Description: The SOA Investment Section is holding a three-part Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Investment Considerations Webcast Series in September and October, which will cover the challenges and implementation. This series is suited for actuaries, consultants, plan sponsors and asset managers that work with insurance companies or pension funds and want to learn more about the latest in ESG. The increasing focus on climate change and recent social movements witnessed globally brought many institutional investors to further think about and perhaps reevaluate, the way they integrate ESG factors into their investment decisions. This new reality raises many questions: what's next for ESG in the institutional space? What will be the challenges? How will institutional investors go beyond the basics? What are current and future ESG needs and who will meet them? This will be the first of three educational sessions aimed at taking the conversation on ESG integration to the next level. During this webcast, you will hear from a panel of various types of asset owners who will share their perspectives, challenges and learnings in the journey to implementing their ESG views, including in the context of a pandemic. The discussion will start broadly, and narrow down to some of the most pressing topics today with the focus on climate change resilience and adaptation of assets.

Description: With long duration targeted improvements in the U.S., and IFRS 17 in other countries, the insurance industry is currently undergoing the adoption of two of the most significant accounting changes in recent history. While the scale of these specific events are infrequent, change is the norm in the world of insurance and life of an actuary. We live in a dynamic environment that will continue to bring challenges in how companies make decisions in order maximize their value and return on capital. Capital management requires an ability for insurance companies to take corporate actions and understand the impact this will have on both the current and future available capital. Being able to make optimal decisions when the goal posts are subject to frequent and material shifts in accounting regulation is a difficult process. It requires holistic consideration of all tools available to manage capital and how KPIs can shift in their measurement under new regimes. By attending the session, you will: Discuss the challenges that companies have in managing capital in an ever evolving environment, what steps they have taken in managing the current scope of accounting change, and how they can be prepared for adjustments in the future.

Description: In this session a panel of industry experts from the life insurance industry will examine the modeling challenges created by increased investment in more esoteric assets.

Description: Hot Topics in Setting Pension Return Assumptions is the third in a series, following Mathematics of Pension Return Assumption and Inflation, focusing on Effects, Forecasts, and Role in Pension Valuations. What time horizon is more appropriate for Capital Market Assumption (CMA) forecasts: mid-term or long-term time horizon, or a blend of both? How do we map the asset classes of a plan's own investment policy to the asset classes of investment forecasters' CMAs? If we use asset-smoothing for valuation assets, should we use market-driven expected returns or smoothed/average versions of them?

Description: Explore the importance of financial well-being and current efforts to improve it for all stakeholders, including employers, insurers and individuals. With factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and economic pressures driving rapidly rising inflation, dive into this webcast to learn better preparation for retirement security. How will we meet the future challenges of financial well-being? Discover research materials from the Geneva Association, Financial Finesse and the Society of Actuaries Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program crafted to help clients and colleagues financially plan for the future.

Description: The Society of Actuaries Research Institute’s Catastrophe and Climate Strategic Research Program is pleased to release two essays addressing sustainability and sustainable development goals.

Description: The rapid and persistent rise in rates has increased many insurer's concerns around liquidity, disintermediation, and overall ALM risk management. Learn an overview of ALM, including the goals and reasons for performing it, common approaches, and real-world examples of common pit falls and mistakes that have been made in the industry. Explore the differences in approaches, and the pros and cons of these various approaches.Learn about the importance of understanding the ALM approach, with clearly defined strategic objectives. Additionally,discover an understanding of the value to both managing risk and optimizing enterprise value. Come away with a deep appreciation for the value that a well-constructed ALM program can bring to valuation/capital planning/asset adequacy testing/pricing (life and annuity).

Description: A panel of actuaries and investment experts share their experience with the AG53 requirements for Asset Adequacy Testing. Discuss challenging areas in the inaugural year of the consideration of complex assets as well as discuss potential areas of future regulatory expectations

Description: 2021 ImpACT Conference - Session 11E: Real World ESGs and the NAIC's ESG Project 10.28.21 Recording

Description: Edited Content: Listen in as a discussion on establishing a public retirement plan investment strategy. Expect to cover the typical evolution of investment policies from 100% government bonds supporting government borrowing, diversification and developing domestic capital markets, and fully global diversified portfolios. Original Content: We will discuss establishing a public retirement plan investment strategy, and cover the typical evolution of investment policies from 100% government bonds supporting government borrowing to more diversification and developing domestic capital markets, and then to fully global diversified portfolios.