Variable Dollar Annuity

Definition of "Variable dollar annuity"

Irene Poole real estate agent

Written by

Irene Pooleelite badge icon

RE/MAX Select

Annuity in which premium payments are used to purchase accumulation units, their number depending on the value of each unit. The value of a unit is determined by the value of the portfolio of stocks in which the insurance company invests the premiums. At the time of the payment of benefits to the annuitant, the accumulation units are converted to a monthly fixed number of units. The variable element is the dollar value of each unit. For example, assume that the annuitant pays a monthly premium of $100. If the accumulation unit value during one month is $50, two units are purchased. In another month, if the value of the accumulation unit is $25, four units are purchased. In a third month, the value of the unit is $10, resulting in the purchase of 10 units. This allows the market use of the investment strategy of dollar cost averaging. Accumulation units are credited to the annuitant's account, a procedure that is similar to purchasing shares in a mutual fund.
When income benefits are scheduled to begin, total accumulation units are converted to assume 100 income benefit units per month. The value of the income unit will vary according to the company's stock investments; in one month the annuitant's income might be $1000, in another month $500, in another month $1200. Changes in the investment experience by the insurance company are passed on to the annuitant, but the company absorbs fluctuations in expenses and mortality experience.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Ceiling on expense reimbursement allowance, as stated in New York insurance law, that an insurance company licensed in New York State can give its agents. This is one reason why a company ...

Inability to divide a cash value life insurance policy into a savings element and a protection element because, in theory, if the policyowner withdraws a portion or ail of the cash value, ...

Statements by an insurance applicant concerning personal health history, family health history, occupation, and hobbies. These statements are required to be substantially correct; that is, ...

Fidelity bond provided under a blanket position bond (in which each position is covered on an individual basis) or a commercial blanket bond (in which a loss is covered on a blanket basis ...

Coverage for bodily injury, property damage or destruction, for which the insured garage and/or its representatives become legally liable resulting from the operation of the garage. For ...

Payments made to the insured by the insurance company before the settlement date. For example, a claim is scheduled to be settled on June 1, 2000, but the insurance company pays the ...

Lower limit on the maximum possible interest rate an insurance company will pay. If the market interest rates are below that lower limit, the insurance company pays the lower limit rate. In ...

Highest price investor is willing to pay for a stock or mutual fund unit and lowest price a seller of a stock or mutual fund is willing to accept. ...

Addition to a personal automobile policy (pap) that covers an insured who is involved in a collision with a driver who does not have sufficient liability insurance to pay for the damages. ...

Popular Insurance Questions