Definition of "Tontine"

Marty Welsh real estate agent

Written by

Marty Welshelite badge icon

The Bob Lucido Team, LLC of Keller Williams Integrity

Early life insurance that provided benefits only to survivors who lived to the end of a certain period of time. In the mid-17th century, Lorenzo Tonti, an Italian, devised a scheme to raise money for the French government of Louis XIV. It involved a state lottery in which the oldest survivor would collect the pot. One woman, age 96, hit the jackpot shortly before her death. Tontine policies were introduced in the U.S. in the 1860s, but condemned in the Armstrong investigation in 1905 in New York State and subsequently outlawed everywhere 45 years later.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Synopsis of the key financial figures concerning the pension plan that is contained in the form 5500 that must be filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service. This report must be given ...

Coverage in the event that property is damaged or destroyed so that an insured cannot use the property for its intended purpose. For example, loss of use of a drill press because of ...

Life insurance: Bonds most state regulations permit life insurance company investments in debentures, mortgage bonds, and blue chip corporate bonds. Stocks(a) preferred stock investment ...

Same as term: Actuarial Science: branch of knowledge dealing with the mathematics of insurance, including probabilities. It is used in ensuring that risks are carefully evaluated, that ...

Rate of return computed by dividing the current annual dividend (if a stock) or annual coupon amount (if a bond) by the amount paid for that financial instrument. ...

Trade association of surplus lines agents and insurers. ...

Estimate of maximum dollar value that can be lost under realistic situations. For example, a fire or other peril occurs, but a sprinkler system works and a fire department responds in good ...

New rule entitled "Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-duration and Long-duration Contracts," which requires the insurance company to report all assets and liabilities ...

12-month period from the date of issue of a policy as stated in its declarations section. ...

Popular Insurance Questions