Description: This article summarizes information on the regulatory aspects of variable annuities, both federal and state, and offers thoughts on corporate structure, product, marketing and sales commissions.

Description: This article discusses the three main taxation proposals affecting holders of life insurance and deferred annuity policies announced on Friday, November 13, 1981 by the Federal Finance Minister in Canada. The main proposals are 1 taxation of accrued investment income on life and annuity policies, 2 changes in the adjusted cost basis at disposition of policies and 3 treatment of life insurance policies not registered as retirement savings plans.

Description: Two-and-a-half years ago the British Government started to issue index-linked securities-the redemption value and coupon both increase with the UK Consumer Price Index, but the value before redemption is determined by the stock market. Initially this was done in a small way and offered to a restricted group of investors pension funds, but now anybody can hold these securities. This article discusses the possibility of insurance companies using these securities to issue annuities that would increase with the UK Consumer Price Index.

Description: The Actuary Vol. 22, No. 7. This article discusses the activities and goals of the Product Development Section of the SOA. Future activities will include joint sessions with other sections since product development issues sometimes relate to financial reporting. reinsurance, investments and nontraditional marketing.

Description: This is a book review of The Variable Annuity, which the author recommends for a history and current status of this market. The book comments on the effect of variable annuities on stock prices.

Description: Article Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch by Bartlett in The Actuary, June 1979, Volume 13, Number 6

Description: This article announces the availability of The Valuation Actuary Handbook. The purpose of this handbook is to provide assistance to all actuaries who need to use cash-flow testing to validate the appropriateness of reserves. It is a “how to” manual that contains the most up-to-date considerations and techniques for the valuation process.

Description: Discusses the importance of making tax-motivated investment decisions regarding one portfolio of a company within the context of the overall tax return of which the portfolio is a part, not necessarily on the tax effect of the portfolio alone.

Description: Summary of the SOA's Annuity Valuation with Dependent Mortality research report which examines the standard industry practice of assuming independent lives for insurance products that cover multiple lives.

Description: Traditionally, life insurance companies have depended on individual whole life insurance policies for their growth in assets. This has changed in recent years. Now, annuities, particularly individual annuities, have become the largest part of new individual premiums. Companies have responded by issuing a plethora of imaginative products. These are often founded on a variety of recently developed financial instruments, such as derivatives. This article is about the Actuarial Foundation's study of the risks of these new annuity products and the new financial instruments underlying them. The study will culminate in a scientific conference in New York in December 1998.