Description: This presentation from Session 109 of the SOA May 2004 Anaheim Spring Meeting discusses how to improve the manner in which the funding of a defined benefit pension plan reacts under adverse economic conditions using asset-liability projections. Investigating the utility of hedge funds and other investment products in the risk management of pension plans is also discussed. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1.

Description: This presentation is an open forum, session 11OF, from the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 19-21 in Anaheim, CA. The panelists note that defined benefit [DB] pension actuaries are finding themselves working in new and expanded roles in the new millennium, and discuss the answers to challenging questions raised by working in this environment, such as what additional training is recommended, and what the unique challenges and rewards are. The panelists look at the future with respect to the DB actuary, with respect to less traditional roles in that area as well as opportunities in the area of defined contribution plans. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1.

Description: Panelists discuss current issues and trends impacting health plan contracting with providers. Hospital and physician contracting is discussed from both a payer's and provider's persepctive. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1, Session 30

Description: This presentation from Session 34 of the SOA May 2004 Anaheim Spring Meeting discusses retirement plan governance- ERISA and Department of Labor requirements, the actuary’s role in aiding the plan sponsor, and pitfalls along the road to good governance. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1.

Description: This session covers how reinsurers and direct writers respond to emerging experience and work together to modify contract terms or take other actions to represent and protect each party's interest. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 30, No. 1, Session 6

Description: This session summarizes recent trends in behavioral health parity, pros and cons of parity, the impact of mandated benefits on near-term medical costs and methods to effectively manage mental health utilization. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 30, No. 1, Session 81

Description: 2004 SOA Annual Meeting and Exhibit, New York. The panelists discussed methods of assessing catastrophic risk, offered insights into how reinsurers evaluate it, and discussed tools that assist in quantifying and evaluating the risk.

Description: 2004 SOA Annual Meeting and Exhibit, New York. This session covered the results of new experience studies for individual disability, group disability and group life, the implications of the results, and the future direction of the studies.

Description: Successful actuarial entrepreneurs at this session of the 2004 SOA Annual Meeting present the issues they face and their secrets to success.

Description: The presenters at this session of the SOA 2004 Annual Meeting discuss the results of a recent Society of Actuaries survey on simplified issue products to explain the current state of the simplified issue market. A case study of what is expected to be a next generation underwriting product is reviewed.