Description: On behalf of The Actuarial Demography Team of CREAD (Centre for Research in Applied Economics for Development, Algiers, Algeria), Farid FLICI hosted Arpita DAS from Actuaries Without Borders (AWB) belonging to the International Association of Actuaries (IAA) to facilitate a 3 days training on "Data Science for Health & Life Insurance" for actuaries in Algiers. The training was held in CREAD's from 23th to 25th of December 2018 and was attended by actuaries and statisticians from insurance companies, public insurance regulators, social security organizations, and academia.

Description: Read the October 2018 issue of CompAct published by the Technology Section.

Description: This section presents book reviews and summaries of recent publications on a variety of topics.

Description: On August 15, 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-12, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts ("LDTI"). With its effective date, January 1, 2021, approaching fast, companies have begun the implementation process to prepare for this significant change. The three webcasts below will outline operational implications resulting from data and technology challenges.

Description: In year’s past, we presented the Practical Predictive Analytics Seminar (PPAS) as an add-on to the Life and Annuity Symposium or attached to the Predictive Analytics Seminar, this year it will take place as a stand-alone virtual Seminar.

Description: This paper introduces actuaries and others to dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, a type of macroeconomic model. Authored by Kailan Shang, the paper illustrates how DSGE models can be used in economic scenario generation to reflect the cause and effect relationships that occur in the economic system.

Description: This is a general discussion reviewing the adaptation of machines and procedures for small companies utilizing the punch card method. The discussion also explores the topic of a waiver for premium disability in all policies and if current term premiums make fair provision for their share of overhead expenses. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1951, Vol. 3, No. 6.

Description: The attached report presents the results of a survey whose purpose was to explore the various uses of technology by life insurance companies. The survey was conducted by the Technology Survey Subcommittee of the Society of Actuaries Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Survey Committee. The primary focus of this survey was the impact of technology on mortality studies and underwriting.

Description: Digital savvy consumers are demanding a change in the way they engage with their insurance carriers. As smartphone owners utilize their devices for financial management more than ever, insurance carriers aim to create a similar seamless digital strategy, offering customers a personalized experience on multiple platforms. Cloud-based applications also enable productivity, accountability and innovation in the insurance industry. Discover avenues of customer engagement through digital platforms, including new technologies and products, and why the value of data and data science is critical for business, such as adaptability, marketing and insightful pricing. Presenters will also touch on: - managing retention and lapses through data-driven continuous improvement cycling - high-level system architectures illustrating how multiple applications (front/mid/back office systems) will integrate with each other and share connected data example data points being captured within various marketing systems - data collection within various digital platforms - data science applications that help with business growth, retention, lapsation, effectiveness and cross-sell/up-sell opportunities, and the implications to actuarial functions - value and risk to carriers in the new digital paradigm