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

• US 7,945,499 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• 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:
  US12/290,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 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 contract during the accumulation phase of a contract term. The system stores an account value and a guaranteed rate of interest on the account value. The system may credit an interest rate which is reset periodically (reset rate). The system is configured for changing from the reset rate to the guaranteed rate, when the reset rate falls below the guaranteed rate.

Claims

1. A data processing system for administering a deferred annuity contract during an accumulation phase, said system comprising:

a communications device for receiving information for said deferred annuity contract, wherein said deferred annuity contract further including an account value, an annuity term and an annuity commencement date;

a storage device coupled to said communications device for storing said received information, and data indicative of a guaranteed interest rate, a periodic reset interest rate and an interest rate lock-in feature;

a processor operably coupled to said storage device, configured to change an interest rate applied to the account value from said reset interest rate to said guaranteed interest rate, in accordance with said interest rate lock-in feature, when said reset interest rate falls below said guaranteed interest rate; and

said communications device for offering said deferred annuity contract.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 further comprising said communications device coupled to said processor for receiving premium payments, said premium payments are received during said accumulation phase.

3. The data processing system of claim 2 wherein said guaranteed interest rate is a fixed interest rate, said guaranteed interest rate being fixed over said accumulation phase.

4. The data processing system of claim 3 wherein said reset interest rate is an adjustable interest rate, said adjustable interest rate being varied over said accumulation phase.

5. The data processing system of claim 4 further comprising said communications device in communication with said processor for receiving a request to select said reset interest rate.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein said account value is a product of said premium payments and said interest rate applied to the account.

7. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein said reset interest rate is applied to said premium payments.

8. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said change is a one-time change.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein said account value is calculated according to said guaranteed interest rate for a remainder of said annuity term.

10. The data processing system of claim 8 further comprising said processor configured for changing said interest rate from said reset interest rate to said guaranteed interest rate, said change being automatically made.

11. The data processing system of claim 8 further comprising said processor configured for changing said interest rate from said reset rate to said guaranteed rate, said change manually being received.

12. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said reset interest rate is based upon an external index.

13. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said reset interest rate is determined annually.

14. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein said storage device is further for storing data indicative of optional riders, said riders being provided with said annuity contract.

15. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said information is received from an annuitant.

16. A computer implemented data processing method for administering a deferred annuity contract during an accumulation phase, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communications device of a computer, information for the deferred annuity contract, wherein the deferred annuity contract further including an account value, an annuity term and an annuity commencement date;

determining, via a processor of the computer coupled to the communications device, an interest rate for crediting to the account value, the interest rate is selected from one of a guaranteed interest rate and a periodic reset interest rate;

offering, via the processor, an interest rate lock-in feature;

issuing, via the communications device, the deferred annuity contract; and

changing, via the processor, during the accumulation phase, from the reset interest rate to the guaranteed interest rate in accordance with the interest rate lock-in feature, when the reset interest rate falls below the guaranteed interest rate.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising the step of receiving, via the communications device, premium payments, wherein the premium payments are received during the accumulation phase.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein the account value is a product of the premium payments and the interest rate for crediting to the account value.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 17 wherein the guaranteed interest rate is a fixed interest rate, and wherein the guaranteed interest rate is fixed over the accumulation phase.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 19 wherein the reset interest rate is an adjustable interest rate, and wherein the adjustable interest rate varies over the accumulation phase.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving, via the communications device, a request to select the interest rate for crediting to the account value, wherein the selected interest rate is applied to the received premium payments.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21 wherein the interest rate lock-in feature comprises an option to change the interest rate from the reset interest rate to the guaranteed interest rate.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the change is a one-time change.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 23 wherein the account value is calculated according to the guaranteed interest rate for a remainder of the annuity term.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the step of changing is made.

26. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the step of changing is performed responsive to an instruction received from the annuitant.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the reset interest rate is based upon an external index.

28. The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the reset interest rate is determined annually.

29. The computer implemented method, of claim 16 further comprising the step of storing, via the processor, in a storage device in communication with the processor, data indicative of optional riders, the riders being provided with the annuity contract.