EQUI-VEST. (series 801) combination variable and fixed deferred annuity. May 1, Issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.

Transcription

1 EQUI-VEST (series 801) combination variable and fixed deferred annuity May 1, 2017 Issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.

2 Table of Contents Variable Product Prospectus Page EQUI-VEST (Series 801) 1 Summary Prospectuses Page Label AXA Premier VIP Trust AXA Aggressive Allocation AAA 1-5 AXA Conservative Allocation ACA 1-5 AXA Conservative-Plus Allocation ACPA 1-5 AXA Moderate Allocation AMA 1-5 AXA Moderate-Plus Allocation AMPA 1-5 Charter SM Moderate CMOD 1-6 Charter SM Multi-Sector Bond CMSB 1-6 Charter SM Small Cap Growth CSCG 1-5 Charter SM Small Cap Value CSCV 1-5 Target 2015 Allocation 2015A 1-5 Target 2025 Allocation 2025A 1-5 Target 2035 Allocation 2035A 1-5 Target 2045 Allocation 2045A 1-5 Target 2055 Allocation 2055A 1-5 EQ Advisors Trust 1290 VT DoubleLine Dynamic Allocation VTDD VT DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond VTDO VT Equity Income VTEI VT GAMCO Mergers & Acquisitions VTGM VT GAMCO Small Company Value VTGSC VT High Yield Bond VTHY VT SmartBeta Equity VTSB VT Small Cap Value VTSC VT Socially Responsible VTSR 1-5 All Asset Growth-Alt 20 EQAA 1-7 AXA Balanced Strategy ABSA 1-5 AXA Conservative Growth Strategy ACGA 1-5 AXA Conservative Strategy ACSA 1-5 AXA/AB Dynamic Moderate Growth AABDMG 1-7 AXA/AB Small Cap Growth AASCG 1-4 AXA/ClearBridge Large Cap Growth ACBLC 1-4 AXA/Franklin Balanced Managed Volatility AFBMV 1-7 AXA/Franklin Small Cap Value Managed Volatility AFSCVMV 1-6 AXA/Franklin Templeton Allocation Managed Volatility EQFTAMV 1-7 AXA Global Equity Managed Volatility AGEMV 1-6 AXA International Core Managed Volatility AICMV 1-7 AXA International Managed Volatility AIMV 1-6 AXA International Value Managed Volatility AIVMV 1-6 AXA/Janus Enterprise AJEG 1-4 AXA Large Cap Core Managed Volatility ALCCMV 1-6 AXA Large Cap Growth Managed Volatility EQLCGMV 1-6 AXA Large Cap Value Managed Volatility ALCVMV 1-6 Page Label AXA/Loomis Sayles Growth ALSG 1-4 AXA 2000 Managed Volatility A2000MV 1-5 AXA 400 Managed Volatility A400MV 1-5 AXA 500 Managed Volatility A500MV 1-5 AXA Mid Cap Value Managed Volatility AMCVMV 1-7 AXA Moderate Growth Strategy AMGSA 1-5 AXA/Mutual Large Cap Equity Managed Volatility AMLCEMV 1-8 AXA/Templeton Global Equity Managed Volatility ATGEMV 1-6 EQ/BlackRock Basic Value Equity EQBBV 1-4 EQ/Capital Guardian Research EQCGR 1-4 EQ/Common Stock Index EQCTI 1-3 EQ/Core Bond Index EQCBI 1-4 EQ/Emerging Markets Equity PLUS EQEMEP 1-5 EQ/Equity 500 Index EQ500I 1-3 EQ/Global Bond PLUS EQGBP 1-6 EQ/Intermediate Government Bond EQIGB 1-4 EQ/International Equity Index EQIEI 1-4 EQ/Invesco Comstock EQICK 1-4 EQ/JPMorgan Value Opportunities EQJPMV 1-3 EQ/Large Cap Growth Index EQLCGI 1-3 EQ/Large Cap Value Index EQLCVI 1-3 EQ/MFS International Growth EQMG 1-4 EQ/Mid Cap Index EQMCI 1-4 EQ/Money Market EQMM 1-4 EQ/Oppenheimer Global EQOG 1-4 EQ/PIMCO Global Real Return EQPGRR 1-5 EQ/PIMCO Ultra Short Bond EQPUS 1-5 EQ/Quality Bond PLUS EQQBP 1-5 EQ/Small Company Index EQSCI 1-3 EQ/T. Rowe Price Growth Stock EQTGS 1-4 EQ/UBS Growth and Income EQUGI 1-3 Multimanager Aggressive Equity MMAE 1-5 Multimanager Core Bond MMCB 1-6 Multimanager Mid Cap Growth MMMCG 1-4 Multimanager Mid Cap Value MMMCV 1-4 Multimanager Technology MMT 1-5 (337928)

3 EQUI-VEST (Series 801) A combination variable and fixed deferred annuity contract Prospectus dated May 1, 2017 What is EQUI-VEST? EQUI-VEST is a deferred annuity contract issued by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. It provides for the accumulation of retirement savings and for income. The contract also offers death benefit protection and a number of payout options. You invest to accumulate value on a tax-deferred basis in one or more of our variable investment options and in our guaranteed interest option ( investment options ). This prospectus is a disclosure document and describes all of the contract s material features, benefits, rights and obligations, as well as other information. The description of the contract s material provisions in this prospectus is current as of the date of this prospectus. If certain material provisions under the contract are changed after the date of this prospectus in accordance with the contract, those changes will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus in conjunction with any applicable supplements. The contract should also be read carefully. You have the right to cancel the contract within a certain number of days after receipt of the contract. The contract may not currently be available in all states. All optional features and benefits described in this prospectus may not be available at the time you purchase the contract. We have the right to restrict availability of any optional feature or benefit. We can refuse to accept any application or contribution from you at any time, including after you purchase the contract. Variable investment options Fixed income 1290 VT DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond (1) 1290 VT High Yield Bond (1) American Funds Insurance Series Bond Fund Charter SM Multi-Sector Bond EQ/Core Bond Index EQ/Global Bond PLUS EQ/Intermediate Government Bond Domestic Equity 1290 VT Equity Income (1) 1290 VT GAMCO Mergers & Acquisitions (1) 1290 VT GAMCO Small Company Value (1) 1290 VT Small Cap Value (1) 1290 VT Socially Responsible AXA 400 Managed Volatility AXA 500 Managed Volatility AXA 2000 Managed Volatility AXA/ABSmallCapGrowth AXA/ClearBridge Large Cap Growth AXA/Franklin Small Cap Value Managed Volatility AXA/Janus Enterprise AXA Large Cap Core Managed Volatility AXA Large Cap Growth Managed Volatility AXA Large Cap Value Managed Volatility AXA/Loomis Sayles Growth AXA Mid Cap Value Managed Volatility AXA/Mutual Large Cap Equity Managed Volatility AXA/Pacific Global Small Cap Value (2) Charter SM Small Cap Growth Charter SM Small Cap Value EQ/BlackRock Basic Value Equity EQ/Capital Guardian Research EQ/Money Market EQ/PIMCOGlobalRealReturn EQ/PIMCO Ultra Short Bond EQ/Quality Bond PLUS InvescoV.I.HighYield IvyVIPHighIncome Multimanager Core Bond EQ/Common Stock Index EQ/Equity 500 Index EQ/Invesco Comstock EQ/JPMorgan Value Opportunities EQ/Large Cap Growth Index EQ/Large Cap Value Index EQ/Mid Cap Index EQ/Small Company Index EQ/T. Rowe Price Growth Stock EQ/UBS Growth and Income Fidelity VIP Contrafund Goldman Sachs VIT Mid Cap Value Invesco V.I. Mid Cap Core Equity Invesco V.I. Small Cap Equity IvyVIPEnergy IvyVIPMidCapGrowth IvyVIPSmallCapGrowth MFS Investors Trust MFS Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock MFS Technology MFS Utilities Multimanager Aggressive Equity Multimanager Mid Cap Growth Multimanager Mid Cap Value Multimanager Technology VanEck VIP Global Hard Assets Please read and keep this prospectus for future reference. It contains important information that you should know before purchasing or taking any other action under your contract. This prospectus supersedes all prior prospectuses and supplements. You should read the prospectuses for each Trust which contain important information about the portfolios. International/Global 1290 VT SmartBeta Equity (1) EQ/Emerging Markets Equity PLUS AXA Global Equity Managed Volatility EQ/International Equity Index AXA International Core Managed Volatility EQ/MFS International Growth AXA International Managed Volatility EQ/Oppenheimer Global AXA International Value Managed Volatility Invesco V.I. Global Real Estate AXA/Templeton Global Equity Managed Invesco V.I. International Growth Volatility Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Charter SM International Moderate (2) MFS International Value Charter SM Moderate (3) Asset Allocation 1290 VT DoubleLine Dynamic Allocation (4) All Asset Aggressive Alt 25 (2) AllAssetGrowth Alt20 AXA/AB Dynamic Moderate Growth AXA Aggressive Allocation AXA Balanced Strategy AXA Conservative Allocation AXA Conservative Growth Strategy AXA Conservative-Plus Allocation AXA Conservative Strategy AXA/Franklin Balanced Managed Volatility AXA/Franklin Templeton Allocation Managed Volatility AXA Moderate Allocation AXA Moderate Growth Strategy AXA Moderate-Plus Allocation Charter SM Real Assets (2) Target 2015 Allocation Target 2025 Allocation Target 2035 Allocation Target 2045 Allocation Target 2055 Allocation (1) This is the variable investment option s new name, effective on or about May 19, 2017, subject to regulatory approval. Please see Portfolios of the Trusts later in this prospectus for the variable investment option s former name. (2) Please see Portfolios of the Trusts later in this prospectus regarding the planned merger of the Portfolio in which this variable investment option invests, subject to shareholder approval. (3) This variable investment option will be available on or about May 19, 2017, subject to regulatory approval. (4) This variable investment option s name, investment objective and sub-adviser will change on or about May 19, 2017, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Please see Portfolios of the Trusts later in this Prospectus for more information, including the variable investment option s former name. You may allocate amounts to the variable investment options under your choice of investment method subject to any restrictions. Each variable investment option is a subaccount of Separate Account A. Each variable investment option, in turn, invests in a corresponding securities portfolio that is part of one of the trusts (the Trusts ). Your investment results in a variable investment option will depend on the investment performance of the related portfolio. You may also allocate amounts to the guaranteed interest option. Types of contracts. For existing and new contract owners, we offer the contracts for use as: A nonqualified annuity ( NQ ) for after-tax contributions only. An individual retirement annuity ( IRA ), any of traditional IRA, Roth IRA or Inherited IRA beneficiary continuation contracts ( Inherited IRA ). A minimum contribution of $25,000 is required to purchase a contract. A registration statement relating to this offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). The statement of The SEC 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. The contracts are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency. They are not deposits or other obligations of any bank and are not bank guaranteed. They are subject to investment risks and possible loss of principal. EV Series 801 (IF/NB) #291237

4 additional information ( SAI ) dated May 1, 2017, is a part of the registration statement. The SAI is available free of charge. You may request one by writing to our processing office at P.O. Box 4956, Syracuse, NY or calling (800) The SAI has been incorporated by this reference into this prospectus. This prospectus and the SAI can also be obtained from the SEC s website at The table of contents for the SAI appears at the back of this prospectus.

5 Contents of this Prospectus Index of key words and phrases 5 Who is AXA Equitable? 6 How to reach us 7 EQUI-VEST at a glance key features 9 Fee table 11 Examples 12 Condensed financial information Contract features and benefits 13 How you can purchase and contribute to your contract 13 Owner and annuitant requirements 16 How you can make your contributions 16 What are your investment options under the contract? 16 Portfolios of the Trusts 17 Selecting your investment method 27 Allocating your contributions 28 Your right to cancel within a certain number of days 28 Death benefit 28 Inherited IRA beneficiary continuation contract Determining your contract s value 31 Your account value and cash value 31 Your contract s value in the variable investment options 31 Your contract s value in the guaranteed interest option 31 We, our, and us refer to AXA Equitable. When we address the reader of this prospectus with words such as you and your, we mean the person who has the right or responsibility that the prospectus is discussing at that point. This is usually the contract owner. When we use the word contract it also includes certificates that are issued under group contracts in some states. 3 Contents of this Prospectus

6 3. Transferring your money among investment options 32 Transferring your account value 32 Disruptive transfer activity 32 Automatic transfer options 33 Investment simplifier 33 Rebalancing your account value Accessing your money 35 Withdrawing your account value 35 How withdrawals are taken from your account value 36 Surrender of your contract to receive its cash value 36 Termination 36 When to expect payments 36 Your annuity payout options 36 Transfers of ownership, collateral assignments, loans, and borrowing 61 Distribution of the contracts 62 Appendices I Death benefit example I-1 II Condensed financial information II-1 III State contract availability and/or variations of certain features and benefits III-1 IV Hypothetical Illustrations IV-1 Statement of additional information Table of contents 5. Charges and expenses 39 Charges that AXA Equitable deducts 39 Charges under the contracts 39 Charges that the Trusts deduct 41 Group or sponsored arrangements 41 Other distribution arrangements Payment of death benefit 42 Your beneficiary and payment of benefit 42 How death benefit payment is made 42 Beneficiary continuation option Tax information 45 Overview 45 Buying a contract to fund a retirement arrangement 45 Transfers among investment options 45 Taxation of nonqualified annuities 45 Individual retirement arrangements ( IRAs ) 47 Traditional individual retirement annuities (traditional IRAs) 48 Roth individual retirement annuities ( Roth IRAs ) 52 Federal and state income tax withholding and information reporting 58 Impact of taxes to AXA Equitable More information 59 About our Separate Account A 59 About the Trusts 59 About the general account 59 About other methods of payment 60 Dates and prices at which contract events occur 60 About your voting rights 60 Cybersecurity 61 Statutory compliance 61 About legal proceedings 61 Financial statements 61 4 Contents of this Prospectus

7 Index of key words and phrases This index should help you locate more information on the terms used in this prospectus. Page account value 31 annuitant 13 annuity payout options 36 automatic investment program ( AIP ) 60 AXA Equitable Access Account 43 beneficiary 42 beneficiary continuation option 43 business day 16, 60 cash value 31 conduit IRA 50 contract date 13 contract date anniversary 13 contract year 13 contributions 13 Contributions to Roth IRAs 52 regular contribution 52 rollovers and direct transfers 53 conversion contributions 53 direct transfers 48, 52 Contributions to traditional IRAs 48 regular contribution 48 rollovers and transfers 49 direct transfers 48 Page Disruptive transfer activity 32 guaranteed interest option 27 IRA 1 IRS 45 Inherited IRA 1, 16 investment options 1 market timing 32 NQ 1 Online Account Access 7 partial withdrawals 35 portfolios 11 processing office 7 ratcheted death benefit 28 Required Beginning Date 51 Roth IRA 52 SAI 2 SEC 1 TOPS 7 traditional IRA 47, 52 Trusts 1, 33 unit 31 unit investment trust 59 variable investment options 1, 16, 27 To make this prospectus easier to read, we sometimes use different words than in the contract or supplemental materials. This is illustrated below. Although we do use different words, they have the same meaning in this prospectus as in the contract or supplemental materials. Your financial professional can provide further explanation about your contract. Prospectus account value guaranteed interest option unit unit value Contract or Supplemental Materials Annuity Account Value Guaranteed Interest Account Accumulation unit Accumulation unit value 5 Index of key words and phrases

8 Who is AXA Equitable? We are AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company ( AXA Equitable ) a New York stock life insurance corporation. We have been doing business since AXA Equitable is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Financial, Inc., which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AXA S.A. ( AXA ), a French holding company for an international group of insurance and related financial services companies. As the ultimate sole shareholder of AXA Equitable, AXA exercises significant influence over the operations and capital structure of AXA Equitable. No company other than AXA Equitable, however, has any legal responsibility to pay amounts that AXA Equitable owes under the contracts. AXA Equitable is solely responsible for paying all amounts owed to you under your contract. AXA Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries managed approximately $588.7 billion in assets as of December 31, For more than 150 years AXA Equitable has been among the largest insurance companies in the United States. We are licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our home office is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY Who is AXA Equitable?

9 How to reach us Please communicate with us at the mailing addresses listed below for the purposes described. Certain methods of contacting us, such as by telephone or electronically, may be unavailable or delayed. For example, our facsimile service may not be available at all times and/or we may be unavailable due to emergency closing. In addition, the level and type of service available may be restricted based on criteria established by us. In order to avoid delays in processing, please send your correspondence and check to the appropriate location, as follows: For correspondence with checks: For NQ and IRA owners who send contributions individually by regular mail: AXA Equitable EQUI-VEST Annuity Lockbox P.O. Box Newark, NJ For NQ and IRA owners who send contributions individually by express delivery: JPMorganChase EQUI-VEST Lockbox # Chase Metrotech Center (7th Floor) Brooklyn, NY Telephone number to be used on express mail packages Attn: Extraction Supervisor, (718) For NQ and IRA contributions remitted by employers and sent by regular mail: AXA Equitable EQUI-VEST Unit Annuity Lockbox P.O. Box Newark, NJ For NQ and IRA contributions remitted by employers and sent by express delivery: AXA Equitable JPMorganChase EQUI-VEST Lockbox # Chase Metrotech Center (7th Floor) Brooklyn, NY Telephone number to be used on express mail packages Attn: Extraction Supervisor, (718) For correspondence without checks: For all other communications (e.g., requests for transfers, withdrawals, or required notices) sent by regular mail: AXA Equitable EQUI-VEST Processing Office P.O. Box 4956 Syracuse, NY For all other communications (e.g., requests for transfers, withdrawals, or required notices) sent by express delivery: AXA Equitable EQUI-VEST Processing Office 100 Madison Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY Your correspondence will be picked up at the mailing address noted above and delivered to our processing office. Your correspondence, however, is not considered received by us until it is received at our processing office. Where this prospectus refers to the day when we receive a contribution, request, election, notice, transfer or any other transaction request from you, we mean the day on which that item (or the last thing necessary for us to process that item) arrives in complete and proper form at our processing office or via the appropriate telephone or fax number if the item is a type we accept by those means. There are two main exceptions: if the item arrives (1) on a day that is not a business day or (2) after the close of a business day, then, in each case, we are deemed to have received that item on the next business day. Our processing office is: 100 Madison Street, Suite 1000, Syracuse, New York Reports we provide: confirmation notices of financial transactions; and quarterly statements of your contract values as of the close of each calendar quarter. As required, notices and statements will be sent by mail under certain circumstances. They are also available on Online Account Access. Telephone operated program support ( TOPS ) and Online Account Access systems: TOPS is designed to provide you with up-to-date information via touch-tone telephone. Online Account Access is designed to provide this information through the Internet. You can obtain information on: your current account value; your current allocation percentages; the number of units you have in the variable investment options; and the daily unit values for the variable investment options. You can also: change your allocation percentages and/or transfer among the variable investment options and the guaranteed interest option; and change your TOPS personal identification number ( PIN ) (through TOPS only) and your Online Account Access password (through Online Account Access only). Under TOPS only you can: elect the investment simplifier. Under Online Account Access only you can: make a contribution to your IRA or NQ annuity contract; elect to receive certain contract statements electronically; change your address; access Frequently Asked Questions and certain service forms; and obtain performance information regarding the variable investment options. TOPS and Online Account Access are normally available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. You can use TOPS by calling toll-free (800) You may use Online Account Access by visiting our 7 Who is AXA Equitable?

10 website at and clicking on Online Account Access. Of course, for reasons beyond our control, these services may sometimes be unavailable. We have established procedures to reasonably confirm that the instructions communicated by telephone or the Internet are genuine. For example, we will require certain personal identification information before we will act on telephone or Internet instructions and we will provide written confirmation of your transfers. If we do not employ reasonable procedures to confirm the genuineness of telephone or Internet instructions, we may be liable for any losses arising out of any act or omission that constitutes negligence, lack of good faith, or willful misconduct. In light of our procedures, we will not be liable for following telephone or Internet instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. We reserve the right to limit access to these services if we determine that you engaged in a disruptive transfer activity such as market timing. (See Disruptive transfer activity in Transferring your money among investment options later in this prospectus.) We reserve the right to discontinue offering TOPS at any time in the future. Customer service representative: You may also use our toll-free number (800) to speak with one of our customer service representatives. Our customer service representatives are available on each business day Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Friday until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Hearing or speech-impaired clients may call the AT&T National Relay Number at (800) for information about your account. If you have a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), you may relay messages or questions to our Customer Service Department at (800) , Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Friday until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. AT&T personnel will communicate our reply back to you, via the TDD. Toll-free telephone service: You may reach us toll-free by calling (800) for a recording of daily unit values for the variable investment options. (9) request for a transfer/rollover of assets or 1035 exchange to another carrier; (10) purchase by, or change of ownership to, a non-natural owner; (11) contract surrender and withdrawal requests; (12) death claims; and (13) partial annuitization of an NQ contract. We also have specific forms that we recommend you use for the following types of requests: (1) address changes; (2) beneficiary changes; (3) transfers among investment options; and (4) change of ownership. To change or cancel any of the following we require written notification generally at least seven calendar days before the next scheduled transaction: (1) automatic investment program; (2) investment simplifier; (3) rebalancing program; (4) systematic withdrawals; and (5) the date annuity payments are to begin. You must sign and date all these requests. Any written request that is not on one of our forms must include your name and your contract number along with adequate details about the notice you wish to give or the action you wish us to take. Signatures: The proper person to sign forms, notices and requests would normally be the owner. If there are joint owners, all must sign. We require that the following types of communications be on specific forms we provide for that purpose: (1) conversion of your traditional IRA contract to a Roth IRA contract; (2) cancellation of your Roth IRA contract and return to a traditional IRA contract; (3) election of the automatic investment program; (4) election of the investment simplifier; (5) election of the automatic deposit service; (6) election of the rebalancing program; (7) election of the required minimum distribution ( RMD ) automatic withdrawal option; (8) election of the beneficiary continuation option; 8 Who is AXA Equitable?

11 EQUI-VEST at a glance key features Professional investment management EQUI-VEST variable investment options invest in different portfolios managed by professional investment advisers. Guaranteed interest option Principal and interest guarantees Interest rates set periodically Tax advantages On earnings inside the contract No tax until you make withdrawals from your contract or receive annuity payments. On transfers inside the contract No tax on transfers among investment options. If you are purchasing an annuity contract as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA), you should be aware that such annuities do not provide tax deferral benefits beyond those already provided by the Internal Revenue Code for individual retirement arrangements. Before purchasing one of these contracts, you should consider whether its features and benefits beyond tax deferral meet your needs and goals. You may also want to consider the relative features, benefits and costs of these contracts with any other investment that you may use in connection with your retirement plan or arrangement. (For more information, see Tax information later in this prospectus.) Contribution amounts Minimum initial contribution (all contracts): $25,000 Minimums for additional contributions: $50 (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA and NQ); $20 under our automatic investment program $1,000 (Inherited IRA) Maximum contribution limitations apply to all contracts. In general, contributions are limited to $1.5 million ($500,000 for owners or annuitants who are age 81 and older at contract issue) under all EQUI-VEST series contracts with the same owner or annuitant or $2.5 million under all AXA Equitable annuity accumulation contracts with the same owner or annuitant. Upon advance notice to you, we may exercise certain rights we have under the contract regarding contributions, including our rights to (i) change minimum and maximum contribution requirements and limitations, and (ii) discontinue acceptance of contributions. For more information, see How you can purchase and contribute to your contract in Contract features and benefits later in this prospectus. Death benefit protection The contract provides a death benefit for the beneficiary should the annuitant die. The death benefit is equal to the account value or the standard death benefit, whichever is higher. However, if you elect the ratcheted death benefit, the death benefit is equal to the account value or the ratcheted death benefit, whichever is higher. Access to your money Partial withdrawals Several periodic withdrawal options Contract surrender You may incur a withdrawal charge for certain withdrawals or if you surrender your contract. You may also incur income tax and a penalty tax. Payout options Fixed annuity payout options Variable Immediate Annuity payout options (described in a separate prospectus for that option) Additional features Dollar-cost averaging by automatic transfers Interest sweep option Fixed-dollar option Automatic investment program Account value rebalancing (quarterly, semi-annually, and annually) No charge on transfers among investment options Waiver of withdrawal charge under certain circumstances Fees and charges Please see Fee table later in this prospectus for complete details. Annuitant issue ages 0-85 (0-70 for Inherited IRA) 9 EQUI-VEST at a glance key features

12 The table above summarizes only certain current key features and benefits of the contract. The table also summarizes certain current limitations, restrictions and exceptions to those features and benefits that we have the right to impose under the contract and that are subject to change in the future. In some cases, other limitations, restrictions and exceptions may apply. The contract may not currently be available in all states. Certain features and benefits described in this prospectus, including the availability of all investment options, may vary in your state or at certain ages or under your investment method; all features and benefits may not be available in all contracts or in all states. Please see Appendix III later in this prospectus for more information on state availability and/or variations of certain features and benefits. For more detailed information, we urge you to read the contents of this prospectus, as well as your contract. This prospectus is a disclosure document and describes all of the contract s material features, benefits, rights and obligations, as well as other information. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Please feel free to speak with your financial professional or call us, if you have any questions. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your contract, you may return it to us for a refund within a certain number of days. Please see Your right to cancel within a certain number of days in Contract features and benefits later in this prospectus for additional information. Other contracts We offer a variety of fixed and variable annuity contracts. They may offer features, including investment options, credits, fees and/or charges that are different from those in the contracts offered by this prospectus. Not every contract is offered through the same Selling broker-dealer. Some Selling broker-dealers may not offer and/or limit the offering of certain features or options, as well as limit the availability of the contracts, based on issue age or other criteria established by the Selling broker-dealer. Upon request, your financial professional can show you information regarding other AXA Equitable annuity contracts that he or she distributes. You can also contact us to find out more about the availability of any of the AXA Equitable annuity contracts. You should work with your financial professional to decide whether an optional benefit is appropriate for you based on a thorough analysis of your particular insurance needs, financial objectives, investment goals, time horizons and risk tolerance. Some Selling broker-dealers may limit their clients from purchasing some optional benefits based upon the client s age. 10 EQUI-VEST at a glance key features

13 Fee table The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering the contract. Each of the charges and expenses is more fully described in Charges and expenses later in this prospectus. The first table describes fees and expenses that you will pay at the time that you surrender the contract, make certain withdrawals, purchase a Variable Immediate Annuity payout option or make certain transfers and exchanges. Charges designed to approximate certain taxes that may be imposed on us, such as premium taxes in your state, may also apply. Charges for certain features shown in the fee table are mutually exclusive. Charges we deduct from your account value at the time you request certain transactions Maximum withdrawal charge as a percentage of contributions withdrawn (deducted if you surrender your contract or make certain withdrawals) (1) 6.00% Charge for third-party transfer or exchange (for each occurrence) (2) Special services charges $65 (current and maximum) Wire transfer charge (3) $90 (current and maximum) Express mail charge (3) $35 (current and maximum) The next table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the contract, not including underlying Trust portfolio fees and expenses. Charges we deduct from your account value on each contract date anniversary Maximum annual administrative charge: If your account value on the last day of your contract year is less than $100,000 $50 If your account value on the last day of your contract year is $100,000 or more $0 Charges we deduct from your variable investment options expressed as an annual percentage of daily net assets Separate account annual expenses: Mortality and expense risks (4) 1.00% Other expenses 0.25% Total Separate Account Annual expenses 1.25% Charges we deduct from your account value each year if you elect the optional benefit Ratcheted death benefit charge (as a percentage of your account value) (This charge is deducted annually on each contract date anniversary.) 0.15% You also bear your proportionate share of all fees and expenses paid by a portfolio that corresponds to any variable investment option you are using. This table shows the lowest and highest total operating expenses charged by any of the portfolios that you will pay periodically during the time that you own the contract. These fees and expenses are reflected in the portfolio s net asset value each day. Therefore, they reduce the investment return of the portfolio and the related variable investment option. Actual fees and expenses are likely to fluctuate from year to year. More detail concerning each portfolio s fees and expenses is contained in the Trust prospectus for the portfolio. Portfolio operating expenses expressed as an annual percentage of daily net assets Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses for 2016 (expenses that are deducted from portfolio assets including management fees, 12b-1 fees, service fees, and/or other expenses) (*) Notes: Lowest 0.61% Highest 3.40% (5) (*) Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses may be based, in part, on estimated amounts of such expenses. Pursuant to a contract, AXA Equitable Funds Management Group, LLC has agreed to make payments or waive its management, administrative and other fees to limit the expenses of certain affiliated Portfolios through April 30, 2018 ( Expense Limitation Arrangement ) (unless the Trust s Board of Trustees consents to an earlier revision or termination of this agreement). The Expense Limitation Arrangement may be terminated by AXA Equitable Funds Management Group, LLC at any time after April 30, The range of expenses in the table above does not include the effect of any Expense Limitation Arrangement. The Expense Limitation Arrangement does not apply to unaffiliated Portfolios. The range of expense in the table below includes the effect of the Expense Limitation Arrangements. 11 Fee table

14 Portfolio operating expenses expressed as an annual percentage of daily net assets Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses for 2016 after the effect of Expense Limitation Arrangements (6) Lowest 0.61% Highest 1.45% For complete information regarding the Expense Limitation Arrangements see the prospectuses for the underlying Portfolios. (1) Deducted upon a withdrawal of amounts in excess of the 15% free withdrawal amount. Important exceptions and limitations may eliminate or reduce this charge. The withdrawal charge percentage we use is determined by the contract year in which you make the withdrawal or surrender your contract. The amount of the withdrawal charge we deduct is equal to a percentage of contributions that have been in the contract less than six contract years. Contract Year % % % % % % % (2) This charge will never exceed 2% of the amount disbursed or transferred. (3) Unless you specify otherwise, this charge will be deducted from the amount you request. (4) A portion of this charge is for providing the standard death benefit. (5) Beginning on or about May 19, 2017, the highest Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses for 2016 is 2.60%. (6) Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses may be based, in part, on estimated amounts of such expenses. Examples These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the contract with the cost of investing in other variable annuity contracts. These costs include contract owner transaction expenses, contract fees, separate account annual expenses, and underlying Trust fees and expenses (including underlying portfolio fees and expenses). For a complete description of portfolio charges and expenses, please see the prospectus for each Trust. The examples below show the expenses that a hypothetical contract owner would pay in the situations illustrated. The examples use an average annual administrative charge based on charges paid in 2016, which results in an estimated annual charge of % of contract value. The guaranteed interest option is not covered by the fee table and examples. However, the annual administrative charge, the withdrawal charge, the third-party transfer or exchange charge, and the charge if you elect a Variable Immediate Annuity payout option do apply to the guaranteed interest option. These examples should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses for any option. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the examples is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance. The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the contract for the time periods indicated and that your investment has a 5% return each year. The examples also assume (i) maximum contract charges rather than the lower current expenses discussed in Charges and expenses later in this prospectus (except the annual administrative charge which is described above); (ii) the total annual expenses of the portfolios (before expense limitations) set forth in the previous tables; (iii) that the ratcheted death benefit has been elected; and (iv) there is no waiver of the withdrawal charge. 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 at the end of the applicable time period 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years (a) assuming maximum fees and expenses of any of the Portfolios $1,016 $2,027 $3,037 $5,050 $506 $1,518 $2,529 $5,050 (b) assuming minimum fees and expenses of any of the Portfolios $ 738 $1,214 $1,718 $2,433 $214 $ 659 $1,131 $2,433 Condensed financial information Please see Appendix II at the end of this prospectus for information about the unit values and number of units outstanding as of the period shown for each of the variable investment options available as of December 31, Fee table

15 1. Contract features and benefits How you can purchase and contribute to your contract You may purchase a contract by making payments to us that we call contributions. We can refuse to accept any application or contribution from you at any time, including after you purchase the contract. We require a minimum contribution amount for each type of contract purchased. Maximum contribution limitations also apply. The minimum additional contribution amount under our automatic investment program is $20. We discuss the automatic investment program under About methods of payment in More information later in this prospectus. The following table summarizes our current rules regarding contributions to your contract, which rules are subject to change. All ages in the table refer to the age of the annuitant named in the contract. Upon advance notice to you, we may exercise certain rights we have under the contract regarding contributions, including our right to (i) change minimum and maximum contribution requirements and limitations, and (ii) discontinue acceptance of contributions. Further, we may at any time exercise our rights to limit the number of variable investment options which you may elect. We reserve the right to change our current limitations on your contributions and to discontinue acceptance of contributions. See Tax information later in this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of sources of contributions and certain contribution limitations. We currently do not accept any contribution if (i) the aggregate contributions under one or more EQUI-VEST series contracts with the same owner or annuitant would then total more than $1,500,000 ($500,000 for the same owner or annuitant who is age 81 and older at contract issue) or (ii) the aggregate contributions under all AXA Equitable annuity accumulation contracts with the same owner or annuitant would then total more than $2,500,000. We may waive these and other contribution limitations based on criteria we determine. The annuitant is the person who is the measuring life for determining contract benefits. The annuitant is not necessarily the contract owner. The contract date is the effective date of a contract. This usually is the business day we receive the properly completed and signed application, along with any other required documents, and your initial contribution. Your contract date will be shown in your contract. The 12-month period beginning on your contract date and each 12-month period after that date is a contract year. The end of each 12-month period is your contract date anniversary. For example, if your contract date is May 1, your contract date anniversary is April 30. Available for annuitant issue ages Minimum contributions Source of contributions Limitations on contributions Contract type NQ 0 through 85 $25,000 (initial) $50 (additional) After-tax money. Paid to us by check or transfer of contract value in a tax deferred exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue Code. Paid to us by an employer who establishes a payroll deduction program. Additional contributions canbemadeuptothe later of attainment of age 86 or the first contract date anniversary. 13 Contract features and benefits

16 Available for annuitant issue ages Minimum contributions Source of contributions Limitations on contributions Contract type Traditional IRA 0 through 85 $25,000 (initial) $50 (additional) Initial contribution must be any of the following: Eligible rollover distribution from 403(b) plan, qualified plan or governmental employer 457(b) plan. Rollover from another traditional individual retirement arrangement. Direct custodian-tocustodian transfer from other traditional individual retirement arrangement. Additional contributions may also be: Regular traditional IRA contributions either made by you or paid to us by an employer who establishes a payroll deduction program. Additional catch-up contributions. Additional contributions (rollover or direct transfer) may be made up to the later of attainment of age 86 or the first contract date anniversary. Rollover and direct transfer contributions after age must be net of required minimum distributions. Although we accept regular IRA contributions (limited to $5,500) under traditional IRA contracts, we intend that this contract be used primarily for rollover and direct transfer contributions. No regular IRA contributions in the calendar year you turn age and thereafter. Additional catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 per calendar year if the owner is at least age 50 but under age at any time during the calendar year for which the contribution is made. 14 Contract features and benefits

17 Available for annuitant issue ages Minimum contributions Source of contributions Limitations on contributions Contract type Roth IRA 0 through 85 $25,000 (initial) $50 (additional) Inherited IRA (traditional IRA or Roth IRA) 0 through 70 $25,000 (initial) $1,000 (additional) Initial contribution must be any of the following: Rollovers from another Roth IRA. Rollovers from a designated Roth contribution account under specified retirement plans. Conversion rollovers from a traditional IRA or other eligible retirement plan. Direct transfers from another Roth IRA. Additional contributions may also be: Regular Roth IRA contributions either made by you or paid to us by an employer who establishes a payroll deduction program. Additional catch-up contributions. Direct custodian-tocustodian transfers of your interest as death beneficiary of the deceased owner s traditional individual retirement arrangement or Roth IRA to an IRA of the same type. Non-spousal beneficiary direct rollover contributions may be made to an inherited IRA contract under specified circumstances from these Applicable Plans : qualified plans, 403(b) plans and governmental employer 457(b) plans. Additional contributions canbemadeuptothe later of attainment of age 86 or the first contract date anniversary. Contributions are subject to income limits and other tax rules. See Contributions to Roth IRAs Tax information later in this prospectus. Although we accept regular Roth IRA contributions (limited to $5,500), under the Roth IRA contracts, we intend that this contract be used primarily for rollover and direct transfer contributions. Additional catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 per calendar year if the owner is at least age 50 at any time during the calendar year for which the contribution is made. Any additional contributions must be from the same type of IRA of the same deceased owner. No additional contributions are permitted to Inherited IRA contracts issued as a Non-spousal beneficiary direct rollover from an Applicable Plan. See Tax information later in this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of sources of contributions and certain contribution limitations. For information on when contributions are credited under your contract, see Dates and prices at which contract events occur in More information later in this prospectus. Please review your contract for information on contribution limitations. 15 Contract features and benefits

18 Owner and annuitant requirements Under NQ contracts, the annuitant can be different than the owner. A joint owner may also be named. Only natural persons can be joint owners. This means that an entity such as a corporation cannot be a joint owner. Owners that are not individuals may be required to document their status to avoid 30% Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ( FATCA ) withholding from the U.S.-source income. Under traditional and Roth IRA contracts, the owner and annuitant must be the same person. For owner and annuitant requirements for Inherited IRA, see Inherited IRA beneficiary continuation contract later in this prospectus. How you can make your contributions Except as noted below, contributions must be made by check drawn on a U.S. bank, in U.S. dollars, and made payable to AXA Equitable. We may also apply contributions made pursuant to an intended Section 1035 tax-free exchange or a direct transfer. We do not accept third-party checks endorsed to us except for rollover contributions, contract exchanges or trustee checks that involve no refund. All checks are subject to our ability to collect the funds. We reserve the right to reject a payment if it is received in an unacceptable form. Additional contributions may also be made by wire transfer or our automatic investment program. The methods of payment are discussed in detail under About other methods of payment in More information later in this prospectus. Your initial contribution must generally be accompanied by an application and any other form we need to process the contribution. If any information is missing or unclear, we will hold the contribution, whether received via check or wire, in a non-interest bearing suspense account while we try to obtain that information. If we are unable to obtain all of the information we require within five business days after we receive an incomplete application or form, we will inform the financial professional submitting the application on your behalf. We will then return the contribution to you unless you specifically direct us to keep your contribution until we receive the required information. If additional contributions are permitted under the contract, generally, you may make additional contributions at any time. You may do so in single sum amounts, on a regular basis, or as your financial situation permits. What are your investment options under the contract? Your investment options are the variable investment options and the guaranteed interest option. Variable investment options Your investment results in any one of the variable investment options will depend on the investment performance of the underlying portfolios. You can lose your principal when investing in the variable investment options. In periods of poor market performance, the net return, after charges and expenses, may result in negative yields, including for the EQ/Money Market variable investment option. Listed below are the currently available portfolios, their investment objectives, and their advisers. We may, at any time, exercise our rights to limit or terminate your contributions and to limit the number of variable investment options you may elect. Our business day is generally any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading and generally ends at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (or as of an earlier close of regular trading). A business day does not include a day on which we are not open due to emergency conditions determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may also close early due to such emergency conditions. For more information about our business day and our pricing of transactions, please see Dates and prices at which contract events occur in More information later in this prospectus. 16 Contract features and benefits