Prospectus
May 1, 2026
RiverSource®
RAVA 5 Access® Variable Annuity
(Offered for contract applications signed on or after June 22, 2020)
Individual Flexible Premium Deferred Combination Fixed/Variable Annuity
| Issued by: |
RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (RiverSource Life of NY) |
| |
20 Madison Avenue Extension Albany, NY 12203 Telephone: 1-800-541-2251 ameriprise.com/variableannuities RiverSource of New York Variable Annuity Account |
This prospectus contains information that you should know before investing in the RAVA 5 Access variable annuity contract (the Contract), an individual flexible premium deferred combination fixed/variable annuity contract issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (“RVS Life of NY”, “we”, “us” and “our”). All material terms and conditions of the contracts, including distribution channels, are described in this prospectus.
The contract allows you to invest your money in (i) available subaccounts investing in shares of underlying funds, each of which has a particular investment objective, investment strategies, fees and expenses; or (ii) the special dollar cost averaging ("Special DCA") fixed account which earns fixed interest at rates that we adjust periodically and declare when you make an allocation to that account. Additional information regarding each investment option is provided in Appendix A – Investment Options Available Under the Contract.
The contract is a complex investment and involves risks, including loss of principal. The contract is not a short-term investment and is not appropriate for an investor who needs ready access to cash. Surrenders could result in taxes and tax penalties. Surrenders from the contract could also reduce the amount of certain optional benefits by more than the dollar amount of the surrender, and such reductions could be significant.
An investment in the contract is subject to the risks related to RVS Life of NY. Any obligations under the contract that exceed the assets of the separate account are subject to our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
If you are a new investor in the RAVA 5 Access variable annuity contract, you may cancel your Contract within 10 days of receiving it without paying fees or penalties. Upon cancellation, you will receive your total Contract Value and will not be assessed any fees or penalties on that amount. Alternatively, if state law requires, you will instead receive a refund of purchase payments and will not be assessed any fees or penalties. You should review this prospectus, or consult with your investment professional, for additional information about the specific cancellation terms that apply.
Additional information about certain investment products, including variable annuities, has been prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff and is available at Investor.gov.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 1
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2 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Key Terms
These terms can help you understand details about your Contract.
Accumulation unit: A measure of the value of each subaccount prior to the application of amounts to an annuity payment plan.
Annuitant: The person or persons on whose life or life expectancy the annuity payouts are based.
Annuitization start date: The date when annuity payments begin according to the applicable annuity payment plan.
Annuity payouts: An amount paid at regular intervals under one of several plans.
Assumed investment return: The rate of return we assume your investments will earn when we calculate your initial annuity payout amount using the annuity table in your Contract. The standard assumed investment return we use is 5% but you may request we substitute an assumed investment return of 3.5%.
Beneficiary: The person you designate to receive benefits in case of your death while the Contract is in force.
Close of business: The time the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closes (4 p.m. Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier).
Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Contingent annuitant: The person who becomes the annuitant when the current annuitant dies prior to the annuitization start date. In the case of joint ownership, one owner must also be the contingent annuitant.
Contract: A deferred annuity contract that permits you to accumulate money for retirement by making one or more purchase payments. It provides for lifetime or other forms of payouts beginning at a specified time in the future.
Contract value: The total value of your contract at any point in time. The contract value is the sum of the contract value in the Special DCA Fixed Account and contract value in the Variable Account.
Contract year: A period of 12 months, starting on the effective date of your Contract and on each anniversary of the effective date.
Fixed Account: Part of our general account which includes the Special DCA Fixed Account. Amounts you allocate to this account earn interest at rates that we declare periodically.
Funds: A portfolio of an open-end management investment company that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in which the Subaccounts invest. May also be referred to as an underlying Fund.
Good order: We cannot process your transaction request relating to the Contract until we have received the request in good order at our Service Center. “Good order” means the actual receipt of the requested transaction in writing, along with all information, forms and supporting legal documentation necessary to effect the transaction. To be in “good order”, your instructions must be sufficiently clear so that we do not need to exercise any discretion to follow such instructions. This information and documentation generally includes your completed request; the Contract number; the transaction amount (in dollars); the names of and allocations to and/or from the subaccounts and the fixed account affected by the requested transaction; Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number; and any other information, forms or supporting documentation that we may require. For certain transactions, at our option, we may require the signature of all Contract owners for the request to be in good order. With respect to purchase requests, “good order” also generally includes receipt of sufficient payment by us to effect the purchase. We may, in our sole discretion, determine whether any particular transaction request is in good order, and we reserve the right to change or waive any good order requirements at any time.
Inherited Non-Qualified Stretch Annuity Contract: A specific form of non-qualified contract that is offered to beneficiaries for the purpose of taking post-death required distributions.
Owner (you, your): The person or persons identified in the contract as owner(s) of the contract, who has or have the right to control the contract (to decide on investment allocations, transfers, payout options, etc.). Usually, but not always, the owner is also the annuitant. During the owner’s life, the owner is responsible for taxes, regardless of whether he or she receives the contract’s benefits. The owner or any joint owner may be a nonnatural person (e.g. irrevocable trust or corporation) or a revocable trust. If any owner is a nonnatural person or revocable trust, the annuitant will be deemed to be the owner for contract provisions that are based on the age or life of the owner. Any contract provisions that are based on the age of the owner will be based on the age of the oldest owner. When the contract is owned by a revocable trust or irrevocable grantor trust, the annuitant(s) selected must be the grantor(s) of the trust to assure compliance with Section 72(s) of the Code. Any ownership change, including continuation of the contract by your spouse under the spousal continuation provision of the contract, redefines “owner”, “you” and “your”.
Qualified annuity: A contract that you purchase to fund a tax-deferred retirement plan that is subject to applicable federal law and any rules of the plan itself. Currently, we offer contracts only for Tax-Sheltered Annuities (TSAs) under Section 403(b) of the Code.
A qualified annuity will not provide any necessary or additional tax deferral if it is used to fund a retirement plan that is already tax-deferred.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 3
All other contracts are considered nonqualified annuities.
Required Distribution: Under inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, the amount required to be distributed each year for the contract to satisfy Section 72(s)(2) of the Code as it relates to the decedent (the person whose death triggered the payment of death benefit proceeds applied to the contract).
Rider: You receive a rider to your contract when you purchase optional benefits. The rider adds the terms of the optional benefit to your Contract.
Rider effective date: The date a rider becomes effective as stated in the rider.
RiverSource Life of NY: In this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our” and “RiverSource Life of NY” refer to RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York.
Separate Account: An insulated segregated account, the assets of which are invested solely in an underlying Fund. We call this the Variable Account.
Service Center: Our department that processes all transaction and service requests for the Contracts. We consider all transaction and service requests received when they arrive in good order at the Service Center. Any transaction or service requests sent or directed to any location other than our Service Center may end up delayed or not processed. Our Service Center address and telephone number are listed on the first page of the prospectus.
Subaccount: A division of the Variable Account, each of which invests in one Fund.
Surrender value: The amount you are entitled to receive if you make a full surrender from your Contract. It is the Contract value immediately prior to the surrender, minus any applicable charges.
Valuation date: Any normal business day, Monday through Friday, on which the NYSE is open, up to the time it closes. At the NYSE close, the next valuation date begins. We calculate the accumulation unit value of each subaccount on each valuation date. If your contract anniversary is not a valuation date, your contract value for that contract anniversary will be based on close of business values on the next valuation date.
If we receive your purchase payment or any transaction request (such as a transfer or surrender request) in good order at our Service Center before the close of business, we will process your payment or transaction using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received your payment or transaction request. On the other hand, if we receive your purchase payment or transaction request in good order at our Service Center at or after the close of business, we will process your payment or transaction using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date. If you make a transaction request by telephone (including by fax), you must have completed your transaction by the close of business in order for us to process it using the accumulation unit value we calculate on that valuation date. If you were not able to complete your transaction before the close of business for any reason, including telephone service interruptions or delays due to high call volume, we will process your transaction using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date.
Variable Account: Refers to the RiverSource of New York Variable Annuity Account, a Separate Account established to hold Contract owners’ assets allocated to the Subaccounts, each of which invests in a particular Fund.
4 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Overview of the Contract
Purpose: The purpose of the contract is to allow you to accumulate money for retirement or a similar long-term goal. You do this by making one or more purchase payments.
The contract described in this prospectus is available for limited purchases including certain qualified contracts, inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, and to accommodate certain 1035 exchanges of non-qualified contracts.
The contract offers various optional features and benefits that may help you achieve financial goals.
It may be appropriate for you if you have a long-term investment horizon and your financial goals are consistent with the terms and conditions of the contract.
If you plan to manage your investment in the contract by frequent or short-term trading, the contract is not suitable for you.
Phases of the Contract:
The contract has two phases: the Accumulation Phase and the Income Phase.
Accumulation Phase. During the Accumulation Phase, you make purchase payments by investing in: available Subaccounts, each of which has a particular investment objective, investment strategies, fees and expenses; Special DCA Fixed Account which earn interest at rates that we adjust periodically and declare when you make an allocation to that account. These accounts, in turn, may earn returns that increase the value of the contract. If the contract value goes to zero due to underlying fund’s performance or deduction of fees, the contract (including any death benefit riders) will no longer be in force and the contract will terminate.
A list of investment options and additional information regarding each investment option available under the contract is provided in Appendix A – Investment Options Available Under the Contract.
The amount of money you accumulate under your contract depends (in part) on the performance of the Subaccounts you choose or the rates you earn on allocations to the Special DCA Fixed Account. You may transfer money between investment options during the Accumulation Phase, subject to certain restrictions. Your contract value impacts the value of your contract’s benefits during the Accumulation Phase, including any optional benefits, as well as the amount available for withdrawal, annuitization and death benefits.
Income Phase. The Income Phase begins when you (or your beneficiary) choose to annuitize the contract. You can apply your contract value (less any applicable charges) to an annuity payout plan that begins on the annuitization start date or any other date you elect. You may choose from a variety of plans that can help meet your retirement or other income needs. We can make payouts on a fixed or variable basis, or both. You cannot take withdrawals of contract value or surrender the contract during the Income Phase.
All optional death benefits terminate after the annuitization start date.
Contract Features:
•
Death Benefits. If you die during the Accumulation Phase, we will pay a death benefit to your beneficiary or beneficiaries. The contract includes a standard death benefit at no additional charge. You may be able to elect (or may have elected) one of the optional death benefits under the contract for an additional fee. Death benefits must be elected at the time that the contract is purchased. Each optional death benefit is designed to provide a greater amount payable upon death. After the death benefit is paid, the contract will terminate.
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Surrenders. You may surrender all or part of your contract value at any time during the Accumulation Phase. If you request a full surrender, the contract will terminate. You also may establish automated partial surrenders. Surrenders may be subject to income taxes (including an IRS penalty that may apply if you surrender prior to reaching age 59½) and may have other tax consequences. Throughout this prospectus when we use the term “Surrender” it includes the term “Withdrawal”.
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Tax Treatment. You can transfer money between Subaccounts and the Fixed Account without tax implications, and earnings (if any) on your investments are generally tax-deferred. Generally, earnings are not taxed until they are distributed, which may occur when making a withdrawal, upon receiving an annuity payment, or upon payment of the death benefit.
Additional Services:
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Dollar Cost Averaging Programs. Automated Dollar Cost Averaging allows you, at no additional cost, to transfer a set amount monthly between Subaccounts. Special Dollar Cost Averaging (SDCA), only available for new purchase payments, allows the systematic transfer from the Special DCA Fixed Account to one or more eligible Subaccounts over a 6- or 12-month period.
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Asset Rebalancing. Allows you, at no additional cost, to automatically rebalance the Subaccount portion of your contract value on a periodic basis.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 5
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Income Guide. An optional service, available without charge, which provides reporting and monitoring of withdrawals you take from your contract (no longer available for new enrollments effective July 1, 2026).
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Automated Partial Surrenders. An optional service allowing you to set up automated partial surrenders from the Special DCA Fixed Account or the Subaccounts.
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Electronic Delivery. You may register for the electronic delivery of your current prospectus and other documents related to your contract.
6 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Important Information You Should Consider About the Contract
| |
FEES, EXPENSES AND ADJUSTMENTS |
Location in Statutory Prospectus | ||
| Are There Charges or Adjustments for Early Withdrawals? |
No. The Contract does not have a surrender charge. |
Charges and Adjustments – Surrender Charge for Fixed Annuity Payout Plans | ||
| Are There Transaction Charges? |
No. We do not assess any transaction charges. |
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| Are There Ongoing Fees and Expenses? |
Yes. The table below describes the current fees and expenses that you may pay each year, depending on the investment options and optional benefits you choose. Please refer to your Contract specifications page for information about the specific fees you will pay each year based on the options you have elected. |
Fee Table and Examples Appendix A: Investment Options Available Under the Contract | ||
| Annual Fee |
Minimum |
Maximum | ||
| Base Contract (varies by size of Contract Value)(1) |
|
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| Fund options (Funds fees and expenses)(2) |
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| Optional benefits available for an additional charge (for a single optional benefit, if elected)(3) |
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| (1) (2) (3) Because your Contract is customizable, the choices you make affect how much you will pay. To help you understand the cost of owning your Contract, the following table shows the lowest and highest cost you could pay each year, based on current charges. | ||||
| Lowest Annual Cost: $ |
Highest Annual Cost: $ | |||
| Assumes: •Investment of $100,000 •5% annual appreciation •Least expensive combination of Contract features and Fund fees and expenses •No optional benefits •No sales charge •No additional purchase payments, transfers or withdrawals |
Assumes: •Investment of $100,000 •5% annual appreciation •Most expensive combination of Contract features, optional benefits and Fund fees and expenses •No sales charge •No additional purchase payments, transfers or withdrawals | |||
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RISKS |
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| Is There a Risk of Loss from Poor Performance? |
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Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract | ||
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 7
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RISKS |
Location in Statutory Prospectus | ||
| Is This a Short-Term Investment? |
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Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract | ||
| What Are the Risks Associated with Investment Options? |
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Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract The Variable Account and the Funds The Fixed Account | ||
| What Are the Risks Related to the Insurance Company? |
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Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract The General Account | ||
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RESTRICTIONS |
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| Are There Restrictions on the Investment Options? |
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Making the Most of Your Contract – Transferring Among Accounts Substitution of Investments | ||
| Are There Any Restrictions on Contract Benefits? |
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Optional Benefits – Optional Death Benefits | ||
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TAXES |
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| What Are the Contract’s Tax Implications? |
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Taxes | ||
8 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST |
Location in Statutory Prospectus | ||
| How Are Investment Professionals Compensated? |
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About the Service Providers | ||
| Should I Exchange My Contract? |
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Buying Your Contract – Contract Exchanges | ||
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 9
Transaction Expenses
| Number of Completed Years Since Annuitization* |
Surrender charge percentage |
| 1 |
|
| 2 |
4 |
| 3 |
3 |
| 4 |
2 |
| 5 |
1 |
| 6 and thereafter |
0 |
Annual Contract Expenses
(assessed annually and upon full surrender)
| Annual contract administrative charge* |
Maximum: $ |
Current: $ |
| Annual contract administrative charge if your contract value equals or exceeds $50,000 |
Maximum: $ |
Current: $ |
| Standard Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: |
| ROPP Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: |
| MAV Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: |
| 5-year MAV Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: |
Annual Fund Expenses(1)
| Total Annual Fund Expenses |
Minimum(%) |
Maximum(%) |
| |
|
|
10 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Examples
These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the contract. These costs include Transaction Expenses, Annual Contract Expenses, and Annual Fund expenses.
These examples assume that you invest $100,000 in the contract for the time periods indicated. These examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year. The “Maximum” example further assumes the most expensive combination of Annual Contract Expenses reflecting the maximum charges, Annual Fund Expenses and optional benefits available. The “Minimum” example further assumes the least expensive combination of Annual Contract Expenses reflecting the current charges, Annual Fund Expenses and that no optional benefits are selected. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your maximum and minimum costs would be:
Maximum Expenses. These examples assume that you select the optional ROPP rider. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| If you surrender your contract at the end of the applicable time period: |
If you do not surrender your contract or if you select an annuity payout plan at the end of the applicable time period: | ||||||
| 1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
| $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
Minimum Expenses. These examples assume that you have the Standard Death Benefit and do not select any optional benefits. Although your actual costs may be higher, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| If you surrender your contract at the end of the applicable time period: |
If you do not surrender your contract or if you select an annuity payout plan at the end of the applicable time period: | ||||||
| 1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
| $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
THE EXAMPLES ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY. YOU SHOULD NOT CONSIDER THESE EXAMPLES AS A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES. ACTUAL EXPENSES WILL BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN DEPENDING UPON WHICH OPTIONAL BENEFIT YOU ELECT OTHER THAN INDICATED IN THE EXAMPLES OR IF YOU ALLOCATE CONTRACT VALUE TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE SUBACCOUNTS.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 11
12 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
The Variable Account and the Funds
The Variable Account: The Variable Account was established under New York law on April 17, 1996. The Variable Account, consisting of subaccounts, is registered together as a single unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). This registration does not involve any supervision of our management or investment practices and policies by the SEC. All obligations arising under the contracts are general obligations of RiverSource Life of NY.
The Variable Account meets the definition of a separate account under federal securities laws. Income, gains, and losses credited to or charged against the Variable Account reflect the Variable Account’s own investment experience and not the investment experience of RiverSource Life of NY’s other assets. The Variable Account’s assets are held separately from RiverSource Life of NY’s assets and are not chargeable with liabilities incurred in any other business of RiverSource Life of NY. RiverSource Life of NY is obligated to pay all amounts promised to contract owners under the contracts. The Variable Account includes other subaccounts that are available under contracts that are not described in this prospectus.
The IRS has issued guidance on investor control but may issue additional guidance in the future. We reserve the right to modify the contract or any investments made under the terms of the contract so that the investor control rules do not apply to treat the contract owner as the owner of the subaccount assets rather than the owner of an annuity contract. If the contract is not treated as an annuity contract for tax purposes, the owner may be subject to current taxation on any current or accumulated income credited to the contract.
We intend to comply with all federal tax laws so that the contract qualifies as an annuity for federal tax purposes. We reserve the right to modify the contract as necessary in order to qualify the contract as an annuity for federal tax purposes.
The Funds: The contract currently offers Subaccounts investing in shares of the Funds. Contract value allocated to a Subaccount will vary based on the investment experience of the corresponding Fund in which the Subaccount invests. There is a risk of loss of the entire amount invested. Information regarding each Fund, including (i) its name, (ii) its investment objective, (iii) its investment adviser and any sub-investment adviser, (iv) current expenses, and (v) performance may be found in Appendix A to this prospectus.
Please read the Funds’ prospectuses carefully for facts you should know before investing. These prospectuses containing more detailed information about the Funds are available by contacting us at 70100 Ameriprise Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474, telephone: 1-800-862-7919, website: Ameriprise.com/variableannuities.
•
Investment objectives: The investment managers and advisers cannot guarantee that the Funds will meet their investment objectives.
•
Fund name and management: An underlying Fund in which a Subaccount invests may have a name, portfolio manager, objectives, strategies and characteristics that are the same or substantially similar to those of a publicly-traded retail mutual fund. Despite these similarities, an underlying fund is not the same as any publicly-traded retail mutual fund. Each underlying fund will have its own unique portfolio holdings, fees, operating expenses and operating results. The results of each underlying fund may differ significantly from any publicly-traded retail mutual fund.
•
Eligible purchasers: All Funds are available to serve as underlying funds for variable annuities and variable life insurance policies. The Funds are not available to the public (see “Fund name and management” above). Some
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 13
Funds also are available to serve as investment options for tax-deferred retirement plans. It is possible that in the future for tax, regulatory or other reasons, it may be disadvantageous for variable annuity accounts and variable life insurance accounts and/or tax-deferred retirement plans to invest in the available funds simultaneously. Although we and the Funds’ providers do not currently foresee any such disadvantages, the boards of directors or trustees of each Fund will monitor events in order to identify any material conflicts between annuity owners, policy owners and tax-deferred retirement plans and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to a conflict. If a board were to conclude that it should establish separate Fund providers for the variable annuity, variable life insurance and tax-deferred retirement plan accounts, you would not bear any expenses associated with establishing separate Funds. Please refer to the Funds’ prospectuses for risk disclosure regarding simultaneous investments by variable annuity, variable life insurance and tax-deferred retirement plan accounts. Each Fund intends to comply with the diversification requirements under Section 817(h) of the Code.
•
Asset allocation programs may impact Fund performance: Asset allocation programs in general may negatively impact the performance of an underlying fund. Even if you do not participate in an asset allocation program, a Fund in which your Subaccount invests may be impacted if it is included in an asset allocation program. Rebalancing or reallocation under the terms of the asset allocation program may cause a Fund to lose money if it must sell large amounts of securities to meet a redemption request. These losses can be greater if the Fund holds securities that are not as liquid as others; for example, various types of bonds, shares of smaller companies and securities of foreign issuers. A Fund may also experience higher expenses because it must sell or buy securities more frequently than it otherwise might in the absence of asset allocation program rebalancing or reallocations. Because asset allocation programs include periodic rebalancing and may also include reallocation, these effects may occur under the asset allocation program we offer or under asset allocation programs used in conjunction with the contracts and plans of other eligible purchasers of the Funds.
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Funds available under the contract: We seek to provide a broad array of underlying funds taking into account the fees and charges imposed by each Fund and the contract charges we impose. We select the underlying funds in which the Subaccounts initially invest and when there is substitution (see “Substitution of Investments”). We also make all decisions regarding which Funds to retain in a contract, which Funds to add to a contract and which Funds will no longer be offered in a contract. In making these decisions, we may consider various objective and subjective factors. Objective factors include, but are not limited to Fund performance, Fund expenses, classes of Fund shares available, size of the Fund and investment objectives and investing style of the Fund. Subjective factors include, but are not limited to, investment sub-styles and process, management skill and history at other Funds and portfolio concentration and sector weightings. We also consider the levels and types of revenue, including but not limited to expense payments and non-cash compensation of a Fund, its distributor, investment adviser, subadviser, transfer agent or their affiliates pay us and our affiliates. This revenue includes, but is not limited to compensation for administrative services provided with respect to the Fund and support of marketing and distribution expenses incurred with respect to the Fund.
Model portfolios: Your financial advisor may develop subaccount allocation recommendations based on model portfolios created by affiliated and non-affiliated model providers. Model portfolio providers have a financial interest in providing the model portfolios, although they do not receive a fee. To the extent the model portfolios favor Funds advised or sub-advised by Columbia Management, it is more profitable for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates. Model portfolios do not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, risk profile or particular needs of an individual investor. A model portfolio does not protect against the risk of loss or guarantee performance.
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Money Market fund yield: In low interest rate environments, money market fund yields may decrease to a level where the deduction of fees and charges associated with your contract could result in negative net performance, resulting in a corresponding decrease in your contract value.
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Conflicts of Interest with Certain Funds Advised by Columbia Management. We are an affiliate of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., which is the parent company of Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (Columbia Management). Columbia Management acts as investment adviser to several funds of funds, including Portfolio Navigator and Portfolio Stabilizer funds. As such, it retains full discretion over the investment activities and investment decisions of the Funds. These funds invest in other registered mutual funds. In providing investment advisory services for the funds and the underlying funds in which those funds respectively invest, Columbia Management is, together with its affiliates, including us, subject to competing interests that may influence its decisions. These competing interests typically arise because Columbia Management Investment Advisers or one of its affiliates serves as the investment adviser to the underlying funds and may provide other services in connection with such underlying funds, and because the compensation we and our affiliates receive for providing these investment advisory and other services varies depending on the underlying fund.
14 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
•
Revenue we receive from the Funds and potential conflicts of interest:
Expenses We May Incur on Behalf of the Funds
When a Subaccount invests in a Fund, the Fund holds a single account in the name of the Variable Account. As such, the Variable Account is actually the shareholder of the fund. We, through our Variable Account, aggregate the transactions of numerous contract owners and submit net purchase and redemption requests to the Funds on a daily basis. In addition, we track individual contract owner transactions and provide confirmations, periodic statements, and other required mailings. These costs would normally be borne by the fund, but we incur them instead.
Besides incurring these administrative expenses on behalf of the funds, we also incur distributions expenses in selling our contracts. By extension, the distribution expenses we incur benefit the funds we make available due to contract owner elections to allocate purchase payments to the funds through the Subaccounts. In addition, the funds generally incur lower distribution expenses when offered through our Variable Account in contrast to being sold on a retail basis.
A complete list of why we may receive this revenue, as well as sources of revenue, is described in detail below.
Payments the Funds May Make to Us
We or our affiliates may receive from each of the Funds, or their affiliates, compensation including but not limited to expense payments. These payments are designed in part to compensate us for the expenses we may incur on behalf of the Funds. In addition to these payments, the Funds may compensate us for wholesaling activities or to participate in educational or marketing seminars sponsored by the Funds.
We or our affiliates may receive revenue derived from the 12b-1 fees charged by the Funds. These fees are deducted from the assets of the Funds. This revenue and the amount by which it can vary may create conflicts of interest. The amount, type, and manner in which the revenue from these sources is computed vary by Fund.
Conflicts of Interest These Payments May Create
When we determined the charges to impose under the contracts, we took into account anticipated payments from the Funds. If we had not taken into account these anticipated payments, the charges under the contract would have been higher. Additionally, the amount of payment we receive from a Fund or its affiliate may create an incentive for us to include that Fund as an investment option and may influence our decision regarding which Funds to include in the Variable Account as subaccount options for contract owners. Funds that offer lower payments or no payments may also have corresponding expense structures that are lower, resulting in decreased overall fees and expenses to shareholders.
We offer Funds managed by our affiliate Columbia Management. We have additional financial incentive to offer our affiliated funds because additional assets held by them generally results in added revenue to us and our parent company, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Additionally, employees of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its affiliates, including our employees, may be separately incented to include the affiliated funds in the products, as employee compensation and business unit operating goals at all levels are tied to the success of the company. Currently, revenue received from our affiliated funds comprises the greatest amount and percentage of revenue we derive from payments made by the Funds.
The Amount of Payments We Receive from the Funds
We or our affiliates receive revenue which ranges up to 0.65% of the average daily net assets invested in the Funds through this and other contracts we and our affiliates issue.
Why revenues are paid to us: In accordance with applicable laws, regulations and the terms of the agreements under which such revenue is paid, we or our affiliates may receive revenue, including but not limited to expense payments and non-cash compensation, for various purposes:
•
Compensating, training and educating financial advisors who sell the contracts.
•
Granting access to our employees whose job it is to promote sales of the contracts by authorized selling firms and their financial advisors, and granting access to financial advisors of our affiliated selling firms.
•
Activities or services we or our affiliates provide that assist in the promotion and distribution of the contracts including promoting the funds available under the contracts to contract owners, authorized selling firms and financial advisors.
•
Providing sub-transfer agency and shareholder servicing to contract owners.
•
Promoting, including and/or retaining the Fund’s investment portfolios as underlying Funds in the contracts.
•
Advertising, printing and mailing sales literature, and printing and distributing prospectuses and reports.
•
Furnishing personal services to contract owners, including education of contract owners regarding the Funds, answering routine inquiries regarding a Fund, maintaining accounts or providing such other services eligible for service fees as defined under the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
•
Subaccounting services, transaction processing, recordkeeping and administration.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 15
•
Sources of revenue received from affiliated funds: The affiliated funds are managed by Columbia Management. The sources of revenue we receive from these affiliated funds, or from the funds’ affiliates, may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
•
Assets of the Fund’s adviser, sub-adviser, transfer agent, distributor or an affiliate of these. The revenue resulting from these sources may be based either on a percentage of average daily net assets of the Fund or on the actual cost of certain services we provide with respect to the Fund. We may receive this revenue either in the form of a cash payment or it may be allocated to us.
•
Compensation paid out of 12b-1 fees that are deducted from Fund assets.
•
Sources of revenue received from unaffiliated funds: The unaffiliated funds are not managed by an affiliate of ours. The sources of revenue we receive from these unaffiliated funds, or the funds’ affiliates, may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
•
Assets of the Fund’s adviser, sub-adviser, transfer agent, distributor or an affiliate of these. The revenue resulting from these sources may be based either on a percentage of average daily net assets of the Fund or on the actual cost of certain services we provide with respect to the Fund. We receive this revenue in the form of a cash payment.
•
Compensation paid out of 12b-1 fees that are deducted from Fund assets.
The General Account
The general account includes all assets owned by RiverSource Life of NY, other than those in the Variable Account and our other separate accounts. Subject to applicable New York state law, we have sole discretion to decide how assets of the general account will be invested. The assets held in our general account support the guarantees under your contract including any optional benefits offered under the contract. These guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability and financial strength of RiverSource Life of NY. You should be aware that our general account is exposed to many of the same risks normally associated with a portfolio of fixed-income securities including interest rate, option, liquidity and credit risk. You should also be aware that we issue other types of annuities and financial instruments and products as well, and these obligations are satisfied from the assets in our general account. Our general account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of our creditors. The financial statements contained in the SAI include a further discussion of the risks inherent within the investments of the general account. The fixed account is supported by our general account that we make available under the contract.
16 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| By spreading the investment over the term of the Special DCA |
|
Date |
SDCA Balance |
Portion Transferred |
Amount Transferred |
Accumulation unit value |
Number of units purchased |
| you automatically buy more units when the per unit market price is low |
|
Jan 15th |
$5,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Jan 16th |
5,000.14 |
1/6 |
$833.36 |
$18 |
46.30 | |
| → |
Feb 16th |
4,170.30 |
1/5 |
834.06 |
15 |
55.60 | |
| and fewer units when the per unit market price is high. |
|
Mar 16th |
3,338.79 |
1/4 |
834.70 |
19 |
43.93 |
| |
April 16th |
2,506.20 |
1/3 |
835.40 |
17 |
49.14 | |
| → |
May 16th |
1,672.17 |
1/2 |
836.09 |
21 |
39.81 | |
| |
|
Jun 16th |
836.79 |
1/1 |
836.79 |
20 |
41.84 |
Buying Your Contract
The RAVA 5 Access contract described in this prospectus is available for limited purchases including certain qualified contracts, inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, and to accommodate certain 1035 exchanges of non-qualified contracts. You must complete an application and send it along with your initial purchase payment to our Service Center. We are required by law to obtain personal information from you which we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide this information, we reserve the right to refuse to issue your contract or take other steps we deem reasonable. As the owner, you have all rights and may receive all benefits under the contract. You may buy a qualified or nonqualified annuity. Generally, you can own a nonqualified annuity in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship only in spousal situations.
Under inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, all purchase payments must be received in the form of death benefit proceeds from a nonqualified annuity contract through a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 1035 of the Code and the owner and annuitant must be the same individual.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 17
You cannot own a qualified annuity or inherited nonqualified stretch annuity in joint tenancy. You can buy a contract if you are 90 or younger on the date the contract is issued.
When you apply, you may select among the following:
•
subaccounts and/or the Special DCA fixed account in which you want to invest;
•
how you want to make purchase payments;
•
a beneficiary;
•
one of the following optional death benefit riders:
•
ROPP Death Benefit*;
•
MAV Death Benefit; or
•
5-Year MAV Death Benefit.
* For contracts with applications dated on or after 12/5/2022, available if you are age 81 or older. For contracts with applications dated prior to 12/5/2022, available if you are age 80 or older.
The contracts provide for allocation of purchase payments to the subaccounts of the variable account and/or to the Special DCA fixed account.
If your application is complete, we will process it and apply your purchase payment to your investment selections within two business days after we receive it at our Service Center. If we accept your application, we will send you a contract. If your application is not complete, you must give us the information to complete it within five business days. If we cannot accept your application within five business days, we will decline it and return your payment unless you specifically ask us to keep the payment and apply it once your application is complete.
We will credit additional eligible purchase payments you make to your accounts on the valuation date we receive them. If we receive an additional purchase payment at our Service Center before the close of business, we will credit any portion of that payment allocated to the subaccounts using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received the payment. If we receive an additional purchase payment at our Service Center at or after the close of business, we will credit any portion of that payment allocated to the subaccounts using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date after we received the payment.
You may make regular payments to your contract under a scheduled payment plan (not allowed for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities). You must make an initial purchase payment of $2,000 or $10,000 depending on the tax qualification (see “Buying Your Contract — Purchase Payments”). Once the required initial purchase payment amount has been met, you can begin the scheduled payment plan by sending a completed form to the Service Center. Certain qualified plan applications allow the establishment of a scheduled payment plan without meeting the required initial purchase payment amount. Contact your financial advisor for details. There is no charge for the scheduled payment plan. You can stop your scheduled payment plan at any time.
Free look
You may return your contract to your financial advisor or to our Service Center within the time stated on the first page of your contract and receive a full refund of the contract value. The valuation date will be the date your request is received at our Service Center. (For California residents, the valuation date will be the earlier of the date your contract is returned to your financial advisor or to our corporate office). We will not deduct any contract charges or fees. However, you bear the investment risk from the time of purchase until you return the contract and any positive or negative market value adjustment will apply; the refund amount may be more or less than the payment you made. (Exception: If the law requires, we will refund all of your purchase payments, if greater than contract value.)
Householding and delivery of certain documents
With your prior consent, RiverSource Life and its affiliates may use and combine information concerning accounts owned by members of the same household and provide a single paper or electronic copy of certain documents to that household. This householding of documents may include prospectuses, supplements, annual reports, semiannual reports and proxies. Your authorization remains in effect unless we are notified otherwise. If you wish to continue receiving multiple copies of these documents, you can opt out of householding by calling us at 1.866.273.7429. Multiple mailings will resume within 30 days after we receive your opt out request.
Contract Exchanges
You should only exchange a contract you already own if you determine, after comparing the features, fees, and risks of both contracts, that it is better for you to purchase the new contract rather than continue to own your existing contract.
Generally, you can exchange one annuity for another or for a qualified long-term care policy in a “tax-free” exchange under Section 1035 of the Code. You can also do a partial exchange from one annuity contract to another annuity contract, subject to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. You also generally can exchange a life insurance policy for an annuity. However, before making an exchange, you should compare both contracts carefully because the features
Generally, you can exchange one annuity for another or for a qualified long-term care policy in a “tax-free” exchange under Section 1035 of the Code. You can also do a partial exchange from one annuity contract to another annuity contract, subject to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. You also generally can exchange a life insurance policy for an annuity. However, before making an exchange, you should compare both contracts carefully because the features
18 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
and benefits may be different. Fees and charges may be higher or lower on your old contract than on the new contract. You may have to pay a surrender charge when you exchange out of your old contract and a new surrender charge period may begin when you exchange into the new contract. If the exchange does not qualify for Section 1035 treatment, you also may have to pay federal income tax on the distribution. State income taxes may also apply. You should not exchange your old contract for the new contract or buy the new contract in addition to your old contract, unless you determine it is in your best interest. (See “Taxes — 1035 Exchanges.”)
Purchase Payments
Purchase payment amounts and purchase payment timing may be limited under the terms of the contract. If we do not receive your initial purchase payment within 180 days from the application signed date, we will consider your contract void from the start.
Minimum initial purchase payments*
| Qualified annuities |
$2,000 |
| Nonqualified annuities |
$10,000 |
Minimum additional purchase payments*
$50
Maximum total purchase payments** (without our approval) based on the contract year and your age on the effective date of the payment:
For the first contract year and total:
| through age 85 |
$1,000,000 |
| for ages 86 to 90 |
$100,000 |
| age 91 or older |
$0 |
For the second through fifth contract year thereafter if maximum purchase payment not already received:
| through age 85 |
$100,000 |
| for ages 86 to 90 |
$50,000 |
| age 91 or older |
$0 |
For each contract year thereafter***:
| through age 85 |
$0 |
| for ages 86 to 90 |
$0 |
| age 91 or older |
$0 |
According to Our current administrative practice, the Maximum Total Purchase Payments may be higher than shown above and may vary by age and contract year. Contact Your advisor or Our Service Center for the current Maximums.
*
If a group billing arrangement is set up through your employer, the minimum initial and minimum additional purchase payment is $25.
**
These limits apply in total to all RiverSource Life annuities you own unless a higher amount applies to your contract. We reserve the right to waive or increase the maximum limit. For qualified annuities, the Code’s limits on annual contributions also apply. Additional purchase payments for inherited IRA contracts cannot be made unless the payment is IRA money inherited from the same decedent.
***
Additional purchase payments are not allowed after the fifth contract year unless this is a tax qualified contract, in which case we allow additional purchase payments in any contract year up to the maximum permissible annual contribution described by the Code that was in effect on the contract date.
We reserve the right to change these purchase payment limitations, including making further restrictions, upon prior written notice.
Inherited Nonqualified Stretch Annuities: Under inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, additional purchase payments are not allowed after the first partial surrender, including Required Distributions. Additional purchase payments must be received in the form of death benefit proceeds from a nonqualified annuity contract through a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 1035 of the Code from the same decedent. We reserve the right to restrict any additional purchase payments that interfere with our ability to begin required distributions as required by applicable law. (see “Surrenders – Required Distributions for Inherited Nonqualified Stretch Annuities”).
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 19
How to Make Purchase Payments
1 Electronically
Our Service Center or your financial advisor can help you to move money electronically.
You can use the secure site at Ameriprise.com or the Ameriprise Financial app if you are an Ameriprise client.
2 By letter
Send your check along with your name and contract number to:
RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York
70500 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
70500 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
Limitations on Use of Contract
If mandated by applicable law, including but not limited to, federal anti-money laundering laws, we may be required to reject a purchase payment. We may also be required to block an owner’s access to contract values and satisfy other statutory obligations. Under these circumstances, we may refuse to implement requests for transfers, surrenders or death benefits until instructions are received from the appropriate governmental authority or court of competent jurisdiction.
The Annuitization Start Date
Annuity payouts begin on the annuitization start date. This means that the contract will be annuitized (converted to a stream of monthly payments). If your contract is annuitized, the contract goes into payout and only the annuity payout provisions continue. You will no longer have access to your contract value. This means that the death benefit and any optional benefits you have elected will end. When we process your application, we will establish the annuitization start date to be the maximum age (or contract anniversary if applicable). You also can change the annuitization start date, provided you send us written instructions at least 30 days before annuity payouts begin.
The annuitization start date must be:
•
no earlier than 13 months after the contract’s effective date; and no later than
•
the owner’s 95th birthday or the tenth contract anniversary, if later,
•
or such other date as agreed to by us.
Six months prior to your annuitization start date, we will contact you with your options including the option to postpone your annuitization start date to a future date. You can also choose to delay the annuitization of your contract to a date beyond age 95, to the extent allowed by applicable state law and tax laws.
If you do not make an election, annuity payouts using the contract’s default option of annuity payout Plan B — Life Income with 10 years certain will begin on the annuitization start date and your monthly annuity payments will continue for as long as the annuitant lives. If the annuitant does not survive 10 years, we will continue to make payments until 10 years of payments have been made (see “The Annuity Payout Period – Annuity Payout Plans”). Also, if you do not make an election, annuity payouts will be a combination of fixed and variable based on the proportion of your contract value allocated to the fixed account and variable account at the time payouts begin.
Generally, if you own a qualified annuity (for example, an IRA) and tax laws require that you take distributions from your annuity prior to your annuitization start date, your contract will not be automatically annuitized. However, if you choose, you can elect to request annuitization or take partial surrenders to meet your required minimum distributions.
Inherited Nonqualified Stretch Annuities. Under inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, you may only change the annuitization start date if you elect an annuity payment plan. You may not elect an annuity payment plan after a partial surrender, including Required Distributions. After a partial surrender, all references to the annuitization start date and an annuity payment plan in your contract no longer apply.
Beneficiary
We will pay to your named beneficiary the death benefit if it becomes payable while the contract is in force and before the annuitization start date. If there is more than one beneficiary we will pay each beneficiary’s designated share when we receive their completed claim. A beneficiary will bear the investment risk of the variable account until we receive the beneficiary’s completed claim. If there is no named beneficiary, then the default provisions of your contract will apply. (See “Benefits in Case of Death” for more about beneficiaries.)
20 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Inherited Nonqualified Stretch Annuities. Under inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, if you die before the full distribution of your interest in this contract, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit as determined by the contract or any attached riders in a lump sum or if we allow, may elect to continue to receive the Required Distributions under this contract. Required Distributions must continue at least as rapidly as Section 72(s)(2) of the Code required prior to your death. Your beneficiary may not elect an annuity payment plan.
Charges and Adjustments
Transaction Expenses
Surrender Charge for Fixed Annuity Payout Plans
Fixed payouts: Surrender charge under annuity payout plans allowing surrenders of the present value of remaining guaranteed payouts:
If you elect an annuity payout plan on a fixed basis and the plan we make available provides a liquidity feature permitting you to surrender any portion of the underlying value of remaining guaranteed payouts, a surrender charge may apply. The surrender charge helps us cover sales and distribution expenses.
A surrender charge will be assessed against the present value of any remaining guaranteed payouts surrendered. The discount rate we use in determining present values varies based on: (1) the contract value originally applied to the fixed annuitization; (2) the remaining years of guaranteed payouts; (3) the annual effective interest rate and the periodic payment amount for new immediate annuities of the same duration as the remaining years of guaranteed payouts; and (4) the interest spread (currently 1.50%). If we do not currently offer immediate annuities, we will use rates and values applicable to new annuitizations to determine the discount rate.
Once the discount rate is applied and we have determined the present value of the remaining guaranteed payouts you are surrendering, the present value determined will be multiplied by the surrender charge percentage in the table below and deducted from the present value to determine the net present value you will receive.
| Number of Completed Years Since Annuitization* |
Surrender charge percentage |
| 1 |
5% |
| 2 |
4 |
| 3 |
3 |
| 4 |
2 |
| 5 |
1 |
| 6 and thereafter |
0 |
*We do not permit surrenders in the first year after annuitization.
We will provide a quoted present value (which includes the deduction of any surrender charge). You must then formally elect, in a form acceptable to us, to receive this value. The remaining guaranteed payouts following surrender will be reduced, possibly to zero.
Annual Contract Expenses
Base Contract Expenses
Base Contract Expenses consist of the contract administrative charge and mortality and expense risk fee.
Contract Administrative Charge
We charge this fee for establishing and maintaining your records. We deduct $50 from your contract value on your contract anniversary or, if earlier, when the contract is fully surrendered. We prorate this charge among the subaccounts in the same proportion your interest bears to your total contract value.
We will waive this charge when your contract value is $50,000 or more on the current contract anniversary. We reserve the right to charge up to $20 after the first contract anniversary for contracts with contract value of $50,000 or more.
If you take a full surrender of your contract, we will deduct the charge at the time of surrender regardless of the contract value. This charge does not apply to amounts applied to an annuity payment plan or to the death benefit.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 21
Mortality and Expense Risk Fee
We charge this fee daily to the subaccounts as a percentage of the daily contract value in the variable account. The unit values of your subaccounts reflect this fee. These fees cover the mortality and expense risk that we assume. These fees do not apply to the Special DCA fixed account. The fees listed below are the current fees and they cannot be changed.
| Standard Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: 0.95% |
You may select one of the following optional death benefit riders for an additional fee.
| ROPP Death Benefit(1) |
Maximum/Current: 0.35% |
| MAV Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: 0.25% |
| 5-year MAV Death Benefit |
Maximum/Current: 0.10% |
(1)
For applications signed prior to 12/5/2022, available for contract owners ages 80 or older and for applications signed on or after 12/5/2022, available for contract owners ages 81 and older.
If you choose one of the above optional death benefits, we will add the rider fee to your mortality and expense risk fee.
Mortality risk arises because of our guarantee to pay a death benefit and our guarantee to make annuity payouts according to the terms of the contract, no matter how long a specific owner or annuitant lives and no matter how long our entire group of owners or annuitants live. If, as a group, owners or annuitants outlive the life expectancy we assumed in our actuarial tables, we must take money from our general assets to meet our obligations. If, as a group, owners or annuitants do not live as long as expected, we could profit from the mortality risk fee. We deduct the mortality risk fee from the subaccounts during the annuity payout period even if the annuity payout plan does not involve a life contingency.
Expense risk arises because we cannot increase the contract administrative charge (except for contracts with contract value of $50,000 or more, where we reserve the right to charge a contract administrative change up to $20 after the first contract anniversary) and this charge may not cover our expenses. We would have to make up any deficit from our general assets. We could profit from the expense risk fee if future expenses are less than expected.
The subaccounts pay us the mortality and expense risk fee they accrued as follows:
•
first, to the extent possible, the subaccounts pay this fee from any dividends distributed from the funds in which they invest;
•
then, if necessary, the funds redeem shares to cover any remaining fees payable.
We may use any profits we realize from the subaccounts’ payment to us of the mortality and expense risk fee for any proper corporate purpose, including, among others, payment of distribution (selling) expenses.
Fund Fees and Expenses
There are deductions from and expenses paid out of the assets of the funds that are described in the prospectuses for those funds.
Valuing Your Investment
We value your accounts as follows:
The Fixed Account
We value the amounts you allocate to the fixed account directly in dollars. The value of the fixed account equals:
•
the sum of your purchase payments allocated to the Special DCA fixed account;
•
plus interest credited;
•
minus the sum of amounts surrendered and amounts transferred out; and
•
minus any prorated portion of the contract administrative charge.
Subaccounts
We convert amounts you allocated to the subaccounts into accumulation units. Each time you make a purchase payment or transfer amounts into one of the subaccounts, we credit a certain number of accumulation units to your contract for that subaccount. Conversely, we subtract a certain number of accumulation units from your contract each time you take a partial surrender, transfer amounts out of a subaccount, or we assess a contract administrative charge.
22 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
The accumulation units are the true measure of investment value in each subaccount during the accumulation period. They are related to, but not the same as, the net asset value of the fund in which the subaccount invests. The dollar value of each accumulation unit can rise or fall daily depending on the variable account expenses, performance of the fund and on certain fund expenses. Here is how we calculate accumulation unit values:
Number of units: to calculate the number of accumulation units for a particular subaccount we divide your investment by the current accumulation unit value.
Accumulation unit value: the current accumulation unit value for each subaccount equals the last value times the subaccount’s current net investment factor. We calculate the accumulation unit value of each subaccount on each valuation date. If your contract anniversary is not a valuation date, your contract value for that contract anniversary will be based on close of business values on the next valuation date.
We determine the net investment factor by:
•
adding the fund’s current net asset value per share, plus the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain distribution to obtain a current adjusted net asset value per share; then
•
dividing that sum by the previous adjusted net asset value per share; and
•
subtracting the percentage factor representing the mortality and expense risk fee from the result.
Because the net asset value of the fund may fluctuate, the accumulation unit value may increase or decrease. You bear all the investment risk in a subaccount.
| Example of Net Investment Factor and Accumulation Unit Value |
|
| ||
| Net asset value per share |
25.00000000 |
| ||
| + |
Accrued income or capital gain dividends per share |
0.00000000 |
| |
| = |
Adjusted net asset value per share |
25.00000000 |
| |
| ÷ |
Previous adjusted net asset value per share |
25.20000000 |
| |
| = |
Investment factor |
0.99206349 |
| |
| – |
Daily mortality and expense risk fee |
0.00002596 |
| |
| = |
Net investment factor |
0.99203754 |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Previous accumulation unit value |
2.05000000 |
| ||
| × |
Net investment factor |
0.99203754 |
| |
| = |
Current accumulation unit value |
2.03367695 |
| |
The accumulation unit value is multiplied by the number of accumulation units to determine the contract value in that subaccount.
Factors that affect subaccount accumulation units: accumulation units may change in two ways — in number and in value.
The number of accumulation units you own may fluctuate due to:
•
additional purchase payments you allocate to the subaccounts;
•
transfers into or out of the subaccounts;
•
partial surrenders;
and a deduction of a prorated portion of:
•
the contract administrative charge.
Accumulation unit values will fluctuate due to:
•
changes in fund net asset value;
•
fund dividends distributed to the subaccounts;
•
fund capital gains or losses;
•
fund operating expenses; and/or
•
mortality and expense risk fees.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 23
Making the Most of Your Contract
Automated Dollar-Cost Averaging
Currently, you can use automated transfers to take advantage of dollar-cost averaging (investing a fixed amount at regular intervals). For example, you might transfer a set amount monthly from a relatively conservative subaccount to a more aggressive one, or to one or more subaccounts. You can also obtain the benefits of dollar-cost averaging by setting up regular automatic payments under a scheduled payment plan. There is no charge for dollar-cost averaging.
This systematic approach can help you benefit from fluctuations in accumulation unit values caused by fluctuations in the market values of the funds. Since you invest the same amount each period, you automatically acquire more units when the market value falls and fewer units when it rises. The potential effect is to lower your average cost per unit.
How dollar-cost averaging works
| By investing an equal number of dollars each month |
|
Month |
Amount invested |
Accumulation unit value |
Number of units purchased |
| |
|
Jan |
$100 |
$20 |
5.00 |
| |
|
Feb |
100 |
18 |
5.56 |
| you automatically buy more units when the per unit market price is low |
|
Mar |
100 |
17 |
5.88 |
| → |
Apr |
100 |
15 |
6.67 | |
| |
|
May |
100 |
16 |
6.25 |
| |
|
June |
100 |
18 |
5.56 |
| |
|
July |
100 |
17 |
5.88 |
| and fewer units when the per unit market price is high. |
|
Aug |
100 |
19 |
5.26 |
| → |
Sept |
100 |
21 |
4.76 | |
| |
|
Oct |
100 |
20 |
5.00 |
You paid an average price of $17.91 per unit over the 10 months, while the average market price actually was $18.10.
Dollar-cost averaging does not guarantee that any subaccount will gain in value nor will it protect against a decline in value if market prices fall. Because dollar-cost averaging involves continuous investing, your success will depend upon your willingness to continue to invest regularly through periods of low price levels. Dollar-cost averaging can be an effective way to help meet your long-term goals. For specific features, contact your financial advisor.
Asset Rebalancing
You can ask us in writing to automatically rebalance the subaccount portion of your contract value either quarterly, semiannually, or annually. The period you select will start to run on the date we record your request. On the first valuation date of each of these periods, we automatically will rebalance your contract value so that the value in each subaccount matches your current subaccount percentage allocations. These percentage allocations must be in whole numbers. There is no charge for asset rebalancing. The contract value must be at least $2,000.
You can change your percentage allocations or your rebalancing period at any time by contacting us in writing. We will restart the rebalancing period you selected as of the date we record your change. You also can ask us in writing to stop rebalancing your contract value. You must allow 30 days for us to change any instructions that currently are in place. For more information on asset rebalancing, contact your financial advisor.
The Income GuideSM Program
Effective 7/1/2026, the Income GuideSM Program is no longer available and You will not be able to enroll in the program. If You are currently enrolled in Income Guide, You can continue using the program. However, if You cancel the Income Guide program (or the program is automatically cancelled for one of the reasons listed below), You will not be able to enroll in the program again.
Income Guide is an optional service available without charge. It does not change or otherwise modify any of the other benefits, features, charges, or terms and conditions associated with your annuity contract. The purpose of the program is to provide reporting and monitoring of withdrawals you take from your annuity. The reporting and monitoring is designed to provide you information that may assist you in considering whether to adapt your withdrawals over time.
For the purpose of Income Guide program, the term “systematic withdrawals” is the same as “automated systematic surrenders”.
24 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
The assumptions we used in the program are not customized or individualized to your circumstances. Program participants and their unique individual circumstances will vary from the program assumptions, creating differing results. The simulations we used in connection with the program do not include any contract or underlying fund charge assumptions other than an assumed mortality and expense risk charge of 1.0%. Your contract value may be depleted prior to the end of the program. If you follow the program and make downward adjustments to your withdrawals to remain in the “On Track” status, the amount of your withdrawal can significantly decline over time.
Income Guide is a withdrawal monitoring service. The program establishes what we call a “Prudent Income Amount” which is based on your contract value, age, and the other program assumptions described below. We calculate the Prudent Income Amount daily using the following factors:
(1)
the age of the participant, (the age of the younger participant under the Joint Option);
(2)
the contract value;
(3)
Prudent Income Percentages.
The current Prudent Income Amount is determined by multiplying the current contract value by the current Prudent Income Percentage. The Prudent Income Amount is a hypothetical withdrawal amount with a minimum 85% probability that if taken and no withdrawal adjustments are made, withdrawals at that amount would not deplete the contract value prior to age 95 (age 100 for joint), or 8 years if longer. Please refer to the Prudent Income Amount section below for details on the assumptions we used to create the Prudent Income Percentages and the operation of the Prudent Income Amount.
Income Guide compares the annual total of the monthly systematic withdrawals you have elected to the current Prudent Income Amount we have calculated to determine your current status in the program. The current status provides you information on the current sustainability of your rate of withdrawal by comparing it to the Prudent Income Amount.
The program allows you to have withdrawal income monitored based on one person (the “Single Option”) or two persons (the “Joint Option”). We refer to each person covered under Income Guide as a participant. Income Guide is most effective when you use it in consultation with your financial advisor.
Income Guide is not a guaranteed income option and it is not backed by our general account. If you need income guaranteed for life or another specified period of time, you should not rely on using Income Guide. For guaranteed income options, consider annuitization options or other annuity contracts that provide guaranteed lifetime income or withdrawal benefit riders.
Any withdrawals you make from your contract may result in taxes and tax penalties. In addition, withdrawals will reduce your contract value and may result in a proportional reduction to the Standard Death Benefit and any optional death benefit you have elected.
As part of the Income Guide program, we provide you with information regarding your withdrawal amount, but we do not determine whether to make adjustments to your withdrawal amount or investment allocation. You need to decide what changes or adjustments may be right for you, or whether to seek the assistance of a financial advisor in making any decisions, based on the information provided and your given needs and circumstances.
Program Availability (no longer available for new enrollments effective July 1, 2026)
Income Guide is only available if the servicing broker-dealer on your contract is Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”) which is our affiliate and we only currently offer variable annuity contracts through AFS. We may modify or end the availability of Income Guide at any time in our sole discretion. We will notify you 30 days in advance of any changes to Income Guide or if we end the program. Advance notice will not be given for any changes we decide to make to the Prudent Income Percentages.
In order to enroll in Income Guide, the following eligibility requirements must be met.
(1)
One of the Income Guide participants must be an owner or annuitant under the contract.
(2)
Your contract cannot be a beneficially owned IRA or inherited nonqualified stretch annuity.
(3)
You cannot be withdrawing substantially equal periodic payments as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. These payments are calculated in part using your life expectancy and place limits on the ability to increase withdrawals beyond a certain amount without incurring tax consequences.
(4)
If you have a systematic withdrawal program established, the frequency of withdrawal must be set at monthly. You cannot have more than one systematic withdrawal program established at the same time.
(5)
Your contract cannot have any active or deemed loans on it.
(6)
Your contract must have an Ameriprise advisor registered with AFS assigned as the agent of record on your contract.
(7)
All participants covered by the program must be at least age 50 and no older than age 85.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 25
These eligibility requirements apply to any post-enrollment changes you may elect to make, such as changing or adding participants.
Advance notice will not be given for the events listed below that automatically terminate Income Guide.
(1)
You modify your systematic withdrawal program to a frequency other than monthly or you have more than one systematic withdrawal program in effect.
(2)
You take a loan on the contract.
(3)
On any contract anniversary where the participant (for joint, youngest participant) attained the maximum age of 95 in the preceding contract year.
(4)
The death benefit under the contract becomes payable.
(5)
You elect a systematic withdrawal program to take substantially equal periodic payments as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. These payments are calculated in part using your life expectancy and place limits on the ability to increase withdrawals beyond a certain amount without incurring tax consequences.
(6)
AFS is no longer the servicing broker-dealer on your contract.
(7)
Your contract terminates for any reason, including full surrender, the contract value reaches zero, or when you annuitize your entire contract (this does not apply to partial annuitizations which are permitted while you participate in Income Guide).
In the event of a change in ownership, systematic withdrawals are suspended, but you would continue to be enrolled in the Income Guide.
Enrolling in the Income Guide Program (no longer available for new enrollments effective July 1, 2026)
You may elect to enroll in the Income Guide program at any time as long as we continue to offer it and you meet the eligibility requirements of participation. At the time of your enrollment, you will be required to complete an Income Guide Enrollment Form or verbally acknowledge your understanding of the program if we permit enrollment via telephone. In connection with enrollment, you will be asked whether you want the Single Option or Joint Option. You also will be required to provide the birthdate and sex of each participant covered under Income Guide. We use the age provided at enrollment to calculate the Prudent Income Amount.
If you are funding your contract through multiple sources that would involve making more than one initial purchase payment, you should consider waiting to enroll in Income Guide until your contract is fully funded. A large purchase payment not taken into account will result in a lower initial Prudent Income Amount being calculated. If your systematic withdrawal amount is based on all intended payments, then the amount you are withdrawing will be higher than the Prudent Income Amount that is calculated before we receive all intended purchase payments which may affect your Income Guide status.
After enrolling, we will permit you to modify the selected option (Single Option or Joint Option) or to change the participants. Any changes are subject to the conditions stated in the Program Availability section above.
Withdrawal Monitoring and Reporting
Income Guide is designed to assist you and your financial advisor in managing the withdrawal of money out of your annuity contract to provide income. To aid in managing your withdrawals, we currently provide periodic reports to you and your financial advisor. This includes a detailed annual report we provide on each contract anniversary and a brief summary on the consolidated statements you receive either monthly or quarterly from AFS. These reports include an Income Guide status based on the Prudent Income Amount calculated on the date we produce the report. The reporting and the status are designed to provide you information regarding the current sustainability of your current withdrawal amount by comparing it to the current Prudent Income Amount. We provide no other reporting, so you should review your consolidated statement and annual report to see if your status under the program has changed. You also can review your current daily status by logging into your account on ameriprise.com. We reserve the right to modify the reporting we provide under the program at any time and in our sole discretion.
The table below summarizes the definitions of each status under the program.
| Income Guide Status Definitions | |||
| Attention Needed |
Caution |
On Track |
More Available |
| Prudent Income Amount is more than 20% below your current annual withdrawal amount |
Prudent Income Amount is from 10.1% to 20% below your current annual withdrawal amount |
Prudent Income Amount is from 10% below up to 24.9% above your current annual withdrawal amount |
Prudent Income Amount is more than 25% or more above your current annual withdrawal amount |
26 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
We use descriptive terminology to describe each status. When you are in the On Track status we may refer to your withdrawal rate as “currently sustainable.” When you are in the Caution status, we refer to your withdrawal rate as “near a point where it may not be sustainable.” When you are in the Attention Needed status, we refer to your withdrawal rate as “may not be sustainable.” Finally, if your current withdrawal amount places you in the “More Available” status, we refer to you as having “more options available” because the Prudent Income Amount is at least 25% higher than your current withdrawal amount. These statuses, including the accompanying explanations, are merely descriptive and do not represent a specific level of actual sustainability or probability of your contract value not being depleted. Please note if you are in the “More Available” status and you utilize contract value for other purposes it may create adverse consequences in the future, including increasing the possibility and extent of future status changes and the possibility of running out of money prior to the end of the program.
The following Income Guide statuses are used in our periodic reporting.
| Income Guide Status |
What the Status Means |
| Attention Needed |
Based on your contract value, it is projected that your withdrawal amount may not be sustainable. |
| Caution |
Based on your contract value, it is projected that your withdrawal amount is near a point where it may not be sustainable. |
| On Track |
Based on your contract value, it is projected that your withdrawal amount is currently sustainable. Please note that the minimum 85% probability assumed in the program only applies to the Prudent Income Amount and not to the “On Track” status which includes a range above and below the current Prudent Income Amount. |
| More Available |
Based on your contract value and withdrawal amount, it is projected there are more options available. |
These statuses are not designed to be, nor should they be construed as, investment advice. They are based on a comparison of your current annual withdrawal amount versus the current Prudent Income Amount. They also can aid you in tracking how close your current rate of withdrawal is to the Prudent Income Amount. In the end, your unique financial situation and the advice of your financial advisor should be utilized in assessing your Income Guide status and your utilization of the program as a whole. Please note, the longer you are in the Attention Needed status without adjusting withdrawals the greater the likelihood that you will deplete your contract value.
If you enroll in Income Guide without electing a systematic withdrawal, then no status will be reported, but you will be provided the Prudent Income Amount.
If you completely suspend your withdrawals, we will also no longer report a status. This, however, does not mean that subsequently restarting withdrawals will result in a sustainable rate of withdrawal. When you restart your withdrawals, a current Prudent Income Amount will be compared to your current withdrawal amount to determine a current status. Also, remember that a change in ownership will automatically suspend systematic withdrawals.
Income Guide does not take into account your unique financial situation, including how you allocate your contract value to available investment options and the allocation of your contract value to equities or fixed income instruments (e.g. bonds). Your investment returns, including the deduction of any fund fees and expenses, will differ from program assumptions. In addition, the fees and charges we assumed in calculating values under the program will differ from the actual fees and charges on your contract. This is due in part to the fact that we did not assume certain charges, including the contract administrative charge and optional benefit charges.
The methods, assumptions and simulations we used to develop the Prudent Income Percentages may not be appropriate or correct for a given contract owner. Individual results can vary widely and will impact the frequency of status changes and how often you may want to make adjustments to your withdrawals. You must decide whether to modify withdrawals or take any other action with respect to your contract based on the status we report, and whether to consult with your financial advisor.
The Prudent Income Amount
We use your current age, contract value, and Prudent Income Percentage to calculate your current Prudent Income Amount. We may modify these factors used to calculate your Prudent Income Amount at any time and in our sole discretion. We, RiverSource Life Insurance Company, solely determined what assumptions to use in deriving the Prudent Income Amount
Since the Prudent Income Amount is calculated daily and fluctuates based on age and current contract value, the program does not guarantee or result in a steady stream of income or provide any type of guaranteed cash value or guaranteed benefit.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 27
The Prudent Income Percentages are derived from a series of random simulations based on the following assumptions:
•
an investment allocation of 50% in equities and 50% in fixed income instruments (e.g. bonds);
•
average annual returns, after the deduction of all fund fees and expenses, of 9.0% on the equity allocation and 2.0% on the fixed income instruments allocation that grades upward to 4.0% over a twenty year period;
•
annual portfolio returns have a standard deviation of 9.0%;
•
a 1.0% average annual mortality and expense risk fee being assessed; and
•
taking level withdrawals each month.
The average annual return assumptions of 9.0% for the equity allocation and the 2.0% - 4.0% for the fixed income instruments allocation are net return assumptions. This means these return assumptions would be after the deduction of all underlying fund fees and expenses. For this series of random simulations, a standard deviation of 9% means that approximately two thirds of the annual returns are within a range of 9% above and 9% below the average annual return. Contract charges other than the 1.0% mortality and expense risk fee, if they apply to you, were not included in the assumptions. This includes the contract administrative charge and charges associated with optional benefits available under the contract. The “Charges and Adjustments” section of the prospectus provides additional details on the amount and applicability of these charges.
Since these assumptions are not customized to you, your circumstances will differ and the minimum 85% probability of withdrawals lasting for the duration of the program without the need to make any adjustments to the amount of withdrawals may be higher or lower than the probability used in developing the Prudent Income Percentages.
Your results under the program will vary. In general, if you have lower returns, higher volatility, higher fees, or you make additional withdrawals, then the probability of your withdrawal amount being sustainable will be lower than assumed under the program. In contrast, if you have higher returns, lower volatility, lower fees, or make additional purchase payments, then the probability of your withdrawal amount being sustainable will generally be higher than assumed under the program. In addition, if you experience long-term periods where your contract value is continually declining due to deviations from the assumptions mentioned above, you will need to repeatedly decrease the amount of your withdrawal to stay in the “On Track” status. Also, while unlikely, your contract value may be depleted before age 95 even if you follow the program.
It is important to remember that only the age of the participant and the contract value are specific to your contract. All of the factors used in determining the Prudent Income Percentages are general and not individualized or otherwise customized to you, your contract allocation, or any other circumstances specific to you.
The following factors related to your contract experience will impact your Income Guide status and the probability of withdrawals (without adjusting under the program) lasting for the duration of the program:
(1)
the fees, average annual total returns and volatility of the underlying funds you have elected;
(2)
the specific fees of your contract;
(3)
additional purchase payments to the contract;
(4)
withdrawals in addition to the monthly systematic withdrawal;
(5)
partial annuitizations; or
(6)
your actual life expectancy or retirement horizon.
The assumptions were utilized to run a series of random simulations. These simulations were used to establish the Prudent Income Percentages which are based on a level amount of income (without adjusting under the program) that provides a minimum 85% or greater probability of contract value lasting to age 95 (age 100 for joint), or for 8 years, whichever is longer. As with any simulation, your actual experience will be different and our methodology could have an error.
The Prudent Income Percentages change over time based on age. The table below shows the current Prudent Income Percentages utilized. In the case of the Joint Option, the youngest participant’s age is used to determine the Prudent Income Percentages.
Prudent Income Percentages
| Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
| 50 |
3.0% |
2.5% |
66 |
4.6% |
4.1% |
81 |
6.3% |
5.8% |
| 51 |
3.1% |
2.6% |
67 |
4.7% |
4.2% |
82 |
6.6% |
6.1% |
| 52 |
3.2% |
2.7% |
68 |
4.8% |
4.3% |
83 |
6.9% |
6.4% |
| 53 |
3.3% |
2.8% |
69 |
4.9% |
4.4% |
84 |
7.2% |
6.7% |
| 54 |
3.4% |
2.9% |
70 |
5.0% |
4.5% |
85 |
7.5% |
7.0% |
| 55 |
3.5% |
3.0% |
71 |
5.1% |
4.6% |
86 |
8.0% |
7.5% |
28 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
Participant Age |
Single Option |
Joint Option |
| 56 |
3.6% |
3.1% |
72 |
5.2% |
4.7% |
87 |
8.5% |
8.0% |
| 57 |
3.7% |
3.2% |
73 |
5.3% |
4.8% |
88 |
9.0% |
8.5% |
| 58 |
3.8% |
3.3% |
74 |
5.4% |
4.9% |
89 |
9.5% |
9.0% |
| 59 |
3.9% |
3.4% |
75 |
5.5% |
5.0% |
90 |
10.0% |
9.5% |
| 60 |
4.0% |
3.5% |
76 |
5.6% |
5.1% |
91 |
10.5% |
10.0% |
| 61 |
4.1% |
3.6% |
77 |
5.7% |
5.2% |
92 |
11.0% |
10.5% |
| 62 |
4.2% |
3.7% |
78 |
5.8% |
5.3% |
93 |
11.5% |
11.0% |
| 63 |
4.3% |
3.8% |
79 |
5.9% |
5.4% |
94 |
12.0% |
11.5% |
| 64 |
4.4% |
3.9% |
80 |
6.0% |
5.5% |
95 |
12.5% |
12.0% |
| 65 |
4.5% |
4.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Prudent Income Percentage is multiplied by the contract value to determine the current Prudent Income Amount. The Prudent Income Amount will change over time due to changes in the contract value and the age of the participants covered under the program.
Although the Prudent Income Percentage increases with age, the Prudent Income Amount may not increase over time because a decreasing contract value can more than offset any increase in the Prudent Income Percentage. An increase in the Prudent Income Percentage does not protect against inflation.
Refer to “Example of a Prudent Income Amount Calculation” below to see how the Prudent Income Percentage is used to create a Prudent Income Amount.
By increasing with age, the Prudent Income Percentages result in less contract value being required to be in the “On Track” status. As a result, the Prudent Income Amount is not designed to preserve the level of your contract value. Following the monitoring program, however, including making adjustments to your rate of withdrawal over the life of the program, will increase the likelihood that your contract value will not be exhausted prior to the end of the program.
The assumptions used in determining values under Income Guide including investment and performance, are not tied in any way to your allocation of contract value and its performance. Your actual contract results can vary significantly from the performance we assumed in calculating the Prudent Income Amount.
The Prudent Income Amount is not a guarantee of present or future income and is not intended, nor should it be construed as, any form of investment advice.
If your contract is funding an employer sponsored plan such as a retirement plan established under Section 403(b) or 401(a) of the Code, your ability to begin a systematic withdrawal or to change one may be subject to plan sponsor approval. To determine whether there are any plan based restrictions on Income Guide, contact your plan sponsor.
Example of a Prudent Income Amount Calculation
Below is an example of how Income Guide calculates the Prudent Income Amount and assigns the status of the sustainability of your withdrawals.
At the time of enrollment, assume the following:
(1)
you have elected the Single Option;
(2)
you are age 65;
(3)
your monthly systematic withdrawal amount is $350.00 ($4,200.00 annually); and
(4)
your contract value is $100,000.00.
Using these assumptions when you enroll, to calculate the Prudent Income Amount, the contract value is multiplied by the Prudent Income Percentage, which is 4.5%.
$100,000.00 x 4.5% = $4,500.00
In this case, the Prudent Income Amount is about 7.1% above your annual withdrawal amount. This results in being assigned a status of “On Track.”
Let’s assume six months after enrollment, you are still age 65 and your contract value is now $95,000. When you multiply the current contract value by the Prudent Income Percentage you get the following Prudent Income Amount.
$95,000.00 x 4.5% = $4,275.00
In this case, the Prudent Income Amount is about 1.8% above your annual withdrawal amount. This results in being assigned a status of “On Track.”
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 29
Let’s assume one year after enrollment, you are now age 66 and your contract value is now $82,000. When you multiply the current contract value by the Prudent Income Percentage you get the following Prudent Income Amount.
$82,000.00 x 4.6% = $3,772.00
In this case, the Prudent Income Amount is about 10.2% below your annual withdrawal amount. This results in being assigned a status of “Caution.”
Potential Benefits of the Income Guide Program
Income Guide can aid you in creating a non-guaranteed stream of income through systematic withdrawals from your contract. This can be beneficial if your need for income is flexible and does not require exercising your option to annuitize. Withdrawals in connection with Income Guide may be subject to taxes and tax penalties. In addition, if you use Income Guide and you have a non-qualified contract, you are not receiving any potential benefits of the exclusion ratio associated with annuitization. The exclusion ratio allows you to spread the cost basis of your contract value over time, generally resulting in payments being partially income tax-free while the exclusion ratio is in effect. In contrast, Income Guide systematically withdraws contract value and for non-qualified contracts this results in taxable earnings being considered to be withdrawn first. A financial advisor can help you understand each of the income options available to you.
In cases where your Income Guide status becomes “More Available” there may be opportunities to increase your withdrawal rate, lock-in guaranteed income through partial annuitization, or use a portion of your contract value for other purposes. In consultation with your financial advisor, you can determine whether one or more of these options are right for you. Please keep in mind increases in the amount you withdraw may be subject to taxes and tax penalties. In addition, withdrawals will reduce your contract value and will proportionally reduce your Standard Death Benefit and any optional death benefit you have elected. Increases in withdrawals can also have adverse future consequences, including increasing the possibility of future status changes and the possibility of running out of money prior to the end of the program.
Potential Risks of the Income Guide Program
Income Guide, including the Prudent Income Amount, is not a guarantee of income. If your annuity contract value is depleted your contract and any benefits associated with it, including Income Guide, will end without value.
In instances where your contract enters the “Attention Needed” status, even if you take steps to address the status such as lowering withdrawals from your contract, it is possible depending on continued performance of your contract that you could re-enter or remain in the status for an extended period of time. If you do not adjust your withdrawals when you are in the “Attention Needed” status, it could substantially increase the likelihood your contact value will be depleted, especially if you remain in this status for an extended period of time without making any adjustments.
If your contract is issued on a qualified basis, you are subject to certain required minimum distribution rules for federal tax purposes. These rules may require you to take withdrawals out of your annuity that exceed the Prudent Income Amount. If this occurs, taking the required withdrawals may increase the likelihood that you will deplete your annuity contract over time.
Income Guide does not provide any additional waiver of any applicable surrender charge. This means in cases where your contract is subject to a surrender charge, any amounts withdrawn in excess of the free amount will be assessed a surrender charge, including any instance where you are withdrawing at a level equal to the Prudent Income Amount. For additional information on surrender charges, refer to the “Surrender Charge” subsection of the “Charges and Adjustments” section of this prospectus.
If your relationship with your advisor ends, you will no longer receive assistance using the Income Guide service. If your contract continues to be serviced by AFS, but you have ended your relationship with the financial advisor with whom you set up Income Guide, Income Guide will continue, and you should request AFS assign you another advisor to assist you with maximizing the effectiveness of Income Guide. We cannot guarantee that AFS will assign you an advisor that will assist you with Income Guide.
If you rely on Income Guide for managing your income needs and the service terminates, either because we choose to no longer offer it or a circumstance arises where automatic termination occurs, you may be in a position where you cannot find a means to manage or monitor your income going forward. Remember, in any instance where AFS is no longer the servicing broker-dealer of record for your contract, Income Guide will automatically terminate.
Transferring Among Accounts
You may transfer contract value from any one subaccount to another subaccount before the annuitization start date. You may not transfer contract value to the Special DCA fixed account. You may not transfer contract value from the Special DCA fixed account except as part of automated monthly transfers.
30 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
The date your request to transfer will be processed depends on when and how we receive it:
For transfer requests received in writing:
•
If we receive your transfer request at our Service Center in good order before the close of the NYSE (4:00 pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your transfer using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received your transfer request.
•
If we receive your transfer request at our Service Center in good order at or after the close of the NYSE (4:00 pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your transfer using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date after we received your transfer request.
For transfer requests received by phone:
•
If we receive your transfer request at our Service Center in good order before the close of the NYSE (4:00 pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your transfer using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received your transfer request.
•
If we receive your transfer request at our Service Center in good order at or after the close of the NYSE (4:00 pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your transfer using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date after we received your transfer request.
If you were not able to complete your transaction before the close of business for any reason, including telephone service interruptions or delays due to high call volume, we will process your transaction using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date.
There is no charge for transfers. Before making a transfer, you should consider the risks involved in changing investments.
For information on transfers after annuity payouts begin, see “Transfer policies” below.
Transfer policies
•
Before the annuitization start date, you may transfer contract values between the subaccounts at any time.
•
You may not make a transfer to the Special DCA fixed account. However, you may transfer contract values as automated monthly transfers from the Special DCA fixed account to the subaccounts. (See “Special DCA Fixed Account.”)
•
After the annuitization start date, you may make transfers once per contract year among the subaccounts. During the annuity payout period, we reserve the right to limit the number of subaccounts in which you may invest. On the annuitization start date, you must transfer all contract value out of the Special DCA fixed account.
Market Timing
Market timing can reduce the value of your investment in the contract. If market timing causes the returns of an underlying fund to suffer, contract value you have allocated to a Subaccount that invests in that underlying fund will be lower too. Market timing can cause you, any joint owner of the contract and your beneficiary(ies) under the contract a financial loss.
We seek to prevent market timing. Market timing is frequent or short-term trading activity. We do not accommodate short-term trading activities. Do not buy a contract if you wish to use short-term trading strategies to manage your investment. The market timing policies and procedures described below apply to transfers among the Subaccounts within the contract. The underlying funds in which the Subaccounts invest have their own market timing policies and procedures. The market timing policies of the underlying funds may be more restrictive than the market timing policies and procedures we apply to transfers among the Subaccounts of the contract, and may include redemption fees. We reserve the right to modify our market timing policies and procedures at any time without prior notice to you.
Market timing may hurt the performance of an underlying fund in which a Subaccount invests in several ways, including but not necessarily limited to:
•
diluting the value of an investment in an underlying fund in which a Subaccount invests;
•
increasing the transaction costs and expenses of an underlying fund in which a Subaccount invests; and
•
preventing the investment adviser(s) of an underlying fund in which a Subaccount invests from fully investing the assets of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives.
Funds available as investment options under the contract that invest in securities that trade in overseas securities markets may be at greater risk of loss from market timing, as market timers may seek to take advantage of changes in the values of securities between the close of overseas markets and the close of U.S. markets. Also, the risks of market timing may be greater for underlying funds that invest in securities such as small cap stocks, high yield bonds, or municipal securities, that may be traded infrequently.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 31
In order to help protect you and the underlying funds from the potentially harmful effects of market timing activity, we apply the following market timing policy to discourage frequent transfers of contract value among the Subaccounts of the Variable Account:
We try to distinguish market timing from transfers that we believe are not harmful, such as periodic rebalancing for purposes of an asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging and asset rebalancing program that may be described in this prospectus. There is no set number of transfers that constitutes market timing. Even one transfer in related accounts may be market timing. We seek to restrict the transfer privileges of a contract owner who makes more than three Subaccount transfers in any 90-day period. We also reserve the right to refuse any transfer request, if, in our sole judgment, the dollar amount of the transfer request would adversely affect unit values.
If we determine, in our sole judgment, that your transfer activity constitutes market timing, we may modify, restrict or suspend your transfer privileges to the extent permitted by applicable law, which may vary based on the state law that applies to your contract and the terms of your contract. These restrictions or modifications may include, but not be limited to:
•
requiring transfer requests to be submitted only by first-class U.S. mail;
•
not accepting hand-delivered transfer requests or requests made by overnight mail;
•
not accepting telephone or electronic transfer requests;
•
requiring a minimum time period between each transfer;
•
not accepting transfer requests of an agent acting under power of attorney;
•
limiting the dollar amount that you may transfer at any one time;
•
suspending the transfer privilege; or
•
modifying instructions under an automated transfer program to exclude a restricted fund if you do not provide new instructions.
Subject to applicable state law and the terms of each contract, we will apply the policy described above to all contract owners uniformly in all cases. We will notify you in writing after we impose any modification, restriction or suspension of your transfer rights.
Because we exercise discretion in applying the restrictions described above, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to identify and restrict all market timing activity. In addition, state law and the terms of some contracts may prevent us from stopping certain market timing activity. Market timing activity that we are unable to identify and/or restrict may impact the performance of the underlying funds and may result in lower contract values.
In addition to the market timing policy described above, which applies to transfers among the Subaccounts within your contract, you should carefully review the market timing policies and procedures of the underlying funds. The market timing policies and procedures of the underlying funds may be materially different than those we impose on transfers among the Subaccounts within your contract and may include mandatory redemption fees as well as other measures to discourage frequent transfers. As an intermediary for the underlying funds, we are required to assist them in applying their market timing policies and procedures to transactions involving the purchase and exchange of Fund shares. This assistance may include but not be limited to providing the underlying fund upon request with your Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification Number or other United States government-issued identifier and the details of your contract transactions involving the underlying fund. An underlying fund, in its sole discretion, may instruct us at any time to prohibit you from making further transfers of contract value to or from the underlying fund, and we must follow this instruction. We reserve the right to administer and collect on behalf of an underlying fund any redemption fee imposed by an underlying fund. Market timing policies and procedures adopted by underlying funds may affect your investment in the contract in several ways, including but not limited to:
•
Each Fund may restrict or refuse trading activity that the Fund determines, in its sole discretion, represents market timing.
•
Even if we determine that your transfer activity does not constitute market timing under the market timing policies described above which we apply to transfers you make under the contract, it is possible that the underlying fund’s market timing policies and procedures, including instructions we receive from a Fund, may require us to reject your transfer request. For example, we will attempt to execute transfers permitted under any asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging and asset rebalancing programs that may be described in this prospectus, we cannot guarantee that an underlying fund’s market timing policies and procedures will do so. Orders we place to purchase Fund shares for the Variable Accounts are subject to acceptance by the Fund. We reserve the right to reject without prior notice to you any transfer request if the Fund does not accept our order.
•
Each underlying fund is responsible for its own market timing policies, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to implement specific market timing policies and procedures that a Fund has adopted. As a result, a Fund’s returns might be adversely affected, and a Fund might terminate our right to offer its shares through the Variable Account.
32 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
•
Funds that are available as investment options under the contract may also be offered to other intermediaries who are eligible to purchase and hold shares of the Fund, including without limitation, separate accounts of other insurance companies and certain retirement plans. Even if we are able to implement a Fund’s market timing policies, we cannot guarantee that other intermediaries purchasing that same Fund’s shares will do so, and the returns of that Fund could be adversely affected as a result.
For more information about the market timing policies and procedures of an underlying fund, the risks that market timing pose to that Fund, and to determine whether an underlying fund has adopted a redemption fee, see that Fund’s prospectus.
How to Request a Transfer or Surrender
1 By automated transfers and automated partial surrenders
Your financial advisor can help you set up automated transfers among your subaccounts or automated partial surrenders from the Special DCA fixed account or the subaccounts.
You can start or stop this service by written request or other method acceptable to us. You must allow 30 days for us to change any instructions that are currently in place.
•
Automated surrenders may be restricted by applicable law under some contracts.
•
You may not make additional systematic payments if automated partial surrenders are in effect.
•
Automated partial surrenders may result in income taxes and penalties on all or part of the amount surrendered.
•
The balance in any account from which you make an automated transfer or automated partial surrender must be sufficient to satisfy your instructions. If not, we will suspend your entire automated arrangement until the balance is adequate.
| Minimum amount |
|
| Transfers or surrenders: |
$50 |
| Maximum amount |
|
| Transfers or surrenders: |
None |
2 By telephone
Call:
1-800-541-2251
1-800-541-2251
| Minimum amount |
|
| Transfers or surrenders: |
$250 or entire account balance |
| Maximum amount |
|
| Transfers: |
Contract value or entire account balance |
| Surrenders: |
$100,000 |
We answer telephone requests promptly, but you may experience delays when the call volume is unusually high. If you are unable to get through, use the mail procedure as an alternative.
We will honor any telephone transfer or surrender requests that we believe are authentic and we will use reasonable procedures to confirm that they are. This includes asking identifying questions and recording calls. As long as we follow the procedures, we (and our affiliates) will not be liable for any loss resulting from fraudulent requests.
Telephone transfers or surrenders are automatically available. You may request that telephone transfers or surrenders not be authorized from your account by writing to us.
3 By letter
Send your name, contract number, Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number* and signed request for a transfer or surrender to:
RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York
70500 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
70500 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 33
| Minimum amount |
|
| Transfers or surrenders: |
$250 or entire account balance** |
| Maximum amount |
|
| Transfers or surrenders: |
Contract value or entire account balance |
*
Failure to provide your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number may result in mandatory tax withholding on the taxable portion of the distribution.
** The contract value after a partial surrender must be at least $500.
Surrenders
You may surrender all or part of your contract at any time before the annuitization start date by sending us a written request or calling us.
The date your surrender request will be processed depends on when and how we receive it:
For surrender requests received in writing:
•
If we receive your surrender request at our Service Center in good order before the close of the NYSE (4:00pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your surrender using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received your surrender request.
•
If we receive your surrender request at our Service Center in good order at or after the close of the NYSE (4:00pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your surrender using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date after we received your surrender request.
For surrender requests received by phone:
•
If we receive your surrender request at our Service Center in good order before the close of the NYSE (4:00pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your surrender using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the valuation date we received your surrender request.
•
If we receive your surrender request at our Service Center in good order at or after the close of the NYSE (4:00pm Eastern time unless the NYSE closes earlier), we will process your surrender using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date after we received your surrender request.
If you were not able to complete your transaction before the close of business for any reason, including telephone service interruptions or delays due to high call volume, we will process your transaction using the accumulation unit value we calculate on the next valuation date.
We may ask you to return the contract. You may have to pay a contract administrative charge (see “Charges and Adjustments”) and federal income taxes and penalties. State and local income taxes may also apply (see “Taxes”). You cannot make surrenders after the annuitization start date except if you elect an annuity payout plan with guaranteed payouts.
Any partial surrender you take under the contract will reduce your contract value. As a result, the value of your death benefit or any optional death benefits you have elected also will be reduced.
In addition, surrenders you are required to take to satisfy the RMDs under the Code may reduce the value of certain death benefits (see “Taxes — Qualified Annuities — Required Minimum Distributions”). Surrenders required for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities may reduce the value of certain death benefits.
Required Distributions for Inherited Nonqualified Stretch Annuities
Required Distributions must be made from this contract as required and determined under Section 72(s)(2) of the Code and are considered surrenders. Required Distributions must be made at least annually and begin no later than one year after the date of death of the decedent (the person whose death triggered the payment of death benefit proceeds applied to the contract).
The initial Required Distribution will be based on the total purchase payments divided by your life expectancy. Future Required Distributions for each calendar year will be based on the previous year-end contract value divided by your life expectancy reduced by the number of calendar years since the first distribution. Your life expectancy is determined based on your age as of December 31st of the calendar year when the first partial surrender is taken using the Single Life Expectancy (Table I) in 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-1 of the Income Tax Regulations, as amended.
34 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
We will process your Required Distribution according to our automated Required Distribution plan and our procedures that are currently in effect. We will calculate the amount of the required distribution each year and automatically distribute it (if you haven’t already surrendered enough that calendar year). The first annual distribution will process either seven calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the decedent’s date of death or on December 20 of the issue year, whichever occurs first. For contracts issued on or after December 20 in a calendar year, the first annual distribution will process on the next business day after the contract is issued. For all subsequent years, the distribution will process on December 20. If December 20 falls on a weekend, the distribution will process on the next business day.
You may take partial surrenders or a full surrender at any time. If you've already taken surrenders from your annuity in a calendar year, the amount of the automatic distribution will be reduced accordingly. If the total partial surrenders in a calendar year equal or exceed the Required Distribution, the automated Required Distribution will not process for that year.
We reserve the right to process Required Distributions as required by applicable law. We reserve the right to amend this endorsement or our Required Distribution rules, at any time and in any respect, to the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Note: Required distributions for inherited nonqualified annuities are not the same as IRS Required Minimum Distributions that are required for certain IRAs and retirement plans. Amounts distributed for inherited nonqualified annuities cannot be used to meet the RMD requirement for any IRA or retirement plan you may own.
Surrender Policies
If you have a balance in more than one account and you request a partial surrender, including Required Distributions for the inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, we will automatically surrender money from all your subaccounts and Special DCA fixed account in the same proportion as your value in each account correlates to your total contract value, unless requested otherwise. For inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, you do not have the option to request from which account to surrender. The minimum contract value after partial surrender is $500.
Receiving Payment
1 By electronic payment
•
request that payment be sent electronically to your bank;
•
pre-authorization required.
2 By regular or express mail
•
payable to you;
•
mailed to address of record.
NOTE: We will charge you a fee if you request express mail delivery.
We may choose to permit you to have checks issued and delivered to an alternate payee or to an address other than your address of record. We may also choose to allow you to direct wires or other electronic payments to accounts owned by a third-party. We may have additional good order requirements that must be met prior to processing requests to make any payments to a party other than the owner or to an address other than the address of record. These requirements will be designed to ensure owner instructions are genuine and to prevent fraud.
Normally, we will send the payment within seven days after receiving your request in good order. However, we may postpone the payment if:
–
the NYSE is closed, except for normal holiday and weekend closings;
–
trading on the NYSE is restricted, according to SEC rules;
–
an emergency, as defined by SEC rules, makes it impractical to sell securities or value the net assets of the accounts; or
–
the SEC permits us to delay payment for the protection of security holders.
We may also postpone payment of the amount attributable to a purchase payment as part of the total surrender amount until cleared from the originating financial institution.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 35
TSA – Special Provisions
Participants in Tax-Sheltered Annuities
If the contract is intended to be used in connection with an employer sponsored 403(b) plan, additional rules relating to this contract can be found in the annuity endorsement for tax sheltered 403(b) annuities. Unless we have made special arrangements with your employer, the contract is not intended for use in connection with an employer sponsored 403(b) plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In the event that the employer either by affirmative election or inadvertent action causes contributions under a plan that is subject to ERISA to be made to this contract, we will not be responsible for any obligations and requirements under ERISA and the regulations thereunder, unless we have prior written agreement with the employer. You should consult with your employer to determine whether your 403(b) plan is subject to ERISA.
In the event we have a written agreement with your employer to administer the plan pursuant to ERISA, special rules apply as set forth in the TSA endorsement.
The employer must comply with certain nondiscrimination requirements for certain types of contributions under a TSA contract to be excluded from taxable income. You should consult your employer to determine whether the nondiscrimination rules apply to you.
The Code imposes certain restrictions on your right to receive early distributions from a TSA:
•
Distributions attributable to salary reduction contributions (plus earnings) made after Dec. 31, 1988, or to transfers or rollovers from other contracts, may be made from the TSA only if:
–
you are at least age 59½;
–
you are disabled as defined in the Code;
–
you severed employment with the employer who purchased the contract;
–
the distribution is because of your death;
–
the distribution is due to plan termination;
–
you are a qualifying military reservist;
–
you are terminally ill as defined in the Code;
–
you are adopting or are having a baby;
–
you are supplying Personal or Family Emergency Expense;
–
you are a Domestic Abuse Victim: or
–
you are in need to cover Expenses and losses on account of a FEMA declared disaster.
•
If you encounter a financial hardship (as provided by the Code), you may be eligible to receive a distribution of all contract values attributable to salary reduction contributions made after Dec. 31, 1988, but not the earnings on them.
•
Even though a distribution may be permitted under the above rules, it may be subject to IRS taxes and penalties (see “Taxes”).
•
The above restrictions on distributions do not affect the availability of the amount credited to the contract as of Dec. 31, 1988. The restrictions also do not apply to transfers or exchanges of contract value within the contract, or to another registered variable annuity contract or investment vehicle available through the employer.
•
If the contract has a loan provision, the right to receive a loan is described in detail in your contract.
Changing the Annuitant
If you have a nonqualified annuity and are a natural person (excluding a revocable trust), you may change the annuitant or contingent annuitant if the request is made prior to the annuitization start date and while the existing annuitant or contingent annuitant is living. The change will become binding on us when we receive it. If you and the annuitant are not the same person and the annuitant dies before the annuitization start date, the owner becomes the annuitant unless a contingent annuitant has been previously selected. You may not change the annuitant if you have a qualified annuity or there is non-natural or revocable trust ownership. Joint and contingent annuitants, and changing the annuitant are not allowed for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities.
Changing Ownership
You may change ownership of your nonqualified annuity at any time by completing a change of ownership form we approve and sending it to our Service Center. We will honor any change of ownership request received in good order that we believe is authentic and we will use reasonable procedures to confirm authenticity. If we follow these procedures, we will not take any responsibility for the validity of the change.
36 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
For inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, joint owners and changing owners are not allowed.
If you have a nonqualified annuity, you may incur income tax liability by transferring, assigning or pledging any part of it. (See “Taxes.”)
If you have a qualified annuity, you may not sell, assign, transfer, discount or pledge your contract as collateral for a loan, or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose except as required or permitted by the Code. However, if the owner is a trust or custodian, or an employer acting in a similar capacity, ownership of the contract may be transferred to the annuitant.
Please consider carefully whether or not you wish to change ownership of your annuity contract. If you elected any optional contract features or riders and any owner was not an owner before the change, all owners (including any prior owner who is still an owner after the ownership change) will be subject to all limitations and/or restrictions of those features or riders just as if they were purchasing a new contract.
The death benefit may change due to a change of ownership.
•
If you elected the ROPP Death Benefit and if any owner is older than age 79 immediately following the ownership change, the ROPP Death Benefit will continue. If all owners are age 79 or younger, the ROPP Death Benefit will terminate and the Standard Death Benefit will apply.
•
If you elected the 5-Year MAV Death Benefit and if any owner is older than age 75 immediately following the ownership change, this rider will terminate and the Standard Death Benefit will apply. If all owners are age 75 or younger, the 5-Year MAV Death Benefit will continue.
•
If you elected the MAV Death Benefit and if any owner is older than age 79 immediately following the ownership change, this rider will terminate and the Standard Death Benefit will apply. If all owners are age 79 or younger, the MAV Death Benefit will continue.
•
The ROPP Death Benefit, MAV Death Benefit and 5-Year MAV Death Benefit values may be reset (see “Benefits in Case of Death”).
•
If the death benefit that applies to your contract changes due to an ownership change, the mortality and expense risk fee may change as well (see “Charges and Adjustments – Annual Contract Expenses – Mortality and Expense Risk Fee”).
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 37
| Name of Benefit |
Purpose |
Maximum Fee |
Current Fee |
Brief Description of Restrictions/ Limitations |
| | ||||
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
38 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Name of Benefit |
Purpose |
Maximum Fee |
Current Fee |
Brief Description of Restrictions/ Limitations |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
| | ||||
| |
|
average daily variable account value |
|
|
| |
|
average daily variable account value |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 39
| Name of Benefit |
Purpose |
Maximum Fee |
Current Fee |
Brief Description of Restrictions/ Limitations |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Adjusted partial surrenders |
= |
PS × DB |
| CV |
| PS |
= |
the amount by which the contract value is reduced as a result of the partial surrender. |
| DB |
= |
the applicable ROPP value, MAV value or 5-year MAV value on the date of (but prior to) the partial surrender. |
| CV |
= |
the contract value on the date of (but prior to) the partial surrender. |
40 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| We calculate the death benefit as follows: |
|
| ||
| |
The total purchase payments minus adjustments for partial surrenders: |
|
| |
| |
Total purchase payments minus adjusted partial surrenders, calculated as: |
$20,000 |
| |
| |
$1,500 × $20,000 |
= |
–1,667 |
|
| |
$18,000 |
|
| |
| |
for a standard death benefit of: |
$18,333 |
| |
| |
since this is greater than your contract value of $16,500 |
|
| |
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 41
42 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
How we handle contracts under unclaimed property laws
Every state has unclaimed property laws which generally declare annuity contracts to be abandoned after a period of inactivity of one to five years from either 1) the contract’s maturity date (the latest day on which income payments may begin under the contract) or 2) the date the death benefit is due and payable. If a contract matures or we determine a death benefit is payable, we will use our best efforts to locate you or designated beneficiaries. If we are unable to locate you or a beneficiary, proceeds will be paid to the abandoned property division or unclaimed property office of the state in which the beneficiary or you last resided, as shown in our books and records, or to our state of domicile. Generally, this surrender of property to the state is commonly referred to as “escheatment”. To avoid escheatment, and ensure an effective process for your beneficiaries, it is important that your personal address and beneficiary designations are up to date, including complete names, date of birth, current addresses and phone numbers, and taxpayer identification numbers for each beneficiary. Updates to your address or beneficiary designations should be sent to our Service Center.
Escheatment may also be required by law if a known beneficiary fails to demand or present an instrument or document to claim the death benefit in a timely manner, creating a presumption of abandonment. If your beneficiary steps forward (with the proper documentation) to claim escheated annuity proceeds, the state is obligated to pay any such proceeds it is holding.
For nonqualified deferred annuities, non-spousal death benefits are generally required to be distributed and taxed within five years from the date of death of the owner.
Different rules apply to inherited nonqualified stretch annuities and annuitizations.
Optional Benefits
The assets held in our general account support the guarantees under your contract, including optional death benefits. To the extent that we are required to pay you amounts in addition to your contract value under these benefits, such amounts will come from our general account assets. You should be aware that our general account is exposed to the risks normally associated with a portfolio of fixed-income securities, including interest rate, option, liquidity and credit risk. You should also be aware that we issue other types of insurance and financial products as well, and we also pay our obligations under these products from assets in our general account. Our general account is not segregated or insulated from the claims of our creditors. The financial statements contained in the SAI include a further discussion of the risks inherent within the investments of the general account.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 43
Optional Death Benefits
In addition to the Standard Death Benefit, we also offer the following optional death benefits, which provide a death benefit that equals or exceeds the Standard Death Benefit:
•
ROPP Death Benefit;
•
MAV Death Benefit; and
•
5- Year MAV Death Benefit.
The optional death benefits listed above must be elected at the time you purchase your contract. If you are age 75 or younger at contract issue, you can elect the 5-Year MAV or MAV optional death benefits. If you are age 76-79 at contract issue, you can elect MAV optional death benefit. If you are age 80 or older at contract issue, then you may elect the ROPP Death Benefit. ROPP is included in the Standard Death Benefit if you are age 79 or younger at contract issue.
Once you elect a death benefit, you cannot change it; however the death benefit that applies to your contract may change due to an ownership change (see “Changing Ownership”) or continuation of the contract by the spouse under the spousal continuation provision.
The death benefit determines the mortality and expense risk fee that is assessed against the subaccounts. We will base the benefit paid on the death benefit coverage in effect on the date of your death.
For contract applications dated on or after 12/05/2022, if you are age 81 or older at contract issue, you may select the ROPP death benefit described below at the time you purchase your contract. For contract applications dated prior to 12/05/2022, if you are age 80 or older at contract issue, you may select the ROPP death benefit described below at the time you purchase your contract.
Be sure to discuss with your financial advisor whether or not this death benefit is appropriate for your situation.
44 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
The Annuity Payout Period
As owner of the contract, you have the right to decide how and to whom annuity payouts will be made starting on the annuitization start date. You may select one of the annuity payout plans outlined below, or we may mutually agree on other payout arrangements. Currently, we make annuity payments on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annual basis. Assuming the initial payment is on the same date, more frequent payments will generally result in higher total payments over the year. As discussed below, certain annuity payout options have a “guaranteed period,” during which payments are guaranteed to continue. Longer guaranteed periods will generally result in lower monthly annuity payment amounts. With a shorter guaranteed period, the amount of each annuity payment will be greater. Payments that occur more frequently will be smaller than those occurring less frequently.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 45
You also decide whether we will make annuity payouts on a fixed or variable basis, or a combination of fixed and variable. If you do not make an election, annuity payouts will be a combination of fixed and variable based on the proportion of your contract value allocated to the fixed account and variable account at the time payouts begin. The amount available to purchase payouts under the plan you select is the contract value on your annuitization start date (less any applicable premium tax). Additionally, we currently allow you to use part of the amount available to purchase payouts, leaving any remaining contract value to accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. Special rules apply for partial annuitization of your annuity contract, see “Taxes – Nonqualified Annuities – Annuity Payouts” and “Taxes – Qualified Annuities – Annuity Payouts.”
If you select a variable annuity payout, we reserve the right to limit the number of subaccounts in which you may invest. The Special DCA fixed account is not available during this payout period.
Amounts of fixed and variable payouts depend on:
•
the annuity payout plan you select;
•
the annuitant's age and, in most cases, sex;
•
the annuity table in the contract; and
•
the amounts you allocated to the accounts on the annuitization start date.
In addition, for variable payouts only, amounts depend on the investment performance of the subaccounts you select. These payouts will vary from month to month based on the performance of the funds. Fixed payouts generally remain the same from month to month unless you have elected an option providing for increasing payments or are exercising any available liquidity features we may offer and you have elected.
For information with respect to transfers between accounts after annuity payouts begin, see “Making the Most of Your Contract – Transfer Policies.”
Annuity Tables
The annuity tables in your contract (Table A and Table B) show the amount of the monthly payout for each $1,000 of contract value according to the annuitant’s age and, when applicable, the annuitant’s sex. (Where required by law, we will use a unisex table of annuity payout rates.)
Table A shows the amount of the first monthly variable payout assuming that the contract value is invested at the beginning of the annuity payout period and earns a 5% rate of return, which is reinvested and helps to support future payouts. If you ask us at least 30 days before the annuitization start date, we will substitute an annuity Table based on an assumed 3.5% investment return for the 5% Table A in the contract. The assumed investment return affects both the amount of the first payout and the extent to which subsequent payouts increase or decrease. For example, annuity payouts will increase if the investment return is above the assumed investment return and payouts will decrease if the return is below the assumed investment return. Using the 5% assumed interest return results in a higher initial payout, but later payouts will increase more slowly when annuity unit values rise and decrease more rapidly when they decline.
Table B shows the minimum amount of each fixed payout. We declare current payout rates that we use in determining the actual amount of your fixed annuity payout. The current payout rates will equal or exceed the guaranteed payout rates shown in Table B. We will furnish these rates to you upon request.
Annuity Payout Plans
We make available variable annuity payouts where payout amounts may vary based on the performance of the variable account. We may also make fixed annuity payouts available where payments of a fixed amount are made for the period specified in the plan, subject to any surrender we may permit. You may choose any one of these annuity payout plans by giving us written instructions at least 30 days before the annuitization start date:
•
Plan A: Life annuity – no refund: We make monthly payouts until the annuitant's death. Payouts end with the last payout before the annuitant's death. We will not make any further payouts. This means that if the annuitant dies after we made only one monthly payout, we will not make any more payouts.
•
Plan B: Life income with guaranteed period: We make monthly payouts for a guaranteed payout period of five, ten, or 15 years that you elect. This election will determine the length of the payout period in the event if the annuitant dies before the elected period expires. We calculate the guaranteed payout period from the annuitization start date. If the annuitant outlives the elected guaranteed payout period, we will continue to make payouts until the annuitant's death.
•
Plan C: Life annuity – installment refund: We make monthly payouts until the annuitant's death, with our guarantee that payouts will continue for some period of time. We will make payouts for at least the number of months determined by dividing the amount applied under this option by the first monthly payout, whether or not the annuitant is living.
46 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
•
Plan D: Joint and last survivor life annuity – no refund: We make monthly payouts while both the annuitant and a joint annuitant are living. If either annuitant dies, we will continue to make monthly payouts at the full amount until the death of the surviving annuitant. Payouts end with the death of the second annuitant. For inherited IRAs, joint life payouts are only available for spouses or non-spouse not more than 10 years younger.
For Plan A, if the annuitant dies before the initial payment, no payments will be made. For Plan B, if the annuitant dies before the initial payment, the payments will continue for the guaranteed payout period. For Plan C, if the annuitant dies before the initial payment, the payments will continue for the installment refund period. For Plan D, if both annuitants die before the initial payment, no payments will be made; however, if one annuitant dies before the initial payment, the payments will continue until the death of the surviving annuitant.
In addition to the annuity payout plans described above, we may offer additional payout plans. These plans may include cash refund features providing a guarantee of receiving at least a return of the annuitization amount (less any annuity payments made and any premium tax paid) in the event of the annuitant’s death, term certain installment plans with varying durations, and liquidity features allowing access under certain circumstances to a surrender of the underlying value of remaining payments. Terms and conditions of annuity payout plans will be disclosed at the time of election, including any associated fees or charges. It is important to remember that the election and use of liquidity features may either reduce the amount of future payouts you would otherwise receive or result in payouts ceasing.
After the annuitization start date, you cannot change your annuity payout option. If you select a variable annuity payout, you may transfer among the available subaccounts once per contract year.
Utilizing a liquidity feature to surrender the underlying value of remaining payments may result in the assessment of a surrender charge (See “Charges and Adjustments – Transaction Expenses – Surrender Charge for Fixed Annuity Payout Plans”) or a 10% IRS penalty tax. (See “Taxes.”)
The annuitant's age at the time annuity payments commence will affect the amount of each payment for annuity payment plans involving lifetime income. The amount of each annuity payment to older annuitants will be greater than for younger annuitants because payments to older annuitants are expected to be fewer in number.
Annuity payout plan requirements for qualified annuities: If your contract is a qualified annuity, you have the responsibility for electing a payout plan under your contract that complies with applicable law. Your contract describes your payout plan options. The options will meet certain IRS regulations governing RMDs if the payout plan meets the incidental distribution benefit requirements, if any, and the payouts are made:
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in equal or substantially equal payments over a period not longer than your life expectancy or over the joint life expectancy of you and your designated beneficiary; or
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over a period certain not longer than your life expectancy or over the life expectancy of you and your designated beneficiary.
You must select a payout plan as of the annuitization start date set forth in your contract.
Annuity payout plan requirements for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities: If your contract is an inherited nonqualified stretch annuity, you may not elect an annuity payout plan after a partial surrender, including required distributions. After a partial surrender, all references to the annuity payout plan in Your contract no longer apply.
If we do not receive instructions: You must give us written instructions for the annuity payouts at least 30 days before the annuitization start date. If you do not, we will make payouts under Plan B, with 120 monthly payouts guaranteed.
If monthly payouts would be less than $20: We will calculate the amount of monthly payouts at the time amounts are applied to a payout plan. If the calculations show that monthly payouts would be less than $20, we have the right to pay the amount that would otherwise have been applied to a plan to the owner in a lump sum or to change the frequency of the payouts.
Death after annuity payouts begin: If you die after annuity payouts begin, we will pay any amount payable to the beneficiary as provided in the annuity payout plan in effect.
Taxes
Under current law, your contract has a tax-deferral feature. Generally, this means you do not pay income tax until there is a taxable distribution (or deemed distribution) from the contract. We will send a tax information reporting form for any year in which we made a taxable or reportable distribution according to our records.
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Nonqualified Annuities
Generally, only the increase in the value of a non-qualified annuity contract over the investment in the contract is taxable. Certain exceptions apply. Federal tax law requires that all nonqualified deferred annuity contracts issued by the same company (and possibly its affiliates) to the same owner during a calendar year be taxed as a single, unified contract when distributions are taken from any one of those contracts.
Annuity payouts: Generally, unlike surrenders described below, the income taxation of annuity payouts is subject to exclusion ratios (for fixed annuity payouts) or annual excludable amounts (for variable annuity payouts). In other words, in most cases, a portion of each payout will be ordinary income and subject to tax, and a portion of each payout will be considered a return of part of your investment in the contract and will not be taxed. All amounts you receive after your investment in the contract is fully recovered will be subject to tax. Under Annuity Payout Plan A: Life annuity — no refund, where the annuitant dies before your investment in the contract is fully recovered, the remaining portion of the unrecovered investment may be available as a federal income tax deduction to the owner for the last taxable year. Under all other annuity payout plans, where the annuity payouts end before your investment in the contract is fully recovered, the remaining portion of the unrecovered investment may be available as a federal income tax deduction to the taxpayer for the tax year in which the payouts end. (See “The Annuity Payout Period — Annuity Payout Plans.”)
Federal tax law permits taxpayers to annuitize a portion of their nonqualified annuity while leaving the remaining balance to continue to grow tax-deferred. Under the partial annuitization rules, the portion annuitized must be received as an annuity for a period of 10 years or more, or for the lives of one or more individuals. If this requirement is met, the annuitized portion and the tax-deferred balance will generally be treated as two separate contracts for income tax purposes only. If a contract is partially annuitized, the investment in the contract is allocated between the deferred and the annuitized portions on a pro rata basis.
Surrenders: Generally, if you surrender all or part of your nonqualified annuity before the annuitization start date, your surrender will be taxed to the extent that the contract value immediately before the surrender exceeds the investment in the contract. Different rules may apply if you exchange another contract into this contract.
You also may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty for surrenders of taxable income you make before reaching age 59½ unless certain exceptions apply.
Required Distribution for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities: For inherited nonqualified stretch annuities, Required Distributions must be made as required and determined under Section 72(s)(2) of the Code. Required Distributions must be made at least annually and begin no later than one year after the date of death of the decedent (the person whose death triggered the payment of death benefit proceeds applied to the contract).
Withholding: If you receive taxable income as a result of an annuity payout or surrender, we may deduct federal, and in some cases state withholding against the payment. Any withholding represents a prepayment of your income tax due for the year. You take credit for these amounts on your annual income tax return. As long as you have provided us with a valid Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number, you have a valid U.S. address and payments are delivered inside the United States, you may be able to elect not to have federal income tax withholding occur.
If the payment is part of an annuity payout plan, we generally compute the amount of federal income tax withholding using payroll tables. You may complete our Form W-4P to use in calculating the withholding if you want withholding other than the default (single filing status with no adjustments). If the distribution is any other type of payment (such as partial or full surrender) we compute federal income tax withholding using 10% of the taxable portion unless you elect a different percentage via our Form W-4R or another acceptable method.
The federal income tax withholding requirements differ if we deliver payment outside the United States or you are a non-resident alien.
Some states also may impose income tax withholding requirements similar to the federal withholding described above or may allow you to elect withholding. If this should be the case, we may deduct state income tax withholding from the payment.
Federal and state tax withholding rules are subject to change. Annuity payouts and surrenders are subject to the tax withholding rules in effect at the time that they are made, which may differ from the rules described above.
Death benefits to beneficiaries: The death benefit under a nonqualified contract is not exempt from estate (federal or state) taxes. In addition, for income tax purposes, any amount your beneficiary receives that exceeds the remaining investment in the contract is taxable as ordinary income to the beneficiary in the year he or she receives the payments. (See “Benefits in Case of Death — If You Die Before the Annuitization Start Date”).
Net Investment Income Tax: Certain investment income of high-income individuals (as well as estates and trusts) is subject to a 3.8% net investment income tax (as an addition to income taxes). For individuals, the 3.8% tax applies to the lesser of (1) the amount by which the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 for
48 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
married filing jointly and surviving spouses; $125,000 for married filing separately) or (2) the taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Net investment income includes taxable income from nonqualified annuities. Annuity holders are advised to consult their tax advisor regarding the possible implications of this additional tax.
Annuities owned by corporations, partnerships or irrevocable trusts: For nonqualified annuities, any annual increase in the value of annuities held by such entities (nonnatural persons) generally will be treated as ordinary income received during that year. However, if the trust was set up for the benefit of a natural person(s) only, the income may generally remain tax-deferred until surrendered or paid out.
Penalties: If you receive amounts from your nonqualified annuity before reaching age 59½, you may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty on the amount includable in your ordinary income. However, this penalty will not apply to any amount received:
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because of your death or in the event of nonnatural ownership, the death of the annuitant;
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because you become disabled (as defined in the Code);
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if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy (or joint lives or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary);
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if it is allocable to an investment before Aug. 14, 1982; or
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if annuity payouts are made under immediate annuities as defined by the Code.
Transfer of ownership: Generally, if you transfer ownership of a nonqualified annuity without receiving adequate consideration, the transfer may be taxed as a surrender for federal income tax purposes. Transfer of ownership is not permitted for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities. If the transfer is a currently taxable event for income tax purposes, the original owner will be taxed on the amount of deferred earnings at the time of the transfer and also may be subject to the 10% IRS penalty discussed earlier. In this case, the new owner’s investment in the contract will be equal to the investment in the contract at the time of the transfer plus any earnings included in the original owner’s taxable income as a result of the transfer. In general, this rule does not apply to transfers between spouses or former spouses. Similar rules apply if you transfer ownership for full consideration. Please consult your tax advisor for further details.
1035 Exchanges of nonqualified annuities: Section 1035 of the Code permits nontaxable exchanges of certain insurance policies, endowment contracts, annuity contracts and qualified long-term care insurance products, while providing for continued tax deferral of earnings. In addition, Section 1035 permits the carryover of the investment in the contract from the old policy or contract to the new policy or contract. In a 1035 exchange one policy or contract is exchanged for another policy or contract. The following can qualify as nontaxable exchanges: (1) the exchange of a life insurance policy for another life insurance policy or for an endowment, annuity or qualified long-term care insurance contract, (2) the exchange of an endowment contract for an annuity or qualified long-term care insurance contract, or for an endowment contract under which payments will begin no later than payments would have begun under the contract exchanged, (3) the exchange of an annuity contract for another annuity contract or for a qualified long-term care insurance contract, and (4) the exchange of a qualified long-term care insurance contract for a qualified long-term care insurance contract. However, if the life insurance policy has an outstanding loan, there may be tax consequences. Additionally, other tax rules apply. Depending on the issue date of your original policy or contract, there may be tax or other benefits that are given up to gain the benefits of the new policy or contract. Consider whether the features and benefits of the new policy or contract outweigh any tax or other benefits of the old contract.
For a partial exchange of an annuity contract for another annuity contract, the 1035 exchange is generally tax-free. The investment in the original contract and the earnings on the contract will be allocated proportionately between the original and new contracts. However, per IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-38, if surrenders are taken from either contract within the 180-day period following a partial 1035 exchange, the IRS will apply general tax principles to determine the appropriate tax treatment of the exchange and subsequent surrender. As a result, there may be unexpected tax consequences. You should consult your tax advisor before taking any surrender from either contract during the 180-day period following a partial exchange.
Assignment: If you assign or pledge your contract as collateral for a loan, earnings on purchase payments you made after Aug. 13, 1982 will be taxed as a deemed distribution and also may be subject to the 10% penalty as discussed above. Assignments are not allowed for inherited nonqualified stretch annuities.
Qualified Annuities
Adverse tax consequences may result if you do not ensure that contributions, distributions and other transactions under the contract comply with the law. Qualified annuities have minimum distribution rules that govern the timing and amount of distributions. You should refer to your retirement plan’s Summary Plan Description, your IRA disclosure statement, or consult a tax advisor for additional information about the distribution rules applicable to your situation.
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When you use your contract to fund a retirement plan or IRA that is already tax-deferred under the Code, the contract will not provide any necessary or additional tax deferral. If your contract is used to fund an employer sponsored plan, your right to benefits may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan regardless of the terms of the contract.
Annuity payouts: Under a qualified annuity, except a Roth IRA, the entire payout generally is includable as ordinary income and is subject to tax unless: (1) the contract is an IRA to which you made non-deductible contributions; or (2) you rolled after-tax dollars from a retirement plan into your IRA; or (3) the contract is used to fund a retirement plan and you or your employer have contributed after-tax dollars; or (4) the contract is used to fund a retirement plan and you direct such payout to be directly rolled over to another eligible retirement plan such as an IRA. We may permit partial annuitizations of qualified annuity contracts. If we accept partial annuitizations, please remember that your contract will still need to comply with other requirements such as required minimum distributions and the payment of taxes. Prior to considering a partial annuitization on a qualified contract, you should discuss your decision and any implications with your tax adviser. Because we cannot accurately track certain after-tax funding sources, we will generally report any payments on partial annuitizations as ordinary income except in the case of a qualified distribution from a Roth IRA.
Annuity payouts from Roth IRAs: In general, the entire payout from a Roth IRA can be free from income and penalty taxes if you have attained age 59½ and meet the five year holding period.
Surrenders: Under a qualified annuity, except a Roth IRA, the entire surrender will generally be includable as ordinary income and is subject to tax unless: (1) the contract is an IRA to which you made non-deductible contributions; or (2) you rolled after-tax dollars from a retirement plan into your IRA; or (3) the contract is used to fund a retirement plan and you or your employer have contributed after-tax dollars; or (4) the contract is used to fund a retirement plan and you direct such surrender to be directly rolled over to another eligible retirement plan such as an IRA.
Surrenders from Roth IRAs: In general, the entire payout from a Roth IRA can be free from income and penalty taxes if you have attained age 59½ and meet the five year holding period or another qualifying event such as death or disability.
Required Minimum Distributions: Retirement plans (except for Roth IRAs) are subject to required surrenders called required minimum distributions (“RMDs”) beginning at age 73. RMDs are based on the fair market value of your contract at year-end divided by the life expectancy factor. Certain death benefits and optional riders may be considered in determining the fair market value of your contract for RMD purposes. This may cause your RMD to be higher. You should consult your tax advisor prior to making a purchase for an explanation of the potential tax implications to you. Inherited IRAs (including inherited Roth IRAs) are subject to special required minimum distribution rules.
Withholding for IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs: If you receive taxable income as a result of an annuity payout or a surrender, we may deduct withholding against the payment. Any withholding represents a prepayment of your tax due for the year. You take credit for these amounts on your annual income tax return. As long as you have provided us with a valid Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number, you can elect not to have any withholding occur.
If the payment is part of an annuity payout plan, we generally compute the amount of federal income tax withholding using payroll tables. You may complete our Form W-4P to use in calculating the withholding if you want withholding other than the default (single filing status with no adjustments). If the distribution is any other type of payment (such as partial or full surrender) we compute federal income tax withholding using 10% of the taxable portion unless you elect a different percentage via our Form W-4R or another acceptable method.
The federal income tax withholding requirements differ if we deliver payment outside the United States or you are a non-resident alien.
Some states also may impose income tax withholding requirements similar to the federal withholding described above. If this should be the case, we may deduct state income tax withholding from the payment.
Withholding for all other qualified annuities where RiverSource or Ameriprise Trust Company is responsible for tax reporting: If you receive directly all or part of the contract value from a qualified annuity, mandatory 20% federal income tax withholding (and possibly state income tax withholding) generally will be imposed at the time the payout is made from the plan. Any withholding represents a prepayment of your tax due for the year. You take credit for these amounts on your annual income tax return. This mandatory withholding will not be imposed if instead of receiving the distribution check, you elect to have the distribution rolled over directly to an IRA or another eligible plan. Payments made to a surviving spouse instead of being directly rolled over to an IRA are also subject to mandatory 20% income tax withholding.
In the below situations, the distribution is subject to optional withholding instead of the mandatory 20% withholding. We will withhold 10% of the distribution amount unless you elect otherwise.
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the payout is one in a series of substantially equal periodic payouts, made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy (or the joint lives or life expectancies of you and your designated beneficiary) or over a specified period of 10 years or more;
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the payout is a RMD as defined under the Code;
50 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
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the payout is made on account of an eligible hardship; or
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the payout is a corrective distribution.
State withholding also may be imposed on taxable distributions.
Penalties: If you receive amounts from your qualified contract before reaching age 59½, you may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty on the amount includable in your ordinary income. However, this penalty generally will not apply to any amount received:
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because of your death;
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because you become disabled (as defined in the Code);
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if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy (or joint lives or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary);
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if the distribution is made following severance from employment during or after the calendar year in which you attain age 55 (TSAs and annuities funding 401(a) plans only);
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to pay certain medical or education expenses (IRAs only);
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if the distribution is made from an inherited IRA; or
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any other instances, as allowed by the IRS.
Death benefits to beneficiaries: The entire death benefit generally is taxable as ordinary income to the beneficiary in the year he/she receives the payments from the qualified annuity. If you made non-deductible contributions to a traditional IRA, the portion of any distribution from the contract that represents after-tax contributions is not taxable as ordinary income to your beneficiary. Under current IRS requirements, you are responsible for keeping all records tracking your non-deductible contributions to an IRA. Death benefits under a Roth IRA generally are not taxable as ordinary income to the beneficiary if certain distribution requirements are met. (See “Benefits in Case of Death — If You Die Before the Annuitization Start Date”).
Change of retirement plan type: IRS regulations allow for rollovers of certain retirement plan distributions. In some circumstances, you may be able to have an intra-contract rollover, keeping the same features and conditions. If the annuity contract you have does not support an intra-contract rollover, you are able to request an IRS approved rollover to another annuity contract or other investment product that you choose. If you choose another annuity contract or investment product, you will be subject to new rules, including a new surrender charge schedule for an annuity contract, or other product rules as applicable.
Assignment: You may not assign or pledge your qualified contract as collateral for a loan.
Other
Important: Our discussion of federal tax laws is based upon our understanding of current interpretations of these laws. Federal tax laws or current interpretations of them may change. For this reason and because tax consequences are complex and highly individual and cannot always be anticipated, you should consult a tax advisor if you have any questions about taxation of your contract.
RiverSource Life of NY’s tax status: We are taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. For federal income tax purposes, the subaccounts are considered a part of our company, although their operations are treated separately in accounting and financial statements. Investment income is reinvested in the fund in which each subaccount invests and becomes part of that subaccount’s value. This investment income, including realized capital gains, is not subject to any withholding for federal or state income taxes. We reserve the right to make such a charge in the future if there is a change in the tax treatment of variable annuities or in our tax status as we then understand it.
The company includes in its taxable income the net investment income derived from the investment of assets held in its subaccounts because the company is considered the owner of these assets under federal income tax law. The company may claim certain tax benefits associated with this investment income. These benefits, which may include foreign tax credits and the corporate dividend received deduction, are not passed on to you since the company is the owner of the assets under federal tax law and is taxed on the investment income generated by the assets.
Tax qualification: We intend that the contract qualify as an annuity for federal income tax purposes. To that end, the provisions of the contract are to be interpreted to ensure or maintain such tax qualification, in spite of any other provisions of the contract. We reserve the right to amend the contract to reflect any clarifications that may be needed or are appropriate to maintain such qualification or to conform the contract to any applicable changes in the tax qualification requirements. We will send you a copy of any amendments.
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Spousal status: When it comes to your marital status and the identification and naming of any spouse as a beneficiary or party to your contract, we will rely on the representations you make to us. Based on this reliance, we will issue and administer your contract in accordance with these representations. If you represent that you are married and your representation is incorrect or your marriage is deemed invalid for federal or state law purposes, then the benefits and rights under your contract may be different.
If you have any questions as to the status of your relationship as a marriage, then you should consult an appropriate tax or legal advisor.
Voting Rights
As a contract owner with investments in the subaccounts, you may vote on important fund policies until annuity payouts begin. Once they begin, the person receiving them has voting rights. We will vote fund shares according to the instructions of the person with voting rights.
Before annuity payouts begin, the number of votes you have is determined by applying your percentage interest in each subaccount to the total number of votes allowed to the subaccount.
After annuity payouts begin, the number of votes you have is equal to:
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the reserve held in each subaccount for your contract; divided by
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the net asset value of one share of the applicable fund.
As we make annuity payouts, the reserve for the contract decreases; therefore, the number of votes also will decrease.
We calculate votes separately for each subaccount. We will send notice of shareholders’ meetings, proxy materials and a statement of the number of votes to which the voter is entitled. We are the legal owner of all fund shares and therefore hold all voting rights. However, to the extent required by law, we will vote the shares of each fund according to instructions we receive from contract owners. We will vote shares for which we have not received instructions and shares that we or our affiliates own in our own names in the same proportion as the votes for which we received instructions. As a result of this proportional voting, in cases when a small number of contract owners vote, their votes will have a greater impact and may even control the outcome.
To the extent that voting rights created under applicable federal securities laws are revised or alter the voting rights described herein, we reserve the right to proceed in accordance with those laws and regulatory guidance.
Substitution of Investments
We may substitute the Funds in which the subaccounts invest if:
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laws or regulations change;
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the existing funds become unavailable; or
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in our judgment, the funds no longer are suitable (or no longer the most suitable) for the Subaccounts.
If any of these situations occur, we have the right to substitute a Fund currently listed in this prospectus (existing fund) for another Fund (new Fund), provided we obtain any required SEC and state insurance law approval. The new Fund may have higher fees and/or operating expenses than the existing Fund. Also, the new Fund may have investment objectives and policies and/or investment advisers which differ from the existing Fund.
We may also:
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add new Subaccounts;
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combine any two or more Subaccounts;
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transfer assets to and from the Subaccounts or the Variable Account; and
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eliminate or close any Subaccounts.
We will notify you of any substitution or change and obtain your approval if required.
In certain limited circumstances permitted by applicable law, we may amend the contract and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate without your consent or approval. We will obtain any required prior approval of the SEC or state insurance department before making any substitution or change.
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About the Service Providers
Principal Underwriter
RiverSource Distributors, Inc. (RiverSource Distributors), our affiliate, serves as the principal underwriter and general distributor of the contract. Its offices are located at 70100 Ameriprise Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474. RiverSource Distributors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Sales of the Contract
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Only securities broker-dealers ("selling firms") registered with the SEC and members of the FINRA may sell the contract.
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The contracts are continuously offered to the public through authorized selling firms. We and RiverSource Distributors have a sales agreement with the selling firm. The sales agreement authorizes the selling firm to offer the contracts to the public. RiverSource Distributors pays the selling firm (or an affiliated insurance agency) for contracts its financial advisors sell. The selling firm may be required to return sales commissions under certain circumstances including but not limited to when contracts are returned under the free look period.
Payments to Selling Firms
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We may use compensation plans which vary by selling firm. For example, We may pay ongoing trail commissions of up to 1.25% of the contract value. We do not pay or withhold payment of commissions based on which investment options you select.
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We may pay selling firms a temporary additional sales commission of up to 1% of purchase payments for a period of time we select. For example, we may offer to pay a temporary additional sales commission to get selling firms to market a new or enhanced contract or to increase sales during the period.
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In addition to commissions, we may, in order to promote sales of the contracts, and as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, pay or provide selling firms with other promotional incentives in cash, credit or other compensation. We generally (but may not) offer these promotional incentives to all selling firms. The terms of such arrangements differ between selling firms. These promotional incentives may include but are not limited to:
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sponsorship of marketing, educational, due diligence and compliance meetings and conferences we or the selling firm may conduct for financial advisors, including subsidy of travel, meal, lodging, entertainment and other expenses related to these meetings;
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marketing support related to sales of the contract including for example, the creation of marketing materials, advertising and newsletters;
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providing service to contract owners; and
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funding other events sponsored by a selling firm that may encourage the selling firm's financial advisors to sell the contract.
These promotional incentives or reimbursements may be calculated as a percentage of the selling firm’s aggregate, net or anticipated sales and/or total assets attributable to sales of the contract, and/or may be a fixed dollar amount. As noted below this additional compensation may cause the selling firm and its financial advisors to favor the contracts.
Sources of Payments to Selling Firms
We pay the commissions and other compensation described above from our assets. Our assets may include:
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revenues we receive from fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning and surrendering the contract (see "Fee Table and Examples");
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compensation we or an affiliate receive from the underlying funds in the form of distribution and services fees (see "The Variable Account and the Funds – The Funds");
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compensation we or an affiliate receive from a fund's investment adviser, subadviser, distributor or an affiliate of any of these (see "The Variable Account and the Funds – The Funds"); and
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revenues we receive from other contracts and policies we sell that are not securities and other businesses we conduct.
You do not directly pay the commissions and other compensation described above as the result of a specific charge or deduction under the contract. However, you may pay part or all of the commissions and other compensation described above indirectly through:
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fees and expenses we collect from contract owners; and
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fees and expenses charged by the underlying funds in which the subaccounts you select invest, to the extent we or one of our affiliates receive revenue from the funds or an affiliated person.
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Potential Conflicts of Interest
Compensation payment arrangements with selling firms can potentially:
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give selling firms a heightened financial incentive to sell the contract offered in this prospectus over another investment with lower compensation to the selling firm.
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cause selling firms to encourage their financial advisors to sell you the contract offered in this prospectus instead of selling you other alternative investments that may result in lower compensation to the selling firm.
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cause selling firms to grant us access to its financial advisors to promote sales of the contract offered in this prospectus, while denying that access to other firms offering similar contracts or other alternative investments which may pay lower compensation to the selling firm.
Payments to Financial Advisors
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The selling firm pays its financial advisors. The selling firm decides the compensation and benefits it will pay its financial advisors.
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To inform yourself of any potential conflicts of interest, ask your financial advisor before you buy how the selling firm and its financial advisors are being compensated and the amount of the compensation that each will receive if you buy the contract.
Issuer
We issue the contracts. We are a stock life insurance company organized in 1972 under the laws of the state of New York and are located at 20 Madison Avenue Extension, Albany, New York 12203. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 5144, Albany, New York 12205. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of RiverSource Life Insurance Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
We conduct a conventional life insurance business. Our primary products currently include fixed and variable annuity contracts (including registered index-linked annuity contracts) and life insurance policies.
We rely on the exemption from the reporting requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), provided by Rule 12h-7 under the 1934 Act. We are obligated to pay all amounts promised to you under the Contract, subject to our financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Legal Proceedings
RiverSource Life of NY (the Company) is involved in the normal course of business in legal proceedings which include regulatory inquiries, arbitration and litigation, including class actions, concerning matters arising in connection with conduct of its activities. These include proceedings specific to the Company as well as proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industries in which it operates. The Company can also be subject to legal proceedings arising out of its general business activities, such as its investments, contracts, and employment relationships. Uncertain economic conditions, heightened and sustained volatility in the financial markets and significant financial reform legislation may increase the likelihood that clients and other persons or regulators may present or threaten legal claims or that regulators increase the scope or frequency of examinations of the Company or the insurance industry generally.
As with other insurance companies, the level of regulatory activity and inquiry concerning the Company’s businesses remains elevated. From time to time, the Company and its affiliates, including Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”) and RiverSource Distributors, Inc. receive requests for information from, and/or are subject to examinations or claims by various state, federal and other domestic authorities. The Company and its affiliates typically have numerous pending matters, which includes information requests, exams or inquiries regarding their business activities and practices and other subjects, including from time to time: sales and distribution of various products, including the Company’s life insurance and variable annuity products; supervision of associated persons, including AFS financial advisors and RiverSource Distributors, Inc.’s wholesalers; administration of insurance and annuity claims; security of client information; and transaction monitoring systems and controls. The Company and its affiliates have cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the applicable regulators.
These legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even reasonably possible, or to reasonably estimate the amount of any loss. The Company cannot predict with certainty if, how or when any such proceedings will be initiated or resolved. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated for any proceeding. An adverse outcome in one or more proceedings could eventually result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties or other sanctions, in addition to further claims, examinations or adverse publicity that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
54 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
Financial Statements
The financial statements for RiverSource of New York Variable Annuity Account, as well as the consolidated financial statements of RiverSource Life of NY, are in the Statement of Additional Information. A current Statement of Additional Information may be obtained, without charge, by calling us at 1-800-862-7919, or can be found online at www.ameriprise.com/variableannuities.
RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 55
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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56 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 57
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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58 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 59
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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60 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 61
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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62 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 63
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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64 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 65
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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66 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 67
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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68 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 69
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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70 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| Investment Objective |
Fund and Adviser/Sub-Adviser |
Current Expenses Ratio [NET] |
Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/2025) | ||
| 1 Year |
5 Year |
10 Year | |||
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- |
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1
This Fund is managed in a way that is intended to minimize volatility of returns. See “Principal Risks of Investing in the Contract.”
2
Not available for contracts with applications signed on or after 12/5/2022.
3
4
Available for contracts with applications signed on or after 12/5/2022.
5
This Fund is a fund of funds and invests substantially all of its assets in other underlying funds. Because the Fund invests in other funds, it will bear its pro rata portion of the operating expenses of those underlying funds, including management fees.
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2020 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2025 |
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| 2026 |
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2020 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2025 |
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| 2026 |
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 71
Appendix B: Example – Optional Death Benefits
The purpose of this appendix is to illustrate the operation of various optional death benefit riders.
In order to demonstrate these contract riders, an example may show hypothetical contract values. These contract values do not represent past or future performance. Actual contract values may be more or less than those shown and will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to the investment experience of the subaccounts, Special DCA fixed account and the fees and charges that apply to your contract.
The examples of the optional death benefits in this appendix include partial surrenders to illustrate the effect of partial surrenders on the particular benefit. These examples are intended to show how the optional death benefits operate, and do not take into account whether a particular optional death benefit is part of a qualified annuity.
| We calculate the death benefit as follows: |
|
| ||
| The total purchase payments minus adjustments for partial surrenders: |
|
| ||
| |
Total purchase payments |
$20,000 |
| |
| |
minus adjusted partial surrenders, calculated as: |
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$1,500 × $20,000 |
= |
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$18,000 |
–1,667 |
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for a death benefit of: |
$18,333 |
| |
| We calculate the death benefit as follows: |
|
| ||
| The maximum anniversary value immediately preceding the date of death plus any payments made since that anniversary minus adjusted partial surrenders: |
|
| ||
| |
Greatest of your contract anniversary contract values: |
$24,000 |
| |
| |
plus purchase payments made since that anniversary: |
+0 |
| |
| |
minus adjusted partial surrenders, calculated as: |
|
| |
| |
$1,500 × $24,000 |
= |
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$22,000 |
–1,636 |
| |
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for a death benefit of: |
$22,364 |
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| We calculate the death benefit as follows: |
|
| ||
| The maximum 5-year anniversary value immediately preceding the date of death plus any payments made since that anniversary minus adjusted partial surrenders: |
|
| ||
| |
Greatest of your 5-year contract anniversary contract values: |
$30,000 |
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| |
plus purchase payments made since that anniversary: |
+0 |
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| |
minus adjusted partial surrenders, calculated as: |
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| |
72 RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus
| |
$1,500 × $30,000 |
= |
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$25,000 |
–1,800 |
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for a death benefit of: |
$28,200 |
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RiverSource RAVA 5 Access Variable Annuity New York — Prospectus 73
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) includes additional information about the Contract. The SAI, dated the same date as this prospectus, is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The SAI is available, without charge, upon request. For a free copy of the SAI, or for more information about the Contract, call us at 1-800-862-7919, visit our website at riversource.com/annuities or write to us at: 70100 Ameriprise Financial Center Minneapolis, MN 55474.
RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (RiverSource Life of NY)
20 Madison Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12203
Telephone: 1-800-541-2251
20 Madison Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12203
Telephone: 1-800-541-2251
PRO9105_12_E01_(05/26)
Reports and other information about RiverSource of New York Variable Annuity Account are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
EDGAR Contract Identifier: C000219635
© 2008-2026 RiverSource Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved.