Variable Dollar Annuity
Definition of "Variable dollar annuity"
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.
Popular Insurance Terms
Procedure under which the ceding company (the primary or fronting company) cedes the risk it has underwritten to its reinsurer with the ceding company retaining none or a very small portion ...
Type of organization of property and casualty insurance companies whose objective is to share information on fraudulent claims, handle claims in an expeditious manner, and disseminate ...
Case where an insurance company is placed by the state court under the control of the state insurance department. Claims are paid in the order filed until the insurance company's ability to ...
Sum of insurance provided by a policy at death or maturity. ...
Company that provides access to the internet through electronic communications. ...
Coverage for defense costs incurred in defending a company from an unfriendly takeover attempt. Hostile takeovers have been one of the hottest business topics in recent years. Vulnerable ...
Person covered by insurance under a blue cross or blue shield plan. ...
Association of life insurance agents who meet minimum life insurance sales standards predetermined each year by the organization. Membership is a primary goal of professional life insurance ...
Risk management practice designed to control losses by physically separating assets or operations (on separating a single exposure unit into various parts) to reduce maximum potential loss. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.