Dynamic Policy Illustration System

This invention relates generally to the field of computer-based systems regarding insurance information, and more particularly, to a graphical user interface for entering and graphically displaying insurance policy data.

The following United States Patents describe various types of computer based systems regarding insurance data: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,479,344 (Keziah, Jr.); 5,523,942 (Tyler et al.); 4,831,526 (Lucas et al.); 4,975,840 (DeTore et al.); 5,504,674 (Chen et al.); 4,837,693 (Schotz); 4,899,292 (Montagna et al.); and 5,550,746 (Jacobs).

The Keziah, Jr. patent discloses an apparatus for receiving insurance data and for displaying life insurance needs in numerical format.

The Tyler et al. patent discloses a computer implemented graphical user interface for receiving instructions and information relating to insurance. The displays use conventional Window format for entering and displaying numerical data in tabular form.

The Luchs et al. patent discloses a computer system for processing and preparing applications for insurance and premium quotations and for preparing and writing insurance contracts. The displays utilize line displays.

The DeTore et al. patent discloses a method and apparatus for evaluating the insurability of a potentially insurable risk.

The Chen et al. patent discloses a communications network for processing insurance claims of objects.

The Schotz patent discloses a system including a group of computers for facilitating the implementation and administration of a desired group insurance plan.

The Montagna et al. patent discloses a system for storing and retrieving text and associate graphics for insurance estimation or service manuals.

The Jacobs patent discloses a method and apparatus for storing and selectively retrieving product data by correlating customer selection criteria with optimum product designs based on embedded expert judgments.

It should be understood from the outset that the use of the term "illustration" is a term of art describing any numeric, or graphic, interpretation and projection of assumptions of the future values of a life insurance policy.

Two types of illustration software exist on the marketplace. (1) product illustrations and 2) concept illustration software. Both are static, number, time and paper intensive systems.

Current product software calculates policy values and creates a ledger of numbers (generally from 6 to 20 pages in length) which illustrate what a specific insurance company's policy values may look like in the future under a static set of economic assumptions (including Premiums paid in, Interest credited to the policy, Mortality charges, Selling expenses, General expenses, Lapse Rates). Although these illustrations contain footnotes which state that the policy has many "non-guaranteed" assumptions most of the company's specific assumptions are not disclosed to the reader. Thus, it is impossible for the policy buyer to fully understand what the term "non-guaranteed" may mean as it might effect his future policy values.

Using an input screen on a PC or mainframe computer an agent or home office can enter policy input data to create one illustration at a time. The ledger and possibly a graph may be created illustrating this one set of assumptions. If a second set of assumptions is to be considered the input data must be changed or reentered and the ledger pages and graph reprinted. The output of dozens of pages of numbers and or a few graphs can be laid side by side to compare these two possible outcomes. In most cases agents will summarize this data and create a new summary of values to discuss with his client.

The problem with this approach is that it is labor, time and paper intensive and can only cover a very few alternatives. The result is a policy design and buying decision based on a limited number of alternatives considered.

The second type of illustration system in the market transfers the primary illustration data created above, inside the computer to a new platform to illustrate a sales concept rather than a policy per se. This generally requires some type of transfer of data from the main illustration system to a second system where it can be formatted into a variety of sales concepts. All these systems generate a single ledger and series of static graphs which can be used with a client. (Most of these systems also require the printing and delivery to client of all the pages from the basic illustration and footnotes mentioned above.)

The following companies sell software programs that fall in the above categories and which calculate life insurance policy data, print out numbered illustrations and/or present static graphic depictions: Fipsco of Des Moines, Ill.; United Systems of Park City, Utah (INTEFLEX); FDP of Miami, Fla.; and Insmark of San Ramon, Calif.

Thus, there remains a need for a system that allows the user to rapidly vary assumptions and view a dynamic illustration of future values of an insurance policy. In addition, there remains a need for a system that creates a model policy based on industry standards instead of being based on a single company's internal assumptions. Furthermore, although the investment industry has created some tools in the form of questionnaires that attempt to establish a client's risk tolerance and investment objectives (e.g., there are a number of asset allocation software systems in use today that allow the user to answer a series of questions on a computer with the computer displaying a recommended allocation among a group of investment accounts such as the Provident Mutual Asset Allocation package designed for variable life insurance), there appears to be nothing equivalent for decision-making about life insurance policies.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an apparatus which addresses the aforementioned needs.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an insurance calculator that demonstrates to the user the interaction of risk elements of a life insurance policy.

It is another object of this invention to provide an insurance calculator that demonstrates to the user how changing at least one variable in the life insurance policy affects the future values.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an insurance calculator to help agents and clients establish realistic expectations for policy performance which is not guaranteed.

It is yet another object of this invention to demonstrate the actual tradeoffs between premiums and values.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a graphic depiction of both the current policy illustration as well as the guaranteed values of the policy at the same time in the same display screen.

It is still yet a further object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system that illustrates the effect that multiple non-guaranteed factors have on an illustration in a rapid series of recalculated graphs which illustrate any assumptions the user may wish to see in rapid succession.

It is even yet a further object of this invention to provide an illustration system having an illustration screen that changes so that a motion picture effect occurs, thereby allowing the user to see many alternatives quickly.

It is still yet even a further object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system through which the user can reset any single assumption, view the outcome, or set a range of changing assumptions and view the progression of the policy from one point to another point.

It is yet even another object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system that permits the user to have a computer correct any of a number of variables to create an illustration which stays in force for life.

It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system that permits entry of, and utilization of, generic policy assumptions or customized specific company assumptions.

It is even yet another object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system that creates a model policy based on industry standards instead of a single company's internal assumptions.

It is still yet a further object of this invention to provide a policy illustration system that can input client specific data to any particular insurance company's existing insurance policy calculation program.

It is still another object of this invention to create an interactive process using a questionnaire, inferences and feedback for educating the user about life insurance and thereby leading the user to the most suitable life insurance policy selection based on his/her responses.

It is even yet a further object of this invention to provide a link between conventional financial planning software and the dynamic policy illustration system of the present invention.

It is still yet a further object of this invention to provide a link between conventional investment asset allocation software for variable life insurance and the dynamic policy illustration system of the present invention.

It is even another object of this invention to provide a link between conventional current insurance policy illustration software and the dynamic policy illustration system of the present invention.

These and other objects of the instant invention are achieved by providing an apparatus for dynamically displaying future values of a life insurance policy data in graphical format. The apparatus comprises a computer including a memory and a processor, a monitor display coupled to the computer for dynamically displaying the insurance policy data in the graphical format, and an input means coupled to the computer for inputting variables related to the insurance policy data into the computer by a user. The memory includes an insurance calculation means, operable by the processor, for using the variables in a plurality of calculations to create the future values. The memory also includes a graphical user interface, operable by the insurance calculation means, for providing the insurance policy data in line graphs, area graphs, and bar graphs to the monitor. The memory also includes a charting means for combining the line graphs, area graphs and bar graphs into a single screen display on the monitor. The insurance calculation means controls the graphical user interface according to a range of values, adjustable by the user via the input means, of the at least one variable to generate a continuously changing display of the line graphs, area graphs and bar graphs in the single screen display for demonstrating the effects of modifying the at least one variable.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a computer for supporting the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a DICS main screen display of a current illustration depicting a life insurance graphics and data at 3% interest rate;

FIG. 4 is a DICS main screen display of a current illustration depicting the life insurance graphics and data of FIG. 3 at 4% interest rate;

FIG. 5 is a display of a DICS main screen display of a current illustration depicting the life insurance graphics and data of FIG. 3 at 5% interest rate;

FIG. 6 is a DICS main screen display of a current illustration depicting the life insurance graphics and data of FIG. 3 at 6% interest rate;

FIG. 7 is a DICS main screen display of a balance sheet corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a DICS main screen display of a balance sheet corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a DICS main screen display of a balance sheet corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a DICS main screen display of a balance sheet corresponding to FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a DICS main screen display of the actuarial chances of remaining alive corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a DICS main screen display of the actuarial chances of remaining alive corresponding to FIG.4;

FIG. 13 is a DICS main screen display of the actual chances of remaining alive corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a DICS main screen display of the actuarial chances of remaining alive corresponding to FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a DICS main screen display of the illustrated and rescue premiums;

FIG. 16 is a display of the risk/opportunity ratios in accordance with FIGS. 3-6;

FIGS. 17-18 are a bar graph displays which depict the upside and downside possibilities of the user's premium input choices.

FIG. 19 is a tabular form of FIGS. 16-18;

FIG. 20 is a display of a policy illustration X versus benchmark values;

FIG. 21 shows a benchmark illustration/risk analysis report;

FIG. 22 is the agent input data;

FIG. 23 is the client input data;

FIG. 24 is the company X illustration data used as input for the benchmark report;

FIG. 25 is the in-force illustration data used as input for the in-force illustration;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for the interactive expectations assessment process;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for the automated tour system;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart for the life insurance illustration dynamics-course 101;

FIG. 29 is block diagram of the printed output available in the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of the different modules of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for the benchmark module; and

FIGS. 32-35 constitute an overview of the present invention operation.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, a dynamic policy illustration system (DPIS) constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 20 in FIG. 1.

The DPIS 20 basically comprises software that forms a portion of the memory 22 (e.g., compact disk, hard drive, diskette, etc.) of a computer 24 having a processor 26 (preferably an Intel 386 or above). The computer also comprises input means 28, e.g., keyboard 30 or mouse 32. In addition, the computer 24 comprises output means 34 such as a monitor 36, a printer 38, diskette drive 40 or any type of communication link 41 (e.g., a computer network, or the Internet). The computer also comprises a graphical user interface 42 (e.g., Microsoft WINDOWS or Apple MACINTOSH, etc.) for permitting the graphic interface for both input to and output from the computer 24.

The core of the DPIS 20 comprises the dynamic illustration computation system (DICS) 44. The DICS 44 comprises all of the insurance calculations necessary for determining the future values of a life insurance policy illustration. The calculations used in the DICS 44 are conventional and, as such, are not described in detail here. In addition, the DICS 44 uses data from mortality tables 46, expense tables 48 and other data tables 50 that are well-known in the art for precisely calculating the future values of a life insurance policy; these tables reside in the memory 22 of the computer 24. Furthermore, the DICS 44 utilizes a DICS database 52 for storing data such as the session notes (information and responses by a user during a session) , sequences of the tour (to be discussed later) and the "how, why, what, etc." responses that the user inputted (also to be discussed later). The DICS 44 also utilizes a charting means 54 (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic or C++program language) for creating t he graphs used in the displays, t o be discussed later.

The DPIS 20 dynamically demonstrates th e interaction of the risk elements of a life insurance policy illustration. This is achieved by providing a DICS main screen display 56 (FIGS. 3-15, 20) and other displays 58 (FIGS. 16-19, 22-25). The DICS main screen display 56 includes a current illustration screen display (FIG. 3) a life insurance balance sheet display (FIG. 7), a "Your life and current Illustration expectancy" display (FIG. 11), an illustrated and rescue premiums display (FIG. 15), and an illustration X vs. benchmark values display (FIG. 20). The other displays 58 include a risk/opportunities ratios display (FIG. 16), a high/low premiums display (FIG. 17), a high/low insurance death benefit display (FIG. 18), a tabular form of FIGS. 16-19 (FIG. 19), and data input screens (FIGS. 22-25).

Of all of the displays in the DPIS 20, the DICS main screen display 56 (FIGS. 3-15, 20) is the most important. The DICS main screen display 56 provides a view screen which instantly displays a color graph of the future values of the policy illustration generated by the current input assumptions, also known as variables. The client (hereinafter "user") can enter, or modify, these variables that effect policy performance and instantly view the effect on future policy values over his/her lifetime. As shown in FIGS. 3-6 (or FIGS. 7-10 or 11-14), by manipulating slides bars or dials the user can move the main screen 56 through a dynamic succession of variables to gain an understanding of how a policy might be effected by changes in one or more variables. This progression of the main screen 56 through a dynamic succession of variables is hereinafter referred to as incremental solve (e.g., FIGS. 3-6). The increments of the variable that is being modified can be preset by the user.

Alternatively, the user has the option of having the main screen 56 jump directly to the solved policy, i.e., go directly to FIG. 6, hereinafter known as instant solve. The user can ask the DICS 44, via the main screen 56, to compute any single variable needed to solve the policy to age 100 or an earlier maturity age. A policy is "solved" when its cash values equal the death benefit at this age 100 or maturity age. By looking at the performance required by single elements (e.g., premiums, mortality expenses, general expenses or cash values) to solve for a successful long term policy the user gains an understanding of how much risk may be inherent within the set of assumptions he has entered. For example, if a user entered a set of policy assumptions and solved for mortality rates (i.e., the charges to cover the chance of death each policy year) one might find that keeping this policy in force over his/her lifetime would require the insurance company to assume that "people come back to life." That is, instead of charging people for insurance, insurance companies would have to start crediting people for owning the policies, an unlikely possibility. Therefore, one might conclude that the other policy factors, such as premiums paid in, are just too optimistic and should be adjusted to a more reasonable expectation.

It should be noted that the use of color in these display screens 56 and 58 greatly assists in graphically depicting to the user the various characteristics of the proposed policy, both statically and dynamically. For example, in the main screen displays 56, such features as the death benefit are depicted as a blue area, the cash value as a green area, the annual premiums as small red blocks coincident with the horizontal axis of the policy illustration and the cumulative premiums as a steadily increasing red line. When the increment solve is executed, the user can see the different characteristics change in color as well as in shape.

The main screen displays 56 (FIGS. 3-15, 20) are graphics generated by a charting means, e.g., Microsoft Excel, which combines line, area and bar graphs into a single picture. One of the main screen displays 56 is known as the Current Illustration 60 (FIGS. 3-6). During increment solve, the Current Illustration 60 recycles rapidly to demonstrate a motion picture effect of the incremental changes in policy values through a range of values. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-6 there is depicted a graphic sequence as the interest rate is varied from 3% to 6%. Over a few seconds the main screen 56 would then display a moving picture (of approximately 50 changes) of the changing graphic results in the policy's premiums, cash values and death benefits resulting from these differing interest rates. The Current Illustration 60 depicts the death benefit 62 (e.g., blue area) the cash value 64 (e.g., green area) on a plot of value vs. age of policyholder. In addition, the cumulative premiums 66 (e.g., red line) are depicted while showing the annual premiums 68 (e.g., red squares) along the horizontal axis 70. When the increment solve is executed, these characteristics vary, as shown in FIGS. 3-6.

The main screen 56 also comprises a plurality of slide bars 72A-72E for modifying a respective variable and corresponding data fields 74A-74F for displaying the current value of the variable. Current variables that can be entered by the user include: client age, gender and rating class, second insurance age, gender and rating class, face value of the life insurance policy, type of policy (e.g., universal life, whole life, variable life), annual premiums, number of years premiums are paid, maturity age (for the policy), interest rate, mortality table percentage, sales expenses, general expenses, observation year. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, only five of the current variables are displayed (namely, annual premiums, premium years, maturity age, interest rate, and the mortality rate). However, the remaining variables are available to the user and can be displayed on the main screen 56, or on a pop-up screen (not shown), if desired.

In addition, the Current Illustration 60 also comprises a guaranteed values illustration 76 that forms an inset in the Current Illustration 60. The guaranteed values illustration 76 is a worst case scenario, i.e., it is a plot of the future values that assumes maximum mortality, maximum expenses and minimum interest with all of the other variables being maintained. This novel display of the Current Illustration 60 and the guaranteed values illustration 76 provides the user with an instant means of comparing the worst case performance of his/her policy with modified values.

The main screen 56 also includes buttons 78A-78E for moving to the indicated full screen displays. For example, selecting the ILLUSTRATION button 78A causes the monitor 36 to display a full screen of the Current Illustration 60 only. Selecting the BAL SHEET button 78B causes the display of FIG. 7 to appear. Selecting the PREMIUMS button 78C causes the display of FIG. 15 to appear. Selecting the EXPECTANCY button 78D causes the display of FIG. 11 to appear. Selecting the GUARANTEED button 78E causes the monitor to display a full screen of the guaranteed values only.

Another novel display of the Current Illustration 60 is that the corridor 80 is now graphically depicted for the user. The corridor 80 represents the requisite amount of death benefit that must exceed the cash value whenever the cash value approaches the death benefit, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6.

Another screen display, known as the Illustration Balance Sheet 82 (FIG. 7), graphically displays the cumulative values in any observation year of five policy factors: premiums, interest, mortality expenses, general expenses, cash values. In particular, a graphic sequence of the illustration balance sheet is shown in FIGS. 7-10, which correspond to the graphic sequence of FIGS. 3-6. This enables the user to understand the cumulative effects of these five elements which account for all of the cash flow within a life insurance policy. By viewing a policy over time, the user can see the relative importance that each of these factors has in the performance of the policy. Thus, the user gains an understanding of why policies succeed and fail.

Alternatively, the balance sheet view screen 82 can also be viewed with single static assumptions.

Another screen display, known as Your Life & Current Illustration Expectancy (FIG. 11) 84, displays an area graph of the actuarial chance of still being alive at each age from the present to age 100. It displays a vertical line at the point of "life expectancy"; the age when 50% of those starting out in the user's risk group have died and half are still living. There is also a set of bars 85 that appear along the bottom quarter of the graph indicating how long the current illustration remains in force. The user can then compare his/her life expectancy and chance of living to the illustrated life of the Current Illustration 60. This screen display 84 dynamically changes as variables such as age, sex or rate class are altered. In particular, as can be seen in FIGS. 11-14, which correspond to FIGS. 3-6, the in-force policy 85 becomes extended as the interest rate changes from 3% to 6%.

Another screen display, known as Illustrated & Rescue Premiums (FIG. 15) 86, depicts illustration risk by considering the level of premiums which might be required to continue a policy in force to age 100 if the insured lives a long life and does not die on schedule (i.e., at life expectancy). This screen display 86 corrects for premiums in a unique way. It allows the policy to nearly lapse and then illustrates the premiums required to keep the policy in force from then to age 100. This gives the user a sense of what a "worst case", "exploding" premium schedule might look like. If the user is uncomfortable with this possibility, the user can reenter a premium schedule for early years which will eliminate this "exploding" premium risk.

In conjunction with the display 84, there are two sets of bar graphs (FIGS. 17-18) which display the possible up and downside possibilities of the user's premium input choices. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 17-18, the high premiums are based on "guaranteed" or near-guaranteed values needed to produce the selected death benefit. The low premiums are based on using "current" interest and mortality rates to produce the selected death benefit. The high insurance death benefits are based on paying all scheduled premiums at "current" interest and mortality rates. The low insurance death benefits are based on the same premiums schedule but using "guaranteed" interest and expenses to calculate the death benefit. In many cases the policy will lapse before age 100 under this assumption. For example, if the user were to enter low early premiums, the user may see that not only can the premiums rise very high in the future but also the insurance will never provide a death benefit greater than when the user began. On the other hand, if the user pays higher early premiums the user will never face an increasing premium or a reducing death benefit but may receive an increasing death benefit at older ages. This demonstrates the risk taken by a lower initial premium and the opportunity gained by the higher premium.

A risk ratio and opportunity ratio (FIG. 16) is calculated and displayed in tabular form (FIG. 19) based on FIGS. 17-18.

The illustration X vs. benchmark display (FIG. 20) permits the comparison of performance of a company illustration with the benchmark performance depicting benchmark cash value 95, as will be discussed in detail later.

In addition, to the screen displays described above, the DPIS 20 also comprises the following features.

A lapse feature variable comprises part of the DICS 44. The lapse rate is used by an insurance company for calculating in-force policy considerations.

An alternate data entry screen (not shown) is available that permits the user to enter any variables year to year. This data entry screen comprises a series of alternate assumptions that can be selected by a user to test various patterns of variables. For example, industry average interest earnings rates can be entered from 1900 to the present and used in the interest assumption instead of a single interest rate for all years. In particular, an historical interest rate (e.g., for a whole life insurance policy an actual historic average of a company's dividend crediting rates, or for a universal life insurance policy an industry average of universal life interest crediting rates) over a range of years can be used in the dynamic illustration. Improving or declining mortality assumptions can be entered. A changing death benefit or alternate premium schedule can be entered. Cash values can be updated to the current year and the DICS main screen 56 can illustrate future values. This is useful for in-force policy (to be discussed later) reviews. This data screen entry thus permits the insertion of indices for changing assumptions that include data that may cover a selectable period of time. Once the time period of a particular changing assumption is selected, the index can be run forward in time, or run backward in time or a random application of the index can be used in running the dynamic illustration.

In addition, the DPIS 20 includes the ability to show all values as present values.

As is shown most clearly in FIG. 26, the user is initially taken through an interactive expectations assessment process. Each question answered by the user leads to a different "next" question. Associated with the questions are numbers derived from the DICS 44. The user verifies or corrects the inferences presented (verification step 88) before continuing on in the questionnaire process. This ensures an accurate assessment of the user's inferences before the future values analysis using the main screen 56 is reached. In particular, the user is first asked a set of "why" and "how" questions. These non-insurance type of questions help the user and the agent establish a sense of risk that the user is willing to take. The responses of the user are then processed by the DICS 44, in particular an expert logic processing system 89 (hereinafter "ELPS") within the DICS 44, and then the results are displayed back to the user known as "how" inferences. The ELPS 89 is a set of logical rules which produce inferences about the user's insurance risk tolerance and preferences. These are displayed on the computer screen for the user to read. If the user disagrees with any inferences he/she can select a button which will return the user to the questions in the questionnaire that created these inferences and change his/her responses. Additional information about this user may be imported through the links 41 with other software systems into the ELPS 89 and used to create the resulting inferences. The user is then asked to verify or correct these "how" inferences, thus establishing an interactive feedback between the DICS 44 and the user. When completed, the user has established a proposed type of life insurance policy that the DICS 44 now operates on as the interactive process continues.

The next set of questions, the "what" questions, are insurance specific questions to which the user responds. Again, the DICS 44 processes these responses using the expert logic processing system and displays the "what" inferences back to the user. The user is then asked to verify or correct these "what" inferences, establishing another interactive feedback between the DICS 44 and the user. When completed, the DICS 44 is now ready to run the illustration on the DICS main screen 56. In particular, the ELPS 89 processes the verified or corrected inferences to modify the previously-inputted variables, thereby forming inferred variables, as shown in the block 91 in FIG. 26. Thus, once the interactive process is complete, these inferred variables are automatically inserted into the main screen 56 to set the variables on the main screen 56 to the most suitable setting for a particular user; in addition, these inferred variables are also stored as part of the particular user's session. These inferred variables are also used in generating the Agent Policy Design Guidelines (Appendix C), as will be discussed later.

In the alternative, a non-interactive questionnaire (Appendix E) would be completed by the user initially. This non-interactive questionnaire comprises a static list of approximately 6-10 questions and a paper scoring method.

The output of the interactive expectations assessment process (FIG. 26) are the following:

(1) a client "risk-tolerance" assessment;

(2) a suggested illustration design including:

(a) type of insurance: term, universal, whole, variable, etc.;

(b) premium level;

(c) increasing or level option;

(d) dividend option (participating policies only);

(e) interest rate suggested for illustration;

(f) mortality rate suggested (based on rating category);

(3) automatically loading the main screen 56 with the suggested illustration design; and

(4) a printout is available which summarizes the design recommendations.

A client risk/tolerance assessment display (not shown) records the user's responses to a series of choices given him in his/her use of the main screen 56. This establishes a risk profile which can be displayed in a separate full screen (not shown) or the risk profile can be compared to the Illustration Risk Assessment. Awareness of the user's risk profile in comparison to the illustration's inherent risk enables the user to select input premium assumptions which may better meet his/her expectations. In particular, this display comprises a bar chart having a vertical axis labeled from 1 to 5 in an upward direction. The left side of this display is the user's risk tolerance, with the number 5 indicating the most risk and number 1 indicating the least risk. The right side of this display is the inherent risk in the illustration. Thus, as the risk increases, the bar changes color with green indicating the least risk and red indicating the most risk. To develop this display, a client risk/tolerance assessment questionnaire (Appendix E) is completed initially.

Once the user arrives at the main screen 56, the analysis of the future values of the proposed life insurance policy is as discussed earlier.

As shown in FIG. 27, there is an automated tour system that gives the user a tour of how the DPIS 20 operates. In particular, agents wishing to take their client through a pre-constructed set of examples can do so using the automated tour system. Individual screens of text can be created by the user. These screens are assigned a sequence order and calculator inputs. This order and inputs can be accessed by moving forward or backward in the order selected during the agent's presentation to the client. For example, the agent may wish to show the client: guaranteed values, current values, less than 1% interest values or less than 2% interest values. Using the automated tour system, each DICS illustration is preceded by (or accompanied with) a screen display showing bullets of the main concepts the agent wants to emphasize with each example. These screens and illustrations can be printed out in a report following the session.

As shown in FIG. 28, the DPIS 20 includes a "Life Insurance Illustration Dynamics Course 101" that educates the user about the main interactive elements of life insurance. The automated tour system uses the DICS to illustrate policy performance under various combinations of variables.

As shown in FIG. 30, the DIPS 20 comprises four modules: a generic module 90, a company specific module 92, a benchmark module 94 and an in-force illustration module 96.

The generic module 90 is purely an educational module and is not an illustration under the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) regulations. The module 90 enables the user to explore the sensitivity of life insurance to changes in death benefits, age, premium, premium paying years, interest rates and mortality assumptions. In particular, the mortality rates, as used by the generic module 90, are sex neutral (i.e., male), smoker rates of the specific insurance company with which the agent is contracted. In the alternative, a set of generic mortality rates (representing no specific company) can be used. In either case, the goal of the generic module is to enable the agent to teach illustration concepts which yield policy values somewhat equivalent to those values that the agent could actually determine with his/her insurance company's policy calculation system without producing an NAIC-compliant illustration. The generic module 90 limits the slide bars 72A-72E to age, death benefit, annual premium, years paid and interest rate. A printout (see Appendix C) is available from the generic module 90 for the agent for specifying the illustration design elements. In addition, the generic module 90 stores a record of the illustrations, which were presented generic session, in a session storage location.

The company specific module 92 illustrates a specific insurance company's product. This module 92 reviews the user's illustration choices, including the upside opportunities and the downside risks (FIGS. 16-19) in the actual policy that the user is considering. The module 92 prints out the completed Client Expectations Assessment (Appendix D) and Agent Policy Design Guidelines (Appendix C) for the agent to input into the agent's regular NAIC-compliant illustration system. This ensures that the NAIC-compliant illustration system runs an identical illustration that was seen on the main screen 56. In particular, the Agent Policy Design Guidelines (Appendix C) comprises a hard copy of agent criteria necessary to an agent for running an illustration, in accordance with NAIC, on that agent's company's particular computer policy calculation system. This report sets forth all the requisite data such that it can be manually entered to reproduce the illustration. In addition, the company specific module 92 can also provide a hard copy of the NAIC-compliant illustration. The company specific module 92 provides for the adjustment of the following variables using the slide bars 72A-72E: age, sex, rating, death benefit, annual premium, years paid, interest rate, mortality %, lapse % and expense %.

It is within the broadest scope of the DPIS 20 to include an electronic file as part of the memory 22 that stores all of the requisite data necessary (including the data set forth in the Agent Policy Design Guidelines) to reproduce the illustration. This electronic file is readable, through the link 41, by other application programs so that the requisite data can be imported into any conventional NAIC-compliant illustration program which may reside in the same computer 24, or the requisite data can be transmitted to a remote computer location (e.g., via the Internet) where the conventional NAIC-compliant illustration program may reside. This file can also link so as to import data from other software systems for use in the DPIS 20. Thus, the electronic file makes it possible for the particular insurance company to reproduce the illustration without the need to manually enter the data.

The benchmark module 94 (FIG. 31) allows for the entry of data from an outside company insurance illustration. The benchmark module uses illustration assumptions based on industry standards and compares the performance of the company illustration with the benchmark performance. In this module 94, individual non-guaranteed variables are solved in order to make the performance of the benchmark match the company illustration. The resulting variable values are compared to industry standards and reported visually to the user in the Illustration/Benchmark Risk Analysis (FIG. 21 and Appendix B).

For example, if the solved interest rate required were 10%, the main screen 56 (FIG. 20) plots the 10% on a chart which demonstrates that this policy would have to perform in the top tenth of 1% of life insurance companies to meet its illustrated performance. Thus, the user is permitted to judge whether or not he/she wishes to take the degree of risk associated with this policy.

The in-force module 96 is similar to the company specific module 94 and permits the user to modify the current year's cash values and death benefits in order to reflect the policy's current, in-force values, today. The in-force module 96 allows for the "what-if" illustrations of future values under various assumptions. The in-force module 96 is used in policy review sessions. The module 96 allows the client and agent to determine what redesign or reconstruction steps should be taken based on changing client attitudes and policy economics. The client assessment would normally be reconducted during the policy review process and printed out, in addition to the in-force illustration and graphs. The in-force module 96 permits the modification of the same variables as discussed above with respect to the company specific module 92. Year 1 cash values and death benefits are overridden by user inputs from the in-force illustration data input screen (FIG. 25).

The DPIS 20 also includes a help system that comprises "hot" keys (not shown) which lead directly from the screen display to a help file. This help file also contains a glossary of terms that is directly accessible from any word on the screen or through use of an index file.

The DPIS 20 includes a print screen (not shown) that sets forth the various types of reports that can be printed out on the printer 38. The four printed reports available in the DPIS 20:

(1) Client Expectations Assessment Questionnaire (Appendix D) with client responses, signature required;

(2) Risk Classification Assessment Questionnaire (Appendix A);

(3) Feedback Expectations Assessment (Appendix F);

(4) Agent Policy Design Guidelines-(Appendix C) which includes agent guidelines for running the DPIS 20;

(5) Session Log-a list of illustrations examined during the session and time spent on each; and

(6) Benchmark Report (Appendix B).

With regard to the Client Expectations Assessment Questionnaire report, the user is asked to confirm or restate the conclusions he/she has drawn from using the main screen 56. These conclusions serve as a written record of the user's awareness of the variability, risks and opportunities contained in the life insurance policy he/she may be considering to buy or already own. This report can be used to remind a client of his/her past responses and to compare the changes in his/her current opinions about these issues. This is helpful for annual reviews and as a defense for the insurance agent's recommendations in the event of a future complaint is filed by the client.

With respect to the List of Illustrations, this is a session log that memorializes what the user did, e.g., all the data entered by the user, the time spent on particular functions, etc., in a tabular form. Thus, all user responses are stored for further analysis and reports as part of the Session Log.

Both generic policy assumptions or customized specific company assumptions could be entered into this system.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

These questions are designed to provide a way to more accurately reflect your actual "risk classification" and are not intended to replace any questions on a company's application.

1. When, if ever, was the last time you used tobacco products of any kind? Please specify what kinds you use, or used to use and how often were, or are you using, and when you stopped.

This chart (FIG. 21) is designed to help you visualize the degree of risk that may be inherent in the illustration you are studying. The blue dots are placed on a scale that compares the rate of performance that would have to be achieved by this carrier to deliver the results illustrated. The further up the scale the blue dots lie, the fewer there are of companies that have actually achieved this result. You are, therefore, taking a higher risk with these assumptions.

Lower risk illustrations are indicated by dots lower in the columns.

Question: Are you comfortable with the illustration risk indicated by this chart (FIG. 21)?

Industry Distribution: The reported industry experience for each of four illustration variables (mortality, interest, lapse rates and expenses) is spread out to indicate the percentage of companies reporting results in each of 9 percentile groups.

Your Risk Tolerance: The results of your preference questionnaire are translated into our opinion of a range of illustration variables which are suitable to you.

The Illustration's Variable Risk: The face value and premiums are entered from your sample illustration (FIG. 24). The benchmark assumptions are then applied and solved for each of the four variables, one at a time, to see what performance would be needed so that the benchmark cash values and death benefits equal those of the sample illustration (Illustration X, FIG. 24).

The required performance is charted against actual industry results to indicate how likely or unlikely they might be to achieve.