Description: This 1977 panel discussion examined the surplus needs of life insurance companies. Topics included: 1. A status report of Trowbridge Committee on Valuation and Related Matters 2. The purpose of surplus 3. The amount of surplus required for group insurance 4. The amount of surplus required for ordinary and group business with a savings element

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.