears the investment experience of the assets backing the Total

Control Account, it may receive a profit from these assets. ? The TCA is not insured by the FDIC or any government agency.

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An Account Designed for Your Needs

Mary recently lost her husband, Bill, of 45 years. Because of his long illness, they had incurred substantial expenses over the last few years. Like many people in similar circumstances, she hadn't spent much time thinking about these expenses while busy caring for her husband. After his passing, she found herself with a pile of bills -- including funeral expenses and medical bills not covered by Medicare and health insurance -- that needed to be paid. Fortunately Bill's life insurance was more than enough to cover these expenses. Mary even had some money left over.

Because Mary's insurance benefits were paid through a TCA, she was able to write checks to pay for these expenses immediately once she received the TCA checkbook. She left the rest of the money in the Account as a safety net, knowing that it would grow with interest and she wouldn't have to think about it during this difficult and emotional time. This story illustrates the many benefits of the TCA. It can make an extraordinarily difficult time a little easier by removing the need to decide immediately what to do with your money. The money in the Account is available to you at any time, simply by writing one of your TCA checks to yourself. If you need time to decide what to do with the proceeds, your money can stay in your Account, earning interest, while you assess your situation and options.

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Accessing Your Money

You can use the money in your TCA for any purpose. With your TCA, you can immediately write checks of $250 or more, up to the full amount in your Account. Just use the personalized TCA checks enclosed. Because the assets backing your TCA are not held at a bank, your Account is a draft account and not a checking account. However, you can use these TCA drafts (hereafter referred to as "checks" or "checkbook") just as you would a check for a checking account at a bank. Keep in mind that once money is withdrawn from your TCA, you cannot put it back.

If you are unfamiliar with maintaining an account with check writing privileges, we have provided instructions inside your new TCA checkbook. If you still have questions after reading these instructions, we will be happy to help you however we can. Please call us at 800-638-7283 and our dedicated TCA Customer Service Representatives will gladly assist you.

More About Your TCA Checks

If you need cash, generally, you can obtain money from your Account by making a TCA check payable to yourself, signing it and then cashing it or depositing it at a local bank where you have an account. Check with your bank for any restrictions on availability of funds from drafts written against accounts at other financial institutions. If you do not have a local bank account, you may want to take the TCA check to a check cashing facility that accepts personal checks; however, they may charge you a fee for this service.

If you wish, you can close your TCA by writing a check for the full amount in your Account. If there is any additional monthly interest accrued or other remaining money, a check will be mailed to you separately. If you are out of TCA checks and wish to close your Account, call our Customer Service Center toll-free.

Please note, automatic electronic fund transfers, electronic bill payments and phone payments are generally not available from the TCA.

IMPORTANT POINTS: ? The enclosed TCA checkbook should be used when you need money from your Account. ? Outside money cannot be deposited into your TCA, but if you have other claims under other policies issued by

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, you may be able to combine these payments into one TCA. Payments under policies issued by MetLife affiliates cannot be added to this Account. ? Verify that your name and address are correct on your TCA checkbook and, if not, notify us immediately. ? TCA checks must be written for at least $250. ? To reorder TCA checks, use the order form in your TCA checkbook. You may also call us toll-free at 800-638-7283 and use our automated phone system to reorder checks. ? Automatic electronic fund transfers, electronic bill payments, and phone payments are generally not available from the TCA. ? Please be sure to put these materials in a safe place. If your checkbook is stolen, lost or mislaid, or any of your checks are missing, let us know immediately.

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