Description: As the use of predictive models and novel datasets becomes more prevalent, a focus on consumer protection is being highlighted by regulators, ethicists, and industry insiders. Over time, increased rigor should and will be applied in model development and implementation. These issues are not new. Hundreds of individuals have worked on these issues in the laboratory, the board room, and the court room. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Uniform Guidelines of the US EEOC, the Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection and other sources are intended to protect the rights of citizens and consumers and provide guidance to professionals in the development and use of decision-making tools. Drawing heavily on examples and parallels from psychology and employment practices as well as other disciplines, concepts such as model bias, fairness, adverse impact, disparate treatment and the like will be presented. Suggestions to ensure model validity, demonstrate model and data relevancy and minimize the potential for adverse impact to protected classes will also be offered. Each of these considerations will be linked to recent dialogue and concerns in the Life Insurance sector.

Description: This paper uses the ideal quasi-natural experiment of government-subsidized agricultural insurance program phased out in different regions of China since 2007 to study the effects and transmission mechanisms of the program on alleviating regional poverty using a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach. Specifically, this paper identifies the causal effects on the incidence, depth and intensity of poverty among rural residents. The research has important policy implications. First, this paper uses the program as a case to provide a research paradigm to estimate effects of implementing policy instruments that combine markets and government mandates. Second, as common prosperity is now a government imperative, the research also provides insights into ways insurance can be used to hedge income risks, alleviate poverty and help achieve more equitable distribution. The paper has been published on WeChat account of Chinese Association of Actuaries on February 9, 2022. The full version has been published in CSSCI journal Insurance Research, issue 11, 2021.

Description: Frist Quarter 2022 updates on tax issues involving: IRS publication of 7702 60-month avg. applicable federal interest rates, OECD Global Minimum Tax, final Foreign Tax Credit regulations issued by Treasury and IRS, Final Regulations on Tax Issues Associated with LIBOR Transition issued by Treasury and IRS, and the Multistate Tax Commission Partnership Project focusing on insurer investment partnerships.

Description: Explore the value and cost of prescription drugs, how they should be defined and measured and the effects various stakeholders in the pharmacy ecosystem can have on these factors in the latest webcast. You'll investigate the impact of coverage, formulary and rebate negotiations and related benefit design. Find out how actuaries can answer questions related to the prescription drug industry, in addition to improving the access, quality and affordability of prescription drugs in the United States. Join us for this webcast and come learn about value-based contract design, negotiations, implementation and administration for prescription drugs.

Description: This article is about the need for changes in employee benefits and retirement. According to the author we have lost sight of the original goal: the encouragement of privately sponsored employee benefit programs so that workers and their families can live in dignity in retirement.

Description: Update on Federal Tax Issues Under the 2001 CSO Mortality Tables

Description: This article discusses new tax reporting requirements for transfers for value under section 6050Y. It also discusses changes to the transfer for value rule of section 101(a)(2) and (3), including the definition of a reportable policy sale.

Description: A summary of the report of the Canadian Royal Commission on Taxation. According to the author, the report conceives the tax structure to be a proper tool of government in far-reaching policies of income redistribution and management of the economy.

Description: Summary of the December 2003 NAIC Meeting

Description: This article reviews the topics discussed at the December 2004 meeting of the Life and Health Actuarial task force. The covered topics include Actuarial Guideline 38 and Reserves for Variable Annuities C-3 Phase 2 reserves.