The present invention relates to computer systems, and particularly to computer systems for calculating features of financial products.
An annuity is a type of insurance service. In general terms, in an annuity contract, an insurance company and an annuitant contract for the annuitant to make one or more payments to the insurance company. For that consideration, the insurance company makes periodic payments to an annuitant. By way of example, the insurance company may be obliged to make a payment of a predetermined amount to the annuitant annually for a predetermined time period. In another example, the insurance company is obliged to make payments of a predetermined amount to the annuitant annually for the life of the annuitant.
In a typical annuity product, an asset value associated with an account is annuitized. In other words, the asset value is not available for use by the annuitant, or for use in estate planning.
In the prior art, one exemplary product provides a variable annuity, based on a single premium, which also includes a stream of payments, funded by an additional fee, that commences at an age selected by the annuitant.
In one embodiment, a computer system for administering an annuity has a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The processor is adapted to: store in the memory an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; store in the memory at least a deferral period of a guaranteed income annuity; if the current time is during the term, calculate an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity; store in the memory a credit of the calculated interest amount to a guaranteed income annuity; determine whether the time is after the accumulation period, and if the time is after the accumulation period, provide an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; determine whether the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, and, if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculate an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity; and provide an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the income annuity payment amount.
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for administering an annuity product includes storing by a processor in a memory in communication with the processor an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; storing by the processor in the memory at least a deferral period of a guaranteed income annuity; if the processor determines that the current time is during the term, calculating by the processor an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity, and storing by the processor the amount in the memory; storing by the processor in the memory a credit of the calculated interest amount to a guaranteed income annuity; if the processor determines that the current time is after the accumulation period, providing by the processor an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; if the processor determines that the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculating by the processor an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity; and providing by the processor an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the income annuity payment amount.
In an embodiment, a computer-readable medium has instructions thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: store in memory an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; store in memory at least a deferral period of a guaranteed income annuity; determine if the current time is during the term, and, if the current time is during the term, calculate an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity; store in memory a credit of the calculated interest amount to a guaranteed income annuity; determine if the current time is after the accumulation period and, if the current time is after the accumulation period, provide an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; determine if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, and, if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculate an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity; and provide an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the income annuity payment amount.
In an embodiment, a computer system for administering an annuity has a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The processor is adapted to store in a memory in communication with the processor an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; store in the memory a deferral period and an initial funding payment of a guaranteed income annuity; determine if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term and, if the current time is during the term, calculate an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity; store in the memory a credit of the calculated interest amount at least to the accumulation annuity; determine if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term, and if the time is after the accumulation period, provide an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; determine if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, and, if the time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculate an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity and store the calculated income annuity payment amount in the memory; and provide an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the calculated income annuity payment amount.
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for administering an annuity includes storing by a processor in a memory in communication with the processor an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; storing by the processor in the memory a deferral period and an initial funding payment of a guaranteed income annuity; determining by the processor if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term and, if the current time is during the term, calculating by the processor an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity; storing by the processor in the memory a credit of the calculated interest amount at least to the accumulation annuity; determining by the processor if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term, and if the time is after the accumulation annuity term, providing by the processor an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; determining by the processor if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, and, if the time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculating by the processor of an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity and storing by the processor of the calculated income annuity payment amount in the memory; and
providing by the processor an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the calculated income annuity payment amount.
In an embodiment, a computer-readable medium has instructions thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: store in a memory in communication with the processor an amount of an initial funding payment, an interest rate formula and a term for an accumulation annuity; store in the memory a deferral period and an initial funding payment of a guaranteed income annuity; determine if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term and, if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term, calculate an amount of interest earned on the accumulation annuity; store in the memory a credit of the calculated interest amount at least to the accumulation annuity; determine if the current time is during the accumulation annuity term, and if the time is after the accumulation annuity term, provide an output signal indicative of an instruction to provide a notice of expiration; determine if the current time is after the expiration of the deferral period, and, if the time is after the expiration of the deferral period, calculate an income annuity payment amount from the guaranteed income annuity and store the calculated income annuity payment amount in the memory; and provide an output signal indicative of instructions for a payment to be made to the annuitant based on the calculated income annuity payment amount.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typical computer systems, and methods for administration of insurance products such as annuities. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein.
Referring to
Communications port 105 may communicate with payment determination system 140. Payment determination system 140 may include one or more computer systems, including processors, memory devices, user inputs, outputs, software executed by the processors, and other conventional components. Payment determination system 140 may be adapted to receive an output signal via communications port 105, which output signal includes payment information, such as an amount, a date payable, and information identifying an annuitant. Payment determination system 140 may further be adapted to determine a payor account and a payment method. The payor account may be an account with a selected bank; by way of example, payment determination system 140 may include a look-up table mapping annuitant information, such as geographic information, to a particular bank and account. Payment determination system 140 may also include stored in memory and accessible by a processor information indicating whether a particular annuitant is to be paid by paper check, by electronic funds transfer, or in some other manner. A processor of payment determination system 140 may cause to be stored in memory of the payment determination system the determined payor account information and the determined payment method. The processor of payment determination system 140 may cause a digital signal to be output indicative of the stored payor account information, the stored payment method, amount information and payee information.
In an embodiment, the output digital signal may be received by check printing and mailing system 150. Check printing and mailing system 150 may include one or more computer systems, including processors, memory devices, user inputs, outputs, software executed by the processors, and other conventional components. The outputs include in particular one or more printers, and may include other devices useful in printing and mailing paper checks, such as devices for feeding paper, separating printed checks, inserting printed checks into envelopes, sealing envelopes, and applying postage to envelopes as appropriate. The printed check is then mailed to the annuitant. The annuitant deposits the check in the annuitant's bank account, causing funds to be credited to the annuitant's bank account, and causing the funds to be withdrawn from the designated bank account from which the payment is made.
In an embodiment, the output digital signal from payment determination system 140 may be received by electronic funds transfer instructions system 160. Electronic funds transfer instructions system 160 may include one or more computer systems, including processors, memory devices, user inputs, outputs, software executed by the processors, and other conventional components. Electronic funds transfer instructions system 160 includes a processor adapted to provide an output signal indicative 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 as previously determined, such as by processor 110.
The output signal from electronic funds transfer instructions system 160 may be provided to a bank computer system 170, which carries out an electronic funds transfer, debiting the designated account, and resulting in a credit to a designated annuitant account.
Referring now to
A challenge that has been recognized by the inventors is that of both preserving the asset value associated with an annuity and providing a guaranteed stream of income to the annuitant. For example, in a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA), while a stream of income is guaranteed, the principal is not available. Variable annuities provide access to principal, but their income potential is dependent on market performance. As a result, variable annuities fail to provide a predictable stream of income to the annuitant. One solution in the prior art to the problem of providing a predictable stream of income to the annuitant who purchases a variable annuity is for the annuitant to purchase a guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefit (GMWB) rider. The GMWB rider, as its name implies, provides a guarantee of a certain minimum income level, even if the asset value of the variable annuity declines to a point which would not otherwise support the minimum income level. However, the GMWB rider is purchased at an additional cost to the annuitant. The asset value of variable annuities is also linked to the value of securities or of indices based on values of securities, and thus is not predictable.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The funding and terms of the guaranteed income annuity are also stored in memory. An initial funding payment may fund the guaranteed income annuity. A deferral period for the guaranteed income annuity may be determined. A formula for calculation of payments on the guaranteed income annuity, based on timing of funding and other factors, may be provided. The payment amount, deferral period and formula may be stored in memory 410, such as by processor 105 storing the information in data storage 130.
Thereafter, during the accumulation annuity initial term, the processor 105 may check whether a sufficient time has elapsed to calculate interest payments 412. If sufficient time has elapsed, then the interest on the accumulation annuity is calculated by processor 105 and stored in memory, such as data storage 130, as indicated at 415. The calculated interest is then stored in data storage 130 by processor 105 as a credit funding a deferred guaranteed income annuity or the asset value of accumulation annuity 420. If the accumulation term is not complete 425, this process is repeated.
Upon expiration of the term of the accumulation account, or a suitable time period in advance of the expiration of the accumulation account, as determined by processor 105, the processor 105 may output a signal indicative of an instruction to generate a notification of expiration 430. In response to the signal, the customer may be notified of investment options for the account value of the accumulation account. As discussed above in connection with
The deferred guaranteed income annuity has a deferral period. Referring to
An embodiment of a method of the invention will now be explained with reference to
In another embodiment, both the accumulation annuity and the income guarantee income may be funded by initial payments. In this embodiment, the interest from the accumulation annuity may be entirely reinvested in the accumulation annuity. In the alternative, a portion of the interest from the accumulation annuity may be reinvested in the accumulation annuity, and a remaining portion contributed to the guaranteed income annuity. In this embodiment, referring to
In an implementation, it may be desirable to determine the terms of the annuity based on current assets of the annuitant and the income and asset goals of the annuitant. In an implementation, this process may be performed using the system of
The present invention is operable with computer storage products or computer readable media that contain program code for causing a processor to perform the various computer-implemented operations. The computer-readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system such as a microprocessor. The media and program code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known to those of ordinary skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM disks; magneto-optical media; and specially configured hardware devices such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of program code include both machine code, as produced, for example, by a compiler, or files containing higher-level code that may be executed using an interpreter. Steps in the computer-implemented methods may be implemented in processors running software stored locally, and/or in configurations such as application service providers, in which certain steps are executed on processors communicating with one another over a network such as the Internet. Either stand-alone computers or client/server systems, or any combination thereof, may be employed.
A system in accordance with the invention may include means corresponding to each step in each method described herein. Each means may be implemented by processor 110 executing instructions contained in programs which may be stored in a storage medium, such as local memory 120 or data storage 130. It will be appreciated that any of the steps in the methods in accordance with the invention described herein may be so implemented.
While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.
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