BHF

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. is a prominent insurance and annuity company providing life insurance, annuities, and other financial products primarily to retail customers and independent distributors. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brighthouse was created in 2017 through the separation from MetLife, focusing exclusively on individual life insurance and annuities. The company operates through three main segments: Annuities, Life Insurance, and Run-off. Brighthouse serves policyholders seeking retirement income solutions, death benefit protection, and long-term financial security products. Brighthouse's annuity products include variable, fixed indexed, and income annuities designed to provide guaranteed income, tax-deferred growth, death benefits, and living benefits. The Life Insurance segment offers variable, term, universal, and whole life insurance products providing death benefit protection and, in some products, cash value accumulation. The company distributes products through independent financial advisors, broker-dealers, and banks rather than maintaining a captive agent force. Brighthouse emphasizes product features including guaranteed living benefits, flexible premium options, and downside protection that address retirement security concerns. The Run-off segment consists primarily of legacy variable annuity contracts with guaranteed benefits, which present ongoing liability and hedging challenges. Brighthouse employs sophisticated risk management and hedging strategies using derivatives to manage the financial and market risks associated with guaranteed benefits. As a demutualized company spun from MetLife, Brighthouse operates with established product portfolios, operational infrastructure, and strong credit ratings. The company generates profits from insurance premiums, investment spreads between assets and liabilities, fees on assets under management, mortality margins, and underwriting results. Brighthouse competes in mature U.S. markets against traditional insurers and newer insurtech entrants while managing capital requirements, regulatory compliance, and evolving consumer preferences for retirement solutions.