Abstract: A computer method for administering a financial contract having a death benefit includes determining an initial amount of the death benefit and storing that amount, periodically determining and storing an adjusted amount of the benefit, and retrieving one of the amounts, and paying the retrieved amount to a beneficiary upon death of a contract holder. At least a portion of the initial or periodically adjusted amount is determined, at least in part, by reference to a factor external to the contract. The external factor may be a death benefit provided by a preexisting contract, a predetermined dollar amount, equity in a home or other asset, the dollar value of a specified asset, number of dependents of the contract holder, or a financial index. The adjusted benefit amount may vary with deposits and withdrawals by the contract holder. Also disclosed is a computer system for administering such a death benefit.