Description: This article is a brief review of the book “Crime by Computer,” by Donn B. Parker. If you have from time to time become concerned about the security of computer programs records and transactions, this book will give little comfort.

Description: An overview of the formation of the Committee of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, initiated by the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Government Statistics, in response to the need for statistical advisory committees to government agencies to promote better data collection and dissemination, contracting, forms clearance, planning, coordination, monitoring, staffing, and strengthening of agency functions.

Description: This article discusses two sets of blended by sex 1980 CSO mortality tables for use in determining minimum cash values and nonforfeiture benefits for life insurance policies issued in employee benefit plans which, because of the Norris decision, must provide equal benefits to men and women.

Description: This subject of this article is the Committee of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics COPAFS, a new organization is being formed with membership composed of associations with an interest in U.S. federal statistics. The Board of Governors of the Society has authorized the Society's participation in COPAFS on a trial basis for one year. In explaining the purpose and role of COPAFS, the article notes that its formation was a result of the recommendations of the March 1978 report of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Government Statistics JAHCOGS, The SOA was represented on JAHCOGS by Robert J. Johansen, and he will be the SOA’s representative on COPAFS.

Description: This report, by the Committee on Nonforfeiture and Valuation Mortality Problems, resulted from a request by the NAIC to develop non sex distinct mortality rates in light of a recent court decision prohibiting sex distinct mortality in determining benefits derived from defined contribution pension plans. Also included is the ‘February 7, 1984, Report of the Society of Actuaries Committee on Nonforfeiture and Valuation Mortality Problems - Individual Life Insurance and Annuities Blended Selection Factors for Blended 1980 CSO Tables,’ which describes the subsequent determination of select factors, and discussion of two letters the Committee received. From the 1985 Transactions Vol. 37.

Description: Book review on Standards for Discussion and Presentation of Errors in Survey and Census Data by the American Statistical Association, Washington, D.C., 1975. The material will be of interest to actuaries and of help in preparing their own study reports. The guidelines discuss some relatively simple means of presenting error estimates for published data.

Description: The session is about maximizing cost efficiency of mainframe computers used at life insurance companies. From the 1976 Record, Vol. 2, No. 4.

Description: In authorizing blended 1980 CSO mortality tables to compute minimum nonforfeiture values under Norris-affected policies, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners noted that no change was being made with respect to using separate male and female tables for minimum valuation reserves. The purpose of this article is to call attention to how blended cash values relate to reserves.

Description: This section contains reviews for the following books, Introduction to the Mathematics of Demography by Robert Brown, A Tale of Two Captains by John Baynes and Hugh Maclean, Abolitionist, Actuary, Atheist: Elizur Wright and the Reform Impulse by Lawrence Goodheart, The Federal Data Base Finder by Matthew Lesko and the Guardian Life Insurance Company, 1860-1920, A History of a German-American Enterprise by Anita Rapone. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1991, Vol. 43.

Description: Article from The Actuary, June 1983, volume no. 17, issue no. 6, that highlights since 1981, U.S. federal budget cutbacks have clamped down hard on the federal agencies that produce all kinds of statistics - demographic, economic and regulatory data. Actuaries, who use these federal statistics to develop mortality tables, to produce marketing studies, to examine economic trends, and to study health costs, should work with the federal agencies to restore this data.