Description: This paper looks back at how actuarial research began, at the changing patterns in actuarial research, and makes some recommendations. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1990 VOL. 1

Description: This paper and discussion is a review of the changes that have occurred recently in the basic principles that underlie the sale and distribution of individual life insurance including underwriting fairness, laws and regulations affecting discrimination, limitations in the underwriting process and competition. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: This article summarizes the Actuarial Conference at Yale University, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 1967, which explored common interests between actuaries and other disciplines. The SOA has been expermenting with ways to promote graduate education for actuaries in statistical techniques for solving insurance problems.

Description: The increasing complexity of our environment and the interdependence of technical skills make it necessary for actuaries to keep up with the rapid expansion of knowledge not only in insurance, pensions and related fields, but also in many other disciplines, such as the theory and practice of investing. This editorial points out that the obvious path to versatility is in continuing education. While the Society of Actuaries education and examination program must adapt to meet these new demands, continuing education will not thrive where new information and new ideas are regarded as impractical or theoretical.

Description: This discussion examines the following questions: Do current immediate annuity rates reflect present conditions as to mortality, interest, and expense? To what extent do statutory reserves that exceed gross premiums less expenses represent a serious problem? What is being done in the way of using generation type annuity rates for settlement options?

Description: This is a discussion about underwriting standards for life and health insurance. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1964, Vol. 16 Pt. 2

Description: This paper raises the following questions regarding mortality and underwriting: How does mortality under term insurance compare with that under permanent insurance? To what extent should large amounts of accidental death benefits be a matter of underwriting concern? What are the pros and cons of issuing triple indemnity benefits as an adjunct of life insurance policies? From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1960, Vol. 12, No. 34.

Description: This study develops mortality ratios, using contemporary population tables as the base, for the 897 Fellows of the two predecessor bodies to the present Society observed to anniversaries in 1985. A discussion of the paper follows. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1990, Vol. 42.

Description: This paper presents considerably detailed death rates according to smoking habits and health status, based on the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study I, which constitutes the largest body of data currently available for the study of smoking habits. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1987, Vol. 39.