Description: The article analyzes Private Letter Ruling 202031008, which considers how Internal Revenue Code sections 72(q) and (u) apply to an annuity contract issued to a trust. In particular, the Ruling interprets the terms “taxpayer,” “holder” and “held by” in those Code sections in situations where a non-qualified deferred annuity contract is issued to a grantor trust or a non-grantor trust. The Ruling’s analysis and conclusions differ in some respects depending on which of these types of trusts is involved. In addition, although the Ruling does not address sections 72(s) or 72(e)(4)(C), the Ruling has potential implications under those provisions because they also use the term “holder” and “holds,” respectively.

Description: This literature guide focuses on the distribution costs, especially the field compensation costs, that are incurred through the traditional general agency, branch office or brokerage structures for individual life, annuity and disability products.

Description: Recent guidance in the form of Rev. Proc. 2006- 13 provides a general safe harbor for the fair market value of a deferred-annuity contract when determining the amount includible in income on conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

Description: This paper develops a model of annuity mortality that facilitates a more thorough evaluation of the issues of policyholder antiselection and insurance company response. Aging occurs as an annuitant's health state changes. Death occurs either as terminal health state or by accident. By knowing the current health state, the annuitant or insurance company can improve its knowledge about life expectancy.

Description: Presented at October 1985 Annual Meeting. Discusses managing risks via product design and investment strategy, and overview of the market and the risks.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This discussion examines a few prototype annuity designs and mainly focuses on a typical single premium deferred annuity 'SPDA', a flexible premium deferred annuity, and a variable annuity.

Description: This session from the 1983 SOA Hollywood, Florida Meeting reviews different strategies for the non-tax-qualified annuity market including marketing strategies, investment and investment alternative strategies and product design and cost considerations.

Description: This literature guide provides a basic grounding in policyholder dividends and other nonguaranteed elements in individual life insurance and annuities in Canada and the U.S. Participating insurance is most often offered by mutuals in the U.S. and by both mutual and stock companies in Canada.

Description: A review of the last 50 years, concluding that the insurance industry in Canada has been slow to react to consumers' shift in focus from long-term security to rate of return.

Description: This essay advocates that the transition from DB to DC plans won't be complete until plan sponsors offer programs of retirement income in their DC plans. The essay discusses the relevant actuarial and behavioral issues.