Description: The presenters will provide an update on recent developments impacting U.S. retirement plans, such as regulatory guidance, new legislative proposals, recent court cases and recent trends. Experienced pension actuaries will share their perspectives on these issues and discuss how plan sponsors are being impacted.

Description: Retirement isn't a solo endeavor and the prospect of retirement looks starkly different depending on your family, your generation, your income and a host of other socioeconomic factors. The presenters will review the study, 'Financial Perspectives on Aging and Retirement Across the Generations' with an eye towards how these findings impact public policy, plan design for employers and financial planning for individuals and families.

Description: The presenters will review and discuss the recent trend of FIA and Structured Annuities new product development, illustrate the differences and similarities between these two types of products, and discuss how insurance carriers may effectively manage the capital market risk from derivative hedging perspective. Special emphases will be on (1) the performance of customized FIA indices during the recent economic cycles, relative to benchmark equity indices such as S&P 500, and (2) the latest product designs of Structured Annuities and offering rates by insurance carriers.

Description: In the first part of this series, the presenters will provide the results of a recent SOA multi-country survey on mortality improvement practices of life insurance companies. In the second part of this session, they will discuss the issues and solutions related to the development of the most recent RPEC mortality improvement assumptions.

Description: Mortality is a fundamental element in the financial projections of the finances of social security programs around the world. Prominent actuaries from the U.S. Social Security Administration, Canada's Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the U.K. Government Actuary's Department will discuss some of the key factors and issues associated with these projections. Improving mortality has and will have a significant effect on the affordability and importance of income through retirement to many population segments in these countries.

Description: In this session, the following essays from the Society of Actuaries Living to 100 Call for Essays are presented. Essays: Potential for Mortality Improvement from Cognitive and Psychological Factors – Gordon Woo, – Ph. D. How Growing Inequality in the United States Makes Long-Term Care Financing Reform A Lot Harder – Karl Polzer – MPA Alcohol and Mortality, Sam Gutterman, FSA, CERA, FCA, FCA, HONFIA, MAAA

Description: Two recent SOA research projects will be discussed. The first covers analysis of the drivers of mortality that shaped trends in US mortality. The second will look at using causes of death to predict future mortality improvements

Description: In this session, panelists discuss the rationale behind aging research. They will explore recent demographic and biological insights. They will then explore when those breakthroughs could happen, what would their impact be on our understanding of mortality and mortality rates and the effect on different groups. Finally, it will be a chance to have your questions answered by that eminent set of panelists.

Description: Papers: Does Migration Result in Mortality Improvement: A Case Study in Taiwan – Chih-Kai Chang – Feng Chia University; Jack C. Yue – National Chengchi University; Yen-Wen Chen – Feng Chia University Mortality Trends – An International Perspective – Adrian Gallop, FIA – Government Actuaries Department

Description: Ignite presentations feature speakers with 20 slides which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fast and fun presentation which lasts just five minutes. The first portion of this session will feature public health experts doing Ignite presentations with particular focus on social determinants and health disparities. Then stick around for the second portion when all of the presenters take part in a moderated, talk show-style discussion. You'll get a chance to ask your questions and dig deeper into the topics you just heard about. Be prepared for a fast-paced, thought-provoking session that you'll remember long after it ends!