Description: This article provides an update on Department of Labor's fiduciary regulation for retirement plans/investors focusing on a July 2017 request for information.

Description: Companies are exposed to a variety of risks related to the development and implementation of their business strategy. There is an extensive amount of literature about enterprise risk management (ERM), yet it is still possible to find a new opportunity to analyze how different kinds of risk information can be objectively considered by senior management to enhance corporate governance and strengthen sound decision-making processes. Strategy formulation is the main part of the strategic planning process. A robust ERM framework must provide relevant risk information for decision-makers so as to reduce the possibility of selecting a mistaken strategy or overlooking an important one. Most common strategic planning tools do not even take risk into account, which worsens the situation. Subsequently, it is time to identify and measure strategic risks. They can leverage, hinder or prevent the fulfillment of the strategic objectives. Risk management may also support the development of institutional actions so as to increase the likelihood of reaching expected results. Furthermore, strategic risks should be monitored through key risk indicators to allow the identification of conditions that could lead to a risk event. This paper aims to introduce a new comprehensive model that integrates risk management into strategic planning. A number of risk tools, improvements to be made by risk managers and a practical application of the model are presented to make possible the establishment and deployment of an effective strategy by the organization.

Description: By expanding their knowledge base, actuaries can develop a broad business perspective which in combination with the analytical skills characteristic of the profession can help them succeed in the areas of strategy and general management.

Description: Discussion of what is included within the scope of Enterprise Risk Management and why it is of significance to the jobs of financial reporting actuaries

Description: It summarizes the activities that took place on the “Day of reflection and evaluation of insurance in Argentina” held at the School of Economic Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (FCE-UBA) on October 17th. The main objective of the Day was to present the progress achieved through the National Strategic Plan for the Insurance Industry (PlaNeS 2012-2020) launched in 2012. The audience included the Superintendent and Vice Superintendent of Insurance, Juan Bontempo and Santiago Fraschina, as well as the Dean of the FCE-UBA, Professor Alberto Barbieri, and authorities of all insurance chambers and industry trade bodies.

Description: Securitization of mortality risks is an alternative risk management tool that may have some advantages over reinsurance. The purpose of this paper is to study mortality-based securities, such as swaps and mortality bonds, and to price the proposed mortality securities. We focus on group life annuity data, although the techniques could be applied to other lines of annuity or life insurance.

Description: This paper investigates the optimal multi-period proportional reinsurance strategy that minimizes the ruin probability of an insurer. Some conditions under which it is optimal to have no reinsurance are derived. Based on these results, a new concept, capital threshold of proportional reinsurance, is introduced. In the case of two periods, a lower bound of the capital threshold of proportional reinsurance is provided. Some economic implications and properties of this new concept are also discussed.

Description: Companies are exposed to a variety of risks related to the development and implementation of their business strategy. There is an extensive amount of literature about enterprise risk management (ERM), yet it is still possible to find a new opportunity to analyze how different kinds of risk information can be objectively considered by senior management to enhance corporate governance and strengthen sound decision-making processes. Strategy formulation is the main part of the strategic planning process. A robust ERM framework must provide relevant risk information for decision-makers so as to reduce the possibility of selecting a mistaken strategy or overlooking an important one. Most common strategic planning tools do not even take risk into account, which worsens the situation. Subsequently, it is time to identify and measure strategic risks. They can leverage, hinder or prevent the fulfillment of the strategic objectives. Risk management may also support the development of institutional actions so as to increase the likelihood of reaching expected results. Furthermore, strategic risks should be monitored through key risk indicators to allow the identification of conditions that could lead to a risk event. This paper aims to introduce a new comprehensive model that integrates risk management into strategic planning. A number of risk tools, improvements to be made by risk managers and a practical application of the model are presented to make possible the establishment and deployment of an effective strategy by the organization.

Description: Discussion of the Chinese supplemental pension plans, Enterprise Annuities EA.

Description: The article endorses broader use of lifetime income in DC plans. It explains why the use of DB plans will continue to decline. The article points out that plans sponsors will not willingly take on additional ERISA fiduciary exposure. The article endorses three regulatory reforms that would increase the use of lifetime income in DC plans. 1. A robust annuity issuer safe harbor that would free employers from fiduciary exposure for putting an annuity provider on the DC platform. 2. A requirement that a plan offer a lifetime income option to qualify for the 404(c) safe harbor. 3. A revision to 404(c) to allow plan sponsors to allocate part or all of the employer match to lifetime income.