Description: This session will include a brief outline of the origin of the tontine from when it was first introduced by the government of England in the 17th century through its disappearance in the early 20th century. As we explore the history of tontines, we will discuss their multiple references throughout English (and French) literature, often vilified by most authors using them as their subject, and how they bear little resemblance to the insurance product that many contemporary financial scholars advocate as a viable annuity concept for today and the future. The presenters will cover the practicality of reintroducing a modernized version of these longevity pooling arrangements (i.e., where aggregate longevity risk is shared among a group and not incurred by the issuer) as a retirement savings vehicle. They will also touch upon different aspects of tontines, such as risk management and regulatory issues.

Description: Regulatory change and increased focus on internal risk management are driving a renewed interest in model efficiency. In this session, we will review several new and existing tools, that show significant promise for advanced modeling of equity linked products. These include: • Clustering • Use of unique--and potentially a different number of--scenarios for each policy • Semi Monte Carlo (SMC) – this is a proprietary technique that is similar to a combination of Monte Carlo and numeric integration • Using a neural network approach to optimize some of the more complex and manual aspects of clustering and improve the fit of the clustered model • Combining SMC with the use of unique scenarios per policy

Description: This paper presents a model is which can be used for certain annuities when interest rates and future lifetimes are random. These can be used in determining contingency reserves for possible adverse interest and mortality experience for collections of life annuity contracts. Certain boundary crossing probabilities for the stochastic process component of the model are obtained. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991, VOL. 1.

Description: In recent years, insurance companies have been introducing saving products whose returns are linked to equity market performance. Equity-indexed annuities [EIA's] are one of the products of this kind. This paper is a study on the recent introduction and popularity growth of equity-indexed annuities. An index is considered which provides a minimum interest guarantee and a participation in the increase in an index.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to suggest an improved method of future mortality improvement approximation, using the a-1949 Table as the basic table. Comparisons are shown between this method and other methods for annuitants.

Description: In March this year a charter for the new corporation, the College Retirement Equities Fund, was granted by the State of New York and it is expected that within a few months the Fund will begin operations as a supplement to TIAA annuities. The purpose of this paper is to describe this rather novel type of corporation, which presents some unusual and interesting actuarial problems. Comparisons of the performance of fixed annuities vs. variable annuities are provided.

Description: Discusses the reasons for changing emphasis on reserve strengthening programs and looks at methods adopted to emphasize the reserve character of undistributed surplus.

Description: Presented at May 1986 Spring Meeting. This session discussion is about redetermination of 'Non-Guaranteed Pricing Elements Recommendations', actuarial responsibilities to the various publics relative to nonguaranteed pricing functions and brief status report on Interim Actuarial Standards Board 'IASB' including how this Committee's Exposure Draft affects the IASB.

Description: In July 1987, the Society of Actuaries [SOA] Committee on Life Insurance Company Valuation Principles released an exposure draft in which a distinction was made between valuation principles and standards of practice. Rather than including specific standards of practice in the valuation principles themselves, the Committee developed valuation principles to encompass current and future standards of practice. Panelists discuss the work of the valuation actuary in the context of these developments. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 4B.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting focuses on the connection between the pricing function and financial reporting, communicating financial information to senior management and asset/liability management.