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The Effect of Policyholder Transfer Behavior on the Value of Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits

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  • Eric Ulm

Abstract

Variable annuity contracts frequently include both guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) options and options to transfer funds between fixed and variable accounts. We model the difference between fixed and variable rates as the primary determinant of policyholder transfer behavior. We find that people tend to transfer their money into variable accounts at about 39% of the rate that would be required to maintain constant percentage rebalancing, but with the opposite sign. If these transfers are not taken into account, the GMDB options on the variable accounts will be overvalued and overhedged. Ignoring this effect can have a substantial impact on the size of the futures portfolio needed to hedge this risk and a nonnegligible impact on the earnings of the variable annuity portfolio.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Ulm, 2010. "The Effect of Policyholder Transfer Behavior on the Value of Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits," North American Actuarial Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 16-37.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:uaajxx:v:14:y:2010:i:1:p:16-37
    DOI: 10.1080/10920277.2010.10597575
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    Cited by:

    1. Feng, Runhuan & Huang, Huaxiong, 2016. "Statutory financial reporting for variable annuity guaranteed death benefits: Market practice, mathematical modeling and computation," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 54-64.
    2. Feng, Runhuan & Shimizu, Yasutaka, 2016. "Applications of central limit theorems for equity-linked insurance," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 138-148.
    3. Steinorth, Petra & Mitchell, Olivia S., 2015. "Valuing variable annuities with guaranteed minimum lifetime withdrawal benefits," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 246-258.

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