Ins 2.15(6)(a)
(a) A prominently placed title, CONTRACT SUMMARY, followed by an identification of the arrangement to which the statement applies;
Ins 2.15(6)(b)
(b) The name and address of the insurance intermediary or, if no intermediary is involved, a statement of the procedure to be followed in order to receive responses to inquiries;
Ins 2.15(6)(c)
(c) The full name and home office or administrative office address of the insurer;
Ins 2.15(6)(d)
(d) Any guaranteed death benefits during the deferral period, and the form of annuity payment selected for
pars. (f),
(g) and
(i);
Ins 2.15(6)(e)
(e) A prominent statement that the contract does not provide cash surrender values if such is the case;
Ins 2.15(6)(f)
(f) The amount of the guaranteed annuity payments at the scheduled commencement thereof, based on the assumption that all scheduled considerations are paid and there are no prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the arrangement and no indebtedness to the insurer on the contract;
Ins 2.15(6)(g)
(g) Illustrative annuity payments on a current basis, if shown, must be on the same basis as for
par. (f) except for guarantees, and may not be greater in amount than those based on:
Ins 2.15(6)(g)1.
1. The current dividend scale and the interest rate currently used to accumulate dividends under such arrangements, or the current excess interest rate credited by the insurer, and
Ins 2.15(6)(h)
(h) For arrangements under which guaranteed cash surrender values at any duration are less than the total considerations paid, a prominent statement that such contract or fund may result in loss if kept for only a few years and showing the number of years such a relationship exists, together with a reference to the schedule of guaranteed cash surrender values required by
par. (i) 3.;
Ins 2.15(6)(i)
(i) The following amounts, where applicable, for the first 5 years and representative years thereafter sufficient to illustrate clearly the patterns of considerations and benefits, including but not limited to the tenth and twentieth contract years and at least one age from 60 through 65 or the scheduled commencement of annuity payments:
Ins 2.15(6)(i)3.
3. The total guaranteed cash surrender value at the end of the year or, if no guaranteed cash surrender values are provided, the total guaranteed paid-up annuity at the end of the year;
Ins 2.15(6)(i)4.
4. If other than guaranteed cash values are shown, the total illustrative cash value or paid-up annuity at the end of the year may not be greater in amount than that based on:
Ins 2.15(6)(i)4.a.
a. The current dividend scale and the interest rate currently used to accumulate dividends under such arrangements or the current excess interest rate credited by the insurer, and
Ins 2.15(6)(im)
(im) If the annuity payments have not yet commenced, the yield on gross considerations at the end of 10 years and at the scheduled commencement of annuity payments. For contracts without surrender values, only the yield at the scheduled commencement of annuity payments need be shown. The yield shall be figured on the basis of the contract value used to determine the annuity payments. These yield figures shall be shown on a guaranteed basis and, if current annuity payments or cash surrender values are shown, on an illustrative basis also.
Ins 2.15(6)(in)
(in) A statement of the interest rates used in calculating the guaranteed and illustrative contract or fund values.
Ins 2.15(6)(j)
(j) For a Contract Summary which includes values based on the current dividend scale or the current dividend accumulation or excess interest rate, a statement that such values are illustrations and are not guaranteed;
Ins 2.15(6)(k)
(k) The date on which the Contract Summary is prepared.
Ins 2.15(7)
(7) Preparation of preliminary contract summary and contract summary. The following must be considered in preparing the Preliminary Contract Summary and the Contract Summary:
Ins 2.15(7)(a)
(a) The Preliminary Contract Summary and the Contract Summary must be separate documents;
Ins 2.15(7)(b)
(b) All information required to be disclosed must be set out in such a manner as not to minimize or render any portion thereof obscure;
Ins 2.15(7)(c)
(c) Any amounts which remain level for 2 years or more contract years may be represented by a single number if it is clearly indicated what amounts are applicable for each contract year;
Ins 2.15(7)(d)
(d) Amounts in
sub. (6) (d),
(f),
(g) and
(i) shall, in the case of flexible premium annuity arrangements, be determined either according to an anticipated pattern of consideration payments or on the assumption that considerations payable will be a specified level amount, such as $100 or $1,000 per year;
Ins 2.15(7)(e)
(e) If not specified in the contract, annuity payments shall be assumed to commence at age 65 or 10 years from issue, whichever is later;
Ins 2.15(7)(f)
(f) A dividend scale or excess interest rate which has been publicly declared by the insurer with an effective date not more than two months subsequent to the date of declaration shall be considered a current dividend scale or a current excess interest rate.
Ins 2.15(8)(a)(a) The insurer and its intermediaries shall provide, to all prospective purchasers of any contract or arrangement subject to this section, a copy of the current edition of the Wisconsin Buyer's Guide to Annuities and a properly completed Preliminary Contract Summary or Contract Summary prior to accepting the applicant's initial consideration for the annuity contract, or, in the case of a rider or provision, prior to acceptance of the applicant's initial consideration for the associated insurance policy or annuity contract. Insurers which do not market contracts through an intermediary may provide the Contract Summary, and the Wisconsin Buyer's Guide to Annuities at the point of contract delivery provided they:
Ins 2.15(8)(a)1.
1. Guarantee to the contractholder the right to return the contract for a full refund of premium any time during a 30 day period commencing on the date such contractholder receives the Contract Summary and the Wisconsin Buyer's Guide to Annuities;
Ins 2.15(8)(a)2.
2. Alert the prospective contractholder, in advertisements or direct mail solicitations, of his or her right to obtain a copy of the Wisconsin Buyer's Guide to Annuities and a Preliminary Contract Summary prior to the sale.
Ins 2.15(8)(b)
(b) The insurer and its intermediaries shall provide a Contract Summary upon delivery of the contract, if it has not been delivered beforehand;
Ins 2.15(8)(c)
(c) The insurer and its intermediaries shall provide a Wisconsin Buyer's Guide to Annuities and a Contract Summary to individual prospective purchasers upon reasonable request;
Ins 2.15(8)(d)
(d) Any statement provided subsequent to sale to a contractholder which purports to show the then current value of an arrangement subject to this section shall show the then current guaranteed cash surrender value or, if no guaranteed cash surrender value is provided the then current guaranteed paid-up annuity.
Ins 2.15(9)(a)(a) Each insurer shall maintain at its home office or principal office a complete file containing one copy of each document authorized by the insurer for use pursuant to this section. The file shall contain one copy of each authorized form for a period of at least 3 years following the date of its last authorized use. The requirements of this paragraph are in addition to the requirements set forth in
s. Ins 2.16 (30);
Ins 2.15(9)(b)
(b) An intermediary shall inform the prospective purchaser, prior to commencing a sales presentation, that the intermediary is acting as an insurance intermediary and shall inform the prospective purchaser of the full name of the insurer which the intermediary is representing to the buyer. In sales situations in which an intermediary is not involved, the insurer shall identify its full name;
Ins 2.15(9)(c)
(c) Terms such as financial planner, investment advisor, financial consultant, or financial counseling shall not be used in such a way as to imply that the insurance intermediary is generally engaged in an advisory business in which compensation is unrelated to sales, unless such is actually the case;
Ins 2.15(9)(d)
(d) Any reference to dividends or to excess interest credits must include a statement that such dividends or credits are not guaranteed;
Ins 2.15(9)(f)
(f) Recommendations made by any person subject to this section concerning the purchase or replacement of any arrangement subject to this section are subject to the requirements of
s. Ins 2.16 (6);
Ins 2.15(9)(g)
(g) No presentation of benefits may display guaranteed and non-guaranteed benefits as a single sum unless guaranteed benefits are shown separately in close proximity thereto and with equal prominence. The requirements of this paragraph are in addition to the requirements set forth in
s. Ins 2.16 (21);
Ins 2.15(9)(h)
(h) Sales promotion literature and contract forms shall not state or imply that annuity arrangements are the same as savings accounts or deposits in banking or savings institutions. The use of policies or certificates which resemble savings bank passbooks is prohibited. If savings accounts or deposits in banking and savings institutions are utilized in connection with such annuity arrangements, this shall not prohibit the use of an accurate description of the annuity arrangement.
Ins 2.15 History
History: Cr.
Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 1-1-81; am. (1) and (2) (b) and appendix I,
Register, June, 1982, No. 318, eff. 7-1-82; r. (11) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 16., Stats.,
Register, December, 1984, No. 348; r. and recr. (4) and appendix 1, am. (5) (intro.), (a), (i) and (j), (6) (intro.), (a), (j) and (k), (7) (intro.), (a), (8) (a), (b) and (c), cr. (6) (im) and (in), r. (9) (e) and (12),
Register, July, 1987, No. 379, eff. 8-1-87; reprinted to correct error in appendix I,
Register, October, 1987, No. 382; am. (2) (a), (3) (b) 5. and 6., (9) (a) and (g), r. and recr. (9) (f), r. (10),
Register, July, 1989, No. 403, eff. 8-1-89.
Ins 2.15 Appendix I
WISCONSIN BUYER'S GUIDE TO ANNUITIES
WHAT IS AN ANNUITY?
An annuity is a written contract between you and a life insurance company. In return for your premiums, the company will pay you an annuity which is a series of payments made at regular intervals. An annuity contract is not a life insurance policy or a health insurance policy. It is not a savings account or savings certificate and it should not be bought for short term purposes.
○AN ANNUITY IS NOT "RISK FREE" OR "GUARANTEED SAFE."IT IS ONLY AS SOUND AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH ISSUES IT.
○IF YOU TAKE YOUR MONEY OUT AFTER A SHORT TIME PENALTY PROVISIONS OF MANY CONTRACTS MEAN THAT YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU PUT IN.
TYPES OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS
Annuity contracts vary in a number of ways. The following are some of the more important ways:
WHEN BENEFITS ARE RECEIVED
○Annuities may be either immediate or deferred. Immediate annuities provide income payments that start shortly after you pay the premium. Deferred annuities provide income payments that start at a later date. The main reason for buying an immediate annuity is to obtain an immediate income, most frequently for retirement purposes. The main reason for buying a deferred annuity is to accumulate money on a tax-deferred basis, which can then provide an income at a later date.
HOW PREMIUMS ARE PAID
○Annuities may be either single premium or installment premium. Single premium contracts require you to pay the company only one premium. Installment premium contracts are designed for a series of premiums. Most of these are flexible premium contracts. You pay as much as you wish whenever you wish, within specified limits. Some are scheduled premium contracts that specify the size and frequency of your premiums.
FIXED OR VARIABLE
○Annuities may be fixed, variable, or a combination of both. During the deferred period of a fixed annuity contract, interest is paid on the accumulated premiums (minus charges) at a rate set by the company. The amount of each annuity payment is determined when payments begin. During the deferred period of a variable annuity, interest is paid on the accumulated premiums (minus charges) at a rate that varies with the performance of a specified pool of investments. The amount of each annuity payment also varies with the performance of the pool. Combination annuities allow you to put part of your premium in a fixed annuity and part in a variable annuity.
ANNUITY CONTRACT FEATURES
The value of your annuity consists of the premiums you have paid, less charges, plus interest credited. This value is used to calculate the amount of benefits that you will receive. Charges, interest, surrender rights, and benefits are explained below.
CHARGES
There are many types and amounts of charges. Companies may refer to these charges by different names. Some annuities are "front loaded", which means that most of the costs to the company are charged to you in the beginning. Some are "back loaded", which means that most of these costs are charged to you later on. Others spread their charges evenly throughout the life of the annuity. Some charges will be fixed by the contract while some may be changed by the company from time to time.
Before buying an annuity you should know all of the charges that you will pay and when you will pay them. Also, you should understand how these charges might affect the actual amount of money that will accumulate from your premium payments. A typical contract might contain one or more of the following types of charges:
○Percentage of Premium Charge. This charge, often called a "load," is deducted from each premium before any interest is added. The percentage may reduce after the contract has been in force for a certain number of years or after the total premiums paid have reached a certain level.
○Contract Fee. This is a flat dollar amount charged either once at the time of issue, or charged once each year.
○Transaction Fee. This is a fixed charge per premium payment or other transaction.
○ Surrender Charge. This charge is usually a percentage of the value of the contract or of premiums paid. The percentage may be reduced or eliminated after the contract has been in force for a certain number of years. Sometimes the charge is a reduction in the interest rate credited. Sometimes the charge is eliminated if the interest rate declared by the company falls below a certain level.
INTEREST
The interest rate used to accumulate contract values may never be less than the guaranteed rate stated in the contract. In practice, the interest rate actually used by a company, usually referred to as the "current" rate, is often higher. The company may change the current rate from time to time, but it cannot be lower than the guaranteed rate. Companies differ substantially in their methods of determining the current rate.
SURRENDER RIGHTS
Most annuities allow you to surrender your contract if income payments have not yet started. Upon surrender, the contract terminates. The surrender value is equal to your contract value less the surrender charge, if any. This amount could be less than you paid in.
Many annuities also provide that you may withdraw a portion of your contract value, under certain conditions, without terminating the contract. A charge may be deducted from the amount withdrawn. This charge is usually a percentage of either the accumulated value of the contract, the premiums paid or the portion withdrawn.
There may be certain tax penalties for early surrenders. Be sure you understand any tax implications before surrendering an annuity contract.
BENEFITS
Annuity contracts provide a number of benefits. While the annuity income benefit is the primary one, other benefits are also important. Some of the more important ones are described below:
Annuity Income Benefit
Income payments are usually made monthly, although other frequencies are available. The amount of the annuity payments is based on both the value of the contract and the contract's "benefit rate" when the first payment is made. The benefit rate depends on your age, sex, and the specific features of the annuity you chose.
Annuity contracts contain a table of guaranteed benefit rates. Most companies periodically develop "current" benefit rates as well. These rates are subject to change by the company at any time. When annuity payments begin, the company will determine the amount of each payment according to the current benefit rates then in effect. If the guaranteed benefit rates would provide higher income payments, those rates will be used. Once payments begin, they are unaffected by any future benefit rate changes.
The most commonly available annuity income benefits are:
○ Straight Life. The annuity is paid as long as you are alive. There are no further payments to anyone after your death.
○ Life With Period Certain. The annuity is paid as long as you are alive. If you die before the end of the period referred to as the "certain period," the annuity will be paid to your
beneficiary for the rest of that period. Typical certain
periods are 10 to 20 years.
○ Joint and Survivor. The annuity is paid as long as either you or another named annuitant is still alive. In some variations, the annuity is decreased after the first death. A period
certain may also be available with this form.
Death Benefit
Most contracts provide that, if you die before the annuity payments start, the contract value will be paid to your beneficiary. Some contracts provide that the death benefit will be the total premiums paid if that amount is greater than the value of the contract at death.
Waiver of Premium Benefit
Some companies offer a benefit which will pay premiums for you if you become disabled. A charge is made for this benefit.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUY?
Before buying, ask yourself these questions:
1. How much annuity income will I need in addition to social security, pension savings and investments?
