This webcast will analyze ALM techniques and ERM (from a financial perspective) for Long–Term Care (LTC) companies. Since LTC is a long–tailed line of business with very little liquidity risk, creating an appropriate long–term investment strategy to back a LTC line of business can be a difficult task. The presenters will discuss asset liability management analysis including cash flow analysis and duration analysis. ALM efficient frontier analysis will also be looked at with the objective of evaluating the investment requirements for a block of LTC liabilities and recommend an optimal portfolio strategy.

Webcast Recording: $99

With a continued focus on integrated wellness benefits, Vision exams are being identified as a non-invasive way to identify and treat many diseases at an early stage. Nevertheless, many challenges are faced with educating members of the advantages of the eye exam, and integrating the results into their healthcare. Finally, if successful, integrated benefits will have an impact on the profitability of vision benefits where the same carrier may not see the savings reaped by the medical intervention.

• How do you forecast the key indicators in a vision plan with and without health integration?
• What other risk components influence the overall cost of care?
• What product ideas and innovations are there in the vision benefit space?
• Can you track, monitor and price these variations?

This webcast will show attendees some of the considerations from both a clinical and financial perspective of the key drivers in a vision plan. Attendees will have a greater understanding of the various options and considerations necessary to retain a profitable and growing vision product in today's very tight and competitive employee benefits market.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Identifying benefits of a vision exam
• Understanding the key diseases identified through a vision exam, how it should integrate with a medical disease management program and the challenges facing a successful integration
• How health integration is changing the view of vision benefits from a discount program to a wellness benefit
• Recognizing the key risk drivers that impact the financial viability of a vision plan
• The latest innovations in vision plans and how they actually influence sales and utilization

Webcast Recording: $99

Most corporate pension plans are underfunded and plan sponsors are wondering whether to fund more than minimum requirements and wondering what to do while cash to make contributions is difficult to come by. Making additional contributions will often make good sense and issuing debt to enable those contributions can improve a company's bottom line. Also many plan sponsors have made or are evaluating making contributions of their own stock to their pension fund. This session will discuss the pros and cons of these two ideas and will review case studies for both GM and JC Penney.

Note–The recording available for purchase is intended for individual viewing. Only one EA credit certificate will be issued per recording purchase.

Webcast Recording: $99

The U.S. health care system's quality and efficiency are highly visible and important. Measurement of these attributes is continuing to expand and programs are evolving quickly. New developments will be discussed during the webcast, including enhanced quality measures, metrics on physician quality, pay–for–performance pilots, and alternative networks.

To assess the current state of these complicated and changing developments, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Health Section and Solucia Consulting co–sponsored a research project. Researchers Sheryl Coughlin, Ian Duncan, and Greger Vigen identified nearly 100 organizations and over 160 programs and products that measure the quality and efficiency of physicians and hospitals. This project, "Measurement of Healthcare Quality and Efficiency: Resources for Healthcare Professionals" was published during Fall 2009. Accompanying the report is a 300–page Inventory of Organizations that surveys various organizations including web links, products and systems focused on the measurement of healthcare quality and efficiency. A second phase of the study is underway and future efforts under discussion include comparative application of the tools.

The presentation will introduce the study and discuss various measurements of healthcare quality and efficiency for interested practitioners. The webcast will:

• Review recent developments in Quality & Efficiency measurement
• Describe organizations and tools that support quality and efficiency measurement
• Discuss potential applications for actuaries

Webcast Recording: $99

The rapid emergence of a novel H1N1 influenza virus and ongoing concerns about the H5N1 avian flu virus have heightened awareness of the substantial societal costs of pandemic influenza and the severe strain influenza places on the health care system. The SOAs' Committee on Life Insurance Research, Health Section and Joint Risk Management Section has sponsored a research project to help stakeholders better understand the potential impact of pandemic influenza on both private and public payers in the US health care system, focusing on the moderate and severe pandemic scenarios published by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In order to assist individual insurers in estimating their potential exposures during a specific pandemic, an individual company spreadsheet tool has been developed based on the SOA research. This webcast will demonstrate how to use the company tool to gain insight into demand, cost, and reserving questions. The company tool breaks down the assumptions into three broad areas:

• scenario assumptions,
• provider assumptions, and
• payer assumptions.

By adjusting baseline assumptions to take into account company specific conditions and views, users can arrive at estimated costs over the course of a pandemic, IBNR implications, and potential system capacity constraints.

Webcast Recording: $99

In a volatile market, health dollars become scarce. Those who have or need to spend on ancillary coverages (specifically, dental coverages) are driving costs up. Additionally, providers are facing the crunch as fewer patients visit the office and those who come are not able or willing to pay for the more expensive treatments. The dentist is being used by those who need services or those insured who are "dragged" through the system, driving up dental costs. How do you understand and quantify the impact? Can you track, monitor and, most importantly, influence these behavior patterns?

This webcast shows attendees some of the considerations, from both a product and network perspective, involved in spotting and influencing the trend. Attendees will have a greater understanding of the various options and considerations necessary to retain a profitable and growing dental product in today's very tight and competitive dental insurance market.

Topics discussed include:

• Ways to identify and monitor trend in a timely fashion.
• Options for rating plans in a volatile environment.
• Product options, market responses and considerations to the increasing dental cost and utilization trend.
• Using the network to control dental trend.
• Identifying methods to control utilization through dentist education and focused review.
• Update on modeling techniques to measure longevity risk.

Webcast Recording: $99

The prevalence of benefit offsets from Social Security, worker's compensation, pension plans and other sources have a major impact on the cost of group long–term disability (LTD) plans and the reserves that companies hold. The Society of Actuaries sponsored a research project that was performed by Milliman, Inc. to provide insight into the nature of these benefit offsets based on inter–company data.

The study investigated the percentage of LTD claimants who are receiving disability benefits from other sources that offset their LTD benefits and how this percentage is affected by the duration of disablement, age at disablement, gender, industry, state of residence and medical conditions causing the disability. The relationship of certain key benefit offsets to pre–disability earned income was also investigated. The result of the research was written up in a report authored by Robert Beal of Milliman and released by the Society of Actuaries.

This presentation will review key results from the research and discuss how this data may be useful in pricing and reserving group LTD plans. Topics to be discussed include:

• Significant results of the research
• The methodology used to generate these results and limitations
• Implications of the results for pricing and reserving

Webcast recording: $99

Actuarial Standards of Practice No. 41 Actuarial Communications has been recently revised and exposed for comment by the ASB. The SOA believes in good faith that this session qualifies toward the professionalism requirements and organized activity requirements in the Qualification Standards and SOA CPD requirements. One of the goals of the ASOP 41 revision is to make clear that the actuary is responsible for any assumptions and methods underlying the actuarial communication unless they are expressly disclaimed and secondly to standardize the treatment of deviations among all ASOPs.

By attending this session, you will learn the key changes in ASOP 41 and the standards and practices that will impact your written, electronic and oral communications.

In light of the increasingly complex legislative and compliance controls over the last decade, this session is designed to help actuaries communicate clearly and concisely, so the recipient can understand and appreciate technical contents.

*EA Credit

While the SOA recommends this topic to help satisfy core continuing education credit for enrolled actuaries, the final decision as to meeting this requirement rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries.

• Core Credit: 90 minutes (1.8 units)

*If you would like to receive EA credit for this recording, please let us know when placing your order and you will be provided with a link for submitting your request for a certificate. You will need to complete some required fields as well as upload a word document with a 1 page summary highlighting important insights you gained from this presentation.

Note–The recording available for purchase is intended for individual viewing. Only one EA credit certificate will be issued per recording purchase.

Cost: $139

This session will cover longevity research going on around the world. The information presented at this session should be of interest to any actuary who deals with mortality and longevity.

As life expectancies increase, the actuary is challenged with making projections on the longevity of individuals. Will the increases continue, accelerate or decrease? Life insureds, annuitants, pensioners and the general population may have different life expectancies today. Will these converge or diverge in the future? In this session, speakers will present the latest research and views from around the world on longevity.

*EA Credit

While the SOA recommends this topic to help satisfy core continuing education credit for enrolled actuaries, the final decision as to meeting this requirement rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries.

• Core Credit: 90 minutes (1.8 units)

*If you would like to receive EA credit for this recording, please let us know when placing your order and you will be provided with a link for submitting your request for a certificate. You will need to complete some required fields as well as upload a word document with a 1 page summary highlighting important insights you gained from this presentation.

Note–The recording available for purchase is intended for individual viewing. Only one EA credit certificate will be issued per recording purchase.

Cost: $139

Are you curious about the impact of Federal Regulation on Credit Insurance and Debt Protection Products?

Do you know what effect a Principle—Based Approach will have on Credit Insurance?

How has the emergence of bank products known as Debt Protection affected Credit Insurance?

Credit Protection is not what it used to be. Issues such as industry consolidation, refund litigation, HOEPA, "predatory lending" legislation, and the emergence of debt protection products have all had a profound effect on the credit insurance industry.

The presenters will take a quick look back to the origins of credit insurance and how it has evolved. They will provide an overview of current insurance products, production, valuation and experience reporting. We will also begin to discuss lender-provided debt protection. Finally, the effects of the current regulatory environment and economic trends will be examined for the presenters' vision on the future of the credit insurance and debt protection industry.

Webcast Recording–Marketing and Distribution Section Members: $69
Webcast Recording–All others: $99

Learn about current topics in US GAAP financial reporting for life and annuity products. Experts in the application of US GAAP concepts discuss theoretical and practical aspects of emerging issues. Topics include:

• Fair value developments,
• Implications of other than temporary impairments,
• Industry developments in DAC amortization for variable products,
• FAS 141R and Purchase GAAP and
• Joint projects with the IASB.

By attending this session, the participant has an increased understanding of the conceptual and practical issues of current interest under US GAAP.

Virtual Conference Recording:

1–3 participants:     $129 member/$159 nonmember
4–6 participants:     $389 member/$419 nonember
7–10 participants:   $729 member/$759 nonmember

Compliance with the Illustration Testing Model Regulation can be tough for both new and experienced Illustration Actuaries. Many actuaries wonder if they are not alone in their concerns and are curious about what other actuaries are doing to comply with the Model Regulation and ASOP 24.

Help is on the way.

This webcast will focus on the recently updated Illustration Testing Practice Notes, highlighting changes and updates made, as well as helping actuaries with current issues they may be facing when gearing up for illustration testing. The panel includes members of the workgroup responsible for updating the practice notes.

The objectives of this webcast are:

• Review of Illustration Model Regulation, ASOP 24, and Generally Recognized Expense Table
• Review updated illustration practice notes
• Offer information about illustration testing to actuaries dealing with illustration testing compliance
• Provide a forum for questions to be asked of the panel regarding the practice notes

Webcast Recording–Product Development Section Members: $69
Webcast Recording–All others: $99

It has been over a year since SFAS 157 became effective, yet actuaries considering fair value for their companies' holdings continue to struggle with taking overarching guidance provided, and putting it into specific practices. In response, the American Academy of Actuaries has published practice notes providing guidance on fair value requirements, especially for contracts subject to SFAS 133. Meanwhile, the market turbulence of the last year has revealed new challenges for fair value reporting, making it more critical than ever for financial reporting actuaries to stay informed and involved.

This webcast will focus on developments in fair value accounting including applications of SFAS 157. The discussion will cover an overview of SFAS 157 applicability and emerging practices, including:

• Liability embedded derivatives and related DAC implications
• Purchase accounting
• Investment accounting

Target Audience

Actuaries who are involved in GAAP reporting, in particular the reporting of assets and liabilities subject to SFAS 157; managers who are responsible for ensuring compliance with GAAP reporting; and senior management who will need to understand and explain reported results or are interested in developments in fair value reporting should all attend this valuable webcast.

Access to archived webcast

$99 All purchasers

The newly amended insurance law in China goes into effect Oct. 1, 2009. Are you prepared for a number of new provisions and extensive amendments? Are you aware of how this will affect your company?

The Society of Actuaries' China Region Committee offered the very first non-English speaking webcast, presented for actuaries in China, by expert professionals residing in China, including invited speakers from CIRC, China Life, PingAn and AIA who will share their views, experiences and answer your questions about the amended law. The webcast discusses policy contract, new filing requirements, claims investigation, transitioning for insurers, as well as other issues the new law will affect.

NOTE: The webcast is broadcast in Mandarin. Handouts are available in both English and Mandarin

Webcast Recording–: $99

One of the least understood risks that insurance and reinsurance companies, pension plan sponsors and the government is longevity risk–the risk that policyholders or pensioners will live longer than expected. The perception of longevity risk continues to evolve as experience emerges about the constant increase in life expectancy combined with the long term nature of the life insurance, annuity and pension obligations. Despite the increasing importance of this risk, there is relatively little published work on measuring and managing longevity exposure.

This webcast will bring attendees up–to–date on the latest thinking regarding longevity and the risks to insurers and pension funds from mortality continuing to improve or to be lower than expected. Specific products will be discussed, including quantification of longevity risk and potential solutions for managing it. Topics discussed include:

• Types of exposure to longevity risk
• The "graying" population and expected strain on retirement systems
• Trends shifting longevity risk from employers or plan sponsors to individuals
• Insurance products developing in response to this change
• Update on modeling techniques to measure longevity risk

Webcast Recording–: $99

For years, bank Insurance (insurance products distributed by or through banks) has been talked about as the "next great opportunity" for the insurance industry. But has that come to fruition? Who is having success in this market and why.

This webcast will include presentations from several bank Insurance industry experts who will be able to share with participants the current dynamics of the market. Special attention will be given to distribution tactics that have resulted in success in this market, and what alternatives have been explored that may not have been as successful. Representatives from companies in this market will present some success stories.

This webcast covered:

• an overview of the bank insurance market
• description of key types of insurance sold in this market and some product variations
• discussion of regulatory differences faced by the insurance industry and bank industry
• pricing and product development challenges faced by actuaries working with these products

Webcast Recording–Marketing and Distribution Section Members): $69
Webcast Recording–All others: $99

Retirement 20/20 is a strategic multi–year project to look at the possibilities that could exist for retirement systems outside of the traditional defined benefit/defined contribution framework. Since its inception, Retirement 20/20 has systematically brought together actuaries (pensions and annuities), economists, attorneys, employers, investment advisors and public policy experts to debate what we need for a robust retirement system in the 21^st century without regard to the constraints of existing legislative requirements. We've learned a lot about how to make new retirement systems work better for individuals, society and employers, and how to utilize markets better by starting from the ground up to define the ideal characteristics such systems should have. These insights are also useful today for those working within the existing defined benefit/defined contribution framework, as well as those designing insurance solutions for retirement needs. This webcast will bring you up to date on what we've learned so far, provide an overview of the new Measurement Framework tool and give you a sneak peak at our future plans for the project.

Enrolled Actuary Credit

This webcast is recommended to meet Enrolled Actuary continuing education requirements. While the sponsors of this program recommend this topic to satisfy 90 minutes of non–core continuing credit for Enrolled Actuaries, the final decision as to meeting those requirements rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries.

Webcast Recording–All others: $99
$50 per person for Enrolled Actuary Credit

New IRS Correction Procedures for Life Insurance and Annuities Webinar

Presented Live: March 4, 2009

In this webinar, learn about the five revenue procedures that significantly improve the procedures for obtaining a closing agreement to correct the inadvertent failures of life insurance or annuity contracts to satisfy the requirements of sections 817(h), 7702, and 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code.

WMV Download–Taxation Section Member: $69

WMV Download–All Others: $99

Impact of the Financial Crisis on 2008 Year End Financial Reporting Webcast

Presented Live: December 17, 2008

The current financial crisis has had wide-ranging impacts on the financial services industry. This webcast will look at the financial reporting issues for year end 2008 as they relate to the current situation. The panelists will discuss both Statutory and GAAP issues including Cash Flow Testing, C–3, Phase 2, mean reversion, FAS 157 reserves and more. They will discuss the issues and solutions and approaches that are being discussed and implemented in the industry.

WMV Download–Financial Reporting Section Member: $99
WMV Download–All Others: $149

Project Management: Strategies for Success Webcast

Presented Live: November 20, 2008

The objective of this webcast is to provide participants with practical insights to help them increase the success rate of their projects. Doris W. Orr, CA will provide participants sensible project management solutions garnered from her experience managing large, global initiatives and small–scale projects. In a small business or consulting firm, it is essential to use your time and resources wisely. You don't have time (or client budget) to re–do a failed project. This session will show you how to:

• Outline your project initiative so that it starts with the best chance to succeed
• Structure your project initiative effectively–different structures for small and large projects will be reviewed
• Keep your finger on the pulse of the project and identify early warning signals for projects that are starting to derail
• Motivate yourself and your team by celebrating interim milestones–as part of the change psychology of projects

Two actuarial project case studies–one small single–person project initiative and one large, global project initiative–will be showcased.

Webcast Recording (WMV File): $199

Reviewing and Validating Actuarial Models Webcast

Presented Live: November 5, 2008

The objective of this webcast is to discuss the importance of and uses for reviewing and validating actuarial models, along with common methods and approaches being used across the industry.

The list of topics to be discussed includes:

• Reasons for reviewing and validating models
• Types and timing of model review and validation
• How a model review/validation is performed, including micro and macro approaches
• Aspects of a model review, and information needed, including testing and controls
• Sample templates and trend analyses
• Documentation
• Who performs reviews

Webcast Recording (WMV File): $199

Stochastic Modeling Webcast

Presented Live: July 22, 2008

Stochastic mortality and lapse analysis is emerging as a valuable tool in measuring exposure and uncertainty around mortality risk. Properly understanding the tail risk and mortality volatility can help companies determine reinsurance needs, economic capital levels and effectively manage mortality risk.

This type of measurement will be critical for emerging regulatory frameworks and will require life insurers to create/adopt new techniques for measuring risk. As development continues in this field, there may be valuable lessons from other types of insurers that already use stochastic methods extensively.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of current uses of stochastic modeling in life insurance and how best practices may develop with increased demand.

Presenter Panel/Moderator

• Chad Runchey and Matthew Clark of Ernst and Young presented key findings from their paper, "Stochastic Analysis of Long Term Multiple–Decrement Contracts."
• Brian Fernandes of Guy Carpenter gave perspective from a property and casualty viewpoint, where stochastic modeling has been employed in critical decision making for many years.
• David Rains of Guy Carpenter served as Webcast moderator.

WMV Download–Reinsurance Section Member: $99

WMV Download–All Others: $149

Understanding Changes During Retirement: Results of Two Studies Webcast

Presented Live: April 23, 2008

The objective of the "Understanding Changes During Retirement: Results of Two Studies" Webcast is to discuss the Society of Actuaries' 2007 Risks and Process of Retirement Survey and the Urban Institutes' study on How Older Americans Spend Their Time.

 

The key topics of the Society of Actuaries' 2007 survey is to understand the stages of retirement, and how people view and manage long–term care and health risks. The SOA has sponsored this survey biennially since 2001 to gain insight on how the public views post–retirement needs and risks. The study by the Urban Institute examines what people do in retirement at different stages. The webcast is designed to offer an overall understanding of how people view and manage retirement risks, what they do during retirement, and what this means for various stakeholders.

 

Enrolled Actuary Credit

This webcast is recommended to meet Enrolled Actuary continuing education requirements. While the sponsors of this program recommends this topic to satisfy 90 minutes non–core continuing credit for Enrolled Actuaries, the final decision as to meeting those requirements rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries.

 

Webcast Recording (WMV File): $200

$50 per person for Enrolled Actuary Credit

Global Best Practices in ERM for Insurers and Reinsurers Webcast

Presented Live: January 16, 2008

This webcast was developed to promote awareness of a global actuarial community by involving actuaries globally in one event, allowing people to share risk management practices across geographical regions.

ERM is a unique field that is developing in all parts of the world at more or less the same time; therefore it is a new practice area where a global actuarial community of practitioners is developing. The webcast included speakers from Europe and Asia/Pacific, as well as the Americas, and allowed risk officers to share emerging risk management practices across different geographical regions.

Track One, prerecorded sessions, include: Embedding ERM within the Organization, Economic Capital, Emerging Risks Management and Setting Risk Appetite. The second track consists of live sessions, with the topics repeated three times, with each session offering different speakers and a regional spin. These sessions include stakeholder views of ERM, Embedding ERM within the Organization, Economic Capital, and Active Risk Controls.

• Track One MP3 File: $100
• Track Two MP3 File: $100

"CD-Roms of this webcast are not available for purchase.

PPA–A Review of Recent Guidance Webcast

Presented Live: December 12, 2007

PPA turned the traditional way of funding plans upside down by creating a new set of funding rules, funding targets, assumptions, and benefit restrictions. The new rules have triggered a variety of implementation questions, and recently released guidance has helped clarify some of the major issues. Please join us for one of your last chances to hear about the recent guidance before the end of the year.

Topics will include:

• Benefit restrictions (covered by the proposed regulations);
• Yield curve, segment rates, and 417(e)(3) interest rates;
• Mortality tables for the funding target calculations and lump sums; and
• Changing the lump sum basis and 204(h) notices.

During this webcast, panelists will help you sort through the recent guidance and help you prepare for 2008.

Enrolled Actuary Credit

This webcast is recommended to meet Enrolled Actuary continuing education requirements. While the sponsors of this program recommend this topic to satisfy 90 minutes of core continuing credit for Enrolled Actuaries, the final decision as to meeting those requirements rests with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries.

Webcast Recording (WMV File): $200
$50 per person for Enrolled Actuary Credit

Beyond Mortality–The World of Asset–Intensive Reinsurance Webcast

Presented Live–November 7, 2007

Many life insurance professionals are familiar with reinsurance of term, universal life, and other products that focus on mortality risk. Reinsurance is thought of–correctly–as an important tool for managing mortality risk and the related capital and financial issues. Reinsurance goes well beyond these traditional products and uses, though, and that is the focus of this webcast.

The panelists, representing an annuity direct–writer and a reinsurer, will walk through the timeline of an asset–intensive reinsurance transaction. After defining asset–intensive reinsurance and comparing it with "traditional" reinsurance, the panelists will discuss, in a highly interactive session, everything from the initial motivations of the parties involved, to the unique pricing, treaty, valuation, administrative, investment and other considerations such reinsurance presents. After walking through the timeline, the panelists will discuss the future of asset–intensive reinsurance as well as hot topics in this area.

This program was developed for all experience levels and would be of particular interest to those that price asset–intensive products (annuities, universal life, etc.) and/or those who manage capital.

Webcast Recording (WMV File): $200