METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MINIMUM CONTRACT VALUES IN AN ANNUITY WITH LIFETIME BENEFIT PAYMENTS

• US 20100174565A1
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Co. (DSG)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weiss, Joseph M., Andrade, Maria Leonard, Tatro, C. Dana
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies

Abstract

A data processing method administers a deferred annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity product has a contract value, a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments and a minimum contract value. Administration of the product determines a minimum contract value, while paying a lifetime benefit payment and a guaranteed death benefit. The lifetime benefit payment does not reduce the contract value below the minimum contract value. If necessary, the lifetime benefit payment is funded by the general account assets of the company that issues the annuity product.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for determining a contract value of a deferred annuity during an accumulation phase of the deferred annuity, comprising:

receiving by a computer a request for a withdrawal from the deferred annuity during the accumulation phase, an amount of the withdrawal being no more than a lifetime benefit payment amount;

determining by the computer whether a current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below a minimum contract value greater than the lifetime benefit payment amount; and

responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal having data indicative that the current contract value is not to be changed as a result of payment of the withdrawal.

2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is above the minimum contract value, determining by the computer whether reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value; and

responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal having data indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the minimum contract value as a result of payment of the withdrawal.

3. The computer-implemented method process of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is above the minimum contract value, determining by the computer whether reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value; and

responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be at or above the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the current contract value less the amount of the withdrawal.

4. The computer-implemented method process of claim 1, wherein the minimum contract value is equal to a predetermined percentage multiplied by a payment base.

5. The computer-implemented method process of claim 4, wherein the payment base is determined based on premiums paid less a factor based on withdrawals in excess of the lifetime benefit payment amount.

6. The computer-implemented method process of claim 1, wherein a death benefit amount is not less than the contract value at the death of a relevant life.

7. A computer system for administration of a deferred annuity during an accumulation phase of the deferred annuity, comprising:

a processor;

a memory device in communication with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a minimum contract value equal to a first predetermined percentage of a payment base,

determine a lifetime benefit payment amount equal to a second predetermined percentage, lower than the first predetermined percentage, of the payment base, and

in the event of a request for a withdrawal from the deferred annuity during the accumulation phase, an amount of the withdrawal being no more than a lifetime benefit payment amount,

(i) determine whether a current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below the minimum contract value;

(ii) responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below the minimum contract value, provide an output signal having data indicative that the current contract value is not to be changed as a result of payment of the withdrawal;

(iii) responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is above the minimum contract value, determine whether reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value;

(iv) responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value, provide an output signal having data indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the minimum contract value as a result of payment of the withdrawal; and

(v) responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the withdrawal would cause the contract value to be at or above the minimum contract value, provide an output signal indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the current contract value less the amount of the withdrawal.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the payment base is equal to a sum of premiums paid less withdrawals in excess of the lifetime benefit payment amount.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an amount of a death benefit, the amount of the death benefit being not less than the minimum contract value, the death benefit amount being stored in the memory device.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to a request for a withdrawal from the deferred annuity during the accumulation phase, an amount of the withdrawal being greater than a lifetime benefit payment amount, determine a decrease in the payment base equal to an amount of the withdrawal in excess of the lifetime benefit payment amount.

11. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the lifetime benefit payment amount is an annual amount.

12. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the minimum contract value is 20 percent of the payment base, and the lifetime benefit payment amount is between 5 and 10 percent of the payment base.

13. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the lifetime benefit payment amount is zero if an age of a relevant life is below sixty.

14. A computer-implemented method for administration of a deferred annuity during an accumulation phase of the deferred annuity, comprising:

determining by the computer a minimum contract value;

determining by the computer a lifetime benefit payment amount less than the minimum contract value;

receiving by the computer a request for a withdrawal from the deferred annuity during the accumulation phase;

determining by the computer whether an amount of cumulative withdrawals during a current contract period, including the received withdrawal request, is greater than the lifetime benefit payment amount;

responsive to determining by the computer that the amount of cumulative withdrawals during the current contract period is not greater than the lifetime benefit payment amount;

(i) determining by the computer whether a current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below the minimum contract value;

(ii) responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is at or below the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal having data indicative that the current contract value is not to be changed as a result of payment of the received withdrawal request;

(iii) responsive to determining that the current value of the contract value of the deferred annuity is above the minimum contract value, determining by the computer whether reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the received withdrawal request would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value;

(iv) responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the received withdrawal request would cause the contract value to be reduced below the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal having data indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the minimum contract value as a result of payment of the received withdrawal request; and

(v) responsive to determining that reduction of the current contract value by the amount of the received withdrawal request would cause the contract value to be at or above the minimum contract value, providing by the computer an output signal indicative that the contract value is to be changed to the current contract value less the amount of the received withdrawal request.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the current contract period is a one year period.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein minimum contract value is equal to a first predetermined percentage of a payment base, and the lifetime benefit payment amount is equal to a second predetermined percentage, lower than the first predetermined percentage, of the payment base, the payment base being equal to a sum of premiums paid less withdrawals paid in excess of the lifetime benefit payment amount during any contract period.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the second predetermined percentage is based on an age of a relevant life.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising determining by the computer a death benefit amount, wherein the death benefit amount is not less than the contract value.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the annuity contract is a fixed annuity.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the annuity contract is a variable annuity.