Description: Describes the three types of HMOs and the progress they are making in lowering medical costs and gaining market share. Also discusses possible future developments with HMOs.

Description: This article consists of excerpts from the author’s presidential address to the Southeastern Actuaries’ Club on November 21, 1980. The author notes ‘the only thing we could all possibly agree on today about the economic situation is that the degree of uncertainty is high,’ and ‘it is this uncertainty that presents us actuaries with professional problems which cannot be addressed by traditional methods.’ In explaining how we can deal with inflation and uncertainty the author argues for repeal of both the Standard Valuation Law and the Standard Nonforfeiture Law.

Description: The author reviews and provides analysis of a report prepared by Douglas H. Carruthers, Q.C., as special legal counsel, to review the relationship between insurers and the public and in particular, the role of insurance intermediaries in the province of Ontario. The report was completed in 1975 and made public in 1976, and effectively recommends a new regulatory framework. The author of this article analyses and critiques the various proposals in the report.

Description: This 1976 article discusses provincial regulation of private pensions in Canada, with a focus on Manitoba’s legislation, expected to be operative later in the year, and how it compares to regulation in other provinces.

Description: This article discusses that “the investment returns earned by life insurance companies over the past decade have permitted the sale of contracts guaranteeing relatively high rates of interest. The contracts have given rise to problems in the areas of the federal securities laws, of federal income taxes, and of state valuation requirements,” as insurers, starting in the 1960’s began issuing annuity contracts that provided for the allocation of contributions to separate accounts.

Description: This article explores a study by the Actuarial Profile Research Project about personality differences between U.S. and Canadian actuaries.

Description: Discusses how competitive pressures are dramatically altering the distribution process for life insurance. Product pricing and client service are cornerstones in the changes to distribution.

Description: This article is a book review of Life Insurance Company Investment Activities, Huebner Foundation Lectures, edited by J. David Cummins, and published for the S.S. Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education by Richard D. Irwin, Inc. The author notes it has been 25 years since a similar work was published by the Huebner Foundation, and that the new book does a good job of capturing the many changes that have occurred in that time. The article summarizes the book’s discussion of various topics, including investment strategy, types of investments, the impact of inflation, and investment regulation.

Description: Article discussing the use of ERM in today’s economy.

Description: February/March 2009 Volume 6 Issue 1 Bi-Monthly membership benefit magazine