Description: Reviews basic desirable features in an economic scenario generator. Discusses basics of model structure and validation process

Description: Feature article discussing the creation and effects of orphaned VEBAs, Voluntary Employee Benefit Associations.

Description: The second of three articles exploring the new technology offered by Santa Fe, New Mexico-based Assuratech, Inc. Describes the development of the applied complex adaptive systems technology behind Assuratech’s highly sophisticated program that uses simulation and data mining techniques for accurate, reliable versatile risk modeling.

Description: Is the New CPI Different? The article discusses the changes made to the CPI, whether it is an accurate measure of inflation and the implications for pension plans.

Description: There are many factors involved with managing the financial condition of an insurance company and the factors usually fall into on of three categories: earnings management, capital management and risk management. Transfer pricing involves assigning a price for the use of funds that are transferred within the company.

Description: A primer on Credit Default Swaps

Description: This article provides an analysis of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities TIPS, examining the mechanics of these bonds, how they have performed to date and what may be expected for the future.

Description: Gold has been one of the worst performing investment assets of the last two decades due to the steady to low inflation. In the future, if the US economic environment takes a turn for the worst or inflation reemerges, gold will once again be a high performing investment.

Description: This article compares the best estimates of the Investment Section members those who submitted entries for the 3-month Treasury bill rate, 30-year Treasury bond rate and the Dow Jones Industrial Average index value and year-end 1999 with the actuals.

Description: The Social Security System faces a funding crunch some 30 years in the future. Democrats and Republicans agree on the funding problem and that investing in the stock market can help fill the gap. But both views cannot be right.