Brighthouse Financial, Inc. is a U.S. financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, that launched as an independent, publicly traded company in 2017 after separating from MetLife. Its roots trace back to 1863, and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker BHF. The company focuses on helping individuals protect their financial assets, prepare for retirement, and establish long-term financial security through life insurance and annuity products.
The company's primary business is providing annuities, which are financial contracts designed to help people accumulate retirement savings or receive income over time. Its offerings include fixed, variable, fixed-indexed, index-linked, and income annuities. Depending on the contract, these products can provide predictable payments, tax-deferred investment growth, or income options for retirement. Brighthouse distributes its products through independent financial professionals and a network of distribution partners rather than relying exclusively on its own sales force.
Life insurance is the company's other major business, with products that include term, whole, universal, and variable life insurance. These policies serve different needs, from providing financial protection for beneficiaries to offering permanent coverage with potential cash-value accumulation. Brighthouse operates through insurance subsidiaries that issue its policies and carry the associated contractual obligations. The company also manages a run-off business, which consists of certain legacy products that are no longer actively marketed but continue to require administration and financial management.
The company serves more than two million customers and has substantial assets supporting its insurance operations. Its business is influenced by interest rates, investment performance, insurance claims, policyholder behavior, and the demand for retirement-income products. These factors can affect profitability and financial stability, making the company particularly sensitive to changes in the economic environment.