Fixed income securities with a zero Macaulay duration: senior life settlements

Abstract

Senior life settlements belong to the family of fixed income securities, however, because of the negative stream of cash flows generated by the payment of yearly premia p and the only one positive lump sum received at death of the senior life settler, contrary to the other fixed income securities, senior life settlements, under certain conditions, can achieve a zero Macaulay duration. Investors interested in a hedged portfolio against interest risk could purchase such life settlements. We develop the conditions for which a zero Macaulay duration is obtained.