Description: The SOA recently launched the Mortality and Longevity Strategic Research Program with the release of a new study on the economic impact of opioid abuse. In this session, results of this study will be presented along with insights and plans for the future of the Program.

Description: There are so many things going on in the life market that challenge and engage all parties of the insurance transaction. The presenters will cover a variety of aspects of the life market including accelerated underwriting, principle based reserves, and regulatory and product changes occurring in the life insurance market. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: - Describe how the life insurance market is being impacted by changes internal and external to companies - Describe how companies are navigating changing underwriting landscape - Explain how regulations may impact companies going forward

Description: Accelerated underwriting is changing the world of consumer engagement. The newness and overhaul of these programs creates challenges for development, coordination and management. This seminar will take attendees through how the market is developing, the major pricing, underwriting, and marketing considerations, and what regulators are considering with regard to these programs. At the conclusion of this seminar, attendees will: • Discuss trends in accelerated underwriting • Understand the issues that arise when developing an accelerated underwriting program • Understand best practices in developing an accelerated underwriting program • Explain the impact of accelerated underwriting on underwriting, pricing, marketing and compliance

Description: Life insurance carriers increasingly enhance their product offerings with combination products, aka hybrid or combo products, or living benefits. Presenters will discuss the growth in this market, consumer perception and distribution needs, highlight the key features of long-term care (and chronic illness) and critical illness benefits, and posit what the future of this market will bring.

Description: Near the end of a pension plan's lifespan, after benefit accruals have ceased and the plan has reached fully funded status, a plan sponsor has the option to begin the plan termination process immediately or to maintain the plan for an extended period of time (often referred to as 'hibernation' as an alternative to termination). While immediate termination appeals to some plan sponsors, others choose hibernation for a number of reasons, including paternalism, fiduciary obligations, perceived cost differentials or simple inertia.

Description: The days of reinsurance treaties bound by a handshake are long gone. Treaties have evolved into complex legal documents. The session will use a recently released study on recapture provisions as a starting point and will expand the discussion to other key treaty provisions. The focus will be on understanding the intentions, concerns and relative positions of both the direct company and the reinsurer so that a mutually beneficial compromise can be explored.

Description: The life market has seen many challenges recently and has evolved to meet them. More exciting developments are expected to continue in the future. The presenters will cover current life industry trends, including principles-based reserves product trends, indexed UL product and illustrations updates, and accelerated underwriting and the NY DFS circular lette

Description: This session meets the needs of life insurance actuaries who are focused on experience studies, assumption setting, and/or product development. The presenters will use industry data to illustrate how policyholders react to product design, such as premium jumps in the PLT period and UL with high interest rate illustration, and trends in the life insurance market, including the introduction of smoking distinguished rates and the shift towards an increasing number of preferred underwriting classes.

Description: Administration system updates and conversions. Legacy systems and their associated problems. Continued low interest rates and in-force policy management actions affecting policyholder behavior. These are but a few of the taxation challenges facing insurers managing the growing complexity of their businesses.<p> Presenters will consider these and other product taxation-related issues, highlighting ways insurers have sought to address them, their impacts, and potential mitigation strategies