Description: In this article, taken from the author’s remarks at LIMRA's 1980 Annual Meeting, the theme is that the “new generation” of permanent life insurance products, including Universal Life, do meet policyholders’ needs, and that life insurance products, far from being static, evolve to suit the markets they serve and the public's needs. An editor’s note at the end also refers the reader to another article, which presents a “distinctly different viewpoint.”

Description: The June 1987 report on UL valuation and nonforfeiture, by the American Academy of Actuaries Universal Life Task Force under the Committee on Life Insurance, discussed whether long-term UL reserve sufficiencies should offset short-term deficiencies. This article discusses that issue.

Description: This article discusses the growing popularity of variable products and compares the product design and pricing of VUL and UL products.

Description: This article discusses problems with life insurance sales illustrations. Potential abuses include use of unrealistic interest rates, projection of mortality improvements, elimination of loads after the 15th year and bonus crediting after the 15th year.

Description: This article by the editor discusses responses from readers to The Actuary’s September 1981 Supplement on Universal Life, much of it critical in nature. One responder noted that Universal Life is ‘a symptom of an economy in convulsion,’ and had serious doubts that this product will successfully provided consumers with long term life insurance protection.