Description: This paper uses Interpretive Structural Modeling concepts and techniques to better understand a company's overall risk profile. By viewing all of the risks in a firm as an integrated system, one can apply a computer-assisted learning process to construct a structural graph and illustrate the risk interrelationships. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This paper describes a current approach to capital allocation, tail contribution analysis TCA, and then compares it to an alternate method called economic profit analysis, EPA. The advantages of EPA over TCA are then outlined. From 2006 Enterprise risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This paper demonstrates the potential synergies from applying actuarial techniques to operational risk analysis. It also demonstrates practical techniques, grounded in actuarial science, to solve operational risk management problems such as risk cost allocation and risk mitigation cost-benefit analysis. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to build a bridge between the traditional methods of looking at financial risk and insurance risk. The paper starts by explaining the concepts behind VaR models of economic capital used in banking. Differences between actuarial and financial views of risk are reviewed and explained. The paper concludes with proposing, developing, and parameterizing a true VaR model of insurance loss reserve risk, which combines several lines of business. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This paper builds a model that quantifies the natural hedging benefits of a portfolio of both variable annuities and equity indexed annuities. The model is based on risk-neutral option pricing theory and risk-adjusted performance measure, RAPM. Through a double-tier simulation framework, an optimum product mixture of those two contracts is achieved that provides the best RAPM and therefore deploys capital the most efficiently. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This paper presents a value-at-risk platform for integration of assets and liabilities in a rigorous risk management framework. The model measures all major risks faced by a P&C company. The paper demonstrates how this new technology can be used to assist in maximizing capital efficiency and migrating from a risk management environment governed almost exclusively by ad-hoc rules of thumb to one governed by true risk management principles. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This paper expands upon current capital analysis by introducing a practical approach that considers the objectives of all stakeholders on an insurance company in setting appropriate capital targets. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This article discusses the pending book entitled 'Dynamic Risk Modeling Handbook.' The proposed scope and outline of the book is reviewed. This is a revision of the 'DFA Handbook' which was published in 1995.

Description: This article describes an initiative of the Chief Risk Officer Forum to perform a study to benchmark internal models, so as to discuss the admissibility of these models for regulatory purposes in the context of Solvency II. The results of and reactions to that study are discussed.

Description: This article provides an excerpt of the results of a survey on policyholder behavior in the tail with respect to variable annuity guaranteed benefits. GMIB is specifically addressed.

Description: This paper discusses mathematical modeling and pricing of 'Stable Value' financial products offered to pension plan providers. These products target a risk-averse population of investors who have a significant preference for a stability of returns. The paper offers a quantitative methodology that reflects a decision making process applicable in the situation of incomplete markets where traditional arbitrage free arguments are invalid.

Description: US GAAP for Life Insurers chapter 3 spreadsheets. These various spreadsheets show various tables related to insurance company expenses both deferrable and non-deferrable along with DAC and Persistncy bonus amortization schedules. Other tables shown include account value roll forwards Expected Gross Profits EGPs. Please see the book US GAAP for Life Insurers for full information on US GAAP Accounting.

Description: This report provides the results of a VA survey on policyholder behavior in the tail on VA products containing guaranteed minimum benefits.

Description: Competition for space in distribution channels has resulted in a proliferation of exotic options embedded in variable annuity products. This article discusses how this has created a need which can be addressed, in part, by hedging variable annuity guarantees with long-dated equity derivatives.

Description: This paper considers the question of whether or not the growth in the size of financial statements witnessed over the last several years has yielded an increase in the quality of disclosure around issues of financial risk and to what extent this disclosure is satisfying the perceived needs of readers of the financial statements, as represented by the investment analyst community. The question is addressed by presenting the results of research consisting of 1 the review and analysis of the disclosures addressing issues of financial risk contained within financial statements issued from 1999 to 2004 by 25 major insurance companies operating in the US and 2 the interviewing of 5 insurance industry analysts to understand their perceptions of what is good and bad about financial disclosure practices of life insurance companies.

Description: In this article, the author describes the skills needed for the Chief Risk Officer and he offers why actuaries may, or may not, be best suited to fill the role.

Description: This is one of a series of SOA-sponsored papers on the subject of Evaluating the Results of Care Management Interventions. This paper addresses the theory of measurement design and provides a practical evaluation of the most common designs for the practitioner.

Description: Discusses the growing and evolving field of pricing and valuing stock option plans, and makes the case that actuaries are the professionals best qualified to serve clients in the field.

Description: The abstract for a paper that describes the history of traditional topics like actuarial cost methods and assumptions, the history of past inquiries into the dynamic and stochastic nature of pension costs, and the perceptions and concerns of pension actuaries of the past. Presented at The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure symposium held July 14-15, 2005 in Washington, DC.

Description: This paper presents a history of traditional topics like actuarial cost methods and assumptions, the history of past inquiries into the dynamic and stochastic nature of pension costs, and the perceptions and concerns of pension actuaries of the past. From The Future of Pension Plan Funding and Disclosure Monograph, M-RS05-1.

Description: Panelists discuss keys to successful disability reinsurance arrangements including excess, and turnkey/quota share reinsurance. Topics include financial terms, administrative provisions, claims, underwriting, tax and regulatory implications. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 31, No. 2, Session 81

Description: The Medicare Modernization Act has created numerous opportunities and as many questions for insurers as well as employers that provide retiree medical coverage. This session focuses on Medicare Part D and new accounting standards. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 31, No.2, Session 38

Description: Presented at May 2005 Spring Meeting. This session examines financial, economic and traditional actuarial methodological approaches used for solving investment-risk problems.

Description: This session from the 2005 SOA New Orleans Meeting discusses issues and concerns related to asset-liability ALM modeling. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 31, No. 1.

Description: Presented at May 2005 Spring Meeting. Panelists discuss the use of stochastic embedded value 'EV' in financial management and risk measurement, including considerations in reconciling period-to-period results.

Description: Presented at May 2005 Spring Meeting. Panelists discuss the process of setting long-term investment assumptions from a practical perspective, including changes in equity return premium, use of risk-neutral scenarios and methodology, and special considerations for setting pricing scenarios.

Description: A focus on the capital markets perspective and some of the products dealers offer to hedge and help mitigate capital costs and tail exposure risks. From The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2005

Description: A panel of appointed actuaries, along with substantial audience participation, shares perspectives and practical experience in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the appointed actuary. Session 18OF of the 2005 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: This article discusses the problems created by the options in unit-linked annuities in the UK, variable annuities in the US and segregated fund contracts in Canada. Methodology for valuing the guaranteed annuity option is presented.

Description: The panel offers a summary of the Medicare Modernization Act signed into law in 2003, which implemented sweeping changes to the Medicare program. Topics include Medicare Advantage, the impact on Medicare Supplement, Part D, and the impact on retiree health plans. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 30, No. 3, Session 127

Description: 2004 SOA Annual Meeting and Exhibit, New York. This discussion looked at individual life insurance and annuity products and the risks these guarantees carry, such as: 1. Extended maturity benefits. 2. Secondary guarantees. 3. Guaranteed insurability. 4. Guaranteed minimum living and death benefits in VA.

Description: 2004 SOA Annual Meeting and Exhibit, New York. This session is about pricing life and VA products with untested new features in an uncertain environment.

Description: The session at the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium describes current risk mitigation techniques and their impact upon valuation systems including hedging mechanisms, regulatory relief, GAAP measurement, product 'quarantine', realistic assumption changes, maximizing returns and minimizing litigation.

Description: This session at the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium provides an overview of statutory valuation issues for life and annuity products including the Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum Regulation, variable products reserving standard, adoption of 2001 CSO, C-3 Phase II RBC project and nonforfeiture changes.

Description: Panelists in this session at the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium discuss current embedded value and fair-value practices, similarities and differences between embedded value and fair value, and benefits and drawbacks of embedded value, fair value and other measurement systems for internal management purposes.

Description: This panel discussion at the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium provides an overview of the current risk-based capital [RBC] requirements for life insurers, as well as insight into topical issues and potential changes in RBC.

Description: This session at the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium offers a basic understanding of how to calculate statutory reserves, GAAP reserves, and deferred acquisition cost for a universal life product.

Description: At this session 7OF of the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium panelists discuss the conceptual and practical issues of modeling to reflect developing areas, including fair-value and embedded-value measurement, embedded guarantees and stochastically determined capital requirements.

Description: This session 5TS of the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium covers the need to model assets in insurance companies has gone well beyond compliance with cash-flow testing requirements. Robust asset modeling techniques are needed in order to quantify risk exposures appropriately and to comply with a widening array of liability valuation and capital adequacy calculations that rely on stochastically modeling the interaction of liabilities and the assets that support them.

Description: This program allows the user to explore in great detail a technical problem that has occupied a number of investors, financial writers and especially retirees, during the last few years, as the baby boomers start to approach retirement. Namely, what is the probability that one will run out of money before running out of life, if his or her current standard of living is maintained? This is a zip file which includes the Retirement Probability Analyzer software, an instruction manual and a PowerPoint presentation explaining the program.

Description: This article discusses a variety of new developments in the annuity market.

Description: The panelists in this session discuss recent developments impacting the actuarial valuation of retiree health benefits. Topics include Medicare prescription drug reform, FAS 106, and proposed GASB statements. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1, Session 19

Description: This open forum begins with a presentation of the final report of the Society of Actuaries Individual Disability Experience Committee. This report encompasses claim incidence and termination rates based on a decade of industry experience. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 30, No. 1.

Description: Panelists discuss key public policy issues relating to access, coverage, and financing of health care, as well as current health care reform proposals. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 1, Session 47

Description: This article discusses the growing exposure of ERM and where it's headed in the future. The author predicts that the ERM discipline will go deeper to reflect better the realities in our enterprises and that the science of ERM will leap forward through combining analytical skills and business knowledge, and through blending the insights of financial economics with the tools of management science.

Description: The Stochastic Volatility, SV, model is used for capturing the empirical properties of financial time series. This paper overviews those properties and compares the SV model with the heavy-tailed error distribution Student t-distribution and the SV model with the normal error distribution. The Simulated Maximum Likelihood, SML, method is applied to estimate the parameters and the latent volatility.

Description: This paper represents a brief progress report on research, being sponsored by the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries, in the area of modeling of economic series. In particular, research is being undertaken to provide a foundation for the actuarial community’s modeling of a variety of economic variables, including interest rates, equity returns, inflation, unemployment rates, and real estate price levels. The specific objectives of this research are to provide a summary of the literature in the area of economic scenario modeling, identify data sources and methodologies in this area useful to the actuarial profession, and produce working software for economic modeling, including appropriate documentation, to be made available to the general actuarial community in order to allow actuaries to use and build upon this research. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 2004, Vol. 1.

Description: This session from the 2003 SOA Orlando Meeting discusses the new risk-based capital RBC requirements for variable annuities with guranteed benefits such as guaranteed minimum death benefits - GMDBs and guaranteed minimum income benefits - GMIBs. From the Society of Actuaries Record, Volume 29, No. 3.

Description: This session at the 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses asset model validation techniques. Applying the results of a cash-flow testing model to other uses is explored. Also, the proliferation of embedded option derivatives, both on the asset and liability side of the balance sheet, both for pricing and for valuation, are discussed.

Description: This session at the 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses advanced modeling techniques. Focus is on advanced liability and asset modeling issues, model distinctions between types of variable annuity guarantees, stochastic mortality, stochastic-on-stochastic modeling, and alternatives to stochastic modeling.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. In this open forum participants' questions were addressed by experts in the field. Some of the questions: 1. How does actuarial practice develop with regard to questions about interim results and asset-adequacy analysis projections? 2. If the present value measures used in typical asset-adequacy evaluation include a favorable adequacy opinion, are there patterns of interim results that under commonly accepted actuarial practice would require additional reserves to be established? 3. What is the most extreme stochastic modeling that you have seen? How many scenarios on how large a block, on how complex a model, on how many PCs or what type of computer that ran for over how many days? 4. Is codification retroactive? Does it impact any previous reserving methodologies put in place on policies issued before codification was effective? 5. What are your individual views on whether the federal government should provide a backstop to group or individual life insurance to handle terrorism catastrophes? 6. What are your thoughts are on the move toward stochastic methods for setting reserves?

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This session addressed the emerging practice where management is developing new ways to examine financial risks holistically in an integrated model.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This session provided an update on the current status of the actuarial guidelines on VA death and living benefits, the Academy's work on a non-formulaic, RBC standard and GAAP developments.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This session provided an overview of current statutory valuation issues pertaining to life and annuity products. Topics included: 1. Actuarial opinion and memorandum regulation amendments. 2. Progress on variable products reserving standards. 3. Regulation XXX mortality factors. 4. Adoption of the 2001 CSO. 5. Progress on the C-3 Phase II RBC project. 6. An update on annuity and life nonforfeiture.

Description: This specialty guide is a background reading list reference for the practice of asset-liability management 'ALM'. It is intended to provide guidance to anyone seeking to gain knowledge regarding ALM, especially with respect to its application to financial security systems such as life or health insurance, property and casualty insurance and pensions.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This teaching session described current risk mitigation techniques and their impact upon valuation systems. Topics included: 1. Hedging mechanisms. 2. Policy updates. 3. Regulatory relief. 4. Anticipating evolution of GAAP measurement. 5. Product quarantine. 6. Realistic assumption changes, 7. Maximizing return and minimizing litigation.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This panel of appointed actuaries shared their perspectives and practical experiences in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the appointed actuary with the goal of providing a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the appointed actuary, supporting actuaries and staff.

Description: 2003 Valuation Actuary Symposium, San Diego, CA. This session discussed embedded value concepts. Topics included: 1. General overview of embedded value. 2. Components of embedded value. 3. Setting assumptions. 4. Practical applications.

Description: Announcement of an upcoming 2003 Stochastic Modeling Symposium.

Description: This article presents recent developments and trends with respect to Economic Capital based on the work of the EC subgroup of the SOA's Risk Management Task Force.

Description: A panel of actuaries and clinical consultants at this session of the SOA 2003 Vancouver Spring Meeting provides an assessment of current and future applications of predictive modeling techniques in the health arena. A practical example of risk adjustment, discussion of the clinical use of this technique, and applications in underwriting are discussed.

Description: This session discusses the progress of an updated individual disability table. It includes a summary of the initial results of incidence rate studies based on the contributed data. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 29, No. 2, Session 39

Description: Topics to be discussed include various regulator and industry benchmarks, comparative data on capital and surplus levels among health carriers, and capital allocation and modeling techniques used to assign capital to various lines of business. From Record of the SOA, Vol. 29, No. 2, Session 20

Description: This session at the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting examines the nuts and bolts of implementing a capital markets hedge program for offsetting the market risk embedded in variable annuity and equity-indexed annuity products..

Description: This session of the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting covers the basics of stochastic modeling with focus on random number and scenario generation, steps in creating models, and verification of models and assumptions.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting discuss how changes in interest rates affect the assets and liabilities of a life insurance company and what a company can do to prepare. This session examines historical trends in interest rates and how companies have reacted to both sudden and gradual changes.

Description: The author makes 10 predictions of how risk management will change over the next decade.

Description: This session from the Washington Spring Meeting provides an update on variable annuity VA riders, including guaranteed minimum death benefits GMDBs, guaranteed minimum income benefits GMIBs, guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits GMABs and guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits GMWBs. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 1, Session 21pd.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting explore economic capital from the standpoint of an SOA task force including an industry survey, one company's implementation, and a regulator.

Description: This session at the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting focuses on the issues involved in building a scenario generator. It covers the data set used to develop and calibrate the generator as well as a discussion of different approaches and their features. Implementation is addressed along with potential pitfalls.

Description: The second of three articles exploring the new technology offered by Santa Fe, New Mexico-based Assuratech, Inc. Describes the development of the applied complex adaptive systems technology behind Assuratech’s highly sophisticated program that uses simulation and data mining techniques for accurate, reliable versatile risk modeling.

Description: This article discusses the attributes of a unified Operational Risk Management framework and how those attributes can underpin a seven-factor economic capital model.

Description: Equity-indexed annuities [EIAs] can be viewed as mutual funds wrapped around with various guarantees. A recent paper derived a closed form formula for pricing this dynamic guarantee if early withdrawal from the fund [before maturity] is not permitted. This paper studies the pricing of dynamic protection without a maturity date, i.e., the investor chooses the date to cash in the fund accumulation.

Description: The objective of this presentation was to evaluate the different pricing techniques as to their effectiveness in capturing and quantifying the varied risks associated with the sale and administration of life insurance and annuity products. The results of a 2002 company survey about pricing were presented in support of this objective.

Description: 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Lake Buena Vista, FL. In this teaching session the instructor explained how to scrutinize model results and use models to make strategic decisions. Specific topics included validation of asset models, modeling considerations for derivatives and assets with embedded options, using models to assist with portfolio management, and using models to improve portfolio yields and realized product spreads.