A customer, age 45, invests $100,000 in a variable annuity contract. It imposes an 8% charge if the contract is surrendered within the 1st 8 years; and a 4% charge if the contract is surrendered in years 9 and 10. Thereafter, there is no surrender charge. The contract has a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB) that promises to annuitize the account at a value of $180,000 starting at age 60. After holding the contract for 5 years, the separate account has a net asset value of $120,000. The insurance company makes an offer to the client to buy back the contract at $121,000 with no surrender charges imposed. Assuming that the client's investment objectives have not changed, the best advice to the client is to:.

the client should wait 10 more years until the contract is worth $180,000 since he will earn a slightly higher interest rate

Explanation:

we must determine the effective interest earned by the client if he accepts the company's proposal:

future value = present value x (1 + r)ⁿ

121,000 = 100,000 x (1 + r)⁵

(1 + r)⁵ = 121,000 / 100,000 = 1.21

⁵√(1 + r)⁵ = ⁵√1.21

1 + r = 1.0389

r = 0.0389 = 3.89%

if the client waits 10 more years until he is able to annuitize the account, he should earn:

180,000 = 100,000 x (1 + r)¹⁵

(1 + r)¹⁵ = 180,000 / 100,000 = 1.80

¹⁵√(1 + r)¹⁵ = ¹⁵√1.80

1 + r = 1.03996

r = 0.03996 = 4%

As Elliot wants to open a checking account and is searching for best option at different bank which is near to his house. The possible benefits or fees that may differ among the checking accounts may include  

- A minimum amount of money to open an account.

- The cost/charges for a monthly statement.  

- Service charges for the local or international transaction.

- Monthly withdraw limitation, this may differ as per Elliot's age.

- An interest rate or overdraft fee charged from Elliot.

Once Elliot finds the best option he may open the checking account in the bank that suits him.