Is Brighthouse Financial Part of MetLife? Everything You Need to Know

When it comes to navigating the confusing financial landscape, it can be challenging to keep up with who owns what. Many people have been wondering if Brighthouse Financial is still part of MetLife, and the answer is, in fact, a bit complicated. While Brighthouse Financial was initially spun off from MetLife, the two companies are still connected through a number of ways.

This financial relationship can be traced back to 2017 when MetLife spun off Brighthouse Financial as a separate entity. While the move was intended to make the two companies more focused and competitive in their respective markets, they are still intimately connected in some ways. For example, Brighthouse Financial maintains access to some of MetLife’s data processing systems, among other things.

Despite their close ties, Brighthouse Financial is unique in many ways. The company focuses heavily on life insurance and annuities, offering a wide range of products that cater to the unique needs of individual investors. Whether you’re looking to invest in your future or secure your family’s financial stability, Brighthouse Financial offers a range of flexible and customizable options to choose from. And with the support of MetLife behind it, Brighthouse Financial is well-positioned to continue thriving in the years ahead.

Brighthouse Financial Overview

Brighthouse Financial is a US-based insurance and investment company that was founded in 2017 as a spinoff from MetLife. The company operates in the United States through its subsidiaries, providing annuities, life insurance, and other financial products and services to individuals and institutional customers.

  • The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol BHF.
  • Brighthouse Financial has more than 2 million customers and approximately $220 billion in total assets under management as of December 2020.
  • The company’s mission is to help people achieve their financial goals by providing simple, transparent, and affordable products and services that are tailored to their unique needs.

Brighthouse Financial’s product portfolio includes a range of annuities, including fixed, variable, and indexed annuities, as well as life insurance and other products such as disability insurance and long-term care insurance.

The company operates through a network of financial advisors and independent broker-dealers who offer its products and services to customers. Brighthouse Financial also has a growing online distribution channel that allows customers to purchase some of its products directly through its website.

Brighthouse Financial Facts
Founded 2017
Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina
Products and Services Annuities, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance
Customers More than 2 million
Total Assets Under Management Approximately $220 billion (as of December 2020)

Overall, Brighthouse Financial is a well-established and reputable financial services company that offers a range of products and services designed to help individuals achieve their financial goals. With a strong focus on customer needs and a commitment to transparency and simplicity, the company has established itself as a leader in the annuity and life insurance markets.

MetLife and Brighthouse Financial Relationship

MetLife and Brighthouse Financial have a long-standing relationship that started with the latter being the insurance arm of the former. Brighthouse Financial was spun off from MetLife in 2017, with the aim of focusing on annuities and life insurance products.

  • MetLife remains the largest institutional shareholder of Brighthouse Financial with a 19.8% stake, as of 2021. This means that MetLife still has some influence over Brighthouse Financial’s decisions, but the two companies operate as separate entities.
  • Brighthouse Financial also has a strategic relationship with MetLife, allowing it to distribute certain products through MetLife’s channels.
  • In addition, certain MetLife policies can be transferred to Brighthouse Financial as part of a process called “block reinsurance.” These transfers allow MetLife to decrease its exposure to certain risks and provide Brighthouse Financial with additional assets.

Overall, the relationship between MetLife and Brighthouse Financial is one of mutual benefit and collaboration, even though Brighthouse Financial operates as an independent company.

It is important to note that Brighthouse Financial is not a subsidiary of MetLife and their relationship is primarily through investment and distribution channels. Brighthouse Financial is a separate public company traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “BHF.”

Key Facts MetLife Brighthouse Financial
Founded 1868 2017
Headquarters New York City, NY Charlotte, NC
Revenue $69.2 billion (2020) $10.1 billion (2020)
Number of Employees 48,000 (2021) 1,400 (2021)

In conclusion, while MetLife and Brighthouse Financial are connected through their shared history, their relationship primarily revolves around investment and distribution rather than a corporate structure. Both companies have their strengths and provide valuable services in the insurance industry.

What Led to Brighthouse Financial Separation from MetLife?

Brighthouse Financial was once a part of MetLife and functioned as a segment that dealt with variable annuity and life insurance policies. However, in 2016, MetLife announced a plan to separate Brighthouse Financial from its parent company and set it up as an independent publicly-traded company.

  • The main factor behind this decision was the new regulations promulgated by the US government that would have subjected MetLife to stricter financial regulations.
  • MetLife was declared a Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), which meant that it had to comply with strict capital and liquidity requirements that other smaller insurance companies didn’t have to follow.
  • To avoid this, the company decided to spin off Brighthouse Financial, which wasn’t designated as a SIFI, from MetLife.

The separation of Brighthouse Financial from MetLife allowed both companies to focus on their respective core businesses and strategies. MetLife could continue to operate as a large insurance provider while Brighthouse could concentrate on expanding its product offerings and serving its customers as an independent entity.

Today, as an independent company focused on selling life insurance, annuities, and retirement solutions, Brighthouse Financial has a strong balance sheet and a commitment to providing financial stability, protection, and growth for its customers.


Conclusion

The separation of Brighthouse Financial from MetLife was driven primarily by the need to comply with stricter financial regulations. The spin-off allowed both companies to focus on their respective strengths, providing long-term benefits for their customers and shareholders. Brighthouse Financial is now a standalone company that is committed to providing innovative financial solutions that help people achieve financial security and peace of mind.

Differentiating Brighthouse Financial and MetLife

Brighthouse Financial was spun off from MetLife in 2017 as an independent company focusing on annuities and life insurance. Here are some of the key differences between Brighthouse Financial and MetLife:

  • Products: While both companies offer life insurance and annuities, MetLife has a wider range of products including auto and home insurance, dental insurance, and investment products such as mutual funds and ETFs.
  • Size: MetLife is a larger company with a market capitalization of around $50 billion, while Brighthouse Financial has a market capitalization of around $3.5 billion.
  • Clients: While MetLife serves both individuals and businesses, Brighthouse Financial primarily serves individual investors.

However, despite being separate companies, Brighthouse Financial continues to have a close relationship with MetLife. Brighthouse Financial still uses MetLife’s customer service and technology infrastructure, and the two companies share a common history and brand recognition.

Here’s a comparison table summarizing some of the key differences between Brighthouse Financial and MetLife:

Brighthouse Financial MetLife
Founded 2017 1868
Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina New York City
Market Capitalization $3.5 billion $50 billion
Products and Services Annuities and life insurance Life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, dental insurance, investment products
Clients Primarily individual investors Both individuals and businesses

Overall, Brighthouse Financial and MetLife are distinct companies with different products, sizes, and target clients. However, Brighthouse Financial still maintains close ties with MetLife and benefits from their shared reputation and resources.

Brighthouse Financial Products and Services

Brighthouse Financial is a leading provider of annuities and life insurance. In addition, they also offer various other financial products and services to help their clients meet their financial goals. Let’s take a closer look at some of these offerings:

  • Fixed Annuities: These annuities provide a guaranteed rate of return on your investment and are ideal for those who want a steady stream of income in retirement. Brighthouse offers several types of fixed annuities, including Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs), which offer a fixed rate of return for a specific period of time.
  • Variable Annuities: These annuities allow you to invest in the stock market and potentially earn higher returns. However, they also come with more risk. Brighthouse offers several types of variable annuities, including those with optional living and death benefits.
  • Life Insurance: Brighthouse offers several types of life insurance, including term life, whole life, and universal life insurance. Term life insurance is typically the most affordable and provides coverage for a set period of time, while whole life and universal life insurance provide coverage for life.
  • Retirement Planning: Brighthouse offers various retirement planning services to help you achieve your retirement goals. These services include retirement income planning, Social Security planning, and investment management.
  • Wealth Management: Brighthouse also provides wealth management services to help high-net-worth individuals grow and protect their wealth. These services include financial planning, investment management, and estate planning.

Overall, Brighthouse Financial offers a wide range of products and services to help their clients achieve their financial goals. Whether you’re looking for a steady stream of income in retirement or want to grow and protect your wealth, Brighthouse has something to offer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Brighthouse Financial is a subsidiary of MetLife, and it offers a variety of financial products and services to help individuals plan for their financial future. Its products and services span annuities, life insurance, retirement planning, and wealth management. Brighthouse Financial is well equipped to help individuals meet their financial goals.

Brighthouse Financial Performance and History

Brighthouse Financial was established in 2017 as a standalone company separate from MetLife. As a result of this spinoff, Brighthouse Financial became a Fortune 500 company. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is focused on providing annuities and life insurance. Their goal is to help clients protect what they have earned and secure their financial futures.

  • Brighthouse Financial reported a net income of $1.17 billion in 2019, up from $400 million the previous year. Their total assets under management reached $240 billion.
  • Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brighthouse Financial remained resilient throughout 2020. They reported a net income of $353 million, an increase from the previous year
  • Brighthouse Financial has consistently earned high ratings from reputable financial services companies. For example, in 2021, the company was given an A+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and an A2 rating from Moody’s.

As for their history, Brighthouse Financial was originally MetLife’s retail business, which was founded in 1868. MetLife decided to split the retail business from the corporate side of the company in order to focus on the group benefits business, according to a company statement.

Here’s a closer look at the performance numbers since Brighthouse split from MetLife:

Year Revenue Net Income
2017 $6.7 billion $802 million
2018 $7.6 billion $400 million
2019 $8.9 billion $1.17 billion
2020 $7.3 billion $353 million

Overall, Brighthouse Financial has shown strong performance since its inception as a standalone company. They have consistently grown their assets under management, earned high ratings from financial services companies, and weathered the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As they continue to focus on their core mission of helping clients secure their financial futures, it will be interesting to see how they continue to grow and perform in the coming years.

Analyst Opinion on Brighthouse Financial

Brighthouse Financial became an independent, publicly-traded company in 2017, spun off from parent company MetLife. Since then, the company has received various opinions from analysts, ranging from bullish to bearish.

  • According to analysts at Credit Suisse, Brighthouse Financial is a good investment due to its strong product offerings, diversification, and cost controls. They have given the stock an “outperform” rating and set a target price of $50 per share.
  • On the other hand, analysts at Morgan Stanley have a more cautious stance on the company. They have given Brighthouse Financial an “equal-weight” rating and set a target price of $39 per share. They cite concerns over the company’s reliance on interest rates and the competitive nature of the insurance industry.
  • Analysts at Goldman Sachs have also been wary of Brighthouse Financial, giving the stock a “sell” rating and a target price of $36 per share. Their concerns include the company’s exposure to low interest rates, declining annuity sales, and potential regulatory issues.

It is important to note that analysts’ opinions are just that – opinions. Investors should conduct their own research and analysis before making any investment decisions.

However, it is worth noting that Brighthouse Financial has taken steps to address some of the concerns raised by analysts. In 2020, the company announced a strategic shift towards fee-based products, which are less reliant on interest rates. They have also implemented cost-cutting measures and streamlined their product offerings to improve profitability.

Analyst Firm Rating Target Price
Credit Suisse Outperform $50
Morgan Stanley Equal-weight $39
Goldman Sachs Sell $36

Overall, Brighthouse Financial has received mixed opinions from analysts. While some see potential in the company’s strong product offerings and cost controls, others have concerns over its reliance on interest rates and competition in the industry.

Is Brighthouse Financial part of MetLife?

Q: What is Brighthouse Financial?
A: Brighthouse Financial is a leading provider of life insurance and annuity solutions in the US. It was spun off from MetLife in 2017, but has been operating as an independent company since then.

Q: Is Brighthouse Financial a subsidiary of MetLife?
A: No, it is not. Although Brighthouse Financial was part of MetLife until 2017, it is now a separate publicly traded company.

Q: What is the relationship between Brighthouse Financial and MetLife?
A: MetLife sold its US retail life insurance and annuity businesses to Brighthouse Financial in 2017. However, the two companies remain separate entities with no ownership or management ties.

Q: Can I still buy MetLife products through Brighthouse Financial?
A: No, you cannot. Brighthouse Financial only offers its own products, which include annuities, life insurance, and other retirement savings solutions.

Q: How is Brighthouse Financial doing as a standalone company?
A: Brighthouse Financial has been performing well since its separation from MetLife. The company has reported consistent earnings growth, expanded its product offerings, and increased the value of its investment portfolio.

Q: Can I still contact MetLife for support with my Brighthouse Financial policy?
A: No, you would need to contact Brighthouse Financial directly for any questions or support related to your policy.

Thanks for reading!

We hope this article cleared up any confusion about whether Brighthouse Financial is part of MetLife. Although the two companies were once connected, Brighthouse Financial is now operating as an independent entity with its own products and strategies. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Brighthouse Financial directly. Thanks again for reading and be sure to visit us again soon for more informative articles.