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

Offer made by the insurance company to insure an applicant, provided the applicant is insurable according to the underwriting standards of the company, and the applicant accepts the offer ...

Commitment that a lending institution makes to offer a loan at a stipulated interest rate at a predetermined future time, usually limited to 90 days. ...

Combination of the federal estate tax and the federal gift tax. ...

Investment risk associated with the changes in government policies that may have a dramatic effect on financial instruments. For example, if federal legislation is passed removing the ...

Same as term Coinsurance: ...

Legislation that makes insurance fraud a federal crime. This act is part of the Omnibus Crime Bill. Under the act, it is a federal crime to embezzle or misappropriate funds, money, or ...

Common law rule of negligence that imposes liability on an individual who had one last opportunity to avoid an accident but did not take it. An example is a driver who could have avoided ...

(Formerly the American College of Life Underwriters) accrediting body for the CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designations. Provides ...

Same as term Compulsory Insurance: coverage required by the laws of a particular state. For example, many states stipulate minimum amounts of automobile liability insurance that must be ...

Popular Insurance Questions