Description: This is an article regarding a trip the author took in search of centenarians in a remote area of Pakistan.

Description: Read the September 2016 issue of Pension Section News published by the The Pension Section. Newsletters provide practical information for the working actuary, articles on trends that impact sections and news about section activities.

Description: This article contains responses from five actuaries to a request for an explanation of how the 15% figure is calculated in the contention by unisex-pricing advocates that 15% of women live longer than men, but 100% of women are penalized.

Description: Trends in mortality have a huge impact on the insurance industry and its products, risks and profitability. Worldwide, life expectancy has increased continuously over the past decades. However, this progress—even without considering the Covid-19 pandemic—has been subject to strong fluctuations. In recent years, an increase in volatility can be observed. Various aspects—medical science, environment, lifestyle—have influenced the trend in the past. How can the life and health industry move forward in these uncertain conditions? In this article, we examine what has gone before and what can be learned from a closer analysis. What are the main drivers of the historical increase in life expectancy? What characterizes the dynamics of the recent past? How can mortality be projected into the future? How good are our methods of prediction and what are the risks? What risk management options are available?

Description: Highlights of the 2014 Living to 100 Symposium.

Description: Retirees and their advisors should construct diversified portfolios of retirement income, allocating among various retirement income classes that include Social Security, annuities, and systematic withdrawals from invested assets. This essay discusses the pros and cons of various retirement income generators and the issues with constructing retirement income portfolios.

Description: The work of the Society of Actuaries’ Committee on Post-Retirement Needs and Risks—including focus groups and Risks and Process of Retirement Surveys—offers important insights into when, how and why people retire.

Description: The author explores the issue of longevity risk with its implications for life insurers and society at large, and concludes that the actuarial profession is in a unique position to understand longevity risk and offer solutions.

Description: This article presents the needed mathematical techniques and obtains values for active life expectancies in which dependent lives are followed after regaining independence. Secondly, projections of active life expectancies are developed to the year 2080, under three sets of assumptions, for 65 year old men and women. Finally, estimates of the average numbers of years of dependency in ADL prior to death of 65 year old men and women are provided under alternate sets of assumptions. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991 VOL. 2.

Description: This essay advocates that the transition from DB to DC plans won't be complete until plan sponsors offer programs of retirement income in their DC plans. The essay discusses the relevant actuarial and behavioral issues.