At American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, our employee/owners are committed to a "Vision of the Future" for policyowners based on the following principles of excellence...   SUPERIOR SERVICE The leadership of a senior management team with more than 200 years of combined experience in the annuity and life insurance industry helps ensure the realization of our vision.   We view each employee as an integral component in delivering the heart of our mission — Superior Service!   Our service commitment begins during and continues after the purchase of an annuity contract or life insurance policy. This means easy to understand product brochures and forms, maximum annuity contract issue time of 48 hours and easily accessible answers to questions via our toll-free telephone number 1-888-221-1234 or e-mail to marketing@american-equity.com.   During the last decade alone, this management group helped thousands of annuity contract owners reap the rewards of tax-deferred wealth accumulation.   SAFETY A fundamental business principle of American Equity is to protect the safety of our policyholders' money. With assets in excess of $12.5 billion as of September 30, 2007, we assure this commitment by maintaining an exceptionally high quality asset portfolio. As of September 30, 2007, 98% of our invested assets were in investment grade bonds, cash or cash equivalents.   NAIC Designation Rating Agency Equivalent Percent* 1 Aaa/Aa/A 91.0% 2 Baa 7.7% 3 Ba 1.0% 4 B 0.3% 5 Caa and lower - % 6 In or Near Default - % * The above table presents our fixed maturity securities by NAIC designations and the equivalent ratings of the nationally recognized securities rating organizations. American Equity’s bond portfolio is rated investment grade. This means that American Equity has no exposure to the risks associated with non-investment grade or "junk" bonds.   Our asset portfolio provides the income, liquidity and flexibility needed to provide superior contract owner value while meeting the challenges of a competitive and changing marketplace.   INTEGRITY Integrity can come in many forms to our contract owners. A high quality, safe investment portfolio and superior service certainly are two important ingredients.   However, beyond those basic fundamentals, the company you entrust your retirement future to must be committed to fair and competitive renewal rates, choice of interest rate strategies to meet changing economic or personal needs, flexible penalty-free withdrawal provisions and full contract value for your beneficiaries at death.   All of these product principles enhance the accumulation and payout value of your retirement dollars. American Equity has been built around these principles of value and fairness which is why "We’re the One" to entrust with your retirement future!     AMERICAN EQUITY'S SIX PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL MARKET CONDUCT Principle 1: To conduct business according to high standards of honesty and fairness and to render that service to its customers which, in the same circumstances, it would apply to or demand for itself. Principle 2: To provide competent and customer-focused sales and service. Principle 3: To engage in active and fair competition. Principle 4: To provide advertising and sales materials that are clear as to purpose and honest and fair as to content. Principle 5: To provide for fair and expeditious handling of customer complaints and disputes. Principle 6: To maintain a system of supervision and review that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with these Principles of Ethical Market Conduct.