NAAJ Practical Application Essays

The North American Actuarial Journal (NAAJ) is a rich source of deep academic research relevant to the actuarial profession. Most busy practicing actuaries have limited capacity to transform the NAAJ research into a practical application that they can use in their current work. Each calendar quarter the SOA calls for essays that highlight practical applications of academic research published in the NAAJ. The essays posted met the publication criteria of the judging committee and highlight, in just a few pages, practical applications of research papers that have been published online in the NAAJ.

Current Call for Practical Application Essays on NAAJ Articles
Submissions Due July 31, 2022

2021

Practical Application of “It’s About Time: An Examination of Loss Reserve Development Time Horizons” to Health IBNR Reserves
September
This essay describes practical application of “It’s About Time: An Examination of Loss Reserve Development Time Horizons” to Health IBNR Reserves. “It’s About Time: An Examination of Loss Reserve Development Time Horizons” was published in the North American Actuarial Journal online February 8, 2019.

Practical Application of “Do Jumps Matter in the Long Term? A Tale of Two Horizons”
September
The essay describes an application of “Do Jumps Matter in the Long Term? A Tale of Two Horizons,” by Jean-François Bégin and Mathieu Boudreault, published in the North American Actuarial Journal online Jan 5, 2021.

An Update to E-Cigarettes: A Hazard or a Help?
June
This essay supplements the same author’s paper, “E-Cigarettes: A Hazard or a Help?,” which was published online in the NAAJ on December 18, 2019, and in print in Volume 24, 2020–Issue 4. The supplement reflects significant findings since the original paper was written.

Pricing Disability Insurance Alongside Hedging Longevity Risk
April
This essay outlines a practical application of “Hedging Longevity Risk: Does the Structure of the Financial Instrument Matter?” by Richard D. MacMinn and Nan Zhu. The essay is solely an expression of the views, opinions, and ideas of the essay author for applying the original research to actuarial work in industry.