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Optimal surrender policy for variable annuity guarantees

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  • Bernard, Carole
  • MacKay, Anne
  • Muehlbeyer, Max

Abstract

This paper proposes a technique to derive the optimal surrender strategy for a variable annuity (VA) as a function of the underlying fund value. This approach is based on splitting the value of the VA into a European part and an early exercise premium following the work of Kim and Yu (1996) and Carr et al. (1992). The technique is first applied to the simplest VA with GMAB (path-independent benefits) and is then shown to be possibly generalized to the case when benefits are path-dependent. Fees are paid continuously as a fixed percentage of the fund value. Our approach is useful to investigate the impact of path-dependent benefits on surrender incentives.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard, Carole & MacKay, Anne & Muehlbeyer, Max, 2014. "Optimal surrender policy for variable annuity guarantees," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 116-128.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:insuma:v:55:y:2014:i:c:p:116-128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2014.01.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Li, Jing & Szimayer, Alexander, 2010. "The effect of policyholders' rationality on unit-linked life insurance contracts with surrender guarantees," Bonn Econ Discussion Papers 22/2010, University of Bonn, Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE).
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    Cited by:

    1. Anne MacKay & Maciej Augustyniak & Carole Bernard & Mary R. Hardy, 2017. "Risk Management of Policyholder Behavior in Equity-Linked Life Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 84(2), pages 661-690, June.
    2. Jeon, Junkee & Kwak, Minsuk, 2018. "Optimal surrender strategies and valuations of path-dependent guarantees in variable annuities," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 93-109.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Runhuan Feng & Xiaochen Jing & Jan Dhaene, 2015. "Comonotonic Approximations of Risk Measures for Variable Annuity Guaranteed Benefits with Dynamic Policyholder Behavior," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 15-008/IV/DSF85, Tinbergen Institute.
    6. Zhenyu Cui & Anne MacKay & Marie-Claude Vachon, 2022. "Analysis of VIX-linked fee incentives in variable annuities via continuous-time Markov chain approximation," Papers 2207.14793, arXiv.org.
    7. Antonio L. Martire & Emilio Russo & Alessandro Staino, 2023. "Surrender and path-dependent guarantees in variable annuities: integral equation solutions and benchmark methods," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 46(1), pages 177-220, June.
    8. Jennifer Alonso Garcia & Michael Sherris & Samuel Thirurajah & Jonathan Ziveyi, 2020. "Taxation and policyholder behavior: the case of guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/307889, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    9. Huang, Yiming & Mamon, Rogemar & Xiong, Heng, 2022. "Valuing guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits by a change of numéraire approach," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 1-26.
    10. Huang, H. & Milevsky, M.A. & Salisbury, T.S., 2014. "Optimal initiation of a GLWB in a variable annuity: No Arbitrage approach," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 102-111.
    11. Shen, Yang & Sherris, Michael & Ziveyi, Jonathan, 2016. "Valuation of guaranteed minimum maturity benefits in variable annuities with surrender options," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 127-137.
    12. Kang, Boda & Ziveyi, Jonathan, 2018. "Optimal surrender of guaranteed minimum maturity benefits under stochastic volatility and interest rates," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 43-56.
    13. Ma, Jingtang & Yang, Wensheng & Cui, Zhenyu, 2021. "CTMC integral equation method for American options under stochastic local volatility models," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    14. Huansang Xu & Ruyi Liu & Marek Rutkowski, 2023. "Equity Protection Swaps: A New Type of Investment Insurance for Holders of Superannuation Accounts," Papers 2305.09472, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2024.
    15. Hangsuck Lee & Hongjun Ha & Minha Lee, 2022. "Piecewise linear boundary crossing probabilities, barrier options, and variable annuities," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(12), pages 2248-2272, December.
    16. Delong, Łukasz, 2014. "Pricing and hedging of variable annuities with state-dependent fees," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 24-33.

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