Description: Presenters examine some of the difficulties created by the absence of worldwide generally accepted accounting principles. Topics covered: 1. The need for worldwide Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, accounting, and reserving standards. 2. The work being done by the International Accounting Standards committee and the International Organization of Securities Commissions.

Description: Feature article asking seven questions raised by the IASB’s and FASB’s recent changes to the insurance contracts accounting standard.

Description: A Discussion Paper issued by the IASB in May 2007, contains the IASB’s preliminary views on the various recognition and measurement components considered in accounting for insurance contracts and identifies issues that are still under consideration. This article summarized the main proposals in the Paper and emphasizes those issues where the views of the IASB are not uniformly accepted.

Description: This presentation is a panel discussion, session number 25PD, from the 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 19-20 in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The panelists discuss the current status of International Accounting Standards [IAS] or [IFRS] for insurance, including the timetable. The draft statement of principles, which is the current working document expected to form the final basis of an insurance standard going forward, is discussed. Noting that the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB] and the Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB] are both working towards a fair value framework, the panelists discuss differences that may be expected between financial statements reported under IAS and under U.S. GAAP, and how current issues under discussion at the FASB could narrow or eliminate them over time. The American Academy of Actuaries fair value work and efforts by the International Actuarial Association [IAA] with respect to actuarial standards of practice under IAS are also covered. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: A roundtable discussion of the new international accounting standards and the possible implications for all insurers.

Description: Feature article discussing the adoption of IFRS by most countries. Emphasis is placed on the number of accounting and actuarial organizations that have a say in the development of the rules and standards for IFRS.

Description: Article discussing the International Actuarial Association's meeting in November 2008.

Description: Panelists in session 13PD of the 2005 Valuation Actuary Symposium provide a brief overview of the emerging standards for investment and insurance, followed by a more in-depth discussion of key issues and recent developments.

Description: This article provides an update of the intense recent activity around the International Accounting Reporting Standards including the release of IFRS 4, the creation of the European Financial institution advisory group, exposure draft guidance for actuaries involved in financial reporting and the Penrose report focusing on the problems of U.K. Equitable Life.

Description: This article discusses GAAP and IFRS changing standards, their differences and similarities. Issues included are fair value accounting for assets and financial liabilities, hedge accounting, financial instrument discosures and revenue recognition for contracts that do not qualify as insurance contracts.