Description: In this paper, mortality trends of males and females are examined from the beginnings of the human species until the present. Future projections are also made, and the implications of the widening gap in survival rates of women vs. men is discussed.

Description: This paper discusses decoupling of social security - meaning that the coupling of actual benefits for those already beneficiaries and potential benefits for future beneficiaries be broken. The purposes are to describe the environment, the problem which decoupling addresses and the importance of a rational solution. The paper discusses the wage-indexing approach and the price-indexing approach. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: This 1982 discussion session addresses three questions: 1. How will continued high rates of inflation affect the financial needs of retired persons, both absolutely and in comparison with other segments of the population?, 2. What effects will there be on the age of retirement and the need for retirement income?, and 3. To what extent will these needs be met from social programs, private plans or individual savings?

Description: If the United States is to have a successful Social Security and Medicare system long term, one that blends needs with financial capacity, it is necessary to protect the actuarial process from being overwhelmed by the political process. While some assistance is provided already under existing law, additional protection would enhance public confidence in the estimates made by government actuaries.

Description: In the United States, things were never the same after a universal credit card, good for everything private and public, was adopted. It was agreed to use the Social Security number. Once put into effect, there were strange developments. This is satire.

Description: Article from The Actuary, December 1971 – volume 5 - Issue 10 that discusses the work of the Bank Administration Institute BAI, in particular, measuring the investment performance of pension funds for the purpose of inter-fund comparison.

Description: The authors of this paper chose to consider a coterminous endowment insurance where the cash value is equal to the net level reserve. They wish to determine the relationship between the rate of increase in the cash value and the rate of increase in the amount of paid-up insurance purchased by the cash value. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1958, Vol. 10, No. 28.

Description: This is the author's address at the SOA annual meeting on October 18, 1994 as the incoming President. He talks about areas of discussion regarding the SOA's future.

Description: Book review of a book on pensions written by Ralph Nader and Kate Blackwell. Review is relatively balanced, yet clearly points out the shortfalls of the analysis put together by Mr. Nader and Ms. Blackwell.

Description: Actuaries have been thinking about how to improve North American retirement systems in big and small ways for a number of years. This web page contains Bob Berin’s thoughts on this topic from the September 1990 Pension Section News, followed by Cindy Levering’s update on the Retirement 20/20 initiative.