Description: This section presents book reviews and summaries of recent publications. Reviews: '1975 Annual Reports of the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASDI Trust Funds...' by the US Congress, 'Providing Adequate Retirement Income' by Schulz, Carrin, Krupp, Peschke, Sclar and Steenberge, 'Ernst & Ernst GAAP - Stock Life Companies' by Posnak, 'Reports of the Quadrennial Advisory Council on Social Security' by US Government, 'Fundamentals of Private Pensions' by McGill. Digests also included.

Description: Discussion of issues of particular interest to small insurance companies. Includes the following topics: A. Considerations governing the mortality bases used in determining for ordinary insurance for nonparticipating premium rates and for dividends. Mortality studies available to assess the suitability of available mortality tables or modifications of them. B. Advantages and disadvantages of special termination dividends or special quinquennial dividends. C. Desirability and feasibility of having separate dividend scales for policies which include disability benefits, double indemnity benefits or both. D. Relative advantages of a three-factor dividend system versus an experience premium system. Discussion of how the latter is applied.

Description: This discussion examines new products and marketing issues pertaining to individual life insurance. Topics include: A. Proper role for and impact of higher minimum amount and preferred risk policies. B. Changes made in recent years in the distribution of new issues by plan of insurance and mode of premium payment, C. Advantages and disadvantages of issuing to women a special life insurance policy, or class of policies, involving different basic assumptions from those used for other policies D. Plans marketing policies for which the insurance premiums are paid by 1 bank loans arranged with the assistance of the agent, 2 premium deposit plans, 3 bank drafts and postdated checks.

Description: Discussion of the following underwriting topics: A. In view of the low rates of mortality currently experienced on standard lives, is the standard classification too narrow? B. Do substandard extra premiums at the lower ratings make fair provision for the additional expenses incurred on substandard policies? C. What problems are encountered in issuing life insurance on persons residing outside the continental United States and Canada? D. What changes have been made recently in non-medical selection and why? E. How could greater use be made of mortality or morbidity studies conducted by hospitals, clinics, government agencies, universities and others outside of the life insurance business?

Description: This section features various book reviews: 'How to Cope with the Developing Financial Crisis' by Bladen, 'Policymaking for Social Security' by Derthick, '1979 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal OASDI Trust Funds' by US Congress, 'Integration of Plans with Social Security and Funding' by Grubbs, 'Pension and Profit Sharing Plans - a Basic Guide' by Mamorsky, 'Joint Trust Pension Plans' by McGinn, 'Financing the Civil Service Retirement Systems...' by McGill, 'Pension Task Force Report on Public Employee Retirement Systems' by Committee on Education and Labor. Brief descriptions of additional readings are also included.

Description: From the 1960 Transactions Vol. 12 No. 32, this ‘Digest of Informal Discussion’ addresses current developments and proposals with respect to life insurance company investments and inflation. The panelists address questions related to the extent and appropriateness of investment in common stocks, and the impact on actuarial practices and standards.

Description: This is the presidential address by former President of the Society of Actuaries, Richard C. Guest. He discussed insurance supervision globally, with an emphasis on Canada and the United States.

Description: This paper describes the process and methodology undertaken for the 1971 Canadian census and the life tables and geocoding which are created from the census.

Description: Discussion of various group life and health insurance topics, including: A. Amount of group dental insurance being written and benefit provisions currently being offered and financial experiences of the coverages to date. B. Problems of professional association groups? C. Current level of interest in group paid-up or group permanent.

Description: This discussion on individual insurance policy plans and rates looks at revisions made in mortality, interest and expense assumptions in recent changes in participating and non-participating premiums for life insurance and supplemental benefits. Also discussion of advantages and disadvantages of issuing to women a special life insurance policy, or class of policies. Finally, a discussion of the safeguards placed on the conversion of family income and decreasing term insurance riders to permanent insurance and the experience on such conversions?