How We Determine Dividends

For Permanent Life Insurance Policies in The Northwestern Mutual General Account

Dividends Provide a True "Net Cost"
The guaranteed policy values, death benefits, and premiums for Northwestern Mutual's life insurance policies are based on conservative assumptions with regard to investment returns, mortality experience, and expenses. However, the company fully expects its actual performance will be better than those conservative assumptions over the long run. Dividends are paid when Northwestern Mutual's actual experience is better than what was assumed when setting the policy's guaranteed values. While dividends are subject to change and are not guaranteed, Northwestern Mutual has paid them every year since 1872. The ability to pay dividends is a result of efficient operations, careful risk selection, and successful investment management. Through dividends, Northwestern Mutual's goal is to provide policyowners with world-class insurance protection at the lowest possible cost.

The Formula
Once the company evaluates its results for the year, it then calculates the dividend payable on each eligible policy. Here's a snapshot of how this second step works. 
 
 
  
Premium and Cash Value
As you can see from the above table, determining a policy's dividend in any given year starts with the guaranteed cash value of the policy at the beginning of the year. To this number, Northwestern Mutual adds the gross annual premium and subtracts a mortality and expense charge, which is based on actual company results. The balance is credited with the current dividend scale interest rate (5.85% for most policies in 2012) to determine the end-of-year policy value. The difference between policy value at the end of the year and the guaranteed cash value at the end of the year equals the dividend, which is paid on the policy anniversary. Dividends and the other calculations shown here are based on the dividend scale interest rate for that particular calendar year.

For example, the dividend for the tenth policy year on a policy issued May 1, 2002, is payable on May 1, 2012, and is based on the 2012 dividend scale.

Annual Dividends
Policyowners can use dividends to increase policy values or offset premiums, or they can even take them in cash. The guaranteed cash value used to determine a policy's dividend will vary depending upon how the policy's dividends were used in prior years. When a dividend is used to increase policy values, it becomes part of the guaranteed cash value at the beginning of the following policy year and is used to determine future dividends. When a dividend is taken in cash or used to pay premiums, it does not increase the guaranteed cash value.

For More Information
If you're interested in knowing more about Northwestern Mutual's dividend scale interest rate, your financial representative can help. The following materials about dividends are also helpful and are available upon request:

• A Word About Dividends
• Northwestern Mutual's Dividend Scale Interest Rate
• The Power of the Portfolio