Question

You are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. The insurance company informs you that you have two options for receiving the insurance proceeds. You can receive a lump sum of $200,000 today or receive payments of $1,400 a month for 20 years. You can earn 6 percent on your money. Which option should you take and why?

A. You should accept the payments because they are worth $209,414 to you today.
B. You should accept the payments because they are worth $247,800 to you today.
C. You should accept the payments because they are worth $336,000 to you today.
D. You should accept the $200,000 because the payments are only worth $189,311 to you today.
E. You should accept the $200,000 because the payments are only worth $195,413 to you today.

Answer 1

Answer:

E. You should accept the $200,000 because the payments are only worth $195,413 to you today

Explanation:

We solve for the presnet value of an annuity of 20 year of $1400 at 0.5% discount rate

$C \times \frac{1-(1+r)^{-time} }{rate} = PV$

C 1,400.00

time 240 (20 years x 12 month per year)

rate 0.005 (6% / 12 monhts = 0.5% = 0.5/100 = 0.005)

$1400 \times \frac{1-(1+0.005)^{-240} }{0.005} = PV$

PV $195,413.0804