Method and system for providing a fixed rate annuity with a lock-in interest rate feature

• US 7,873,554 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baiye, Simpa
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPEN, KELLY SCAGGS
• Application Number:
  US12/701,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/36.R, 705/36.T, 705/38, 705/39, 705/40, 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A data processing method and system administers a deferred annuity product during the accumulation phase of a contract term. The annuity product permits the client to select both an interest rate which is reset periodically (reset rate) and an interest rate which is guaranteed for multiple years (MYG rate), during the same contract term. The client may elect to automatically switch from the reset rate to the MYG rate, for the remainder of the contract term, when the reset rate falls below the MYG rate.

Claims

1. A system for administering a deferred annuity product, during the accumulation phase, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive;

information relating to issuing said deferred annuity product, information relating to selecting a reset interest rate, information relating to selecting a guaranteed interest rate, and information relating to whether to adjust said reset interest rate during said accumulation phase, wherein said deferred annuity product has a predefined term and an account value; and

a processing module configured to determine said reset interest rate, for determining said guaranteed rate, and for determining whether to adjust said reset interest rate at predetermined time interval or intervals, wherein said processing module is at or associated with a provider of said deferred annuity product,

wherein said system determines whether said deferred annuity product is issued at said reset interest rate, and

further wherein said system determines whether said reset interest rate is below said guaranteed interest rate at said predetermined time interval or intervals if said deferred annuity product is issued with said reset interest rate, and

wherein said system converts an interest rate applicable to said annuity product to said guaranteed interest rate for a duration of the accumulation phase responsive to the determination that said reset interest rate is below said guaranteed interest rate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system converts the interest rate applicable to said annuity product to said guaranteed interest rate for the duration of the accumulation phase responsive further to a request received from an owner of the annuity product.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to convert the interest rate applicable to said annuity product to said guaranteed interest rate for the duration of the accumulation phase automatically responsive to the determination that said reset interest rate is below said guaranteed interest rate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time interval or intervals is an annual time interval.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to credit an account of said annuity product with an amount based on the account value and the determined interest rate.

6. A computer-implemented method for determining a rate of interest to credit to an account of a deferred annuity for a period during an accumulation phase of the deferred annuity, the deferred annuity having associated therewith a variable interest rate, and a fixed interest rate, fixed at an issue date of the deferred annuity;

determining by a computer, in response to data indicating that a value of the variable interest rate applicable to the period is less than the fixed rate, whether a customer option has been preset, for automatic application of the fixed rate for the period and for a remainder of the accumulation phase;

upon determining that the customer option for automatic application of the fixed rate has been preset, providing by the computer an output indicative of applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase; and

otherwise, providing by the computer a request for a customer input for (i) applying the variable interest rate in crediting interest for the period;

or (ii) applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising, responsive to the customer input for applying the variable interest rate in crediting interest for the period, providing an output indicative of applying the variable interest rate in crediting interest for the period.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising, after said step of providing an output indicative of applying the variable interest rate in crediting interest for the period, for a subsequent period during the accumulation phase, comparing a value of the variable interest rate for the subsequent period with the value of the fixed interest rate.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising, responsive to the customer input for applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase, applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising, prior to the determining whether the customer option has been preset, receiving by the computer the value of the variable interest rate applicable to the period, and comparing the value of the variable interest rate applicable to the period with a value of the fixed interest rate.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the period is one year.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising accessing by the computer from a memory device a date of an adjustment in the value of the variable interest rate.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a response to the request for customer input via one of a keyboard, mouse, card reader and wireless signal.

14. A computer system for determining a rate of interest to credit to an account of a deferred annuity for a period during an accumulation phase of the deferred annuity, comprising:

a memory device for storing;

a value of the account;

a current value of an adjustable rate, the value of the adjustable rate being variable during the accumulation phase, for crediting interest to the account;

a value of a fixed rate, fixed at an issue date of the deferred annuity, for crediting interest to the account; and

a computer in communication with the memory device, the computer being configured to;

determine, in response to data indicating that the value of the adjustable rate applicable to the period is less than the fixed rate, whether a customer option has been preset, for automatic application of the fixed rate for the period and for a remainder of the accumulation phase;

upon determining that the customer option for automatic application of the fixed rate has been preset, provide an output indicative of applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase; and

otherwise, provide a request for a customer input for (i) applying the adjustable rate in crediting interest for the period;

or (ii) applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to:

access from the memory device the value of the adjustable rate applicable to the period and the fixed rate; and

determine whether the value of the adjustable rate applicable to the period is less than the fixed rate.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to, responsive to the customer input for applying the adjustable rate in crediting interest for the period, provide an output indicative of applying the adjustable rate in crediting interest for the period.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further configured to, after providing the output indicative of applying the adjustable rate in crediting interest for the period, for a subsequent period during the accumulation phase, compare a value of the adjustable rate for the subsequent period with the value of the fixed rate.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to, responsive to the customer input for applying the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase, apply the fixed rate in crediting interest for the period and for the remainder of the accumulation phase.

19. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the current value of the adjustable rate is determined based on an index.

20. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the current value of the adjustable rate is adjusted by an issuer of the deferred annuity by the issuer in the discretion of the issuer.