Method and system for a deferred variable annuity with lifetime benefit payments as a function of a predetermined age-based withdrawal percent table

• US 7,877,307 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• 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., Tatro, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apple; Kirsten S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trotter; Scott S
• Application Number:
  US11/999,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A computer implemented data processing system and method administers a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity contract has a payment base value, a contract value, and a withdrawal percent for determining a lifetime benefit payment amount available for withdrawal without reduction in the payment base. The withdrawal percent is dependent on the age of a relevant life as of the date of a request made by the relevant life for the withdrawal.

Claims

1. A data processing system for administering a deferred variable annuity product during the accumulation phase, the annuity product having a payment base, a contract value, and a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments for a relevant life, said system comprising:

a storage device having data relating to;

the payment base,

a withdrawal percent relationship,

a withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product;

and a processor operatively coupled to the storage device to read said data relating to;

the payment base for said annuity product,

the withdrawal percent relationship,

the withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product,

the storage device storing modules utilized by the processor for;

calculating the payment base for said annuity product as a function of premium payments paid to the issuer and withdrawals, and

predetermining the withdrawal percent relationship that provides a particular withdrawal percent for each year period of the relevant life'"'"'s life commencing on each birthday of the relevant life;

wherein, in accordance with the guarantee, withdrawals made during any year period commencing on a birthday of the relevant life do not decrease the payment base if the withdrawals during the year period are not more than a maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal equal to a product of the withdrawal percent and the payment base.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further storing a module utilized by the processor for periodically accepting premium payments from the relevant life which increase the payment base and the contract value, if requested by the relevant life during the accumulation phase.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further storing a module utilized by the processor for periodically paying a guaranteed lifetime benefit payment withdrawal to the relevant life from the contract value which decreases the contract value, if requested by the relevant life during the accumulation phase.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further storing a module utilized by the processor for periodically paying a withdrawal payment during the accumulation phase, that is in excess of the lifetime benefit payment, to the relevant life from the contract value which decreases each of:

the contract value and the payment base.

5. A data processing method for administering a deferred variable annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life, the annuity product having a payment base value, a contract value, and a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments, comprising the steps of:

a. calculating by a processor the payment base value;

b. predetermining by the processor a withdrawal percent relationship that provides a particular withdrawal percent for each year of the relevant life'"'"'s life commencing on each birthday of the relevant life;

c. determining by the processor an amount of a lifetime benefit payment to be paid to the relevant life;

d. wherein a maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is calculated using the following formula;

((withdrawal percent)×

(withdrawal base)), wherein the withdrawal percent is calculated using said withdrawal percent relationship;

wherein, in accordance with the guarantee, withdrawals requested by the relevant life during any year period commencing on a birthday of the relevant life do not decrease the payment base if the withdrawals during the year period are not more than the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal.

6. A data processing system for administering a deferred variable annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life, the annuity product having a payment base, a contract value, and a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments, said system comprising:

a storage device having data relating to;

the payment base,

a withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product for a relevant life;

a processor operatively coupled to the storage device to read said data relating to

the payment base for said annuity product,

the withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product,

the storage device storing a module utilized by the processor, comprising;

a module for paying a lifetime benefit payment; and

wherein a maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal available during a year period commencing on a birthday of the relevant life without reduction of the payment base is calculated using the following formula;

((withdrawal percent)×

(withdrawal base)), wherein the withdrawal percent is predetermined according to the age of the relevant life at the time of a request by the relevant life for a lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, as provided by a predetermined withdrawal percent relationship.

7. A data processing system for administering a deferred variable annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life, the annuity product having a payment base, a contract value, and a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments, said system comprising:

a storage device having data relating to

the payment base,

a withdrawal percent relationship,

a withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product for a relevant life;

a processor operatively coupled to the storage device to read said data relating to

the payment base for said annuity product,

the withdrawal percent relationship,

the withdrawal percent and

the deferred variable annuity product,

the storage device storing a module utilized by the processor, comprising;

an administration module operative to calculate a maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, wherein the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is calculated using the following formula;

((withdrawal percent)×

(withdrawal base)); and

wherein the withdrawal percent is predetermined according to the age of the relevant life, and the relevant life may request the withdrawal percent that corresponds to his age, as provided by the withdrawal percent relationship at a frequency of once a year or higher;

wherein, in accordance with the guarantee, withdrawals requested by the relevant life during any year period commencing on a birthday of the relevant life do not decrease the payment base if the withdrawals during the year period are not more than the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal.

8. A computer implemented data processing method for administering a deferred variable annuity product during the accumulation phase for a relevant life, the annuity product having a payment base, a contract value, and a guarantee of lifetime benefit payments, said method comprising the steps of:

a. calculating by a processor a payment base value for the annuity product that is a function of premium payments and withdrawals by the relevant life;

b. predetermining by the processor a withdrawal percent relationship that provides a particular withdrawal percent for each year of the relevant life'"'"'s life commencing on each birthday of the relevant life; and

c. during the accumulation phase;

i. if requested by the relevant life, receiving by the processor data indicative of amounts of accepted premium payments from the relevant life which increase the payment base and the contract value;

ii. if requested by the relevant life, receiving by the processor data indicative of lifetime benefit payment withdrawal paid to the relevant life from the contract value which decreases the contract value;

iii. if requested by the relevant life, receiving by the processor data indicative of a withdrawal payment, that is in excess of a maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, paid to the relevant life from the contract value which decreases each of;

the contract value and the payment base; and

iv. wherein the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal available, during any year period commencing on a birthday of the relevant life, without reduction of the payment base is calculated using the following formula;

((withdrawal percent)×

(withdrawal base)), wherein the withdrawal percent is calculated using said withdrawal percent relationship.

9. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein said withdrawal base equals the payment base.

10. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein said withdrawal base equals the contract value.

11. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein said withdrawal base equals the greater of the payment base or the contract value.

12. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the lifetime benefit payment is paid periodically.

13. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the lifetime benefit payment is paid yearly.

14. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the lifetime benefit payment withdrawal that is requested by the relevant life is less than the maximum available amount for that period.

15. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the withdrawal percent is a function of the relevant life'"'"'s age.

16. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the withdrawal percent is fixed for the remainder of the contract, once the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is taken.

17. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the withdrawal percent increases over the term of the annuity.

18. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the withdrawal percent decreases over the term of the annuity.

19. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein the withdrawal percent fluctuates over the term of the annuity.

20. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, further comprising the step of collecting a rider fee.

21. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, further comprising the step of collecting an account maintenance fee.

22. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, further comprising the step of paying a death benefit to a beneficiary upon the death of the relevant life, wherein the death benefit is the greater of:

(a) a predetermined guaranteed death benefit amount;

or (b) the present contract value.

23. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 22, wherein the death benefit is paid to the beneficiary only if the relevant life dies during the accumulation phase.

24. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 8, wherein a value of annuity payments made during the annuitization phase of the product equals the value of the last guaranteed lifetime benefit payment.