Description: Insurance companies utilize derivatives in a variety of ways to manage and mitigate risks that are inherent in their investment or liability portfolios. They can be characterized by three main features: medium long-term duration; large volumes; and significant market risk exposure. Given the persistent low interest rate environment across the curve since the 2008 financial crisis, large companies need to hedge their liabilities, as illustrated by the significant recent increase from $786 billion as of fiscal year 2010 to $1,885 billion as of FY 2014 by insurance companies.As the Variable Annuities (VA) guarantees embedded within those liabilities hold a strong convex risk profile with respect to the underlying stock, VA carriers need to buy some convex hedge assets such as options to match the liability risk profile to improve hedge effectiveness, implying the growing cost of hedging. Such market impact of the quantity on the cost of hedging is further magnified in the recent period with the short-lived, but sharp transitions from low volatility to high volatility, when market volatility suddenly increases, even when there were no well-known fundamental catalysts. This partially stems from the growing managed volatility funds embedded within VA ($bn 400).VA carriers willing to trade a large quantity of options will see such market impact as an important dilemma, as the cost of placing one large order to close position will be far greater than the sum of infinitely small orders differed in time. In that context, managing market impact requires introducing an explicit market impact function, the influence of which the agent will try to minimize. The effect on hedge asset prices significantly depends on whether there is or not significant delta hedging activity. In case of no significant delta hedging activity, the risk appetite has a significant influence on the optimal execution strategy. If there is significant delta hedging activity, the optimal trading involve

Description: Discusses what triggered the Morris review, what it found, and what it might mean to the actuarial profession in the UK.

Description: The Investment Symposium is a day-and-a-half long seminar that will focus on the issues and questions faced by investors and risk managers, especially related to insurance companies and retirement plans. Presenters will discuss the big picture issues and explore practical solutions to today’s challenges. Experts will share new approaches to portfolio management and cutting edge research in asset-liability management. Technology, regulation and the economic environment will

Description: The author discusses riding the globalization wave. To walk on water in the information flood and the foreseeable globalization wave, we need the highest business ethical standards, the wisdom to make informed decisions, and the willingness to have an open-mind with patience to accept and handle differences. All of these can be summarized in these qualities: responsible, caring and respectful.

Description: The coordinator of the task force which prepared Manhart Brief, for a court case on sex discrimination in pension rates, responds to criticism.

Description: What is the impact of aging populations on economic growth and interest rates?” “Are low interest rates and inflation a short-term phenomenon?” “How will returns from different asset classes be impacted by future demographic trends?” “What are the differences between different countries and regions around the world?”

Description: This panel discussion is from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists start their discussion with an overview of the history of actuarial standards, and the operations of the Actuarial Standards Board, ‘ASB,” the autonomous body responsible for setting standards of practice. The discussion covers standards affecting insurance company actuaries and consultants, and the value and impact of standards on the actuary's work. Panelists also suggest areas where additional standards are needed. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.

Description: Discusses the reasons for professional ethics and why we have them in the actuarial profession.

Description: Describes “think tank” sessions where the Committee on Professional Development recognized the elusiveness of the concept of “professionalism” and sought to define it for the actuarial profession.

Description: This article addresses the serious consequences of non-compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley.