Method and system for a deferred variable annuity with lifetime benefit payments

• US 8,209,197 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• 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: Tatro, Charles D., Wiland, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shrestha, Bijendra K
• Application Number:
  US11/983,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/36, 705/36.R
• US Class Current: 705/4
• 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

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 and a contract value. The system has a processor for determining a present payment base value, for determining a present contract value, for determining a withdrawal percent, and for calculating a lifetime benefit payment responsive to a request; wherein the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is Greater of ((Present Payment Base×Withdrawal Percent) or (Present Contract Value×Withdrawal Percent)).

Claims

1. A data processing system for administering a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase, the annuity contract having a payment base value, and a contract value, said system comprising:

a storage device;

a processor coupled to the storage device, the storage device storing modules utilized by the processor, for determining a present payment base value, for determining a present contract value, for determining a withdrawal percent, and for calculating a lifetime benefit payment responsive to a request;

wherein the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, during each of a plurality of periods during the accumulation phase, including periods after a first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, is greater of ((a value based on the present payment base and the withdrawal percent) or (a value based on the present contract value for the current period and the withdrawal percent)),

wherein withdrawals decrease the contract value;

the lifetime benefit payment is available until the death of a covered life, and withdrawals during one of the periods during the accumulation phase and not in excess of the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal do not decrease the present payment base; and

wherein the present payment base is increased based on an increase in the current period contract value over a prior period contract value in periods after the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, and a periodic increase in the present payment base is limited to a maximum percentage.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the available benefit payment withdrawal is calculated yearly.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the benefit payment withdrawal that is requested is less than the available benefit payment withdrawal amount for that period.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal percent is a function of a relevant life'"'"'s age.

5. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein once the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is taken, the withdrawal percent is fixed for the remainder of the contract.

24. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is Greater of ((the present payment base×

the withdrawal percent) or (the present contract value×

the withdrawal percent)).

25. The data processing system of claim 1, wherein the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal at a given one of said plurality of time periods after a first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal decreases relative to the preceding one of said plurality of time periods as a function of a decrease in values of investments represented by the contract value at the given time period.

6. A system for administering a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase, the annuity contract having a payment base value, a contract value, comprising:

a storage device;

a processor coupled to the storage device, the storage device storing modules utilized by the processor, the modules comprising;

i. a first module for receiving information from a relevant life in order to establish a deferred variable annuity contract;

ii. a second module for receiving lifetime benefit payment withdrawal requests from the relevant life;

iii. a third module for calculating a lifetime benefit payment;

wherein the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, during each of a plurality of periods during the accumulation phase, including periods after a first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, is greater of ((a value based on the present payment base and the withdrawal percent) or (a value based on the present contract value for the current period and the withdrawal percent));

wherein withdrawals decrease the contract value, and withdrawals during one of the periods during the accumulation phase not in excess of the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal do not decrease the present payment base, and

wherein the present payment base is increased based on an increase in the current period contract value over a prior period contract value in periods after the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, and a periodic increase in the present payment base is limited to a maximum percentage.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the withdrawal percent increases over the term of the annuity contract.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the withdrawal percent decreases over the term of the annuity contract.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the withdrawal percent fluctuates over the term of the annuity.

10. A computer implemented data processing method for administering a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase, the annuity contract having a payment base value, and a contract value, said method comprising the steps of:

a. determining by a processor a present payment base value for an annuity contract;

b. determining by the processor a present contract value for said annuity contract;

c. determining by the processor a withdrawal percent;

d. if requested, calculating by the processor a lifetime benefit payment withdrawal for the relevant life which decreases the contract value, wherein the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, during each of a plurality of periods during the accumulation phase, including periods after a first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, is greater of ((a value based on the present payment base and the withdrawal percent) or (a value based on the present contract value for the current period and the withdrawal percent));

wherein withdrawals decrease the contract value, and withdrawals during one of the periods during the accumulation phase not in excess of the available lifetime benefit payment withdrawal do not decrease the present payment base; and

wherein the present payment base is increased based on an increase in the current period contract value over a prior period contract value in periods after the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal, and a periodic increase in the present payment base is limited to a maximum percentage.

11. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the lifetime benefit payment withdrawal that is requested is less than the available amount for that period.

12. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the withdrawal percent is a function of a relevant life'"'"'s age.

13. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein once the first lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is taken, the withdrawal percent is fixed for the remainder of the contract.

14. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the withdrawal percent increases over the term of the annuity contract.

15. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the withdrawal percent decreases over the term of the annuity contract.

16. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the withdrawal percent fluctuates over the term of the annuity.

17. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

collecting a rider fee.

18. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

collecting an account maintenance fee.

19. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

calculating a death benefit to a beneficiary upon the death of a relevant life, wherein the death benefit is the greater of;

(a) a predetermined guaranteed death benefit amount; and

(b) the present contract value.

20. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the lifetime benefit payment withdrawal that is requested is less than the available amount for that period.

21. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 19, wherein the guaranteed death benefit is available to the beneficiary only if the relevant life dies during the accumulation phase.

22. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, wherein the value of the annuity payments equals the value of the last lifetime benefit payment.

23. The computer implemented data processing method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

calculating a death benefit to a beneficiary upon the death of a relevant life, wherein the death benefit is the contract value.