System and method for use in connection with an annuity

• US 8,484,051 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• 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: Michalowski, Philip W., Golembiewski, Keith E., Weiss, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trotter, Scott S
• Application Number:
  US12/123,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method for determining one or more features of an annuity includes receiving data indicative of a prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category; storing the data in memory; accessing price index information for the first expense category; accessing price index information for the second expense category; accessing general price index information; and based on factors including the price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and the general price index information, determining a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the prospective annuitant; and providing an output indicative of at least the determined benefit increase rate.

Claims

1. A computer system for use in connection with preparation of an insurance contract, namely an annuity, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor;

the processor configured to;

display queries on a user-accessible device;

receive data entered in response to said queries displayed via the user-accessible device indicative of the amounts of a prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category, the first and second expense categories being at least two of health care, entertainment, housing, transportation, travel, food and utilities;

access stored price index information for the first expense category and the second expense category;

access stored general consumer price index information;

based on factors including at least the personal expense amounts in the first and second expense categories, price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determine a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the prospective annuitant; and

display the determined benefit increase rate, wherein the determined benefit increase rate reflects an inflation rate applicable to the prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses more accurately than does the general consumer price index.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to access and display information related to management of expenses if expenses in one of the first and second expense categories exceeds a threshold.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to present, via the user-accessible device in association with the queries, examples pertinent to personal expenses in at least the first and second expense categories.

4. A computer system for use in connection with an annuity, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

the processor configured to;

receive data indicative of a prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

store the data in the memory;

access digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

access digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

access digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on factors including at least the price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determine a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the prospective annuitant; and

provide an output digital signal indicative of at least the determined benefit increase rate.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an user-accessible device, the processor being configured to receive the data from the user-accessible device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt via the user-accessible device for absolute data indicative of a particular numerical value of personal expenses in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to receiving data, prompt via the user-accessible device for relative data indicative of a range of numerical values of personal expenses, said range determined relative to one or more predetermined parameter values, in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to prompting, present, via the user-accessible device, examples pertinent to personal expenses in at least the first and second expense categories, said examples characteristic of a personal expense profile baseline for comparison with the prompted information.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt via the user-accessible device for data indicative of personal expenses in at least the first expense category during first and second future time periods.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to receive the data from the memory.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the first expense category comprises one of health care, entertainment, housing, transportation, travel, food, and utilities.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second expense category comprises another of health care, entertainment, housing, transportation, travel, food, and utilities.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the general price index information includes a government published price index for consumers.

14. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a payment determination system having a processor for;

receiving the output signal, determining of a payor account and a payment method;

storing of the determined payor account information and the determined payment method in a memory of the payment determination system;

outputting of a digital signal indicative of the stored payor account information, the stored payment method, amount information and payee information; and

a payment fulfillment system for receiving the digital signal from the payment determination system and for fulfillment of payment in accordance with the information conveyed by the digital signal from the processor of the payment determination system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the payment fulfillment system is a check printing and mailing system for printing and mailing a check drawn on the payor account in an amount and to a payee as determined by the information conveyed by the digital signal from the processor of the payment determination system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the payment fulfillment system is a system for generating electronic funds transfer requests for providing of an instruction to a bank determined by the payor account information to provide an electronic funds transfer from the payor account to a payee account in an amount determined by the information conveyed by the digital signal from the processor of the payment determination system.

46. The system of claim 8, wherein said examples pertinent to personal expenses in at least the first and second expense categories characteristic of a personal expense profile baseline for comparison with the prompted information include:

at least one of audio, text, and video sequences depicting aspects of a person'"'"'s lifestyle relating to said first and second expense categories.

48. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to cause display of prompting information on a display of the user-accessible device, and receive the data at a server associated with the user-accessible device.

17. A computer implemented method for use in connection with an annuity, comprising:

receiving data indicative of a prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

storing the data in memory;

accessing via a processor price index information for the first expense category;

accessing via the processor price index information for the second expense category;

accessing via the processor general consumer price index information; and

based on factors including the price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determining in the processor a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the prospective annuitant; and

providing an output including data indicative of at least the determined benefit increase rate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving data from a memory.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving data from a user-accessible device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, prior to said step of receiving data, prompting via the user-accessible device for absolute data indicative of a particular numerical value of personal expenses in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising, prior to said step of receiving data, prompting via the user-accessible device for relative data indicative of a range of numerical values of personal expenses, said range determined relative to one or more predetermined parameter values, in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, prior to said step of prompting, presenting, via the user-accessible device, examples pertinent to personal expenses in at least the first and second expense categories, said examples characteristic of a personal expense profile baseline for comparison with the prompted information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of prompting comprises causing display of prompting information on a display of a client device, and wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving the data at a server associated with the client device.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising prompting via the user-accessible device a prospective annuitant for data indicative of personal expenses in at least the first expense category during first and second future time periods.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first expense category comprises health-related expenses.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the general price index information includes a government published price index for consumers.

47. The method of claim 22, wherein said presenting, via the user-accessible device, examples pertinent to personal expenses in at least the first and second expense categories characteristic of a personal expense profile baseline for comparison with the prompted information includes displaying on said user accessible device at least one of audio, text, and video sequences depicting aspects of a person'"'"'s lifestyle relating to said first and second expense categories.

49. The method of claim 25, wherein the second expense category comprises clothing.

27. A tangible computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving data indicative of a prospective annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

storing the data in memory;

accessing digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

accessing digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

accessing digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on factors including at least the price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determining a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the prospective annuitant; and

providing an output digital signal indicative of at least the determined benefit increase rate.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the step of receiving data by receiving data from memory.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the step of receiving data by receiving data from a user-accessible device.

30. A system for administering an annuity, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

the processor configured to;

receive data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

access digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

access digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

access digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on factors including the price index information for the first expense category, price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determine a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the annuitant;

receive a digital signal including an indication of an establishment of an annuity contract, wherein at least one feature of the annuity contract is the determined benefit increase rate;

based on the benefit increase rate, determine a benefit amount for the annuitant;

provide an output digital signal including a notification of the determined benefit amount; and

if a digital signal is received including an instruction received from the annuitant to commence payment of the benefit amount in accordance with the benefit increase rate, provide one or more output digital signals including an instruction to pay the annuitant the determined benefit amount as a stream of payments increasing in accordance with the determined benefit increase rate.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein, the processor is further configured to, in response to receipt of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to commence payment of a level benefit amount based on a percentage of an asset value associated with the annuity, provide one or more output signals including one or more instructions for paying the annuitant a stream of payments of level amount.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to, in response to receipt of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to forgo an option of a stream of payments increasing in accordance with the determined benefit increase rate, calculate a further single payment amount to be paid to the annuitant, store the calculated amount in a memory device, and include the calculated amount in an output digital signal.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein, the processor is configured to, in response to receipt of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to recalculate the determined benefit increase rate:

receive via a user input further data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

access further digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

access further digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

access further digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on the further price index information for the first expense category, the further price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the further general consumer price index, determine a recalculated benefit increase rate of an annuity for the annuitant;

calculate further benefit payment amounts based on the recalculated benefit increase rate; and

provide a digital output signal including the calculated further benefit payment amounts.

34. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a payment determination system having a processor for;

receiving the output signal including an instruction to pay, determining of a payor account and a payment method;

storing of the determined payor account information and the determined payment method in a memory of the payment determination system;

outputting of a digital signal indicative of the stored payor account information, the stored payment method, amount information and payee information; and

a payment fulfillment system for receiving the digital signal from the payment determination system and for fulfillment of payment in accordance with the information conveyed by the digital signal from the processor of the payment determination system.

35. A computer-implemented method of administering an annuity contract, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user interface device data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

accessing by a processor via a digital communication channel digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

accessing by the processor via a digital communication channel digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

accessing by the processor via a digital communication channel, digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on factors including at least the price index information for the first expense category, price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determining by the processor a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the annuitant;

receiving at the processor a digital signal including data indicative of an establishment of an annuity contract, wherein at least one feature of the annuity contract is the determined benefit increase rate;

based on the benefit increase rate, determining by the processor a benefit amount for the annuitant;

providing by the processor an output signal including a notification of the determined benefit amount; and

if a digital signal is received by the processor including an instruction from the annuitant to commence payment of the benefit amount in accordance with the benefit increase rate, providing an output digital signal including an instruction for paying the annuitant the determined benefit amount as a stream of payments increasing in accordance with the determined benefit increase rate.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein, in response to receipt by the processor of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to commence payment of a level benefit amount based on a percentage of an asset value associated with the annuity, providing from the processor one or more output signals including one or more instructions for paying the annuitant a stream of payments of level amount.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein, in response to receipt by the processor of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to forgo an option of a stream of payments increasing in accordance with the determined benefit increase rate, a further single payment amount to be paid to the annuitant is calculated by the processor, stored in a memory device, and included in an output digital signal provided by the processor.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein, in response to receipt by the processor of a digital signal including data indicative of an instruction from the annuitant to recalculate the determined benefit increase rate, the following steps are performed:

receiving at the processor further data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

accessing by the processor further digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

accessing by the processor further digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

accessing by the processor further digitally stored general consumer price index information; and

based on the further price index information for the first expense category, further price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the further general consumer price index, determining by the processor a recalculated benefit increase rate of an annuity for the annuitant;

calculating by the processor further benefit payment amounts based on the recalculated benefit increase rate; and

providing by the processor a digital output signal including the calculated further benefit payment amounts.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving by a payment determination system having a processor the output signal including an instruction for paying, determining of a payor account and a payment method;

storing of the determined payor account information and the determined payment method in a memory of the payment determination system;

outputting of a digital signal indicative of the stored payor account information, the stored payment method, amount information and payee information; and

receiving at a payment fulfillment system the digital signal from the payment determination system and fulfilling payment in accordance with the information conveyed by the digital signal from the processor of the payment determination system.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses is received from memory.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses is received from a user-accessible device.

42. A tangible computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving data indicative of an annuitant'"'"'s personal expenses in at least a first expense category and a second expense category;

accessing digitally stored price index information for the first expense category;

accessing digitally stored price index information for the second expense category;

accessing digitally stored general price index information; and

based on factors including at least the price index information for the first expense category, the price index information for the second expense category, and a value of the general consumer price index, determining a benefit increase rate of an annuity for the annuitant;

receiving a digital signal including data indicative of an establishment of an annuity contract, wherein at least one feature of the annuity contract is the determined benefit increase rate;

based on the benefit increase rate, determining a benefit amount for the annuitant;

providing an output digital signal including a notification of the determined benefit amount; and

if a digital signal is received including an instruction from the annuitant to commence payment of the benefit amount in accordance with the benefit increase rate, providing an output digital signal including an instruction for paying the annuitant the determined benefit amount as a stream of payments increasing in accordance with the determined benefit increase rate.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive the data from a user-accessible device.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to prompt via the user-accessible device for absolute data indicative of a particular numerical value of personal expenses in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, prior to receiving data, prompt via the user-accessible device for relative data indicative of a range of numerical values of personal expenses, said range determined relative to one or more predetermined parameter values, in at least the first expense category and the second expense category.