Description: This is a summary of a multi-faceted research project focusing on how to help people better manage money when they no longer can. Article includes interviews with the three co-researchers. Research is focused on understanding when people need help and what actions will encourage them to make proper arrangements. Research includes focus on words and actions that lead to implementation of plans. The team is multi-disciplinary and the research included interviews with experts and individuals, focus groups, and a survey. The research was sponsored by the Society of Actuaries Aging and Retirement strategic research initiative.

Description: This article provides a perspective on the SOA’s Aging and Retirement research reports, and on the types of research that are included. The SOA does a lot of research on different retirement topics, and many people are not aware of the scope of this work. This article offers an overview of the big picture as we think about the future. The article describes longer-term challenges to the US retirement system and recent developments that have affected the system and created uncertainty. It provides an overview of what individuals have said about retirement and their view of post-retirement risks and planning in a variety of consumer research studies. It then reviews some of the research and provides information on summary reports which provide insight on the findings from multiple related research reports. It also provides information about consumer education and what is currently available and in process. It then focuses on how the SOA is helping retirement professionals understand current and expected change and discusses areas of uncertainty as we help those we serve deal with change.

Description: This is a summary of topics discussed at the 1996 Bowles Symposium: “The Old Age Crisis: Actuarial Opportunities,” September 26-27, 1996, at Georgia State University, Atlanta.

Description: Excellent big picture view for planning a social insurance system with pay-as-you-go, required self-funded, and voluntary plans.

Description: Imagine that the insurance purchase process is a bridge. The customer is coming from one direction and crossing the bridge and the insurer is coming from the other side. The point at which they meet is the transaction point. At one time, customers were willing to completely cross the bridge to get to the insurer. They knew that they needed insurance, and like any retail purchase, they would “travel” to make it happen. Today, the insurers are normally the ones “journeying” across the bridge. This is the future of insurance — useful, convenient, intelligent protection that does its best analytic and protective work on the client-side of the bridge.

Description: Heart disease, critical illness insurance and the path to change – a personal essay by Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, FLMI.

Description: This article contains reviews of the following books published in 1959: 1. 'Pension Funds and Economic Power' by P. P. Harbrecht, 2. 'Retirement and Insurance Plans in American Colleges' by W. C. Greenough and F. P. King, 3. 'Elements of Vital Statistics' by B. Benjamin, and 4. 'Demography' by P. R. Cox. Notices of other articles and publications are also included. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1960, Vol. 12, No. 32.

Description: Anna and Maria report on the “Older Women in the Future: Adapting to Longer Lives” session that they jointly presented with Terry Kozlowski at last year’s World Future Society Conference, and provide brief summaries of selected other sessions they found interesting and/or surprising.

Description: Feature article describing the connection between negative demographics and economic growth.

Description: This article contains reviews of the following books published in 1992 and 1993: 1. 'Demography and Retirement' by Anna M. Rappaport and Sylvester J. Schieber, 2. 'Health Insurance Answer Book' by John D. Reynolds and Robin N. Bischoff and 'Health Insurance Answer Book, 1993 Cumulative Supplement' by Thomas A. Darold, and 3. 'Value of Pensions in Divorce' by Marvin Snyder. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1993, Vol. 45.