Description: Discussion of the separate and joint effects of obesity and diabetes on disability and mortality, and ways these effects can be used to improved insurance pricing and reserving, reverse the increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, and improve current projections of disability and mortality risks.

Description: Improve pharmacy cost forecasting by developing induced demand curves for pharmacy costs.

Description: The OCI-Solution of IASB’s IFRS 4 Phase II requires that interest expense for the Profit and Loss (P&L) calculation be based on a yield curve instead of a flat rate locked-in at policy issue. The article has a discussion of analysis of the impact from locking in the yield curve on the IFRS 4 profit pattern as well as general conclusions reached.

Description: New Zealand is about to launch its first variable annuity with guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits. The product design is mindful of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Description: This article discusses a study of the impact of the drug infliximab on Crohn's disease patients. This study had been approved in response to an SOA request for proposals for research on the health cost and utilization effects of a specific prescription drug.

Description: Based on interviews with C-level executives, this report offers insights on the role and actions of the global insurance industry in addressing climate change

Description: Actuary/accountant/tax attorney dialogue on recent guidance issued regarding treatment of deficiency reserves with respect to the “statutory reserves cap” of Internal Revenue Code section 807(d)(1).

Description: This article delves into a new line of statistical thinking of the author, that may be useful for product development actuaries. The key concept is how product design can produce products that diversify quickly, meaning that the company can be confident of a profitable product line, based on fewer sales than might be true for other designs.