Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. This session addresses potential changes in life insurance and annuity markets under alternative tax systems, that is, value-added tax 'VAT' or consumption taxes, and flat taxes and the impact of those changes.

Description: The proposed regulations define a class of products known as “qualifying longevity annuity contracts” (QLACs), which are excluded from the account balance used to determine required minimum distributions. By exempting longevity annuities (up to a specified limit) from the RMD rules, it is hoped that it will provide individuals under defined-contribution plans the option to use an “affordable” portion of their account balance to purchase a longevity annuity. The proposed regulations apply to tax-qualified defined-contribution plans under section 401(a), section 403(b), individual retirement annuities and accounts (IRAs) under section 408, and eligible governmental section 457 plans.

Description: This session discussion: Product design, Risks and how to deal with them, Special features, Valuation considerations, Investment strategy, Regulatory developments.