"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream"

A tontine is an investment pool managed in an actuarially fair way, according to a plan for distributing fully-funded payouts to investors. There are two key differences between a tontine and an ordinary investment. First, tontine investments are generally irrevocable. Second, account balances are not transferred to a member’s beneficiaries upon death. Instead, remaining assets are equitably apportioned among the pool’s surviving participants. Accordingly, monies forfeited by those who die increase the returns to those who survive.

These extra returns are referred to as “mortality credits.” In this way, tontines allow members to collect lifetime income by collectively self-pooling longevity risk among themselves. This obviates the need for (and cost of) an insurer as guarantor. Tontines are not insurance, though they can deliver lifetime income similar to payout annuities and pensions. Tontines simply cut out the middleman.

Tontines are easier to administer, cleaner and less capital-intensive and can be expected to generate rising payment streams over time, at least for those who live long enough to benefit from the superior mortality credits they provide. In a classical tontine, payments are initially quite low – at best comparable to the risk-free rate on bonds... But as retirees die, tontines become more attractive for those who survive. The last few survivors may receive 10 times more than they put into the scheme.

At 55, my biggest concern is the potential burden on my kids if I'm unable to work and an unexpected illness strikes. The Tontine-based pension product deals with this issue with a steady stream of funds for life to ensure the bills are always getting paid.

"Tontines, they solve so many problems for retirees.
These guys are bringing them back.
Super interesting!"

First rate! I'm so excited about your effort I can barely stand it!