Description: This research paper presents a method for smoothing mortality rates using multi-dimensional Whittaker-Henderson Graduation. The paper answers the question: For a given level of fit, how are the smoothness parameters to be chosen so that the graduated rates form, in some natural sense, the smoothest discrete surface?

Description: A short note on derivatives of decreasing life annuities that was motivated by Exercise 5.35 on page 156 of 'Actuarial Mathematics'. Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993 VOL. 2

Description: This paper investigates nonparametric estimators of the distribution function that are based on mixtures of gamma distributions when we have a random sample from a continuous distribution function. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: This paper provides an outline of the pricing methodology used by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia which incorporates trend analysis by trend component. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1993, VOL. 3.

Description: The standard deviation of the present value of benefits of portfolios of identical insurance contracts are examined when both the mortality and the force of interest are stochastic. Several models for the force of interest are presented. The impact of the different stochastic models for the force of interest and of different parameters on the mortality risk and the interest risk is investigated. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1994, VOL. 1.

Description: In estimating mortality rates from the experience of a life insurance company or employee-benefit plan, it is expedient, because of the movement into and out of the covered group on dates other than birthdays or policy anniversaries, to make some assumption about mortality over a fractional part of a year of age. This paper describes and develops the concept of 'exposure' with regard to the more commonly known methods of estimating the rate of mortality, and proposes a fourth methodology. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1978, Vol.2.

Description: In problem 24, Chapter 5, of Kellison's 'Fundamentals of Numerical Analysis' it is indicated how a divided difference can be expressed as a ratio of two determinants. This study note shows that this method works well also in the case where some of the arguments of collocation coincide. The rule is: If an argument occurs k times, the derivatives of the corresponding row up to order k-1 should be used in numerator and denominator.

Description: In this paper the authors analyze data from group medical expense insurance claims and show that many insurance loss distributions have very 'heavy tails' because large losses represent a disproportionate fraction of the total cost. They also present a simple model to reproduce and explain the large loss behavior. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1990, VOL. 2

Description: This paper explores the use of linear programming as a tool to guide policyholders in getting the most value out of their combined insurance and investment programs. Concentrating on flexible premium universal life within the tax environment of the United States, several linear programming models are developed that can be used at the point of sale, to select the most cost effective policy from those available in the marketplace, and after issue to maximize the present value of future cash flows on the policy of an insured who is in ill-health. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991, VOL. 3.

Description: In a product warranty, the renewal function is the expected number of failures in a specific warranty duration. To estimate the renewal function, cross-sectional regression data is assumed to be available and the data is assumed to be semiparametric. In this article, the observations are a11owed to be residuals from a complex regression model. It is observed that estimation can be accomplished using reasonable models for the contracts and data collection. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1992, VOL. 2.