Group Life & AnnuitiesQuestion 250 of 315

California regulates the surrender-charge schedule on individual deferred annuities sold to seniors. Which statement is correct about a typical compliant surrender-charge schedule?

a.Surrender charges may continue indefinitely without time limit
b.Surrender charges typically decline annually (e.g., 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0%) over a multi-year schedule and the contract must disclose this schedule at or before sale
c.California prohibits all surrender charges on annuities
d.Surrender charges apply only if the contract is surrendered within the first 30 days

Explanation

A typical deferred annuity has a multi-year 'declining' surrender-charge schedule (sometimes called the contingent deferred sales charge, CDSC) — for example, 8% in year 1, declining 1% per year to 0% in year 9. California requires clear pre-sale disclosure of the surrender charge schedule (Insurance Code §10127.13) and applies heightened scrutiny when the buyer is age 65 or older — surrender periods that extend beyond the senior's likely time horizon trigger suitability concerns under §10234.93. Option A is wrong — schedules must eventually drop to zero. Option C is wrong — California regulates, but does not ban, surrender charges. Option D confuses surrender charges with the free-look period.

Law Reference: Cal. Ins. Code §10127.13 (annuity surrender charges)

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