For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public.

AXA Equitable 401(k) continues strong growth trendProviding your clients with best-in-class 401(k) services and support is the prime goal for the AXA Equitable 401(k) business team. The work we have done over the past several years is starting to pay solid dividends. We continually experience year-over-year sales growth and finished October with our strongest sales month of 2013. Additionally, Retirement Gateway® group variable annuity is now being sold through 36 Third Party distribution partners to complement 401(k) sales through our primary distribution channel, AXA Advisors. I am including a brief overview of the significant changes and additional resources we are deploying to help you grow your 401(k) sales, as noted below.

• Increased and enhanced wholesaling support to 12 regions (up from 5 since January 2012) across the country.

• Dedicated on-boarding conversion team located in Syracuse, New York to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to AXA Equitable 401(k) Retirement Gateway.

• Nationwide education consultants to assist with enrollment, re-enrollment initiatives and annual plan reviews.

• Advanced markets team for plan design and technical support • Investment fiduciary support: – 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary services – Access to Fiduciary EducatorSM, an information/education website for

plan sponsors• Total fund lineup overhaul: – Portal I and II identical – 198 funds from 31 fund managers – Guaranteed Interest Option yielding 2% – Personal Income BenefitSM, available within AXA Equitable’s core investment

offering for an additional fee, focuses on the “de-accumulation” phase of retirement savings and provides a guaranteed lifetime income benefit with features designed to address both longevity and interest rate risks to retire-ment savings

The following newsletter is intended to keep you up to date on the latest sales successes and ideas, product information, regulatory and legislative develop-ments, and tools and resources made available for your benefit. Stay tuned for future issues, which will be published on a quarterly basis. On behalf of the entire 401(k) team I want to personally THANK YOU for your business and am looking forward to working with you over the months and years to come!Sincerely, Richard D. Frink Vice President 401(k) National Sales Manager AXA Distributors, LLC

Table of Contents

Letter from Richard D. Fink 1

Important Regulatory Updates 2

Product Highlights 4

Tools & Resources 5

AXA Equitable 401(k) information gateway

newsletter volume 1, issue 1

Regulatory update

401(k) and other qualifi ed retirement plans are subject to a “regulatory framework” consisting of the laws enacted by Congress and the regulations and guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor. These requirements are complex and constantly changing. Plan sponsors may need the assistance oftheir legal and tax advisors and fi nancial professionalsto help navigate this framework to operate their plans in a manner that preserves the tax-advantaged benefi ts and employer deductions afforded by a qualifi ed plan. As you help your clients navigate the framework, it is veryimportant to keep yourself informed of the constantly evolving regulatory environment.

Department of Labor updates

The Department of Labor (DOL) continues to work on the much anticipated proposal for a revised defi nition of“fi duciary” under ERISA. In addition, the DOL has granted relief on the 404a-5 annual participant disclosure require-ments and has released guidance on the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, which held Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) unconstitutional.

Volume 1: Issue 1axa equitable 401(k) information gateway newsletter

IMPORTANT REGULATORY UPDATES

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public. 2

DOL fi duciary defi nition proposal update

It all began with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefi ts Security Administration’s (“DOL”) October 2010 release of proposed revisions to the defi nition of “fi duciary” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The proposal was intended to update a 35-year-old regulation to refl ect the evolution of the retirement industry from a primarily defi ned benefi t pension-based system to a participant-directed defi ned contribution system. The net effect of the proposal would broaden the defi nition of “fi duciary,” possibly sweeping in brokers and advisors. The changes would impact business practices regarding qualifi ed retirement plans and IRA rollovers. In September of 2011, after much opposition from the retirement and investment industries, the DOL withdrew the proposal stating that based on comments received, additional input, further review and consideration would best serve consumer interests. Despite prior comments that the revised proposal would be released for public comment in October of 2013, the DOL recently announced that continued work is needed so a re-proposal with release to the public for comment not expected until the summer of 2014. Stay tuned!

One Financial Professional (FP) used the compelling features of Retire-ment Gateway group variable annuity 401(k) to win back the business from a competitor that exited the market on this Retirement Gateway® 401(k) Success Story (cat#150697).

Snapshot of Success

Why It Worked For This Client• Expanded list of fund offerings, which included strategies to

suit different types of participants, from the beginner to the sophisticated investor.

• Partnering with the 401(k) Wholesaler, the Retirement Gateway® 401(k) Sales Desk worked out a pricing offer that made it compelling to comeback.

• The professionalism of the educational consultants who were able to come out and perform plan reviews.

What Made It Compelling• Having access to 3(21) and 3(38) Investment Fiduciary Services

was a key component. These services are provided by Wilshire Associates Incorporated, a well-known industry leader in investment fiduciary service offerings.

• Participants have access to NowPlansm, our comprehensive platform of education and enrollment services—the scope of which is not typically offered in the small/mid-size market.

Summary• $1 million dollar plan with 75 participants.

The Bottom LineAXA Equitable’s Retirement Gateway® 401(k), a group variable annuity, provides flexibility, guidance and empowerment to plan sponsors and participants. With Retirement Gateway®, you are able to offer features typically available only to larger plans to plans of all sizes, allowing you to take your retirement business to the next step. The Employer-Sponsored Business provides you with full-cycle sales support, from practice building to client management and retention.

How He Did It

After moving a plan away from an AXA Equitable 401(k) product, the plan sponsor had “buyer’s remorse” with the competitor’s product and service. The competitors plan promised to waive the fees for the first three years, but the client was not happy with the benefits and service. The current plan was out of the withdrawal charge period. By moving the plan back into a new Retirement Gateway® 401(k), the plan sponsor was able to enjoy the elite service from the Education Consultants, access to Investment Fiduciary Services, provided by Wilshire Associates and the pricing flexibility.

One Financial Professional (FP) used the compelling features of Retirement Gateway® group variable annuity 401(k) to win back the business from a competitor that has exited the market.

In cases where clients already have a plan, they should carefully compare features of both plans and the costs associated with leaving their current vendor, which could include a contractual withdrawal charge.

Retirement Gateway®

snapshot of success401(k)

Who The Client Was

• Auto Dealership

• 75 employees

• $1 million plan

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Distribution to the Public.

Variable Annuities: • Are Not a Deposit of Any Bank • Are Not FDIC Insured • Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Are Not Guaranteed by Any Bank or Savings Association • May Go Down in Value

DOL relief on timing of annual participant disclosures

In response to comments and requests from practitioners and plan sponsors, the DOL issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2013-12 to extend the August 30, 2013 deadline for providing participants with the second “annual comparative investment chart and plan-related information” under ERISA 404a-5. The FAB provides plan sponsors with a 6-month “buffer” during which plan sponsors can choose to reset the annual disclosure date for this year, which will then apply to future years. This “reset” is a chance for sponsors to coordinate the 404a-5 disclosures with other annual notices (e.g. safe-harbor, automatic enrollment, QDIA). DOL is considering amending the 404a-5 regulation to provide for additional fl exibility to reduce administrative burden and costs associated with the original disclosure deadline. It is critical that plan sponsors understand that this year’s timing sets the deadline for future years and must be made not later than 6 months following the actual date of last year’s disclosure. It is also important to cover all classes of participants (active eligible, non-contributing eligible and terminated vested participants with an account balance).

Internal Revenue Service updates and compliance reminders

The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2013-17 to provide guidance on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor which held Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Additionally, the retirement plan contribution and benefi t limits for 2014 have been released.

Volume 1: Issue 1axa equitable 401(k) information gateway newsletter

IMPORTANT REGULATORY UPDATES

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public. 3

December 31st Deadlines for:

• processing corrective distributions for failed ADP/ACP tests (10% excise tax applies)

•correcting a failed ADP/ACP test via qualifi ed nonelective contribution (QNEC)

• adoption of amendment to convert to safe harbor plan design for 2014

• adoption of amendment to discontinue safe harbor for 2014

• adoption of amendments for all discretionary plan changes made in 2013 (certain exceptions apply)

Make required minimum distributions (RMDs) for 2013

Review plan’s forfeiture account to use all funds within 2013

*These deadlines apply to calendar year plans.

Designed for your convenient reference is our Fiduciary Calendar (cat#151943)

Defi ned Contribution Plan Compliance Calendar – What’s on the horizon*?

Variable Annuities: • Are Not a Deposit of Any Bank • Are Not FDIC Insured • Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Are Not Guaranteed by Any Bank or Savings Association • May Go Down in Value

Retirement Gateway® fiduciary calendar*

January Completed

31st Deadline for sending Form 1099-R to participants who received distributions during previous year. ■31st Review updated contribution and benefit limits provided by the IRS. ■Notes:

March Completed

15thDeadline for processing corrective distributions for failed actual deferral percentage (ADP)/actual contribution percentage (ACP) test without 10% excise tax. (Note: A special deadline applies to plans that satisfy the requirements for an Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA). See June 30.)

■

15th Employer contribution deadline for deductibility (without extension) for companies operating on calendar-year fiscal year. Deadline for requesting automatic extension (to September 15) of corporate tax returns. ■

Notes:

February Completed

28th Deadline for filing Form 1099-R with IRS to report distributions made in previous year, for non-electronic filers. ■Notes:

AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY)

Variable Annuities: • Are Not a Deposit of Any Bank • Are Not FDIC Insured • Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Are Not Guaranteed by Any Bank or Savings Association • May Go Down in Value

As the sponsor of an employee retirement plan, you are responsible for compliance with annual reporting and disclosure requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). This Fiduciary Calendar is designed as a tool to assist you in meeting these requirements and clearly documenting your fiduciary compliance.

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public. 4

PRODUCT H IGHL IGHTS

Volume 1: Issue 1axa equitable 401(k) information gateway newsletter

Onboarding process enhancements

We are pleased to announce the successful roll out of our new Retirement Gateway® New Business Onboarding process effective November 1, 2013.

In recognition of the importance of a smooth onboarding process in setting the tone for a successful partnership, we reviewed and streamlined the entire onboarding process and also created the role of the “Onboarding Specialist.” The Onboarding Specialists will serve as the plan sponsor and/or fi nancial professional’s single point of contact throughout the Onboarding process.

The purpose of the new process is to maintain open and regular contact with the plan sponsor and fi nancial professional throughout the Onboarding process. Use of telephone, electronic and written communications, including detailed timelines, will enable the Onboarding Specialist to act as a liaison between the plan sponsor and fi nancial professional and the experts who engage in each phase of the Onboarding process from the initial welcome call through fi nal asset transfer.

Personal Income Benefi tSM (PIB)

In order to address marketplace demand for guaranteed lifetime income options in defi ned contribution plans, AXA Equitable has developed the Personal Income Benefi tSM (PIB) avail-able with Retirement Gateway® group vari-able annuity. PIB is designed to help address the impact of longevity, market volatility and infl ation on retirement income. It is a way for plan participants to turn retirement savings into a guaranteed annual withdrawal amount that provides lifetime payments, income protection and market growth potential, available at an additional fee. This feature is not appropriate if the account owner does not intend for the withdrawals prior to annuitization. Read more about the benefi ts of PersonalIncome Benefi tSM in Five Benefi ts for you and your business (Cat #151364)

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public.

Variable Annuities: • Are Not a Deposit of Any Bank • Are Not FDIC Insured • Are Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Are Not Guaranteed by Any Bank or Savings Association • May Go Down in Value

AXA Equitable’s new Personal Income BenefitSM, offered as an optional benefit made available for an additional fee with the Retirement Gateway® group variable annuity, for 401(k) and 457(b) plans offers employees the option of a lifetime guaranteed withdrawal amount in retirement, along with the potential for retirement income growth. The benefits to retirement savers are multiple—and so are the benefits to you of selling Personal Income BenefitSM.

Protect the assets in your retirement bookAs the population ages and baby-boomers retire, participants move from asset accumulation to income distribution. That can impact your assets under management, as participants withdraw lump sums or make systematic withdrawals from their retirement accounts. But with the Personal Income BenefitSM, assets remain under management throughout retirement, keeping them in your book for 20 or 30 more years.

Dis-Savers (65+)

Prime Savers (45–64)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

9% 10% 11%13% 12% 13%

16%

19% 20% 20%20% 20% 19%22%21%

26% 25%23% 22.7% 22%

Dis-Savers (65+)

Prime Savers (45–64)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

9% 10% 11%13% 12% 13%

16%

19% 20% 20%20% 20% 19%22%21%

26% 25%23% 22.7% 22%

An Aging Population Means a Shift to Fewer Savers and More “Dis-Savers”

Prime Savers vs. Dis-Savers as a % of Adult Population

Five benefits to you and your book of business

Retirement Gateway®

group variable annuitypersonal income benefitsm

for 401(k) and 457(b) Plans

1

Source: “Retirement Income Market Overview: Where It’s Been, Where It Is Today and Where It Needs To Go,” Retirement Research Inc., May 2010.

DOMA guidance

The Internal Revenue Service recently issued Revenue Ruling 2013-17 to provide guidance on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, which held Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Prior to the Windsor decision, same-sex marriages were not recognized for federal tax purposes, which included qualifi ed retirement plans. In Revenue Ruling 2013-17 the IRS has announced that same-sex couples legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages will be treated as married for federal tax purposes, regardless of whether the jurisdiction where they live recognizes the same-sex marriage. Qualifi ed retirement plans must comply, prospectively, with these rules as of September 16, 2013. The practical impact of this guidance is that same-sex spouses will be treated as “spouses” for all plan purposes, including but not limited to: benefi ciary designation, spousal consent, hardship distributions, required minimum distributions, qualifi ed domestic relations orders, and qualifi ed joint and survivor/qualifi ed preretirement survivor annuity purposes. Plan sponsors should consider communicating with impacted employees to obtain updated information and should also review internal administrative practices, policies and procedures to comply with the guidance.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Technical Release 2013-04. Acting in coordination with Internal Revenue Service and Treasury, and the Department of Health and Human Services, the DOL agreed for purposes of ERISA, that recognition of “spouses” and “marriages” based on the validity of the marriage in the state of celebration, rather than based on the married couple’s state of domicile, promotes uniformity in administration of employee benefi t plans and affords the most protection to same-sex couples.

IRS releases retirement plan limits for 2014The Internal Revenue Service has announced annual cost-of-living adjustments applicable to pension and profi t-sharing plans (including 401(k) plans) effective January 1, 2014. In accordance with legislative guidelines, these limitations are adjusted annually to refl ect changes in the cost-of-living index. These guidelines are similar to those used to adjust Social Security benefi ts. For 2014, many of the 2013 limits will remain in place while others have been increased. The IRS Benefi ts & Contribution limits from 2010 to 2014 can be referenced on this site.http://www.axa-equitable.com/email-attachments/employer-sponsored/docs/g32217_2014_IRA_benefi ts_and_contribution_limits_web_fa.pdf

IMPORTANT REGULATORY UPDATES

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public. 5

We are pleased to announce that we have recently contracted with Larkspur Data to provide you with the most advanced qualified plan prospecting tool available.

Planisphere is Larkspur Data’s new enhanced searchable database with detailed information on over 1 million qualified plans nationwide. Users can search by any combination of over 50 different criteria, quickly generating a list of all plans that meet their specifications. Click on any individual plan on the resulting list to view a detailed report with up to 317 fields of information. Planisphere allows users to sort their lists, export to contact management software, print mailing labels, and more.

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Planisphere has all of the same searchable features as DataMaster Pro, plus the following features you won’t find anywhere else:• Enter and save private notes on your contacts with

prospects. Tag your prospects (hot, warm, cold) for easy follow up. See a list of prospects (by category) that you need to follow up with every time you log in. Set email reminders to follow up.

• See real-time search statistics based on usage from tens of thousands of users nationwide. Follow the latest trends in prospecting and find areas for new opportunities.

• Benchmarking statistics. Easy-to-read color graphs show how your prospects compare on fees, investment performance and a wide variety of other metrics.

• Real-time feed to the Department of Labor to check if more recent data is available.

• User-friendly interface. This new product will work on any popular web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Safari). It also works with popular tablets including iPad and smart-phones.

• Enhanced data from CPA audit reports and dozens of other sources.

• Built-in fiduciary liability reports on every (applicable) plan in the database.

• Email addresses and additional contacts with job titles appended to thousands or plans nationwide.

• Historical 5500 reports going back up to 10 years.

• Generate and save customized sales proposal templates, pre-populated with plan data, benchmark-ing graphs, fiduciary liability reports and more.

Planisphere includes the most up-to-date information available, with special data enhancements from Larkspur Data’s call center making over 2 million telephone contacts each year. Information is updated on a monthly basis and includes verified contact names with job titles, email addresses and other relevant information.

Training: Please note that Larkspur Data offers free one-on-one training for anyone who needs it. If you have questions or need any help at all, you can contact them at (800) 282-4567.If you do not currently have access to Larkspur, please call the 401(k) Sales Desk at 866-401-3030, Option 1.

Volume 1: Issue 1axa equitable 401(k) information gateway newsletter

A group variable annuity is a long-term financial product designed for retirement purposes. In essence, a group variable annuity is a contractual agreement in which payment(s) are made on behalf of retirement plan participants to an insurance company, which agrees to pay out an income or a lump sum amount at a later date to those participants. There are contract limitations and fees and charges associated with group variable annuities, which include, but are not limited to, administrative fees and charges for investment management. Withdrawals from annuities are subject to normal income tax treatment and, if taken prior to age 59½, may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty.

Because an annuity contract would be used to fund this qualified employer-sponsored retirement arrangement, your clients should purchase the annuity contract for its features and benefits other than tax deferral. For such cases, tax deferral is not an additional benefit of the annuity. Your clients may also want to consider the relative features, benefits and costs of this annuity with any other investment that they may have in connection with their retirement plan or arrangement.

Your clients should consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before purchasing a group variable annuity. For a group variable annuity’s disclosure brochure, which contains this and other information, please contact the Retirement Sales Desk at 866-401-3030. Your clients should read it carefully before purchasing a contract.

Group variable annuities are issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) and are co-distributed by AXA Advisors, LLC and AXA Distributors, LLC. AXA Equitable, AXA Advisors and AXA Distributors are affiliates and do not provide tax or legal advice.

Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of AXA Equitable.

© 2013 AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, (212) 554-1234

G: A&K IU-89997 (12/13) Cat# 152636 (12/13)

For Financial Professional Use Only. Not for Use with, or Distribution to, the General Public.

Volume 1: Issue 1axa equitable 401(k) information gateway newsletter