Description: This paper discusses the binominal financial and insurance models. In addition, the paper expands the discussion to the martingale probabilities measures for insurances, annuities, endowment insurances, and equity-linked products.

Description: This article examines how parameter uncertainty leads to uncertainty in Value at Risk VaR estimates. Lacking a closed form solution, we use a first order approximation of VaR to map parameter changes into changes in the VaR value. When the asymptotic distribution of parameter estimates is normal, this implies a normal approximation of the confidence interval about VaR. We describe this approximation in detail and explore some extensions to risk factor modeling.

Description: Under non-Aristotelian logic, there are multiple values, or shades of gray. Indeed, there may even be unexpected results from logical combinations, like “both” and “neither.” This article discusses how this insight should be applied to the current debate between formula-driven reserves with limited assumption flexibility and the reserve principles approach. For reserve standards, we do need both actuarial judgment grounded in reserving principles and restrictive formula methods or safe harbors.

Description: Read the February 2017 issue of Risks and Rewards published by the Investment Section.

Description: Research report describing the results of an Emerging Risks Survey conducted in November 2008. Emerging risks can be thought of from two perspectives: completely new risks that have never been seen before, and risks that are evolving in unexpected ways.

Description: Committee members discuss the objectives of COVARA, areas of current research, summary of findings about C-1 Risk, C-2 Risk, C-3 Risk, and Combination of Risks, and future areas of committee interest. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 4B.

Description: From a session at the Spring meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-15, 2004 This session covers different methods for estimating future volatility of financial markets, how to predict the effect of volatility on insurance company results, alternative approaches to managing volatility and the impact on volatility management on the choice of modeling method.

Description: This paper discusses a problem in corporate finance, the problem of selecting from among a group of possible economic projects. This problem most certainly involves future contingent events and is a natural for consideration by actuaries interested in expanding into non-traditional practice areas.

Description: In addition to death and maturity guarantees on the mutual funds they sell, some insurance companies make it possible for the investor to extend the guarantees for a fixed number of years. In this paper, we consider the case when that option is of the European type that is, the investor, at maturity, can either close out the contract or extend it for the stated, fixed term. When extended, the guarantee is on the value of the fund at the original maturity date. The fund is assumed to be fully invested in common stock.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 Annual Meeting explores credit risk issues including the inadequacies of current data and methodologies to measure it. A disciplined actuarial methodology for measuring credit risk and efforts underway for an intercompany study are discussed.