Description: This article asks actuaries to get involved in the various actuarial meetings and sessions and to share their expertise.

Description: This essay explores the role that the emerging defined contribution retirement system may be playing in the growth of wealth inequality in the United States. The current system leaves many Americans with little or no retirement savings. Those with higher accumulation levels appear to invest proportionally more in equities, which may have an exponential effect of balances over long time periods. The author hypothesizes that willingness to take investment risk involves the relationship between the amount an investor has accumulated and what she/he needs in order to cover basic costs of living. This is one reason that investors with greater accumulation levels may be able to earn higher rates of return. The essay concludes by suggesting that the U.S. defined contribution system should include all workers and provide additional fiduciary guidance. Examples reforms, both in the U.S. and other countries, are provided.

Description: description of theme of the 2017 Canadian Reinsurance Conference

Description: In this article chairperson Anthony Dardis takes a look back at the achievements of the Investment Section Council halfway through his tenure as chair.

Description: How the speed of change is accelerating and how we could react to this as a profession.

Description: A periodic update from the chairperson on section council activities and outlook for the coming year.

Description: Long-term guarantees place unanticipated burdens on companies because of the degree to which the environment can change. These risks are compounded when combined with estimation of policyholder behavior, especially when solid experience data is not available. When risks are properly reflected, long-term guarantees do not always provide value to the customer in excess of the manufacturing cost. The product development actuary is challenged to compare customer value to company cost and use that measurement to identify novel ways to design products to better serve customers.

Description: Gearing up-- exploring the rewards for completing the SoA Competency Framework tools of Self-Assessment and Personal Development Plan.

Description: Opportunities frequently come in the guise of change within a company or the industry and the person who is willing and able to adapt to the changing environment can benefit from these opportunities. Whether the change is voluntary or involuntary, there will always be challenges faced and benefits reaped; and the more you prepare yourself for the possibility of change the quicker you’ll be able to adapt.

Description: The article summarizes the provisions of H.R. 1 that impact the tax qualification of life insurance contracts and the tax reporting of life settlements