Description: The author notes “the last major change in the Valuation and Non-forfeiture Laws occurred during the 1940's when the work of the Guertin Committee resulted in the adoption by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC of the Standard Valuation and Non-forfeiture Laws. While there have been a number of amendments to these laws since their adoption, both insurance department and company actuaries have concluded that there is need for a general overhaul of these standard laws to make them more responsive to today's business and regulatory needs.” The article goes on to discuss recent developments, recommendations, and legislative action, including the work of the Society of Actuaries Special Committee on Valuation and Non-forfeiture Laws, and the NAIC Technical Task Force.

Description: This article analyzes the events leading to low interest rates and recommends careful asset/liability management and risk analysis to address future challenges with interest rates.

Description: A review of the Flesch formula for measuring the readability of insurance policies

Description: This article discusses HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1997 and the many NAIC model laws affecting health insurance and paricularly how Arkansas is facing the post-HIPAA complexities.

Description: The Actuary Vol. 22 , No. 7. This articles explores the dangers posed by many guaranteed-return life insurance and annuity products.

Description: The Actuary Vol. 22, No. 11. This is a debate regarding two approaches to Life Insurance Illustrations: The Range approach vs. the Current Scale approach

Description: Discusses the influence of actuaries in particular state policy issues.

Description: This article is a detailed review and discussion of “The Report on Actuarial Principles and Practical Problems with Regard to Non-forfeiture Requirements, Society of Actuaries, January, 1976.” The author of the article notes that It is an important report which should be read by all members of the Society irrespective of their professional affiliations, and in its present form the report is primarily an exposure draft and the Committee will therefore, welcome comments as to its content and recommendations prior to the discussion of the report scheduled for the Houston and Chicago SOA meetings.

Description: On Dec. 29, 1973 President Nixon signed into law the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, which authorizes $375 million to be used by the DHEW to stimulate the establishment and development of HMO's over the next five years. This article describes the status of the regulations and the development of additional HMO's.

Description: The following commentary, after highlighting the strong linkage that currently exists between valuation reserves and nonforfeiture value requirements, discusses the origins of this relationship. It is concluded that this linkage is undesirable and should be severed. Editor’s Note: This report was prepared for use by the Committee on Non-forfeiture Values. Mr. Gardner is Vice Chairman of the Committee.