Description: Discusses the influences that foreign economies have on the U.S. economy and the risks that those influences create for the U.S. life insurance industry.

Description: First of all, I probably watch too many awards shows -- the kind where the winners have a long list of people to thank for their success -- one of whom always turns out to be their muse. A muse seems to be a very popular thing to have, but all it does for me is cause visions of Zeus' daughters in long, white, flowing robes to flitter through my mind and I begin to wonder why they are giving the award to the winner and not to the muse. Well, just like the bandito Gold Hat in the 1948 film version of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" didn't need no stinkin? badge to pursue his dream, I don't need a muse to pursue mine and neither should you.

Description: The Society of Actuaries' health leadership met earlier this year for an all-day meeting in Chicago. A significant portion of that meeting was spent discussing current challenges facing the U.S. health care system and how the SOA can best serve its members by addressing top priority issues. The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2005

Description: Phil Bieluch's probing editorial in The Actuary's Dec. 2004 issue asked, Are we comfortable with the assumptions underlying our calculation of pension liabilities on employer's balance sheets? Even if this isn't our responsibility? From The Actuary, April/May 2005

Description: When we put together a newsletter for you, we submit all of the content about two months in advance of the publication date. I'm writing this editor's note on July 5th. I'm thinking forward and wondering what the rest of the summer will bring to us. What will have happened between July 5th and September 5th? From News Direct, September 2006, Number 54.

Description: This report, from the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Individual Annuities,’ and prepared by the Payout Annuity Mortality Study Working Group of the Individual Annuity Experience Committee of the SOA, is an experience study of individual payout annuities, covering calendar years 2000 through 2004. The intent of this study is to provide recent annuitant mortality experience which can be compared to the Annuity 2000 Mortality Table, and provide a basis for a possible revision to that table. The study includes immediate annuities, annuitizations, and life settlement options of life insurance and annuity death claims. The report includes two Excel workbooks.

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of the survey on laboratory testing issues, prepared by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys Laboratory Tests Survey Subcommittee. The survey asks questions about companies’ internal practices in regards to how laboratory tests become part of the underwriting paradigm, in particular, how changes are made, who the decision-makers are, and what support is necessary to add a test.

Description: This research report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA} ‘Research Projects – Finance/Investment,’ is sponsored by the Casualty Actuarial Society [CAS], Canadian Institute of Actuaries [CIA], and the Society of Actuaries [SOA] Joint Risk Management Section Research Team and the SOA's Committee on Finance Research. This paper examines the subprime mortgage crises and related financial consequences from the perspective of the insurance industry.

Description: This paper, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA} ‘Research Projects – Finance/Investment,’ incorporates data from a similar study for years 1986 through 1992 and extends the results with data through 1995. This study focuses on the question of the extra return of high yield bond investments after asset losses, as well as some corollary items such as relative growth rate of high yield bond companies, emphasizing life insurance company results.

Description: The SOA Committee on Elections and the June 1999 issue’s editor, Robert D. Shapiro, invited candidates for the office of president-elect of the Society of Actuaries to be interviewed by The Actuary. This annual service of The Actuary is intended to help Fellows make more informed choices in voting for a future SOA president.