METLIFE LAUNCHES INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO ARCHITECT

CHARLOTTE, NC, November 20, 2014 - MetLife today announced the launch of the MetLife Investment Portfolio ArchitectSM, an investment-focused variable annuity. The product is designed with a flexible framework to accommodate both investors who wish to build their own portfolios, as well as those who seek asset allocation guidance. This flexibility allows investors and their financial professionals to create custom solutions to help the investor achieve his or her individual financial goals while also providing all the traditional benefits offered by a variable annuity.

"At MetLife, we are committed to providing solutions to clients and financial professionals focused on accumulating wealth in a simple and efficient manner," said Elizabeth Forget, Executive Vice President, MetLife Retail Retirement & Wealth Solutions. "The goal of MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect is to provide a flexible framework with well-curated investment choices, including access to the additional diversification alternative investments can offer, coupled with all the benefits of a variable annuity."

As a variable annuity, MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect affords investors the chance to grow their investments on a tax-deferred basis, receive guaranteed income payments for life and withdraw portions of their account value to meet unexpected financial needs. Additionally, investors may purchase an optional return of premium death benefit that provides protection of their principal.

The MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect enables investors to further diversify their portfolios and manage portfolio risk through the addition of alternative investments. At the same time, it provides a flexible investment framework including 80 thoughtfully cultivated traditional and alternative investment options and 14 Blueprint Models. The models have been designed by MetLife Advisers, LLC working with Wilshire Associates, a leading provider of investment advice.

"Wilshire has been providing sophisticated investment advice to institutional and retail investors for more than three decades," said Jason Schwarz, president of Wilshire Funds Management. "This latest expansion of our relationship with MetLife features an innovative suite of outcome-oriented portfolio solutions that include alternative investment strategies. Improving diversification through the use of alternative investments in a turn-key asset allocation framework can provide a simplified tool to improve outcomes for investors."

Each of the Blueprint Models includes an alternative strategy component, the Permal Alternative Select VIT Portfolio, currently offered exclusively through MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect.

"With Permal Alternative Select VIT we are providing exposure to a wide range of investment approaches through leading alternative managers, many of whom we have known over long periods of time, who together can provide investors with a greater level of asset class diversification," said Shane Clifford, Executive Vice President, Permal Group.

The Permal Alternative Select VIT is an open-ended alternative portfolio sub-advised by select leading hedge fund managers with a multi-manager, multi-strategy approach which allocates to various types of alternative investment strategies including: equity hedge, event driven, global macro and relative value managers.

"We're pleased to be partnering with Wilshire Associates, Permal Group, Legg Mason and other reputable asset management firms to deliver a solution that will provide investors the opportunity for maximum diversification combined with the benefits of tax deferral and the protection of an optional return of premium death benefit," said Forget. "The MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect's flexible design and streamlined approach meet the needs of today's investors."

For more information on the MetLife Investment Portfolio Architect, please visit http://architect.metlife.com. For IRAs and other qualified plans, tax deferral is not an additional benefit of purchasing a variable annuity.

About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. Serving approximately 100 million customers, MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

About Legg Mason
Legg Mason is a global asset management firm with $720 billion in assets under management as of October 31, 2014. The Company provides active asset management in many major investment centers throughout the world. Legg Mason is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: LM).

About Permal Group
Permal Group is a leading global alternative asset manager offering investment solutions through established funds and customized portfolios. Today, Permal manages approximately $22 billion with a global investment team based in New York and London, and additional investment resources in Singapore and Paris. Clients include sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, family offices, private banks and high net worth individuals. Permal has established offices in Europe, America and Asia, and has extensive networks of experienced managers and relationships around the globe.

About Wilshire Associates
Wilshire Associates, a leading global, independent investment consulting and services firm, provides consulting services, analytics solutions and customized investment products to plan sponsors, investment managers and financial intermediaries. The firm was founded in 1972, revolutionizing the industry by pioneering the application of investment analytics and research to investment management for the institutional marketplace. Based in Santa Monica, California, Wilshire provides services to clients in more than 20 countries representing more than 500 organizations with assets totaling approximately US $7 trillion.*

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