Proposed 2006 Spring Meetings Session Descriptions for the E&R Sessions
by Hal Warren Pedersen, ASA, Ph.D
These are the descriptions for proposed E&R sessions at the 2006 Spring SOA Meetings
- Health Meeting (June 20–22, 2006, Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida)
- Education And Research Section Continental Breakfast, Wednesday, June 21, 7–7:45 a.m.
This session is a continental breakfast sponsored by the Education and Research Section to discuss current interest issues. Enjoy this networking opportunity.
Session Coordinator: Ian Duncan
Introduction to Research Methods, Wednesday, June 21, 8–9:30 a.m.
Relatively little health care actuarial research is published in the actuarial literature. However, performing, reading and understanding research is critical to the future of the health actuarial profession. This session examines:
- The importance of health actuarial research
- How/what to do when conducting actuarial research
- Researching the literature
- Statistical tests of significance
- Writing a research report
- How to get published
Participants have the opportunity to examine published studies with the instructors. These studies are circulated to participants who sign up ahead of the session. The practical application covers:
- Applications of the theory to actual research studies
- How to interpret a research report: methodology; key assumptions; practical significance
This session will be presented by Marjorie A. Rosenberg, University of Wisconsin.
Life Meeting (May 24–25, 2006, Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida)
Education And Research Section Continental Breakfast, Thursday, May 25, 7–7:45 a.m.
This session is a continental breakfast sponsored by the Education and Research Section to discuss current interest issues. Enjoy this networking opportunity.
Session Coordinator: Tom Edwalds
What is Black–Scholes and Why Should I Care? Thursday, May 25, 8–9:30 a.m.
Option pricing has become a critical technology in many areas of insurance practice. Variable annuities are among the latest high profile areas in which option pricing is of enormous practical importance. This session examines:
- The basics of option pricing: what it is and how it works
- Basics examples of option pricing including the Black–Scholes formula
- The relevance of option pricing to the actuarial profession
- The role of option pricing in the design, pricing, and risk management of insurance products
After covering the essentials of option pricing, the instructors will provide the participants with an opportunity to learn about the application of option pricing through small follow–on case studies. These case studies will include a variable annuity case study dealing with equity risk as well as other concrete applications of the method to actuarial problems of current interest. This teaching session is designed for those who have no prior knowledge of the Black–Scholes model.
This session will be presented by Mary R. Hardy, University of Waterloo.
- Hal Warren Pedersen, ASA, Ph.D.
- University of Manitoba
- Asper Sch–Business
- Warren Center–Actuarial Studies & Research 181 Freedman Crescent
- Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4
- Canada
- ph: 204.474.9529
- e–mail: pedersn@ms.umanitoba.ca