Description: This article defines the distribution gap, customer's gap, and distributor's gap in the marketing and sales process. It offers solutions to close these gaps and therby create a more efficient distribution system that better meets customer's needs.

Description: This is a discussion about the Opinion No. 8 Bulletin on accounting for the cost of pension plans that was recently issued by the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the effect this bulletin will have on the preparation of actuarial valuations of pension plans. Also discussed is the use of level-premium life insurance in connection with employee benefit plans and the underwriting, actuarial and other problems encountered in the design and marketing of such plans. Finally, the discussion moves to the marketing, underwriting and administration of vision care and prescription drug benefits, and the advantages and disadvantages of providing survivor benefits in group life and qualified pension plans. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1967, Vol. 19 Pt. 2, No. 53.

Description: In this panel discussion session, the participants discuss programs to update existing life insurance policyholders, which some companies have implemented in light of rapidly changing economic conditions, namely inflation.

Description: Presented at October 1986 Annual Meeting. Presentation by a panel of historians on the aspirations of actuaries who established our profession in North America, or who helped to organize the four actuarial bodies formed in 1889, 1909, 1914 and 1916.

Description: Discusses the current status of the valuation actuary concept and regulatory requirements. Also includes historical development of the valuation actuary movement. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: The following topics were discussed at concurrent sessions: 1. Personal Security in the 1970's- United States and Canada, 2. Adjusted earnings for life companies, 3. Pension funding, 4. What about these younger actuaries?, 5. Sources of statistical information for actuaries, 6. Variable life insurance, 7. Models and decision techniques, and 8. Role of the actuary in expense control. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1970, Vol 22, Pt. 2, No. 63.

Description: This discussion looks at the role of the actuary in electronic data processing and if the actuary is in touch with recent developments. The panel also discusses the likely permanent role in this field for the actuary and how much does this permanent role depend on operations performed by computers. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1959, Vol. 11, No. 31.

Description: This panel discussed studies of the risk of loss due to changes in the interest rate environment. It addressed why the C-3 risk is important and how inflation and stability in interest rates can affect the financial soundness of life insurance companies. There was also a discussion of the theoretical work being carried out to calibrate the C-3 risk of variation in interest rates and to what extent the valuation actuary can properly recognize the risk of loss from changes in the interest rate environment within the framework of valuations laws and regulations.

Description: The following topics were discussed at concurrent sessions: 1. Pension benefit security bill, 2. Variable insurance products, 3. Trends in hospital and medical care utilization, 4. Insurance distribution and marketing systems, 5. Deferred and incentive compensation, 6. Annual Statement accounting, 7. Social Security and employee benefits in western Europe, 8. Individual medical expense insurance, 9. Reserves and related problems for variable annuities and cost-of-living benefits, 10. Topics for consulting actuaries, 11. Profit and other objectives in group operations, and 12. Life insurance operations overseas- problems and opportunities. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries, 1969 Vol. 21 Pt. 1 No. 61.

Description: Members of the Life Practice Council of the American Academy of Actuaries discuss the activity surrounding their key issues, and additional projects before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. From the 1997 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 3.