Description: Recently, the Reinsurance Section’s research team completed a number of excellent reports. This article briefly summarizes the research reports completed in the recent past, those in the pipeline, and looks ahead to new possible research projects.

Description: This article presents an overview of the history and issues associated with penetrating the middle market for individual life insurance. Underwriting and marketing approaches are suggested. The potential role of the reinsurer is explored.

Description: In November 2011, a number of associations, including the American Council of Life Insurers [ACLI], filed comments with the Brazilian regulatory authority urging Brazil to stop restricting reinsurance access to only domestic reinsurers in one of the world’s leading emerging markets for insurance. This article examines the background and legitimacy of this complaint.

Description: A discussion of the Reinsurance Section survey that went out, what the RSC has done over the past year, and what we'll be doing going forward.

Description: Interest in blockchain is high among insurers and reinsurers. While it’s not universally useful the technology does merit continued closer investigation.

Description: Interview with CEO of the 10th largest reinsurer in the world by gross premium.

Description: Looking at the future, a panel of executives from leading global reinsurers predicted a broader framework in which capital markets, reinsurers and direct writers would be able to provide ways to offer or free up capital.

Description: Discussion of how to measure actual to expected mortality experience in the life settlement market.

Description: Discussion of overseas activity in US life mortality reinsurance market.

Description: Significant consolidation has occurred in the U.S. reinsurance market over the last five years. The number of companies operating in ordinary life reinsurance has continued to decline—13 primary companies excluding retrocessionaires contributing to the Munich American Reassurance Survey in 2004, compared to 20 companies in 1999. Table 1 and Table 2 indicate the change in market share as well as the change in the composition of the leading participants in the U.S. market for 2004 versus 1999.