(b) Reserve liabilities for the guaranteed minimum death benefit shall be the reserve needed to provide for the contingency of death occurring when the guaranteed minimum death benefit exceeds the death benefit that would be paid in the absence of the guarantee, and shall be maintained in the general account of the insurer and shall be not less than the greater of the following minimum reserves:

1. (1) The aggregate total of the term costs, if any, covering a period of one full year from the valuation date, of the guarantee on each variable life insurance contract, assuming an immediate one-third depreciation in the current value of the assets of the separate account followed by a net investment return equal to the assumed investment rate, or

2. (2) The aggregate total of the “attained age level” reserves on each variable life insurance contract. The “attained age level” reserve on each variable life insurance contract shall not be less than zero and shall equal the “residue,” as described in subparagraph (A), of the prior year's “attained age level” reserve on the contract, with any such “residue” increased or decreased by a payment computed on an attained age basis as described in subparagraph (B) below.

   1. (A) The “residue” of the prior year's “attained age level” reserve on each variable life insurance contract shall not be less than zero and shall be determined by adding interest at the valuation interest rate to such prior year's reserve, deducting the tabular claims based on the “excess,” if any, of the guaranteed minimum death benefit over the death benefit that would be payable in the absence of such guarantee, and dividing the net result by the tabular probability of survival. The “excess” referred to in the preceding sentence shall be based on the actual level of death benefits that would have been in effect during the preceding year in the absence of the guarantee, taking appropriate account of the reserve assumptions regarding the distribution of death payments over the year;
   2. (B) The payment referred to in subsection (b)(2) of this Section shall be computed so that the present value of a level payment of that amount each year over the future premium paying period of the contract is equal to (A) minus (B) minus (C), where (A) is the present value of the future guaranteed minimum death benefits, (B) is the present value of the future death benefits that would be payable in the absence of such guarantee and (C) is any “residue,” as described in subparagraph (A), of the prior year's “attained age level” reserve on such variable life insurance contract. If the contract is paid-up, the payment shall equal (A) minus (B) minus (C). The amounts of future death benefits referred to in (B) shall be computed assuming a net investment return of the separate account which may differ from the assumed investment rate and/or the valuation interest rate but in no event may exceed the maximum interest rate permitted for the valuation of life insurance contracts.
3. (3) The valuation interest rate and mortality table used in computing the two minimum reserves described in (1) and (2) above shall conform to permissible standards for the valuation of life insurance contracts. In determining such minimum reserve, the company may employ suitable approximations and estimates, including but not limited to groupings and averages.