Minimum Premium

  • An approach which seems to be gaining in popularity expresses commissions as a percent of a target or a minimum premium.

-- Christian J. DesRochers

1983 - SOA - Universal Life (RSA83V9N212), Society of Actuaries - 24p

  • 2. As admitted by Joel Kuni, Farmer’s Product Development Actuarial Manager, in his deposition of 5-7-2003, at page 53, (a true and correct copy of Mr. Kuni’s depo excerpt is attached hereto as Exhibit 3), “the minimum premium is not sufficient and never was sufficient to keep the policy in force all the way to maturity.”

LC - Fairbanks v Farmers New World Life  ---  [BonkNote]

Second Amended Class Action Complaint for Compensatory and Punitive Damages and Injunctive Relief For

  • Q: Could you describe for the jury what you were trying to convey when you drew this drawing, Exhibit 774, on the back of her illustration.
  • A: JEFFREY STEMLER - (Agent): This is -- when we are sitting down talking about insurance, we try to explain to the prospects exactly how the insurance works.
    • So this is part of our talk that we give to explain how it works.
    • So this would be a build slide.
    • This didn't just start there.
    • I drew a line on the bottom and I said: When you buy insurance, there is a minimum amount that you must pay for insurance to pay for the costs and put the policy in force.
    • And I drew the line and I wrote minimum, and I would ask who do you think sets that price.
    • Some people will say: I don't know.
      • Others: Well, the insurance company.
      • I go, yes, you're correct.
    • And I said: They have actuaries, and the actuaries, their job is to figure out how much they need to collect for any given amount based on the age of the person so that they can cover the risk and also still make a profit.
    • I said: But there's another line that we need to be  concerned about, and then I draw the line up on top and I put the max there.
      • And I say this is the maximum you can pay for a contract.
      • I said: Do you know who sets that limit?
      • People will often say: Well, the insurance company; right?
      • And I say: No. It's actually the government.
    • In the example we'll often say: Well, let's just assume that this is $500,000 that we are dealing with here and the minimum premium is a thousand dollars and the maximum premium is $5,000.
      • Why would anyone put $5,000 into a contract if you could buy the same amount of coverage for only 1,000?  (p40-41)

2015 - Walker vs Life Insurance Company of the Southwest - TRIAL DAY 11

  • Case 2:10-cv-09198-JVS-JDE Document 820 Filed 12/01/15 Page 40 of 279 Page ID # 33532
  • * Paying more than the required minimum premium can help build cash value

Prudential - Cash Value: Life Insurance in Retirement Planning - [link]

Both policies issued to Smith by Central Life were flexible-premium adjustable life-insurance policies, known in the insurance industry as universal life-insurance policies.  

  • Both the premium and the death benefit are flexible in a universal life-insurance policy.  
  • Smith's policies provided for the payment of a “planned premium.”  
  • AmerUs states that a planned premium is the product of a discussion between the agent and the client as to the amount of the premium the client wishes to pay for the policy.
  • The premium is set in a range, with a minimum premium at the low range and a maximum premium at the high range.

2008 0919 - LC -  AmerUS Life Insurance Company v. Bobby Ray Smith al., 1061535., Supreme Court of Alabama. Decided: September 19, 2008 - [link]