Description: This report highlights the findings of the 2009 survey and focuses on issues in the survey specifically as they relate to economic and financial issues.

Description: The Retirement Section and Retirement Section Research Committee are pleased to make available a research report examining academic and practitioner research on low interest rates in the United States.

Description: A Request for Proposals (RFP) for research studies on the impact of climate change and catastrophes on the U.S. health infrastructure. It outlines the background, objectives, submission requirements, and selection process for potential researchers.

Description: This article discusses the changes in the marketing and distribution of lindividual life and annuity products. It highlights new distribution channels including banks, broker dealers, wirehouses and the Internet as well as fee-for-service financial planning.

Description: Discussant comments for the 2009 Housing Wealth monograph paper, “The Impact of Diminishing Wealth on Future Consumption: How Housing Wealth Affects Retirement Planning.” The goal of the paper is to help financial professionals and plan sponsors recognize that retirement planning is being influenced by new factors and suggests ways they can readjust retirement planning strategies. The discussant has additional suggestions for financial professionals.

Description: In this webcast, presenters will outline the key content in ERM ASOPs 46, 47 and 55 and explore the impact each ASOP has on practitioners working in these fields. We will also describe the revision work currently under way in the ERM Committee of the Actuarial Standards Board.

Description: The Society of Actuaries’ Committee on Finance Research is pleased to make available a research report covering the extent to which investment sectors have been contagiously affected by major disasters.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 2003 Vancouver Spring Meeting discuss the impact of underwriting and risk classification on Long Term Care pricing. The effect of HIPAA is also discussed.

Description: The goal of this paper is to help financial professionals and plan sponsors recognize that retirement planning is being influenced by new factors and suggests ways they can readjust retirement planning strategies.

Description: For over a decade, life insurers have been challenged by a low interest rate environment, making it difficult to find investments with adequate yield, manage corporate spreads, and offer competitive products to consumers. While interest rates are still low compared to the early 2000’s, volatility in rates over the past year, during which the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate has increased by nearly 100 basis points, could indicate a longer-term trend of rising rates. What would a rising rate environment imply for life insurance writers? Insurers able to react to interest rate changes with agility can remain relevant in an evolving economy, protecting themselves and their policyholders. This article addresses risks and considerations faced by insurers with respect to in-force retention, pricing and product mix, and reinsurance and mergers & acquisitions.