System and method for annuity valuation

• US 20050071261A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alliance Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alliance Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Carney, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method for annuity valuation. The system of the present invention comprises a processor for execution of the method of the present invention and a data storage device for storage of data related to annuity accounts. The system also comprises an input device for input of variables and parameters related to the method of the present invention. The system may also comprise an output device for transmission of or display of data related to annuity accounts. The method of the present invention comprises the application of different interest (earnings) rates for a plurality of time periods during the term of the account. The present invention operates and in and appropriately reflects changes in increasing, declining, and steady interest rate environments. Annuities offered utilizing the present invention afford the company the opportunity to provide credits for reinvestment. Also, variables of the present invention allow companies to offer a myriad of different annuity products to its customers.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one processor for execution of a specified valuation method;

at least one database associated with the processor; and

a financial account, the account having term and having a plurality of time periods associated therewith, with the plurality of time periods cumulatively less than or equal to the specified term, and the account having a premium deposited therein;

wherein the specified valuation method executed by the at least one processor uses the relationship

$E_t=\left(P-\left(t-1\right)<br><br>A\right)<br><br>i_1+\underset{n=2}{\overset{t}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{Ai}}_n$

provided that tA≦

P, and where P is the premium, t is the number corresponding to the number of one of the plurality of time periods, A is an amount less than P, and i_t is the interest rate for the time period designated as t.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one input device operatively connected to at the at least one processor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one output device operatively connected to the at least one processor.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal network operatively connected to the at least one processor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external network operatively connected to the at least one processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one database contains data about the account, including the amount of the premium, the amount A, the term of the account, and the length of the time periods.

7. A method for financial account valuation, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an account, the account having a specified term and having a plurality of time periods associated therewith, with the plurality of time periods cumulatively less than or equal to the specified term;

establishing an interest rate for each of the plurality of time periods;

depositing a least one premium into the account;

calculating earnings at a time corresponding to one of the plurality of time periods, E_t, according to the relationship

$E_t=\left(P-\left(t-1\right)<br><br>A\right)<br><br>i_1+\underset{n=2}{\overset{t}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{Ai}}_n$

provided that tA≦

P, and where P is the premium, t is the number corresponding to the number of one of the plurality of time periods, A is amount less than P, and i_t is the interest rate for the time period designated as t.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining A as a percent of the premium P.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining A as a fixed, monetary amount.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the term of the account is equal to the cumulative time for the plurality of time periods such that earnings are calculated according to the calculating step throughout the term of the account.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the interest rates for each of the plurality of time periods reflects then-current market rates.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the interest rates for each of the plurality of time periods reflects the earnings on investments made with the account.

13. A method for financial account valuation, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an account, the account having term and having a first and second time period, wherein the sum of the first and second time periods is less than or equal to the term of the account;

depositing a premium P into the account and establishing an amount A less than the premium;

establishing a first interest rate, i₁, for the first time period;

determining earnings for the first time period as E₁=Pi₁;

establishing a second interest rate, i₂, for the second time period; and

determining earnings for the second time period as E₂=Ai₂+(P−

A)i₁.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the account further comprises a third time period, and wherein the sum of the first, second, and third time periods is less than or equal to the term of the account, the method further comprising the steps of:

establishing a third interest rate, i₃, for the third time period; and

determining earnings for the third time period as E₃=Ai₃+Ai₂+(P−

2A)i₁.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second interest rates reflects a then-current market rate.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first or second interest rates reflects then-current earnings made with the account.

24. A system, comprising:

at least one processor for execution of a valuation method according to the method of claims 7, 13, 17, or 22.

17. A method for financial account valuation, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing an account, the account having a specified term and having a plurality of time periods associated therewith, with the plurality of time periods cumulatively less than or equal to the specified term;

(b) depositing a premium P in the account;

(c) specifying an amount A less than the premium;

(d) establishing an interest rate for the first of the plurality of time periods;

(e) determining earnings for the account at the conclusion of the first of the plurality of time periods as E₁=Pi₁, where i1 is the interest rate for the first of the plurality of time periods, and P is the premium;

(f) establishing an interest rate for the next of the plurality of time periods;

(g) determining earnings for the next of the plurality of time periods, E_t, using the relationship

$E_t=\left(P-\left(t-1\right)<br><br>A\right)<br><br>i_1+\underset{n=2}{\overset{t}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>{\mathrm{Ai}}_n$

where t designated the number of the next time period, and i_n is the interest rate for the time period n; and

18. The method and claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(h) repeating steps (f) and (g) until tA>

P.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(i) establishing earnings for the remainder of the term of the account using a fixed interest rate.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(i) establishing earnings for the remainder of the term of the account by repeating steps (f), (g), and (h).

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(i) establishing earnings for the remainder of the term of the account using an earnings method from the group consisting of a portfolio method and a new money method.

22. A method for financial account valuation, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing an account the account having a specified term and having a plurality of time periods associated therewith, with the plurality of time periods cumulatively less than or equal to the specified term;

(b) depositing a premium P in the account;

(c) specifying an amount A less than the premium;

(d) establishing a plurality of funds for the account, the total number of funds, t, equal to P/A;

(e) placing premium P in the first of the plurality of funds;

(f) establishing a first interest rate, i₁, for the first of the plurality of time periods;

(g) determining earnings for the first of the plurality of time periods by the relationship E₁=F₁i₁, where F₁ is the first of the plurality of funds;

(h) establishing an interest rate for the next of the plurality of time periods;

(i) moving an amount A from F₁ to the fund for that particular next time period, F_t; and

(j) determining earnings for the next of the plurality of time periods by the relationship

$E_t=\underset{n=1}{\overset{t}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>F_n<br><br>i_n$

where F_n is the fund for time period n and i_n is the interest rate for time period n.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

(k) repeating steps (h), (i), and (j) until tA>

P.