Reserve liabilities for variable life insurance

1. Reserve liabilities for variable life insurance policies must be established under North Dakota Century Code chapter 26.1-33 in accordance with actuarial procedures that recognize the variable nature of the benefits provided and any mortality guarantees. 2. For scheduled premium policies, reserve liabilities for the guaranteed minimum death benefit must be the reserve needed to provide for the contingency of death occurring when the guaranteed minimum death benefit exceeds the death benefit that would be paid in the absence of the guarantee, and must be maintained in the general account of the insurer, and may not be less than the greater of the following minimum reserves: a. The aggregate total of the term costs, if any, covering a period of one full year from the valuation date, of the guarantee on each variable life insurance contract, assuming an immediate one-third depreciation in the current value of the assets of the separate account followed by a net investment return equal to the assumed investment rate; or b. The aggregate total of the "attained age level" reserves on each variable life insurance contract. The "attained age level" reserve on each variable life insurance contract may not be less than zero and must equal the "residue", as described in paragraph 1, of the prior year's "attained age level" reserve on the contract, with any such "residue", increased or decreased by a payment computed on an attained age basis as described in paragraph 2: (1) The "residue" of the prior year's "attained age level" reserve on each variable life insurance contract may not be less than zero and must be determined by adding interest at the valuation interest rate to such prior year's reserve, deducting the tabular claims based on the "excess" if any, of the guaranteed minimum death benefit over the death benefit that would be payable in the absence of such guarantee, and dividing the net result by the tabular probability of survival. The "excess" referred to in the preceding sentence must be based on the actual level of death benefits that would have been in effect during the preceding year in the absence of the guarantee, taking appropriate account of the reserve assumptions regarding the distribution of death claim payments over the year. (2) The payment referred to in subdivision b must be computed so that the present value of a level payment of that amount each year over the future premium paying period of the contract is equal to (a) minus (b) minus (c), where (a) is the present value of the future guaranteed minimum death benefits, (b) is the present value of the future death benefits that would be payable in the absence of such guarantee, and (c) is any "residue", as described in paragraph 1, of the prior year's "attained age level" reserve on such variable life insurance contract. If the contract is paid up, the payment shall equal (a) minus (b) minus (c). The amounts of future death benefits referred to in (b) shall be computed assuming a net investment return of the separate account which may differ from the assumed investment rate or the valuation interest rate but in no event may exceed the maximum interest rate permitted for the valuation of life contracts. The valuation interest rate and mortality table used in computing the two minimum reserves described in a and b above shall conform to permissible standards for the valuation of life insurance contracts. In determining such minimum reserve, the company may employ suitable approximations and estimates, including but not limited to groupings and averages. 3. For flexible premium policies, reserve liabilities for any guaranteed minimum death benefit must be maintained in the general account of the insurer and may be not less than the aggregate total of the term costs, if any, covering the period provided for in the guarantee not otherwise provided for by the reserves held in the separate account assuming an immediate one-third depreciation in the current value of the assets of the separate account followed by a net investment return equal to the valuation interest rate. The valuation interest rate and mortality table in computing this additional reserve, if any, must conform to permissible standards for the valuation of life insurance contracts. In determining such minimum reserve, the company may employ suitable approximations and estimates including but not limited to groupings and averages. 4. Reserve liabilities for all fixed incidental insurance benefits and any guarantees associated with variable incidental insurance benefits shall be maintained in the general account and reserve liabilities for all variable aspects of the variable incidental insurance benefits shall be maintained in a separate account, in amounts determined in accordance with the actuarial procedures appropriate to such benefit.