Met Life Optimistic S&P Assumption

Metropolitan Life (MET) issued new guidance of course and took the opportunity to guide down given the inevitable excuse that there are strong economic headwinds. They have a key planning assumption for 2009. That the S&P will increase by 5%. The starting point is supposedly 900 on Dec 31, 2008. But given the volatility of the markets it would have been helpful for management to show several different scenarios of growth and even contraction. We all know that the market may not behave itself in 2009. To assume a 5% growth rate is very sporty.

How much skin do senior officers have in the game that depends on a 5% increase?