Description: A review of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including a review of the need for life and health insurance actuaries to review and, in most cases, substantially strengthen their internal controls over financial reporting.

Description: This presentation, session number 5PD, took place at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 15-18 in Chicago. This session focuses on the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, ‘GAAP,’ methods and standards of practice applicable to accounting for purchase of a block of business. The panelists discuss working with investment bankers and others, presentation and determination of actuarial opening balance sheet items such as benefits reserves and present value of future profits, actuarial appraisal values, impact of synergies, management initiatives, expense savings, projection of GAAP profits, various accounting issues, and applicable Actuarial Standards of Practice. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3. Possible keywords: VOBA=value of business acquired PGAAP=purchase GAAP accounting Actuarial appraisal

Description: This presentation is from session number 4, presented at the 1999 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 23-24 in Los Angeles. Noting that under U.S. GAAP, setting assumptions and accounting practices can have a significant impact on the earnings process [i.e., actual results, sources of earnings, and the earnings analysis process], the panelists address options available to the actuary for setting assumptions and defining practices for specific product types [both FAS60 and FAS97], the advantages, disadvantages, and practical considerations associated with each approach, and specific examples of the effect of the different approaches on earnings. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: From a session at the 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, September 19–20, 2002 This open forum addresses current issues of interest to actuaries in the application of U.S. GAAP. Topics discussed include demutualization issues, draft standards of practice regarding nontraditional long-duration contracts, guaranteed minimum death benefits/living benefits, sales inducements, separate accounts, business combinations and FAS 141/142 and policy conversions and exchanges. Discussion included theoretical and practical aspects.

Description: This literature guide provides the user with a summary of representative sources of current general knowledge for continuing education purposes.

Description: The use of Other Comprehensive Income OCI is receiving its moment in the sun. It is being considered for housing some of the earnings volatility in the International Accounting Standards Board IASB current approach to measuring insurance contracts’ performance.

Description: Various methods of accounting for a block of in-force business acquired at the time of purchase have been proposed and used. This paper describes nine such methods, analyzing each by the use of a very simple model office. Followed by submitted discussions of the article

Description: Panelists discuss the types of information that management needs, the ability of GAAP to meet these needs, and some modifications that might make GAAP more meaningful to management. Includes discussion about the advantages and the shortcomings of GAAP, what practices are followed by Canadian companies, and the differences between stock and mutual companies. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: A regulator's perspective on the changing insurance and financial services industry, including changes in the state regulatory environment driven by the regulators themselves, as well as potential changes in the competitive environment prompted by the Financial Services Modernization Act.

Description: From a teaching session at the 2001 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 29-30, 2001 Discussion of the actuarial aspects, methods, and considerations of reporting under FAS 60, FAS 97, and FAS 115. Examples and financial statement case studies are included.