Description: Interest in blockchain is high among insurers and reinsurers. While it’s not universally useful the technology does merit continued closer investigation.

Description: This article describes how to model variable annuities using a GPU along with some of the stumbling blocks.

Description: This article explains why distributed computing systems have grown in popularity as well as the benefits and drawbacks of implementing them.

Description: A short introduction of the characteristics of Blockchain technology

Description: This article explores the possibility of using machine learning to improve, or potentially rewrite, actuarial code within actuarial software.

Description: The article discusses the use of R in prototyping automation procedures. It offers general pros and cons for R and walks through a specific use case, which involves scraping and summarizing data stored in Microsoft Excel.

Description: This article explains the importance of centralizing modeling departments. It goes further and explains the importance of making all aspects of modeling reusable. It explains the consequences of decentralization.

Description: As any international traveler who has tried to plug in an electronic device knows, the human race is great at devising many different ways to accomplish the same task. Predictive modeling is no different. Data scientists can choose from a wide variety of languages to prepare data, fit models, and verify results. The Rosetta Stone, which showed writing composed in three languages side by side, was instrumental in translating unfamiliar Egyptian hieroglyphics into the more common Greek language. This presentation follows a similar approach by showing the same predictive model implemented in the following languages: R, Python, Spark, MatLab, and SAS. Participants will compare and contrast each of these languages and, by doing so, build a greater understanding of those languages less familiar to them.

Description: Actuarial systems access and change controls are hot topics these days as modeling continues to increase in complexity and as new modeling regulations may begin to crest over the horizon. Many companies are currently in the process of either formalizing their actuarial system access and change control protocols, or are reevaluating and strengthening their existing control processes in response to identified deficiencies or in conjunction with new actuarial system implementations. With these undertakings in mind, this article discusses a number of valuable components commonly incorporated in formal systems access and change control protocols. Also discussed are leading practices identified in the SOA publication “Actuarial Modeling Controls: A Survey of Actuarial Modeling Controls in the Context of a Model-Based Valuation Framework (December 2012)”, and from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Description: October 2015 issue of CompAct, the technology section's member benefit newsletter.