Forecast Includes Insight with a Chance of Networking
May 2026
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) national meetings draw regulators and industry leaders to compare notes on risk, policy, and the future of insurance. In March, a Society of Actuaries (SOA) delegation arrived in San Diego for the NAIC spring meeting to contribute their data-driven perspectives.
Participants engaged in dynamic conversations on current priorities and emerging developments, offered updates on ongoing work, and traded new perspectives. R. Dale Hall, FSA, MAAA, CERA, Managing Director of Research, SOA Research Institute, presented to the casualty, health, and life actuarial task forces.
New VBT Moves Forward, Latest Research Releases and What’s Next
Mary Bahna-Nolan, FSA, MAAA, CERA, presented to the Life Actuarial (A) Task Force, on behalf of the SOA Research Institute, the organization’s work to create a new Valuation Basic Table (VBT). Her presentation was well received, and it currently is being exposed for 21 days to public comment.
Hall presented as well, giving an update on SOA Research Institute experience studies, including a request for 2024-2025 individual life and annuity expense experience data to produce industry unit-expense benchmarks and support analysis for operations efficiency, reserving and expense table development. He also gave an overview of the SOA/LIMRA Experience Studies Pro series and unveiled newly released studies:
| Experience Study | Publish Date |
|---|---|
| 2022-2024 Variable Annuity Guaranteed Living Benefit Utilization Study - Report | Already published |
| 2009-2023 Term Conversion Incidence and Post-Conversion Mortality and Lapse Experience - Report | Already published |
| 2023-2024 Fixed Indexed Annuity Study - Report | Already published |
| AG-38 Mortality Improvement 2025 | Already published |
| 2023-2024 Fixed Indexed Annuity Study - Report | Already published |
| 2000-2023 U.S. Historical Population Mortality Rates | Already published |
| ILEC Simplified Issue/Accelerated Underwriting Study | March 2026 |
| 2020-2024 Individual Payout Annuity Mortality Study | June 2026 |
| 2015-2024 Deferred Annuity Mortality Study | July 2026 |
| 2024-2025 Registered Index-Linked Annuity (RILA) Behavior Study | Sep. 2026 |
| 2018-2024 Individual Life Mortality Study | Oct. 2026 |
| 2009-2024 Post-Level Term Mortality and Lapse | Dec. 2026 |
Hall included highlights of practice research the SOA Research Institute has published recently, such as Complex Assets in Insurance and Annuity Industries and International Reinsurance Landscape Overview for U.S. Life & Annuities. And he shared some of the findings from the 19th Annual Emerging Risk Survey, which was released on March 10, 2026 by the SOA Research Institute and the Casualty Actuarial Society.
Hall also informed the Task Force of the SOA Research Institute AI Insights for Actuaries: A Virtual Symposium, May 13 – 14, which will cover the use of AI and AI risk management.
From Long-Term Care to Extreme Weather: More Task Force Updates
Hall shared updates with the Health Actuarial (B) Task Force (HATF) on the ongoing long-term care experience study, a collaborative effort between the SOA Research Institute, NAIC, and LIMRA. This study is designed to examine policy persistency, claim incidence, termination, and utilization trends. And Hall highlighted several recent health-related practice research projects, including the Healthcare Insurance/Reinsurance Captive Landscape.
The SOA also participated in the Casualty Actuarial and Statistical (C) Task Force (CASTF) meeting, where Hall shared valuable insights from SOA research on extreme weather events, in particular the Washington State floods earlier this year that occurred as a result of an atmospheric river-driven rainfall.
Building Relationships Across the Regulatory Community
Joe Wurzburger, FSA, MAAA, Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Affairs, SOA, introduces Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold at an SOA reception dinner during the NAIC National 2026 Spring Meeting in San Diego.
Joe Wurzburger, FSA, MAAA, Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships and Government Affairs, SOA, joined Hall and Zach Steadman, attorney at Mitchell Williams, in hosting an SOA reception for members. It featured guest speaker Grace Arnold, Minnesota Commerce Commissioner. The well-attended event gave the community of regulatory colleagues and SOA members an opportunity to connect.
For more details about the NAIC 2026 Spring National Meeting tune in to a new Research Insights Podcast with Hall and Geralyn Trujillo, Senior Director of Public Policy, American Academy of Actuaries.