Description: The article described two methods for calculating the benefit ratio described in AICPA Standard of Practice SOP 03-1. Method 1 calculates the benefit ratio as the quotient of the expectation of A and the expectation of B where A is benefits and B is assessments. Method 2 calculates the benefit ratio as the expectation of the quotient of A and B.

Description: A comprehensive look at Actuarial Guideline 43 VA CARVM. This article examines the statutory and tax implications of AG 43 for the determination of reserves for annuity writers.

Description: New Zealand is about to launch its first variable annuity with guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits. The product design is mindful of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Description: This paper considers the risk that actual mortality will be lower than the mortality assumed when pricing life annuities on impaired lives. It develops a method for managing this risk through a Provision for Adverse Deviation PAD.

Description: Summarizes results of PBR survey of regulators by the Valuation Law and Manual Team, VLMT, of the Life Reserves Working Group, LRWG. Did not say what regulators were surveyed.

Description: Feature article discussing the synergies between Principle Based Reserves and the NAIC’s Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA).

Description: Feature article discussing assumption committee development and their role.

Description: Life and annuity markets around the world have seen increasingly complex investment-combined products, including universal life, fixed indexed annuities, variable annuities with a wide variety of guaranteed benefits, indexed variable annuities, etc. Insurance companies are facing unprecedented exposure to financial risks in addition to traditional mortality and longevity risks. The risk assessment and modeling for such complex designs by conventional methods often focus heavily on their market competitiveness and profitability. However, there seems to be a lack of quantifiable and systematic approach to assess investment risks associated with investment combined products. The objective of the proposed work is to develop a framework for quantifying and analyzing various forms of contractual designs and showcase different techniques to assess the trade-off between competitive contractual designs and their practical implications with regard to the difficulty of risk management.

Description: Summary of Part II of the survey of Appointed Actuaries, sponsored by the American Academy of Actuaries Committee on Life Insurance Financia1 Reporting and the Society of Actuaries Financial Reporting Section, which asked appointed actuary various questions on methodology and assumptions employed for asset adequacy testing.

Description: This article discusses how new and current industry tax topcs can educate the Taxation Section membership.