Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T06:26:22.615Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Variable Annuities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

M. C. Ledlie
Affiliation:
Standard Life, 30 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH2 1DE, U.K. Tel: +44(0)1312451003; Email: colin_ledlie@standardlife.com

Abstract

This paper provides a detailed overview of variable annuities. Consideration is given first to the definition of the term variable annuity. Common terminology used in the variable annuity market is introduced. The current state of the United Kingdom and other international markets is described. Then, by reference to a simplified product, an analysis of customer outcomes, pricing, reserving, risk management and hedging is carried out. The paper ends with a description of current U.K. pensions legislation and how it potentially constrains product development.

Type
Sessional meetings: papers and abstracts of discussions
Copyright
Copyright © Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abkemeier, N., Bennett, D.J. & Hamann, B. (2006). Target marketing: the watchwords for capturing retirement income opportunities. Milliman Research Report 2006.Google Scholar
Black, F. & Scholes, M. (1973). The pricing of options and corporate liabilities. Journal of Political Economy, 81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brogden, A., Esparragoza, J.C. & Finkelstein, G.S. (2007). Building bridges. Life & Pensions, January 2007.Google Scholar
Devine, C., Hunt, H. & Walsh, K. (2004). The new variable annuity. Citibank Smith Barney Equity Research.Google Scholar
Drinkwater, M. (2007). Guaranteed living benefit utilisation. LIMRA International.Google Scholar
Fagan, C. (1977). Maturity guarantees under investment-linked contracts, Society of Actuaries in Ireland.Google Scholar
Hanif, F., Finkelstein, G., Corrigan, J. & Hocking, J. (2007). Life insurance, global variable annuities. Morgan Stanley Research in co-operation with Milliman.Google Scholar
Hardy, M. (2003). Investment guarantees: modelling and risk management for equity-linked life insurance. Wiley.Google Scholar
Harrison, J.M. & Kreps, D. (1979). Martingales and arbitrage in multi-period securities markets. Journal of Economic Theory, 20, 381408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrison, J.M. & Pliska, S. (1981). Martingales and stochastic integrals in the theory of continuous trading. Stochastic Proceedings and their Applications, 11, 215260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hull, J. (2006). Options, futures and other securities, 6th edition. Prentice Hall International.Google Scholar
Ino, R. (2006). Variable annuity market in Japan: the Sun also rises. Milliman Global Newsletter, September.Google Scholar
Maturity Guarantees Working Party (1980). Report of the Maturity Guarantees Working Party. Journal of the Institute of Actuaries, 107, 103212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mercer Oliver Wyman (2006). Grey expectations. April.Google Scholar
Milliman (2006). Milliman survey confirms dominance of guarantees in VA retirement products. Yahoo Finance, December.Google Scholar
Mo, X. (2007). Modelling and managing policyholder behaviour risks. Third Annual Equity Based Insurance Guarantees Conference, Chicago, 2007.Google Scholar
Møller, T. & Steffensen, M. (2007). Market valuation methods in life and pension insurance. Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moody's Investor Services, Global Credit Research (2006). Variable annuity writers improve results for embedded options: Moody's results of VA hedging survey. Special Comment, March.Google Scholar
NAVA (2006). Annuity f act book, 2006. National Association of Variable Annuity Writers.Google Scholar
Pelsser, A (2003). Pricing and hedging guaranteed annuity options via static option replication. Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, 33(2), 283296. Papers presented at the 6th IME Conference, Lisbon, 15-17 July 2002, and at the AFIR Colloquia (Maastricht).Google Scholar
Redington, F.M. (1952). Review of the principles of life-office valuations. Journal of the Institute of Actuaries, 78, 286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Society of Actuaries (2005). Variable annuity guaranteed benefits survey results. Policyholder Behaviour in the Tail Risk Management Working Group.Google Scholar
Su, K. (2007). A pricing analysis of guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits, MSc. Dissertation, Cass Business School, City University.Google Scholar
Wilkie, A.D., Waters, H.R. & Yang, S. (2004). Reserving, pricing and hedging for policies with guaranteed annuity options. British Actuarial Journal.CrossRefGoogle Scholar