Description: The purpose of this article is twofold. Number one, to estimate the growing level of statutory reserves that are being reinsured offshore, supported by Letters of Credit, as well as by assets held within a trust. Number two, to quantify the redundancy in the reserves due to the conservative nature of the required methodology, combined with the utilization of an outdated mortality table.

Description: This article summarizes the key changes to VM-31 requirements in the 2020 version of the Valuation Manual for both life and variable annuities, and compares and contrasts the requirements for each. In addition, the article offers insights into common issues and recommendations for VM-31 reports from the viewpoints of a regulator, consultant, and company actuary.

Description: This article is aimed to cover the following: 1) Provides an assessment of income volatility under Long Duration Targeted Improvements (LDTI) for several key types of long duration contracts along with select illustrations, and compares against those under current GAAP, 2) Discuss areas where accounting policies or methodologies can influence income volatility, and 3) Show how a company's management reporting can be adapted to help explain income variances under LDTI.

Description: One of the most fundamental concepts in actuarial practice is the time value of money. For any work in which future cash flows are allowed for, such as reserving or pricing, it is natural to discount to present values so that an appropriate amount of money can be set aside today, allowing for future investment returns. This article discusses yield curve extrapolation methods along with the benefits and drawbacks of these methods.

Description: One of the significant tax benefits of a life insurance contract is that, for purposes of determining the taxable amount of proceeds received under the contract on distributions or surrender,the investment in the contract includes the aggregate amount of premiums, unreduced by the cost of insurance provided IRC section 72c. IRS rules net surrender value reserves must be reduced by a YRT reserve credit.

Description: This article discusses the the 1998 alternartive XXX model regulations and the potential tax impact on the definition of life insurance and on reserve deductions associated therewith.

Description: Interplay of §807(f) and the stat cap in §807(d) as there continues to be uncertainty as to whether a change to the stat reserve could be subject to §807(f).

Description: The current drafts of the principle-based reserves PBR model law and accompanying regulations appear to include credit life insurance within the scope. It is expected that once the scope of PBR is expanded to include accident and health insurance, credit disability will fall within its scope as well. This article describes how will this affect credit actuaries.

Description: Setting the X Factor Percentile— Commentary by G. Thomas Mitchell from The Financial Reporter, October 1999, Issue No. 40.

Description: Summary of the SOA research project on PBR Simplified Methods. Describes the multi-risk scenario generator, central estimate assumptions, assumption objectivity measures, and regulatory demonstrations per VM-20.