Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardAnnuities and Insurance-Based Products

An investor annuitizes a non-qualified variable annuity contract under a life annuity payout option, selecting an Assumed Interest Rate (AIR) of 4%4\%. During the payout phase, the separate account underlying the contract experiences consecutive annual net investment returns of 6%6\% in Year 1 and 3%3\% in Year 2. Additionally, the investor considers taking a partial cash surrender from another non-qualified variable annuity contract that is currently in its accumulation phase. Which of the following statements regarding the valuation, performance mechanics, and tax rules of these contracts are CORRECT? (Select all that apply.)

  1. The monthly payout amount to the annuitant will increase following Year 1 because the separate account's net performance (6%6\%) exceeded the Assumed Interest Rate (4%4\%).Answer
  2. The monthly payout amount to the annuitant will decrease following Year 2 because the separate account's net performance (3%3\%) was less than the Assumed Interest Rate (4%4\%).Answer
  3. C
    Surrender payouts from non-qualified variable annuities during the accumulation phase are taxed on a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) basis, meaning principal contributions are withdrawn tax-free before earnings are taxed.
  4. D
    The insurance company assumes the investment risk of the separate account subaccounts, guaranteeing that the number and dollar value of annuity units will never decline below initial purchase values.

Answer

The statements confirming that the payment increases when separate account return (6%6\%) exceeds AIR (4%4\%) and decreases when separate account return (3%3\%) is below AIR (4%4\%) are correct.
The statements noting that payout amounts increase when separate account performance (6%6\%) exceeds the AIR (4%4\%) and decrease when separate account performance (3%3\%) falls below the AIR (4%4\%) are both correct. In a variable annuity payout phase, the number of annuity units remains fixed, but their unit value—and thus the monthly check—changes based on performance relative to the AIR.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the effect of separate account performance relative to the Assumed Interest Rate (AIR) in Year 1.
Separate account return (6%6\%) exceeds the AIR (4%4\%). Consequently, the dollar value of the annuity units increases, raising the next payout amount relative to the previous payment.
Variable annuity payout adjustments depend strictly on whether net separate account returns exceed, equal, or fall short of the AIR.
2
Analyze the effect of separate account performance relative to AIR in Year 2.
Separate account return (3%3\%) is lower than the AIR (4%4\%). As a result, the dollar value of the annuity units decreases, reducing the next payout amount relative to the previous payment.
Even though the return was positive (3%3\%), falling short of the benchmark AIR causes payout amounts to drop.
3
Evaluate non-qualified variable annuity withdrawal taxation mechanics.
Withdrawals during accumulation follow Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) rules, making accumulated growth fully taxable as ordinary income prior to recovery of cost basis.
IRS Section 72(e) stipulates LIFO tax treatment for non-qualified annuity withdrawals.
4
Evaluate risk allocation between the contract holder and insurance company.
Contract owners bear all underlying investment risk in the separate account subaccounts; the insurer only guarantees mortality and expense factors.
Variable product values fluctuate directly with underlying investment portfolio performance.

Key Concept

Variable Annuity Payout Mechanics and Tax Rules
Rate this question

Topics

Annuities and Insurance-Based Products

More questions from this topic