The BalancedAllocation Annuity would have protected investors' principal and earned higher returns than the S&P 500 during a period of market decline from 2001-2010. It uses a strategy that locks in gains at the end of each two-year term, so declines cannot erase appreciation. Even during market downturns, the annuity would not have lost value like the S&P 500, guaranteeing a minimum value of $1 million over the period compared to the index value of $952,556. The annuity provides protection from losses with opportunity for gains, making it suitable for retirement planning during volatile markets.