Description: This paper attempts to develop an actuarial rationalization for the governance of a mutual life insurance company. It addresses setting surplus targets, long term growth objectives, internal performance accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. A discussion of the paper follows. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1979, Vol. 31.

Description: This is a discussion regarding actuarial considerations for mutual companies and covers such topics as: how is the overall level of retained surplus determined, do companies have surplus management programs, what are the rights of participating policyholders, are Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP being used for mutuals, how do companies reconcile growth and surplus and whether or not limits should be placed on growth and finally, what actuarial considerations are involved in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and wind ups.