Patent Publication Number: US-2010121778-A1

Title: Systems and Methods for Providing a Secure Financial Plan

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to financial plans and more particularly to systems and methods for providing a secure financial plan. 
     BACKGROUND  
     There are numerous financial plans available on the market and people invest in them for a variety of reasons. A financial plan may be offered by a plan sponsor to one or more investors. For example, a plan sponsor may offer a financial plan to one or more employees. A financial plan offered by a plan sponsor typically allows investors to select and buy one or more financial investments. Some investors are interested in obtaining high rates of return on their investments, while others are willing to forego high rates of return in exchange for a reduced level of financial risk. Some investors are interested in obtaining a steady income stream for a period of years or possibly for life upon retirement. However, some investors may not have the expertise to properly diversify their portfolio of investments to maximize the growth of their investments in the early phases of the financial plan and to minimize the financial risk of their investments in the later phases of the financial plan to ensure a steady income stream upon retirement. 
     When making decisions regarding the selection of a financial plan, there are multiple tradeoffs. Typically, a financial plan that provides more flexibility and options to the investor will include more costs than a financial plan that provides little or no options to the investor. There are also numerous tax consequences that may be considered in selecting a financial plan. Some financial plans, such as 401(k) plans, provide tax-deferred benefits to investors. 
     In certain situations, a plan sponsor may be viewed as a fiduciary to an investor. As more investors rely on the financial plan offered by the plan sponsor to provide a steady income stream upon retirement, plan sponsors may become more susceptible to lawsuits associated with the financial performance of the financial plan. Thus, providing adequate financial plans to investors and protecting themselves from such lawsuits presents a significant challenge to plan sponsors. 
     Overview 
     According to certain embodiments, a method for providing a secure financial plan includes storing identifying information for an account holder, such that the account holder is participating in a financial plan. The method also includes allocating all or a portion of a financial contribution to a financial account having a plurality of financial investments, such that the plurality of financial investments comprising at least one investment from each of a high risk investment category and a low risk investment category, such that the combination of investments in the high risk investment category have a higher expected rate of return and a higher risk than the combination of investments in the low risk investment category. The method further includes periodically distributing a balance of the financial account such that a first portion of the balance of the financial account is invested in one or more investments from the high risk investment category and a second particular percentage of the balance of the financial account is invested in one or more investments from the low risk investment category, such that a ratio of the first portion to the second portion is generally decreased over a period of time. The method also includes, in response to a first triggering event, determining a base value, such that the base value is substantially equal to the balance of the financial account. The method also includes, in response to a second triggering event, calculating a protected value, such that the protected value is at least equal to the base value, and calculating an income amount based on the protected value that a beneficiary is guaranteed to receive on a periodic basis. 
     According to certain embodiments, a method, performed by a sponsor offering a financial plan to a customer, for transferring risk associated with the financial plan includes receiving indemnification from an issuer managing the financial plan, such that the indemnification indemnifies the sponsor of the financial plan for one or more claims brought by the customer of the financial plan and associated with a performance of a financial account associated with the financial plan and including one or more financial investments. The method further includes using software stored on computer-readable media and, when executed by one or more processors, operable to generate a notice to the customer, such that the notice notifies the customer of the customer&#39;s enrollment in the financial plan unless the customer elects to opt out of one or more features of the financial plan and the notice comprising a waiver. The method further includes using software stored on computer-readable media and, when executed by one or more processors, operable to store an indicator, in one or more memory modules, such that the indicator represents an acknowledgement of the waiver by the customer. 
     Certain embodiments may provide various technical advantages. For example, certain embodiments may allow an account holder to participate in a secure retirement fund that automatically accumulates contributions and guarantees income distribution for life. Certain embodiments may allow a plan sponsor to receive indemnification from an issuer for claims brought by customers and based on the financial performance of a financial plan. Certain embodiments may allow an account holder to maintain liquidity in an account while at the same time receiving a guarantee of lifetime income and a guaranteed growth rate. Certain embodiments may also allow an account holder to receive the potentially higher rates of return associated with high risk investments while at the same time avoiding the associated risk of loss by obtaining a guaranteed growth rate. Certain embodiments may allow a third-party, such as a plan issuer, to make all investment decisions to maximize the financial benefits of a financial plan. Certain embodiments may also allow an account holder to retain control over certain investment decisions as limited by issuer, such that these investment decisions have only a nominal effect on the performance of financial account while allowing account holder to maintain a sense of ownership. Certain embodiments may provide a “glide path” for a financial plan customer by automatically rebalancing the value of an account between low risk investments and high risk investments, such that the percentage of value in low risk investments increases over time to automatically reduce financial risk as the customer approaches retirement. 
     Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may provide additional various technical advantages. Certain embodiments may require the account holder to waive certain rights (or acknowledge a waiver of certain rights) if the account holder opts out of the financial plan. Certain embodiments may reduce a plan sponsor&#39;s risk of being financially liable for a claim brought by a customer in a lawsuit associated with the financial performance of a financial plan. Certain embodiments may provide automated funding of a financial account associated with a financial plan by allocating a portion of the account holder&#39;s salary. Certain embodiments may allow for automated investment on behalf of an account holder. 
     Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may exhibit combinations of advantages that may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for providing a financial plan according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example asset distribution within a financial account; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a table of example asset distributions within a financial account based on age; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a financial instrument according to a particular embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  provide a flowchart illustrating the operation of a financial plan according to a particular embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example financial plan opt-out and acknowledgement of financial plan to customer; 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate an example data processing system for providing a financial plan according to a particular embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example for determining protected value; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of a general purpose computer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     It should be understood at the outset that although example implementations of embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated below, the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the example implementations, figures, and techniques illustrated below. Additionally, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system for providing a financial plan  100  according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. System  10  may interact with customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and issuer  120 ; and system  10  may utilize notice  122 , opt-out  123 , acknowledgement  124 , indemnification  126 , financial account  130 , financial instrument  138 , guaranteed base value  139 , protected value  140 , and annual income amount  144 . Financial plan  100  may represent an agreement between customer  110  and issuer  120 , customer  110  and plan sponsor  118 , and/or plan sponsor  118  and issuer  120 . Customer  110  may represent one or more of account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and designated party  116 . Plan sponsor  118  may represent an employer of customer  110  and/or account holder  112 . Financial instrument  138  may include certain provisions as described below in relation to  FIG. 4 . 
     According to certain embodiments, system  10  may be utilized to provide financial plan  100  to customer  110 . According to certain embodiments, customer  110  may receive notice  122  of financial plan  100 , such that notice  122  may explain the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . According to certain embodiments, customer  110  may be required to execute or otherwise acknowledge opt-out  123  if customer  110  elects to opt-out of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, opt-out  123  may represent a relinquishment of any rights to file a lawsuit against plan sponsor  118  based on the financial performance of financial account  130 . According to certain embodiments, system  10  may store acknowledgement  124  of opt-out  123 , or opt-out  123  itself, for one or more customers  110 . In certain embodiments, system  10  may automatically deposit portions of a salary to a balance in financial account  130 , such that the balance in financial account  130  is automatically invested in a portfolio of diversified financial investments  132 . In certain embodiments, system  10  may automatically rebalance the distribution of the value of financial account  130  between low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136 , such that the exposure to high risk investments  136  is generally decreased as customer  110  becomes older in age. According to certain embodiments, at a first triggering event (e.g., when customer  110  turns fifty years old), issuer  120  may issue financial instrument  138 , determine guaranteed base value  139 , guarantee a growth rate of guaranteed base value  139 , and guarantee lifetime financial transfers to customer  110  for life. It contains embodiments, customer  110  may receive the benefits of such guarantees even if financial account  130  loses value or is completely depleted. According to certain embodiments, at a second triggering event (e.g., when customer turns seventy years old), customer  110  begins to receive annual income amount  144  for life. Annual income amount  144  may be a percentage of protected value  140 . System  10  may determine protected value  140  by using the highest value from one of numerous calculations, such that customer  110  is guaranteed to have a higher protected value  140  than guaranteed base value  139  even if investments  132  in financial account  130  lose value. Thus, in certain embodiments, system  10  may allow customer  110  to participate in a secure retirement fund that automatically accumulates funds, guarantees growth of those funds, and guarantees income distribution for life. In certain embodiments, system  10  may utilize a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k) plan. System  10  may be utilized to allow issuer  120  to provide indemnification  126  to plan sponsor  118  for certain claims brought by customer  110 . In particular embodiments, indemnification may apply regardless of whether customer  110  opts out of financial plan  100  or participates in financial plan  100 . 
     Financial plan  100  may represent a secure retirement fund for customer  110 . In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may represent or include a group annuity contract. In certain embodiments, financial plan may include an individual retirement account contract, a mutual fund contract, a funding agreement, a 401(k) contract, and/or an annuity contract. In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may be offered within a defined contribution plan. A defined contribution plan may refer to a tax deferred retirement savings plan. In certain embodiments, a defined contribution plan may be a 401(k) plan, 401(b) plan, employee stock ownership plan, profit sharing plan, etc. Financial plan  100  may include provisions of the terms and conditions specifying a monetary contribution to deposit in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, a contribution may be a portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary, a deposit by customer  110 , a deposit by plan sponsor  118 , a deposit by a third party, etc. In certain embodiments, the portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary to be contributed to financial account  130  may increase periodically over time. For example, the portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary by one percent or more at a particular date each year. In certain embodiments, the portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary to be contributed to financial account  130  may be limited by laws or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines. In certain embodiments, the balance and/or the contribution may be distributed between financial investments  132 , including low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136 . In certain embodiments, the distribution between low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136  may be based upon the age of customer  110 , the number of years until the planned retirement of customer  110 , the number of years customer  110  has been employed by a particular employer, the number of years customer  110  has been enrolled in financial plan  100 , or any other appropriate characteristic. In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may also include provisions of the terms and conditions of indemnification  126 . 
     Customer  110  may broadly refer to one or more of an account holder  112 , a beneficiary  114 , a designated party  116 , one who participates in financial plan  100 , and/or one who is issued financial instrument  138  for another person or entity. In certain embodiments, account holder  112  may represent a party who makes contributions to financial account  130  associated with financial plan  100  and/or who is attributed as being an owner of financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, these contributions may be made in the form of deferred compensation from an employer. In particular embodiments, the employer of customer  110  may also make contributions, such as matching contributions, to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, account holder  112  may have one or more ownership rights in financial account  130 . For example, account holder  112  may have the right to opt-out of financial plan  100 , to identify one or more beneficiaries  114 , to identify one or more designated parties  116 , and/or to make deposits into financial account  130 . In a particular embodiment, account holder  112  may be the entity or entities who have tax liability for the transactions related to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, beneficiary  114  may represent a party who may receive payments and/or make withdrawals in accordance with the terms of financial instrument  138  associated with financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, designated party  116  may represent an individual, group of individuals, and/or other entity that may be designated for purposes of determining death benefits, lifetime payments, fees, guaranteed rates, expected liabilities, and/or other features of financial instrument  138 . For example, guaranteed rates and/or fees may be determined based upon the age, gender, and/or health of designated party  116 . As yet another example, death benefit provisions may be based upon the death of designated party  116 . 
     In certain embodiments, one or more of account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and designated party  116  may be the same party. In certain embodiments, account holder  112  may assign benefits of financial instrument  138  to beneficiary  114 , with designated party  116  being the designated life for the guarantee of lifetime payments. 
     In certain embodiments, one or more of account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and designated party  116  may be related. For example, designated party  116  and beneficiary  114  may be related as husband and wife. As another example, account holder  112  may be an employer and an employee may be both beneficiary  114  and designated party  116 . Alternatively, account holder  112  and beneficiary  114  may be the same individual or entity. In some embodiments, an employer might add funds to financial account  130  for account holder  112 . Also, financial instrument  138  may have multiple account holders  112 , beneficiaries  114 , and/or designated parties  116 . For example, a husband and a wife may both be beneficiaries  114  and designated parties  116 . As another example, two or more business partners could be designated parties  116 . While this patent describes various actions, benefits, steps, etc. in relation to a customer  110 , account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and/or designated party  116 , those descriptions should not be construed as limiting because financial instrument  138  might provide for various persons to exercise control, take various actions, receive certain benefits, and/or affect certain features with regard to financial instrument  138 . 
     Plan sponsor  118  may present financial plan  100  to one or more customers  110  although financial plan  100  may be managed or offered by issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may represent an employer of customer  110  or account holder  112 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may be an organization, union, club, partnership, business entity, etc., such that customer  110  or account holder  112  may be a member of plan sponsor  118 . Plan sponsor  118  may provide compensation, such as a salary, to account holder  112 , and plan sponsor  118  may contribute a portion of the compensation to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may represent an indemnitee that receives indemnification  126 , such as litigation insurance, from issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may receive indemnification  126  from issuer  120  at a time preceding or following a time when financial plan  100  is offered to customer  110 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may receive indemnification  126  from issuer  120  at the same time as financial plan  100  is offered to customer  110 . In certain embodiments, such litigation insurance may cover the expenses and damages resulting from claims brought by customer  110  against plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may be legally responsible for fiduciary claims brought by customer  110 , but litigation insurance provided by issuer  120  may reimburse plan sponsor  118  for all monetary expenses and damages associated with claims based on financial plan  100 . Such claims may include those associated with the financial outcome of participation by customer  110  in financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, litigation insurance may cover claims associated with the financial outcome of investments by customer  110  if customer  110  opts out of one or more aspects of financial plan  100 . In particular embodiments, indemnification  126  may cover any claims against plan sponsor  118  under §404(c) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), fiduciary breach of plan sponsor  118 , etc. In certain embodiments, indemnification  126  provided by issuer  120  may cover claims against plan sponsor  118  brought by a single customer  110  in addition to claims brought by a class action of customers  110 . 
     Issuer  120  may represent an entity that provides and/or manages financial plan  100 . Issuer  120  may represent a bank, an insurance company, or other business entity engaged in the sale of one or more financial plans and/or financial instruments. In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may transparently provide and/or manage financial plan  100  for customers  110 , such that customers  110  may not be aware of the involvement of issuer  120 . Issuer  120  may also represent multiple entities that operate together to provide or sell financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . Issuer  120  may receive fees associated with financial plan  100  from customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may represent an indemnitor that provides indemnification  126 , such as litigation insurance, to plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may provide indemnification  126  to plan sponsor  118  at a time preceding or following a time when financial plan  100  is offered to customer  110 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may provide indemnification  126  to plan sponsor  118  at the same time as financial plan  100  is offered to customer  110 . 
     Notice  122  may represent a notification to customer  110  of all or a portion of the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . The terms and conditions of financial plan  100  may provide details associated with a particular financial plan  100  presented by plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, terms and conditions may specify the amount of contribution to be made by customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118 , the date issuer  120  will issue financial instrument  138 , the guaranteed growth rate of financial instrument  138 , etc. In certain embodiments, notice  122  may notify customer that customer  110  will automatically participate in financial plan  100  unless customer  110  chooses to opt-out of financial plan  100 . Customer  110  may opt-out of the entire financial plan  100 , or customer  110  may opt-out of certain aspects of financial plan  100 . Customer  110  may choose to opt-out of financial plan  100  at any time unless customer  110  is otherwise notified. Notice  122  may be in electronic or paper form. In certain embodiments, electronic notice  122  may be in form of a pop-up window, hyperlink, e-mail, SMS message, etc. In certain embodiments, paper notice  122  may be in form of a letter, interoffice memo, employee welcome packet, etc. In certain embodiments, system  10  may automatically generate notice  122  for customer  110 . In embodiments in which customer  110  is an employee of plan sponsor  118 , notice  122  may be generated when customer  110  is first hired by plan sponsor  118 . In particular embodiments, notice  122  may be generated for current employees of plan sponsor  118  upon initial presentations of financial plan  100  to those employees. In particular embodiments, notice  122  may be sent in an e-mail on behalf of plan sponsor  118 , such that the e-mail may include a link to an on-line seminar describing financial plan  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, a second notice  122  may be generated at a particular time or upon the occurrence of a triggering event. In certain embodiments, second notice  122  may notify customer of the impending issuance of financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, this triggering event may occur forty-five days prior to the issuance date of financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, triggering event may be a date selected by customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, other triggering events may include a particular age of customer  110 , a certain number of years customer  110  has been employed by plan sponsor  118 , etc. 
     Opt-out  123  may represent the relinquishment of certain legal rights of customer  110 . In certain embodiments, opt-out  123  may represent a waiver by customer  110  of any right to file a lawsuit associated with the financial performance of financial account  130  if customer  110  opts out of certain aspects of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, customer  110  may waive the right to bring a claim associated with the financial performance or selection of any financial investments purchased outside financial plan  100 . In particular embodiments, customer  110  may waive the right to bring any claims against plan sponsor  118  and/or issuer  120  under §404(c) of ERISA, fiduciary breach of plan sponsor  118  and/or issuer  120 , etc. In certain embodiments, opt-out  123  may be included in notice  122 . In certain embodiments, opt-out  123  may be separate from notice  122 . Similar to notice  122 , opt-out  123  may be in electronic or paper form. Issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may store the electronic or paper forms of opt-out  123 . 
     Acknowledgement  124  may represent an indication that customer  110  is opting out of one or more aspects of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, acknowledgment  124  may indicate that customer  110  accepts opt-out  123 . In certain embodiments, acknowledgement  124  may indicate that customer  110  opts out of a particular aspect of financial plan  100 , such as automatically making contributions to financial account  130 , the issuance of financial instrument  138 , the benefit of receiving a guaranteed growth rate, the benefit of receiving a guaranteed income for life, etc. In certain embodiments, acknowledgement  124  may provide evidence of opt-out by customer  110 . In certain embodiments, acknowledgement  124  may indicate that customer  110  accepts opt-out  123 . Customer  110  may be required to indicate acknowledgement  124  of opt-out  123  before customer  110  can opt-out of financial plan  100 . Opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgement  124  may include any action by customer  110  that indicates customer  110  is opting out of one or more aspects of financial plan  100 , such as clicking an electronic button in a graphical user interface, an electronic signature on a webpage, sending a statement by an e-mail, sending a statement by mail, a signature on a paper form, etc. In certain embodiments, opt-out  123  may require customer  110  to acknowledge that customer  110  is opting out of a guaranteed income for life. Similar to notice  122 , acknowledgement  124  may be in electronic or paper form. 
     Issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may store the electronic or paper forms of opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgements  124 . For example, opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgements  124  may be stored in file cabinet, computer memory, e-mail attachments, etc. In certain embodiments, notice  122 , opt-out  123 , and/or acknowledgement  124  may be integrated in the same document or may be included in separate documents. In certain embodiments, issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may store an indicator associated with each customer  110 , such that the indicator may represent if customer  110  has provided opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgement  124  of opting out of one or more aspects of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, the indicator may be used in electronic or paper form. For example, the indicator may be used in association with a graph in paper form, a relational database, a table in electronic form, an electronic spreadsheet, a paper spreadsheet, etc. 
     Indemnification  126  may represent an agreement between issuer  120  and plan sponsor  118 , such that issuer  120  provides litigation insurance to plan sponsor  118  for claims associated with the financial performance of financial account  130  brought by customer  110  enrolled in financial plan  100 . Indemnification  126  may represent a transfer of risk associated with financial plan  100 , such that risk is transferred from plan sponsor  118  to issuer  120 . As mentioned above, in certain embodiments, issuer  120  may provide indemnification to plan sponsor  118  as to claims associated with financial performance of financial account  130  brought by customer  110  who opted out of financial plan  100 , such that investments  132  in financial account  130  were personally managed by customer  110 . As mentioned above, although other types of claims are contemplated example claims covered by indemnification  126  may include any claims against plan sponsor  118  and/or issuer  120  under §404(c) of ERISA, fiduciary breach of plan sponsor  118  and/or issuer  120 , etc. 
     Financial Account  130  may represent a principal balance including contributions and the accrued growth due to a return on one or more investments  132 . In certain embodiments, the contribution amount to fund financial account  130  may be specified by financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, the contribution amount to fund financial account  130  may change after it has been initially determined. As one example, the contribution amount to fund financial account  130  may be limited based upon one or more laws. In certain embodiments, financial account  130  may be in a defined contribution environment, such as a 401(k) account. 
     The value of financial account  130  may be distributed among one or more investments  132 , such that investments may include high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137 . In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may generally increase the portion or the percentage of the value of low risk investments  137  included in financial account  130  as customer  110  increases in age, such that the exposure to high risk investments  136  is lowered. For example, the ratio of the portion of low risk investments  137  to the portion of high risk investments  136  is generally decreased over a period of time. In certain embodiments, it is possible that the portion or the percentage of the value of low risk investments  137  included in financial account  130  may slightly increase or flat line as customer  110  increases in age, but over a long period of time, the portion or the percentage of the value of low risk investments  137  will generally increase as customer  110  increases in age. Further explanation of high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137  in an example asset distribution within financial account  130  is included below in relation to  FIG. 2 . Further explanation of an example table for distributing the value of financial account  130  between high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137  is included below in relation to  FIG. 3 . 
     In certain embodiments, high risk investments  136  may provide a variable return with a higher variance of gain or loss than low risk investments  137 . Low risk investments  137  may provide a variable or fixed return with a lower variance of gain or loss than high risk investments  136 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may determine which financial investments  132  are considered low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136 . For example, financial investments  132  may represent a municipal bond, a bond fund, a money market account, a corporate security, an index fund, a mutual fund, a real estate investment trust, hedges, swaps, derivatives, cash, or any other appropriate type of investment. In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may include securities and/or medium to high risk mutual funds as high risk investments  136 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may include money market accounts, low risk mutual funds, index funds, and/or bond funds as low risk investments  137 . In a particular embodiment, issuer  120  may include one or more private securities, one or more public corporate bonds, one or more mortgage loans, one or more private securities, one or more government bonds, one or more public structured bonds, and cash as low risk investments  137 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may guarantee that the value of low risk investments  137  in financial account  130  will not decrease below the amount invested in low risk investments  137 . In certain embodiments, financial account  130  may include one or more financial investments  132  associated with multiple financial entities. 
     In certain embodiments, financial investments  132  within financial account  130  may be selected by issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may restrict the investments  132  available for selection by customer  110  and/or require the value of financial account  130  to be distributed according to a specified asset allocation model. In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may not allow customer  110  to select any investments  132 , such that issuer  120  may have complete control over investments  132  in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, the distribution between low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136  of financial account  130  may automatically rebalance according to financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, the composition of investments  132  in financial account  130  may change in response to one or more elections by customer  110  and/or in accordance with one or more provisions of financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, the composition of financial account  130  (or one or more sub-accounts) may change based on (a) the amount of time elapsed since customer&#39;s  110  initial participation in financial plan  100  (b) the amount of time elapsed since financial instrument  138  was issued and/or (c) the age, gender, and/or health of customer  110 . 
     Financial account  130  may or may not be associated with issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, the value of financial account  130  may be withdrawn in whole or in part at the discretion of customer  110 . 
     Financial instrument  138  may represent a financial product for distributing a certain sum of money. In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may represent a secure retirement product for providing a guaranteed growth rate and a guaranteed income for life of customer  110 . In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may include a financial vehicle used to distribute a certain sum of money at specified intervals, such as an annuity. Financial instrument  138  may be issued to customer  110  upon a certain date (i.e., when customer  110  turns fifty years old) or a triggering event. In certain embodiments, a triggering event may be a date selected by customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, a triggering event may include a certain age of customer  110 , a certain number of years customer  110  has been employed by plan sponsor  118 , etc. 
     In certain embodiments, the sum of money used for financial instrument  138  may be based on a principal value, such as the value in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may be immediate or deferred, fixed or variable, and single or multiple payment. In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may include one or more deferred variable annuity contracts issued by issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, a deferred variable annuity may allow for growth in the value of investments  132  in financial account  130  and, at a future time, provide a stream of payments based upon the value of financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may provide additional benefits such as a lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , death benefits  107 , living benefits, cash surrender benefits, and/or joint and survivor income payment options. 
     In embodiments of financial instrument  138  in which financial instrument  138  includes annuity contract  102 , annuitization may occur due to an election to annuitize by customer  110  or the terms of annuity contract  102  and/or financial plan  100  may require annuitization on or before a certain date (e.g., when customer  110  turns sixty-five years old). In certain embodiments, annuitization may represent the process of customer  110  exchanging the value of financial account  130  for a stream of payments. In certain embodiments, customer  110  may be provided with multiple annuitization options. For example, customer  110  may be provided with periodic payments for life in an amount equivalent to annual income amount  144 . In certain embodiments, the benefits associated with lifetime payment guarantee  104  and growth rate guarantee  106  may be terminated if customer  110  has opted out of these aspects of financial plan  100 . Financial instrument  138  is discussed in more detail below in reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     Although guarantees are described herein as being provided by issuer  120 , in some embodiments, a third party administering financial account  130  may contract with issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  to provide one or more guarantees associated with financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . For example, an insurance company might provide guarantees for investments  132  or other types of financial accounts  130  administered by issuer  120 . 
     Guaranteed base value  139  may represent a base value in association with financial instrument  138 , such that beneficiary  114  is guaranteed to receive income for life based on the guaranteed base value  139 . In some embodiments, guaranteed base value may be guaranteed to grow in value, such that beneficiary  114  is guaranteed to receive income for like on a value higher than the guaranteed base value  139 . In some embodiments, although financial account  130  may decrease due to market fluctuations, guaranteed base value  139  does not, thus providing a guaranteed value regardless of market performance of investments  132  in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, guaranteed base value  139  may represent a base value substantially equal to the balance of financial account  130  at a particular date or upon a triggering event. In certain embodiments, guaranteed base value  139  may be a fixed percentage more or less than financial account  130  or may be a fixed amount more or less than financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, a triggering event to determine guaranteed base value  139  may be a date selected by customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, a triggering event to determine guaranteed base value  139  may include a particular age of customer  110 , a certain number of years customer  110  has been employed by plan sponsor  118 , etc. In certain embodiments, guaranteed base value  139  may be determined at the same time financial instrument  138  is issued by issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118  may continue to make contributions to financial account  130  after guaranteed base value  139  has been calculated. In certain embodiments, customer  110  may make discretionary withdrawals after guaranteed base value  139  has been calculated. Thus, in certain embodiments, guaranteed base value  139  may increase or decrease based on contributions or discretionary withdrawals made to/from financial account  130 . 
     Protected value  140  may represent a final value in association with financial instrument  138  that beneficiary  114  may be able to receive upon electing to receive withdrawals. In certain embodiments, protected value  140  may represent a value used to calculate one or more benefits, such as a guaranteed withdrawal or income amount. In some embodiments, although financial account  130  may decrease due to market fluctuations, protected value  140  does not, thus providing a guaranteed value regardless of market performance of investments  132  in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  may specify one or more methods to determine protected value  140  at a particular date or upon a triggering event. In particular embodiments, protected value  140  may be the highest of multiple calculated values described below. A first value to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the value of guaranteed base value  140  that has grown at a particular rate (e.g., annual rate of five percent) until the date that final protected value  140  is determined. A second value to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the highest value of financial account  130  at a particular anniversary date (e.g., each birthday of customer  110 ) for any year preceding the date that protected value  140  is determined. A third value to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the value of financial account  130  on the date that protected value  140  is determined and/or the date that customer  110  elects to take withdrawals from or annuitize financial instrument  138 . In alternative embodiments, other suitable methods may be utilized to determine protected value  140 . In certain embodiments, triggering events to determine protected value  140  may be selected by customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, triggering events to determine protected value  140  may include election by customer  110  to lock in their annual income amount  144 , a particular age of customer  110 , etc. In certain embodiments, protected value  140  may not be established if customer  110  opts out of financial plan  100 . 
     In particular embodiments, protected value  140  may be calculated annually. In some embodiments, protected value  140  may be calculated on a daily basis, at the end of each business day. In some embodiments, protected value  140  may only be calculated upon the date that customer  110  elects to begin withdrawing. In some embodiments, protected value  140  may be based upon a combination of factors and calculated at different times. Depending upon the embodiment, protected value  140  may become fixed at some point in time. For example, protected value  140  may become fixed at the time of the first discretionary withdrawal from financial account  130  by customer  110 . In certain embodiments, protected value  140  may decrease upon discretionary withdrawals. Further explanation of an example method for determining protected value  140 , is included below in relation to  FIG. 8 . 
     Annual income amount  144  represents a guaranteed income transfer for life to customer  110  even if the balance of financial account  130  reaches zero due to poor financial performance of investments  132 . Annual income amount  144  may be substantially equal in value to a guaranteed percentage of protected value  140 . In certain scenarios, the guaranteed percentage may be determined by the terms and conditions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, the guaranteed percentage may vary depending on when customer  110  elects to receive annual income amount  144 . For example, guaranteed percentage may be four percent if customer  110  elects to receive annual income amount  144  five years after issuance of financial instrument  138  and guaranteed percentage may be five percent if customer  110  elects to receive annual income amount  144  fifteen years after issuance of financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, annual income amount  144  may be taken as separate partial withdrawals or as systematic withdrawals. For example, annual income amount  144  may be automated and may be set up on a periodic basis by customer  110 , issuer  120 , or an agent thereof, with the period being yearly, quarterly, monthly, etc. 
     In certain embodiments, the guaranteed percentage, annual income amount  144 , and/or protected value  140  may vary based on certain characteristics of customer  110 . For example, the guaranteed percentage or annual income amount  144  may vary based upon the gender, age, and/or health status of one or more of account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and designated party  116 . In certain embodiments, the guaranteed percentage, annual income amount  144 , and/or protected value  140  may vary depending upon whether and to what extent customer  110  accepts certain limitations on flexibility and/or control over financial account  130  and/or associated distributions. 
     Annual income amount  144  and/or protected value  140  may decrease if customer  110  makes discretionary withdrawals. For example, customer  110  may be allowed to withdraw more than annual income amount  144 , but future payments of annual income amount  144  may decrease. Further explanation of the operation of a certain embodiment with respect to protected value  140  and annual income amount  144  is included below in relation to  FIGS. 5B and 5C . 
     In the operation of certain embodiments, customer  110  may automatically receive notice  122  of financial plan  100 . Customer  110  may automatically participate in financial plan  100  unless customer  110  opts out of financial plan  100 . Upon opting out, customer  110  may be required to acknowledge opting out of one or more aspects of financial plan  110 . To opt-out of financial plan, customer  110  may also be required to acknowledge opt-out  123  relinquishing legal rights to file a lawsuit associated with the financial performance of financial account  130  against plan sponsor  118  and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, notice  122  of financial plan  100  and/or the storage of opt-outs  123  and acknowledgements  124  may occur electronically. 
     Issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may create financial account  130  for customer  110  if customer  110  does not opt-out. Customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118  may automatically make periodic contributions to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, issuer  110  may make investment choices regarding the allocation of funds associated with financial account  130 , such that investment choices are taken away from customer  110 . In certain embodiments, the value in financial account  130  may be automatically distributed between low risk investments  137  and high risk investments  136  based on the age of customer  110 , such that the percentage of the value in high risk investments  136  generally decreases as customer  110  becomes older. 
     Upon a particular date or triggering event, such as customer  110  reaching the age of fifty, financial instrument  138  may be issued. Prior to issuance of financial instrument, customer  110  may receive notice  122  that notifies customer  110  of a guaranteed growth rate of financial account  130  and a guaranteed income for life, if customer chooses not to opt-out. Upon issuance of financial instrument  138 , guaranteed base value may be determined. 
     Upon another particular date or triggering event, such as customer reaching the age of sixty-five, protected value  140  may be calculated using one or more specified calculation methods. Customer  110  may make additional contributions to and/or discretionary withdrawals from financial account  130 , and protected value  140  and/or annual income amount  144  may be adjusted accordingly. Annual income amount  144  may be determined by applying a guaranteed percentage as specified by financial plan  100  to protected value  140 . 
     In the operation of a particular embodiment, issuer  120  may provide and manage financial plan  100  on behalf of plan sponsor  118  to employees of plan sponsor  118 . Plan sponsor  118  may receive indemnification  126 , such as litigation insurance, from issuer  120  for the expenses and damages incurred by plan sponsor  118  as to claims associated with the financial performance of financial plan  100  brought by customers  110 . Customer  110  may be a new employee at plan sponsor  118 . As part of new employee orientation, notice  122  may be sent in an e-mail to customer  110  on behalf of plan sponsor  118 , such that the e-mail may include a link to an on-line seminar describing the terms, conditions, and benefits of financial plan  100 . Customer  110  may receive an e-mail on behalf of plan sponsor  118  notifying customer  110  of automatic enrollment in financial plan  100  unless customer  110  chooses to opt-out of financial plan  100 . If customer  110  chooses to opt-out of financial plan  100 , customer  110  may click on a hyperlink in the e-mail that may direct customer  110  to a webpage that includes opt-out  123 . Such webpage may also include an electronic button in a graphical user interface that customer  110  can click on to acknowledge opt-out and opt-out of financial plan  100 . Upon clicking such button, acknowledgement  124  of opt-out  123  by customer  110  may be stored by issuer  120 . 
     If customer  110  elects not to opt-out, then customer  110  is automatically enrolled in financial plan  100 . A particular percentage of the salary of customer  110  is deposited in financial account  130 . At a younger age, financial plan  100  may distribute one-hundred percent of such deposit to high risk investments  136  in financial account  130 . According to the glidepath of financial plan  100 , as customer  110  increases in age, financial plan  100  will begin to increase the distribution percentage of low risk investments  137  in financial account  130 . 
     Upon reaching the age of fifty years old, customer  110  may receive a second notice  122  via e-mail that notifies customer  110  of the end of the glidepath phase and the impending issuance of financial instrument  138 . Similar as before, customer  110  is automatically issued financial instrument  138  unless customer  110  opts-out of financial plan  100  by acknowledging opt-out  123 . Upon issuance of financial instrument  138 , guaranteed base value  139  may be set to the value of financial account  130 . Thus, financial plan  100  provides customer  110  guaranteed income for life based on the guaranteed base value  139  even if the value of financial account  130  depreciates severely. 
     Upon reaching the age of sixty-five years old, customer  110  may elect to begin receiving guaranteed income for life. Annual income amount  144  received by customer  110  may be five percent of protected value  140 . As mentioned above, protected value  140  may be the highest of one or more calculated values. Thus, customer  110  is guaranteed to receive annual income amount  144  during the lifetime of customer  110  even if financial account  130  has become depleted. 
     Although financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  have been described as being purchased or issued directly from issuer  120  in certain embodiments, financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  may be purchased or issued through one or more intermediaries. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example asset distribution within financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, all or a portion of financial account  130  may be distributed among high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137 . The combined risk and expected rate of return of the category of low risk investments  137  in financial account  130  are lower than the combined risk and expected rate of return of the category of high risk investments  136 . In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may determine which financial investments  132  are considered high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137 . In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may gradually lower the financial account&#39;s  130  exposure to risk by increasing the percentage of value in low risk investments  137  as customer  110  increases in age. Further explanation of an example table for distributing the value of financial account  130  between high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137 , is included below in relation to  FIG. 3 . 
     High risk investments  136  may include one or more equities, and, in certain embodiments, high risk investments  136  may include any type of investment  132  that provides a high rate of return, such as a corporate security, a private security, an index fund, a mutual fund, a real estate investment trust, hedge fund, etc. In certain embodiments, the composition of high risk investments  136  and the distribution of value of high risk investments  136  in financial account  130  may change from time to time. 
     Although low risk investments  137  may include one or more variable rate investments, in certain embodiments, low risk investments  137  may be limited to one or more fixed income investments, such as municipal bonds, bond funds, and money market accounts. In certain embodiments, the composition of low risk investments  137  and the distribution of value in low risk investments  137  in financial account  130  may change from time to time. In a particular embodiment, low risk investments  137  may include one or more private securities, one or more public corporate bonds, one or more mortgage loans, one or more private securities, one or more government bonds, one or more public structured bonds, and cash. In certain embodiments, issuer  120  may guarantee that the value of low risk investments  137  in financial account  130  will not decrease below the amount invested in low risk investments  137 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates table  200  of an example asset distributions within a financial account  130 . Table  200  provides age-based ranges in column  210  for determining distribution values of high risk investments listed in column  212  and distribution values of low risk investments listed in column  214 . 
     Although example age-based thresholds  210  have been illustrated with example table  200  as being based on the age of customer  202 , in alternative embodiments, age-based ranges  210  may be based on the age of different parties, the length of time customer has participated in financial plan, and/or upon additional criteria provided in financial plan. Different age thresholds associated with column  210  may be utilized than the examples provided. For example, an age threshold  202  may continue until age ninety. Although table provides example distribution portions  212 ,  214 , any appropriate portions may be used according to the provisions of the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates financial instrument  138  according to a particular embodiment. In the embodiment shown, financial instrument  138  may include annuity contract  102 , lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , and death benefit  107 . Financial instrument  138  may be issued upon a particular date or a triggering event. In certain embodiments, triggering event may be a date selected by customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, other triggering events may include a particular age of customer  110 , a certain number of years customer  110  has been employed by plan sponsor  118 , etc. For example, when customer  110  reaches age fifty, financial instrument  138  may be issued as long as customer  110  does not opt-out of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may be funded with value of financial account  130 . Annuity contract  102  may represent a contract for a broad range of annuity products. For example, annuity contract  102  may represent one or more group deferred variable annuities, such as ANNUITY ONE issued by PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. In certain embodiments, annuity contract  102  may represent a contract between customer  110  and issuer  120 , wherein customer  110  may make contributions and/or withdrawals during an accrual phase and then issuer  120  may pay annual income amount to customer  110  during a distribution phase. The transition from the accrual phase to the distribution phase may occur following an election by customer  110 , such as annuitizing financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, transition from the accrual phase to the distribution phase may occur according to the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, accrual phase may overlap with the distribution phase. 
     In addition to the basic terms of annuity contract  102 , financial instrument  138  may include additional provisions including lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , and death benefit  107 . These additional provisions may be integrated provisions of financial instrument  138  and/or financial plan  100  or they may be included as electable options. Although annuity contract  102 , lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , and death benefit  107  are shown as separate elements, one or more of these elements may be combined, and each of these elements may also include numerous components. In certain embodiments, different elements of financial instrument  138  may be purchased, issued, and/or elected at different times. For example, annuity contract  102  may be issued in year one, and lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , and death benefit  107  may be purchased or elected in year one or at anytime thereafter. In some embodiments, financial account  130  remains liquid and all or a portion of financial account  130  may be withdrawn (in some cases with penalty) by customer  110  prior to annuitization of annuity contract  102 . Annuitization may or may not even occur depending upon the desires of customer  110 . 
     In certain embodiments, lifetime payment guarantee  104  may include provisions guaranteeing that beneficiary  114  may receive financial transfers for life, beginning at or after a specified triggering event. For example, in certain embodiments, these financial transfers may be due to discretionary withdrawals and/or payments. In certain embodiments, the amount of (and/or a limit for) these financial transfers may be fixed or variable. For example, the amount of (and/or a limit for) these financial transfers may be determined based upon the age, gender, health status, and/or other morbidity factors for one or more individuals. As another example, the amount of (and/or a limit for) these financial transfers may be independent of such factors. In certain embodiments, the amount of (and/or the limit for) these financial transfers may change after a period of time according to a set schedule, changes in an external index, and/or any appropriate factor. 
     In certain embodiments, the amount of (and/or a limit for) these financial transfers may be annual income amount  144  based upon specified percentages of protected value  140 . For example, the amount of (and/or a limit for) annual income amount  144  may be set at a first percentage for a certain period (i.e., four percent five years after customer  110  is issued financial instrument  138 ) and then change to a second percentage for another period (i.e., five percent fifteen years after customer  110  is issued financial instrument  138 ). In certain embodiments, these percentages may be fixed upon the date of issuance of financial instrument  138 , upon the date of electing lifetime payment guarantee  104 , upon the date of electing to receive first annual income amount  144 , upon customer&#39;s  110  age, or upon any other appropriate date. 
     In certain embodiments, lifetime payment guarantee  104  may guarantee that beneficiary  114  will receive no less than annual income amount  144  each year for the life of designated party  116 . In certain embodiments, if customer  110  is issued financial instrument  138  at age fifty, then annual income amount  144  may be four percent of protected value  140  at age fifty-five and five percent of protected value  140  at age sixty-five, although any percentage may be used. In another example, protected value  140  may be increased by additional deposits and may be decreased by withdrawals greater than annual income amount  144 . 
     In certain embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of lifetime payment guarantee  104 , financial instrument  138  may include provisions guaranteeing that beneficiary  114  will receive certain financial transfers over a specified time period, such as a period of years, or a single financial transfer as a lump-sum payment or withdrawal. 
     In certain embodiments, growth rate guarantee  106  may include provisions guaranteeing a periodic growth rate of guaranteed base value  139 . The provisions may further provide that growth rate guarantee  106  may be a specified fixed or variable rate for a specified period of time. For example, growth rate guarantee  106  may be guaranteed to be a fixed five percent rate applied to guaranteed base value  139 , including any additional contributions, per year for fifteen years from the date of issuance of financial instrument  138  or until the date of the first annual income amount  144 , whichever is sooner. 
     In certain embodiments, the specified rate for growth rate guarantee  106  may be any positive fixed value. In certain embodiments, the specified rate may be based on one or more variable indices. For example, the specified rate may be based on the Consumer Price Index, a stock market index, and/or the Federal Reserve&#39;s discount rate. 
     In certain embodiments, the specified rate may vary depending on the timing of contributions, the size of contributions, and/or the value of financial account  130 . For example, different rates may apply to different contributions or the overall rate may be calculated based on the rates in effect at the time that contributions are made, weighted based on the relative size (or actual size) of the contributions. In certain embodiments, the specified rate may vary based on characteristics of account holder  112 , beneficiary  114 , and/or designated party  116 . For example, the specified rate may vary depending on the gender, age, or health status of designated party  116 . 
     In certain embodiments, the guaranteed growth rate  106  may be set at a first rate for a specified period of time, or until a specified event occurs, and then change to a second rate. For example, the guaranteed growth rate may be zero for the first two years and then may change to a fixed five percent growth rate for the next eight years. In certain embodiments, the growth rate may change numerous times, with the changes occurring based upon specified periods of time and/or upon the occurrence of specified events. 
     In certain embodiments, the guaranteed growth rate  106  may vary based on changes in market conditions. For example, the guaranteed growth rate may be tied to a change in a specified market index. 
     In embodiments of financial instrument  138  including death benefit  107 , death benefit  107  may include provisions allowing for payments to be made to a recipient designated by account holder  112  and/or beneficiary  114 , upon the death of designated party  116 . For example, payments made under death benefit  107  may be made to beneficiary  114  upon the death of designated party  116 , where designated party  116  is account holder  112 . As another example, payments made under death benefit  107  may be made to an identified third party beneficiary upon the death of designated party  116  or beneficiary  114 . Death benefit  107  may provide for payment of an amount based upon the value of financial account  130 , protected value  140 , or some other value identified in death benefit  107 . For example, death benefit  107  may provide for payment in the amount of the value of financial account  130  at the time of death. As another example, death benefit  107  may provide for payment in the amount of the value of protected value  140  at the time of death. As yet another example, death benefit  107  may provide for payment in the amount of the highest value of financial account  130  on any anniversary of the effective date of financial instrument  138 . In certain embodiments, death benefit  107  may provide for payment in the amount of the highest of multiple calculation methods, such as annual income amount. Although death benefit  107  has been illustrated and described as a separate element of financial instrument  138 , death benefit  107  may be formed from multiple components and/or may be included as part of another element of financial instrument  138 . 
     In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may provide for an option allowing customer  110  to elect to receive the present value of future guaranteed payments. For example, in embodiments where the charge for lifetime payment guarantee is an up-front charge, financial instrument  138  may allow for customer  110  to cancel lifetime payment guarantee and receive a payment calculated based upon the present value of the guarantee. In these embodiments, the calculation may or may not include an underwriting assessment of the life expectancy of beneficiary  114 . 
     In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may be issued (or sold) as an investment contract (such as annuity contract  102 ) with a variety of options available for election by customer  110 . In certain embodiments, these options may include lifetime payment guarantee  104 , growth rate guarantee  106 , and/or death benefit  107 , among others. The present disclosure is intended to cover such embodiments, whether or not such available options are elected by customer  110 . 
     The costs associated with each element of financial instrument  138  and/or financial plan  100  may be assessed together or as separate charges, and the charges may be assessed in different ways. For example, the costs may be assessed as up-front charges, as asset charges, or as charges against withdrawals or payments. In certain embodiments, the costs may be charged periodically and/or may vary over time. For example, there may be no charge for a period of time and/or the charge may increase or decrease over time depending on a variety of factors. In certain embodiments, the costs may be charged in a manner such that the charge is assessed pro-rata over multiple investments or financial accounts  130 , according to an election by customer  110 , and/or such that the tax consequences of the charge are substantially minimized. In a particular embodiment, the charge for each element is assessed as a daily asset charge against the value of financial account  130  or high risk investments  136 . For example, the charge assessed for lifetime payment guarantee  104  and growth rate guarantee  106  may be a sixty basis point charge (0.60 percent per year) assessed against the daily balance of high risk investments  136  within financial account  130 . Similarly, the charge assessed for death benefit  107  may be a 140 basis point charge (1.40 percent per year) assessed against the daily balance of high risk investments  136  within financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, financial plan  100  may have lower costs than investment plans as a result of automating many of the steps required by financial plan  100  and limiting the flexibility of customer  110 . 
     As indicated above, in certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may provide for multiple beneficiaries  114  and financial instrument  138  may provide for various persons to exercise control. For example, financial instrument  138  may provide that both a husband and a wife are beneficiaries  114  and designated parties  116 . Financial instrument  138  may further provide that the husband may make discretionary withdrawals from financial account  130  and, if the husband pre-deceases the wife, that the wife may make discretionary withdrawals from financial account  130  after the husband&#39;s death or the wife may continue as account holder  112  of financial instrument  138 . Additionally, financial instrument  138  may further provide that if account value  130  reaches zero during the husband&#39;s life, then the husband may receive periodic payments for life and then, upon his death, the wife may receive periodic payments for her life. In certain embodiments, financial instrument  138  may include similar provisions for business partners or other arrangements involving multiple beneficiaries  114  and/or designated parties  116 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  provide a flowchart  300  illustrating the operation of financial plan  100  according to a particular embodiment. Flowchart  300  is intended to demonstrate an embodiment of financial plan  100  in which certain features of financial plan  100  specified in the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, the terms and conditions of financial plan  100  may automatically trigger events, such as elected actions and payment fees. 
     According to flowchart  300 , at step  302 , issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may generate notice  122  of financial plan  100  to customer  110 . At step  304 , customer  110  may choose to opt-out of financial plan  100  after reading notice. If customer  110  chooses to opt-out, then customer  110  may be required to acknowledge opt-out  123  as describer in step  318  below. If customer  110  chooses not to opt-out, then customer  110  may automatically begin participating in financial plan  100  and continues on to step  306 . 
     At step  306 , customer may automatically make contributions, such as a portion of salary, deposited to financial account  130  associated with financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, this automatic deposit may occur every time customer  110  is paid. In certain embodiments, plan sponsor  118  may make additional contributions to financial account  130 . The amount of the automatic contributions may be limited by one or more laws or IRS guidelines. At step  308 , the value of financial account  130  may be automatically distributed between high risk investments  136  and low risk investments  137 , such that the distribution values may depend on the age of customer  110 . Typically, the distribution value of high risk investments  136  will lower as customer  110  becomes older, such that customer&#39;s  110  exposure to risk is lowered as customer  110  approaches retirement. 
     At step  310 , issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may determine if a specified date or a triggering event has been reached. Specified date or triggering event may be the date for issuing a financial instrument  138  and/or determining guaranteed base value  139 . In certain embodiments, customer  110 , plan sponsor  118 , and/or issuer  120  may specify this date upon customer&#39;s  110  enrollment in participation plan  100 . For example, specified date may occur on or before customer&#39;s  110  fiftieth birthday. In particular embodiments, specified date may be forty-five days prior to customer&#39;s fiftieth birthday. If specified date or triggering event has not been reached, then flowchart may continue to step  306  when another contribution, such as a portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary, is automatically deposited to the balance of financial account  130 . 
     If effective date or triggering event has been reached, then at step  312 , issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  may generate another notice  122  of financial plan to customer  110 , such that notice  122  notifies customer  110  of the impending issuance of financial instrument  138  and the determination of guaranteed base value  139 . Thus, notice  122  notifies customer  110  that customer  110  is about to receive a guaranteed income for life unless customer  110  chooses to opt-out of financial plan  100 . If customer  110  chooses to opt-out, then customer  110  may be required to acknowledge  124  opting out of one or more aspects of financial plan  100  and/or opt-out  123  as describer in step  318  below. If customer  110  chooses not to opt-out, then customer  110  may be issued financial instrument  138  at step  315 . 
     At step  315 , financial instrument  138  may be issued to customer  110 . Value of financial instrument  138  may be linked to value of financial account  130 . Elections of various options of financial instrument  138  may be automated and/or selected by customer  110 , including lifetime payment guarantee  104  and growth rate guarantee  106 . At step  316 , guaranteed base value  139  may be determined. Guaranteed base value  139  may represent the value of financial account  130  on this date, such that customer  110  is guaranteed to receive at least guaranteed base value  139  despite the financial performance of financial account  130  moving forward. At step  317 , customer  110  may designate beneficiaries and/or designated parties. At this point, flowchart  300  moves to step  403  below. 
     At step  318 , if customer  110  has elected to opt-out of financial plan  100 , then customer  110  is further required to acknowledge opt-out  123  of one or more aspects of financial plan before customer  110  is allowed to opt-out of financial plan  100 . Opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgement  124  may include an affirmation that customer is opting out of a secure retirement fund that guarantees income for life and waiving the right to bring claims against issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118  for financial performance of investments  132  made by customer  110  outside of financial plan  100 . Customer  110  may be required to perform an action to indicate acknowledgement  124  of opt-out  123  of one or more aspects of financial plan  100 , such as clicking a button or signing customer&#39;s name. At this point, flowchart  300  continues to step  320  where the paper or electronic copy of acknowledgement  124  and/or opt-out  123  by customer  110  is stored by issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, acknowledgment  124  and/or opt-out  123  may be stored as an indicator in a relationship database stored in memory. 
     At step  404 , if additional contributions are made by customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118 , then the value of financial account  130  is increased by the amount of the additional contribution, at step  412 . In some cases, contributions may occur automatically as specified in terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . If an elected withdrawal is taken at step  406 , then the value of financial account  130  is decreased by the amount of the withdrawal and the cumulative yearly withdrawal is calculated at step  408 . In certain embodiments, an elected withdrawal may be automated based upon the terms and conditions of financial plan  100 . In certain embodiments, the cumulative yearly withdrawal may be the total of all withdrawals made during the particular calendar, fiscal, or contract year. If the withdrawal is the first withdrawal taken in relation to financial instrument  138 , at step  410 , then protected value  140  and annual income amount  144  are calculated at step  420 . Similarly, if additional contributions are made by customer  110  at step  404  and the first withdrawal has already been taken at step  414 , then protected value  140  and annual income amount  144  are calculated at step  420 . In some embodiments, the additional contributions may not change some or all of these values. Calculating protected value  140  may use the highest value from one of a numerous calculations. If the withdrawal is not the first withdrawal taken in relation to financial instrument  138 , at step  410 , then protected value  140  is decreased by the amount of the withdrawal at step  416 . If the cumulative yearly withdrawal exceeds annual income amount  144 , at step  418 , then protected value  140  and annual income amount  144  are recalculated at step  422 . These and other calculations are discussed in more detail below. 
     If the value of financial account  130  is equal to zero, at step  430 , then there may be multiple possible alternative outcomes. If the value of financial account  130  is equal to zero at step  430  and cumulative yearly withdrawals are less than or equal to annual income amount  144  at step  431 , then lifetime benefit payments may be made to customer  110  in an amount equivalent to annual income amount  144 , at step  432 . If the value of financial account  130  is equal to zero at step  430  and cumulative yearly withdrawals are less than or equal to annual income amount  144  at step  433 , then financial instrument  138  may be terminated in accordance with the provisions of financial instrument  138 , at step  436 . 
     If financial instrument  138  includes annuity contract  102  and customer  110  elects to annuitize, at step  440 , then financial account  130  is annuitized and annuity payments are made pursuant to the provisions of annuity contract  102 , at step  442 . In certain embodiments, terms and conditions of financial plan  100  may automatically annuitize financial instrument  138 . Financial account  130  may cease to exist at this point and its balance may no longer be able to be withdrawn by customer  110 . If financial instrument  138  includes death benefit  107  and if customer  110  dies, at step  450 , then payments are made pursuant to the provisions of death benefit  107 , at step  452 . If customer  110  elects to terminate one or more provisions of financial instrument  138 , at step  460 , then those provisions are terminated in accordance with the terms of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 , at step  462 . 
     The calculations identified in flowchart  300  are dependent upon the particular terms and conditions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . Included below are example calculations for particular embodiments of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . In the example calculations described below, financial instrument  138  is treated as including annuity contract  102 , lifetime payment guarantee  104 , and growth rate guarantee  106 . For the purpose of these calculations, annuity contract  102  is treated as a deferred variable annuity, growth rate guarantee  106  is treated as a guarantee of a five percent growth rate for the first ten years, and lifetime payment guarantee  104  is treated as annual income amount  144 . Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that financial instrument  138  was issued with an initial deposit substantially equal to value in financial account  130  and no additional contributions have been made. 
     Each time that a withdrawal is made, the value of financial account  130  may be reduced by the amount of the withdrawal. In one embodiment, on the date of the first elected withdrawal, protected value  140  may be set at the greatest of the current value of financial account  130 , the highest value of financial account on the date of customer&#39;s birthday of any year falling between the date of issuance of financial instrument  138  and the date of the first elected withdrawal, or the guaranteed base value  139  growing at five percent per year compounded. Using these assumptions, on the date of the first withdrawal, annual income amount  144  may be set at a fixed percent of protected value  140 , as specified by terms and conditions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 , at the time that protected value  140  is initially determined. For example, annual income amount  144  may be a fixed five percent of protected value  140 . In particular embodiments, the percentages and/or methods of determining annual income amount  144  may vary. 
     For example, suppose financial instrument is issued on Apr. 1, 2005 with a guaranteed base value  139  of $100,000 substantially equal to value of financial account  130  on this date. The first elected withdrawal takes place on Feb. 1, 2006 when the value of financial account  130  is equal to $101,500. The value of financial account  130  on customer&#39;s birthday on Jul. 1, 2005 is equal to 102,500. Protected value  140  would initially be calculated as the greater of $101,500, $102,500 or $104,175. 
       $100,000×(1.05)(306/365)=$104,175 
     Thus, protected value  140  would be $104,175. It should be noted that this is only an example embodiment, and certain embodiments of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  may require customer  110  to wait a certain number of years after issuance of financial instrument  138  before electing to make a withdrawal and determining guarantee income amount  144 . Accordingly, based on the assumptions above, annual income amount  144  would be $5,209. 
       $104,175×0.05=$5,209 
     If the cumulative withdrawals in a given year exceed annual income amount  144 , protected value  140  and annual income amount  144  may be recalculated going forward. Suppose that the current value of financial account  130  is $55,000 and annual income amount  144  is $5,000. The first withdrawal during the applicable year is $7,000, which is $2,000 greater than annual income amount  139  provided per year. The first step in the calculation would be to subtract annual income amount  144  from the current value of financial account  130 . Thus, the value of financial account  130  would be reduced to $50,000. ($55,000−$5,000=$50,000) The next step is to calculate the new annual income amount  144 . Annual income amount  144  would decrease according to the percentage of the excess amount to the value of financial account  130  prior to the excess being deducted. Thus, annual income amount  144  may drop to $4,500 for subsequent years. 
       (1−($2,000/$50,000))×$5,000=$4,800 
     The excess withdrawal amount would then be subtracted from the value of financial account  130 . Thus, after the withdrawal, the value of financial account  130  would be $48,000. Protected value  140  would similarly be reduced by the amount of the $7,000 withdrawal. 
     In certain embodiments, withdrawals that reduce the value of financial account  130  below a specified minimum amount will not be allowed if they are greater than the annual income amount  144 . In certain embodiments, provisions in financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  may allow for exceptions to accommodate certain provisions of the tax code. For example, if financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  is subject to required minimum distributions under the tax code, then financial instrument  138  may provide that required withdrawals will not reduce annual income amount  144 . 
     Each time that an additional contribution is made, the value of financial account  130  may be increased by the amount of the contribution. If a withdrawal has been made prior to the additional contribution, then protected value  140  may also be increased by the amount of the additional contribution, annual income amount  144  may be increased by five percent of the additional contribution. For example, suppose protected value  140  is $50,000 and annual income amount  144  is $5,000. If customer  110  makes an additional contribution of $42,400, then protected value  140  would increase to $92,400. ($50,000+$42,400=$92,400). Annual income amount  144  may increase to $7,120. 
       ($42,400×0.05)+$5,000=$7,120 
     Again, the percentages may vary and the ability to make contributions may be controlled. 
     Although  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C disclose one embodiment, various steps may be added or omitted without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, some of the illustrated steps could be performed differently or in a different order without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example financial plan opt-out opt-out  123  and acknowledgement  124  of financial plan  100  to customer  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , opt-out  123  may be electronically generated and displayed to customer. Acknowledgement  124  of opt-out  123  by customer may occur when customer  110  clicks button two that indicates that customer  110  chooses to opt-out of financial plan  110  and waive claims associated with personal investment losses against plan sponsor  118 . Upon clicking button two, a copy of acknowledgement  124  of opt-out may be stored by issuer  120  and/or plan sponsor  118 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an example data processing system  500  for providing financial plan  100  according to a particular embodiment. While in certain embodiments financial plan  100  is entered into without using a computer, other embodiments may have a computerized option for entering into financial plan  100 . Furthermore, generation of notice  122 , opt-out  123 , acknowledgement  124 , and storage of opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgement  124  may also have a computerized option. Data processing system  500  represents hardware and controlling logic for presenting and managing financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . In the embodiment shown, data processing system  500  may include one or more processors  502 , memory  504 , and interface  506 . As shown, data processing system  500  may be included as a system controlled by issuer  120 . However, in other embodiments data processing system  500  may be external to issuer  120 . In certain embodiments, data processing system  500  may be controlled by plan sponsor  118 . In certain embodiments, certain portions of data processing system  500  may be controlled by plan sponsor  118  and certain other portions may be controlled by issuer  120 . Additionally, although data processing system  500  is shown as a single system, data processing system  500  may be distributed across multiple platforms housed in multiple locations, some or all of which may or may not be controlled by issuer  120 . 
     Processor  502  may control the operation and administration of elements within data processing system  500  by processing information received from interface  506  and memory  504 . Processing module  502  may include any hardware and/or controlling logic elements operable to control and process information. For example, processing module  502  may be a computer, programmable logic device, a microcontroller, and/or any other suitable device or group of devices. In certain embodiments, processor  502  may automatically contribute a portion of customer&#39;s salary to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, processor  502  may allocate all or a portion of contribution across one or more investments  132  in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, processor  502 , may periodically distribute the value of financial account  130  between a category of high risk investments  136  and a category of low risk investments  137 , such that the percentage of the value including low risk investments  137  generally increases as customer  110  gets older. In certain embodiments, processor  502 , may calculate protected value  140 , such that processor may determine the highest value from one of a numerous calculations. In certain embodiments, processor  502  may recognize particular dates or triggering events. 
     Memory  504  may store, either permanently or temporarily, data and other information for processing by processing module  502  and communication using interface  506 . Memory  504  may include any one or a combination of volatile or nonvolatile local or remote devices suitable for storing information. For example, memory  504  may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic storage devices, optical storage devices, or any other suitable information storage device or combination of these devices. Memory  504  may store, among other things, order data  520 , account data  530 , and copies of acknowledgements  124  and/or opt-outs  123 . In certain embodiments, memory  504  may include a relational database operable to store indicators. In certain embodiments, indicators may indicate acknowledgement  124  of opt-outs  123  for one or more customers  110 . In certain embodiments, memory  504  may store the terms and conditions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  for each customer  110 . 
     Interface  506  communicates information to and receives information from devices or systems coupled to data processing system  500 . For example, interface  506  may communicate with other elements controlled by issuer  120 , network  540 , and/or elements coupled to network  540 . Thus interface  506  may include any hardware and/or controlling logic used to communicate information to and from elements coupled to data processing system  500 . 
     Network  540  represents communication equipment, including hardware and any appropriate controlling logic, for interconnecting elements coupled to network  540 . Thus network  540  may represent a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or any other appropriate form of network. Furthermore, elements within network  540  may utilize circuit-switched, packet-based communication protocols and/or other communication protocols to provide for network communications. The elements within network  540  may be connected together via a plurality of fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables, twisted-pair lines, and/or other physical media for transferring communications signals. The elements within network  540  may also be connected together through wireless transmissions, including infrared transmissions, 802.11 protocol transmissions, laser line-of-sight transmissions, or any other wireless transmission method. 
     In operation, order data  520  may be transmitted from customer  510  to data processing system  500  through network  540 . Although customer  510  is illustrated in  FIG. 7A , in certain embodiments, order data  520  may be transmitted from plan sponsor  118  through network  540 . Data processing system  500  may process order data  520 , generate account data  530 , and transmit account data  530  to issuer  118  through network  540 . In certain embodiments, customer  110  and/or plan sponsor  118  may make contributions to issuer through network  540 . 
     Order data  520  may include the name of account holder  112 , one or more tax identifiers, the resident state of account holder  112 , an initial investment allocation designation, birth date of account holder  112 , and a designation of beneficiary  114  and/or designated party  116 . In certain embodiments, among other information, order data  520  may also include information related to the selection of one or more electable options. Account data  530  may include an account number and a document, or reference to a document, containing the provisions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 . 
     Upon receipt of order data  520 , data processing system  500  may store all or a portion of order date  520  in memory  504 . For example, data processing system  500  may store one or more identifiers for account holder  112 , such as a name, a tax identifier, etc. As another example, data processing system  500  may store information identifying selected options. Data processing system  500  may calculate any applicable fees associated with the provisions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138 , including any selected options. Data processing system  500  may also identify financial account  130  and identify assets and fees associated with financial account  130 . 
     In certain embodiments, customer  510  may initiate the transmission of order data  520  through the use of a web-based application. For example, customer  510  may access one or more websites and may submit certain portions of order data  520  using those websites. Similarly, customer  510  may use Internet technologies to enroll in financial plan  100  and/or access details of financial plan  100 , including financial account  130  information. The use of internet technologies to enroll in financial plan  100  or affirm opt-out  123  and/or acknowledgement  124  may involve the use of one or more security provisions such as digital signatures, digital certificates, passwords, and encryptions. In certain embodiments, the collection of order data  520  may occur through the use of an interactive process. For example, a web-based application may present a series of questions to customer  510 , which customer  510  may respond to and, in responding, submit the contents of order data  520 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example chart  600  for determining protected value  140 . Example chart  600  includes vertical axis  604  representing monetary values and horizontal axis  602  representing time that has elapsed since the issuance of financial instrument  138 . In this example chart, issuance of financial instrument  138  is assumed to occur at time zero. Thus, financial instrument is initially funded with $20,000. Guaranteed base value  139  is also determined to be equal to $20,000. In particular embodiments, protected value  140  may be the highest of three values described below. A first value, guaranteed growth value  604 , to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the value of guaranteed base value  140  that has grown at particular rate (i.e., at an annual rate of five percent in this example) until the date that protected value  140  is determined. A second value, highest anniversary value,  606  to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the highest value of financial account at a particular anniversary date  607  occurring once a year (i.e., customer&#39;s  110  birthday) for any year following issuance of financial instrument  138  and preceding the date that protected value  140  is determined. A third value, account value  608 , to determine protected value  140  may be substantially equal to the value of financial account  130  on the date that protected value  140  is determined. 
     In a first example  610  occurring between years seven and eight from issuance of financial instrument  138 , guaranteed growth value  604  may be $28,000, highest anniversary value  606  may be $31,000, and account value  608  may be $36,000. Thus, protected value  140  may be equal to account value  608  because this is the highest of the calculated values. 
     In a second example  612  occurring between years eight and nine from issuance of financial instrument  138 , guaranteed growth value  604  may be $30,000, highest anniversary value  606  may be $37,000, and account value  608  may be $35,000. Thus, protected value  140  may be equal to highest anniversary value  606  because this is the highest of the calculated values, and customer  110  is able to receive protected value  140  higher than the actual value of customer&#39;s  110  financial account  130 . 
     In a third example  614  occurring between years fourteen and fifteen from issuance of financial instrument  138 , guaranteed growth value  604  may be $40,000, highest anniversary value  606  may be the $37,000 occurring at year eight, and account value  608  may be $15,000. Thus, protected value  140  may be equal to guaranteed growth value  604  because this is the highest of the calculated values, and customer  110  is able to receive protected value  140  much higher than the actual value of customer&#39;s  110  financial account  130 . 
       FIG. 9  is an embodiment of a general purpose computer  900  that may be used in connection with one or more pieces of software used to implement the embodiments of disclosure. General purpose computer  900  may generally be adapted to execute any of the well-known OS2, UNIX, Mac-OS, Linux, and Windows Operating Systems or other operating systems. The general purpose computer  900  in this embodiment comprises a processor  902 , a random access memory (RAM)  904 , a read only memory (ROM)  906 , a mouse  908 , a keyboard  910  and input/output devices such as a printer  914 , disk drives  912 , a display  916  and a communications link  918 . In other embodiments, the general purpose computer  900  may include more, less, or other component parts. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include programs that may be stored in the RAM  904 , the ROM  906  or the disk drives  912  and may be executed by the processor  902 . For example, RAM  904 , ROM  906 , or disk drives  912  may store, among other things, order data  520 , account data  530 , and copies of acknowledgements  124  and/or opt-outs  123 . In certain embodiments, disk drives  912  may include a relational database operable to store indicators. In certain embodiments, indicators may indicate acknowledgement  124  of opt-outs, and/or opt-outs  123  for one or more customers  110 . In certain embodiments, RAM  904 , ROM  906 , or disk drives  912  may store the terms and conditions of financial plan  100  and/or financial instrument  138  for each customer  110 . 
     The communications link  918  may be connected to a computer network or a variety of other communicative platforms including, but not limited to, a public or private data network; a local area network (LAN); a metropolitan area network (MAN); a wide area network (WAN); a wireline or wireless network; a local, regional, or global communication network; an optical network; a satellite network; an enterprise intranet; other suitable communication links; or any combination of the preceding. Disk drives  912  may include a variety of types of storage media such as, for example, floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, CD ROM drives, DVD ROM drives, magnetic tape drives or other suitable storage media. 
     Although  FIG. 9  provides one embodiment of a computer that may be used with certain embodiments of the disclosure, certain embodiments of disclosure may additionally utilize computers other than general purpose computers as well as general purpose computers without conventional operating systems. Additionally, embodiments of the disclosure may also employ multiple general purpose computers  900  or other computers networked together in a computer network. Most commonly, multiple general purpose computers  900  or other computers may be networked through the Internet and/or in a client server network. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be used with a combination of separate computer networks each linked together by a private or a public network. 
     Several embodiments of the disclosure may include logic contained within a medium. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the logic comprises computer software executable on the general purpose computer  900 . The medium may include the RAM  904 , the ROM  906  or the disk drives  912 . In other embodiments, the logic may be contained within hardware configuration or a combination of software and hardware configurations. The logic may also be embedded within any other suitable medium without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     For example, in certain embodiments, processor  902  may automatically contribute a portion of customer&#39;s  110  salary to financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, processor  902  may allocate all or a portion of contribution across one or more investments  132  in financial account  130 . In certain embodiments, processor  902  may periodically distribute the value of financial account  130  between a category of high risk investments  136  and a category of low risk investments  137 , such that the percentage of the value including low risk investments  137  generally increases as customer  110  gets older. In certain embodiments, processor  902  may calculate protected value  140 , such that processor may determine the highest value from one of a numerous calculations. In certain embodiments, processor  902  may recognize particular dates or triggering events. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in several embodiments, a myriad of changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the present appended claims. 
     To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke ¶6 of 35 U.S.C. §112 as this paragraph and section exists on the date of filing hereof unless “means for” or “step for” are used in the particular claim.