The amortized option cost is a percentage equal to:
| 1) | the net option value for the Strategy calculated for the beginning of the Term; multiplied by |
| 2) | the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of the Term divided by 365. |
ATM Call Option
The ATM Call Option is a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the S&P 500 Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
OTM Call Option
The OTM Call Option is a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the S&P 500 Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term, but only to the extent it exceeds the Cap for the Term.
Option Values
The values of the ATM Call Option and OTM Call Option are calculated by us using a market standard model for valuing an option. Each value is stated as a percentage of the option value at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term.
Cap
The Cap is the largest increase in the S&P 500 Index for a Term taken into account to determine the Gain for the Term. We will set the Cap for each initial or renewal Term of this Strategy before the first day of that Term. For a given Term, we may set a different Cap for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates. The Cap for each Term of this Strategy shall never be less than 1%.
Floor
The Floor is the largest decrease in the S&P 500 Index for a Term taken into account to determine the Loss for a Term. The Floor for each Term of this Strategy is a 0% loss, which means that no Loss is taken into account when determining the value of the Strategy at the End of a Term. Before the final Market Close of a Term, a Loss may apply.
Trading Cost
Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical option before the end of a Term. It is a percentage set by us from time to time to reflect the average difference between the Option Values and market bid prices.
Market Close
A Market Close for this Strategy is the close of the core trading session of the New York Stock Exchange Arca on each day that is a Market Day.
Index Information
The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s 500TM Index. It excludes any dividends that may be paid by the firms that comprise the Index.
[The “S&P 500 Index” is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company. S&P®, S&P 500®, US 500, The 500, iBoxx®, iTraxx® and CDX® are trademarks of S&P Global, Inc. or its affiliates (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); It is not possible to invest directly in an index. MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company Products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company’s Products or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company’s Products particularly or the ability of the