Description: This paper was motivated in part by a desire to use, in a variety of classroom situations, some of the readily available statistics on mortality and related factors. A second aim was to illustrate certain statistical ideas, such as the relative merits of means and medians. However, the subject of racial differentials in mortality rates is of considerable intrinsic interest, which the analysis presented here only begins to address.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the undergraduate research in actuarial science at Ball State University. Abstracts of 23 honors theses, with brief comments about the students' careers, are given. Common characteristics of the theses are described. Helpful techniques for advising thesis writing students are provided. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1996, Vol. 1.

Description: This paper is on the ownership considerations in a new legal structure of a life insurance company.

Description: In today's atmosphere, the high returns available on bonds have attracted much investor interest, and it is only natural that fixed income investors look for ways to assure the maintenance of high returns on their bond portfolios. This paper explains how bond immunization offers that potential.

Description: This paper is a report on research for undergraduate experience grants held for 8 weeks under the direction of Cecil Nesbitt. The topic of the research was Social Security Financing and Related Matters. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 1.

Description: A proposal for a minimum continuing capital and surplus requirement for life insurers has recently been circulated by the Department of Insurance Canada for comment by the life insurance industry and the actuarial profession in Canada. This talk describes some of the reasoning and methodology underlying this proposal.

Description: This paper reports on the dimension and direction of the economic changes in Eastern Europe, states the need for actuarial training and services in the new political landscape, and outlines some ways of meeting the demand. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991, Vol. 1.

Description: This is an obituary for Hilary L. Seal, January 11, 1911-July 25, 1984. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1995 Vol. 1.

Description: This presentation compares continuous-time multi-factor affine cohort mortality models and presents estimation results for an affine multi-factor, multi-cohort mortality model.

Description: Actuarial science is at a cross roads. Many are urging that our highly successful examination process be partially abandoned in favour of accepting university courses in a number of basic subjects. This drive is based in part on the difficulties in supporting the present system, the experience elsewhere and a misplaced confidence in the quality of the university system. This paper explores where the university system is and where it needs to go in order to adequately serve the interests of the actuarial community.