Description: The author discusses arguments for the appropriate methods for determining exposure and mortality rates, quoting the actuarial literature back to 1898. From ‘The Actuary’ Volume 15, No. 3.

Description: This article is a follow up to an article in the February, 1977 issue of the actuary, which was a discussion of the article, Sex and the Single Table. This article is a reply by Barbara J. Lautzenheiser, FSA, author of Sex and the Single Table, to a comment her original article generated. This current article again provides an excellent explanation of actuarial risk classification practices, and of the legal and social issues used to argue against risk classification, noting that if society does favor policy that overrides risk classification based on gender, such as promoting unisex tables for determining pension payments, then the implications should be understood.

Description: This article is a book review of “Two Stochastic Processes,” by John A. Beekman. The author of this article notes that the two stochastic processes referred to in the book are the Gaussian Markov and the collective risk stochastic processes, and that both the theory and applications are examined. Note: a more detailed review of this book will appear in the Transactions.

Description: The U.S. actuarial profession is debating whether to introduce Dynamic Solvency Testing DST in the United States and what role it should take in the regulatory process. This article offers some insight into how the DST has fared in Canada, what issues have emerged since it was introduced, and how the DST will evolve differently in the United States.

Description: The following commentary, after highlighting the strong linkage that currently exists between valuation reserves and nonforfeiture value requirements, discusses the origins of this relationship. It is concluded that this linkage is undesirable and should be severed. Editor’s Note: This report was prepared for use by the Committee on Non-forfeiture Values. Mr. Gardner is Vice Chairman of the Committee.

Description: Summary of the non-routine business transacted at meetings of the Executive Committee of the Society of Actuaries on September 18, 1979 and the Board of Governors on October 18-19, 1979

Description: Discusses the symposium, “The Future of Life Expectancy,” on March 10-11, to address how employment is affected by longevity.

Description: Discusses features and actuarial aspects of the Truth in Lending Act.

Description: Actuaries have been indebted to the Statistical Bureau of the Metropolitan Life for studies in vital statistics associated with the names of Dublin, Lew and Spiegelman and a recent study by Quint and Cody is in this tradition. It is headed Preeminence and Mortality and was presented to the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association last November. This article shares further perspectives about longevity, and the characteristics of people who experience long lives.

Description: Author's views about adjustment of earnings. The thesis is, simply, that the distortion of earnings is caused by the establishment of a statutory reserve in the annual statement which differs from a realistic evaluation of the future liability. As a corollary, the concept of prepaid acquisition expense as a basis of adjustment will be seen to be inappropriate.