Description: This paper discusses the martingale approach for pricing American-type options without an expiry date. These options include the perpetual American put option and the perpetual maximum option in one stock case. The word “perpetual” means that the option has no expiry date. A main tool in this approach is the principle of smooth pasting.

Description: Many risk management decisions involve the timing of implementing risk strategies. The cost of hedging, capital raising and securitization changes with the economic environment. The timing of de-risking and investment in new risk management functions affect the cost and benefit of these projects as well. Like investment timing, it is important to consider the timing in risk management decisions to maximize the gain of risk management projects. This paper discusses methods of determining the appropriate timing of implementing a risk management strategy or investing in risk management projects. It explains the human biases that may lead to inferior timing decisions. It also covers the costs and benefits of risk management projects and the impact of new information on the decision-making process. Timing considerations for financial risk hedging, insurance risk hedging and investment in new risk management projects are explained. Factors used for timing decisions include economic conditions, market volatility, credit rating, borrowing cost, capital adequacy and financial resources.

Description: This paper, originally published in 1992 in the Transactions of Society of Actuaries Vol. 44, deals with a topic that is becoming increasingly important to actuaries in most fields of practice. “Without relying on formulas, this paper presents the important concepts underlying the theory of arbitrage-free pricing of interest-rate-contingent cash flows.” This paper, by James A. Tilley, won the 1992-93 Annual Prize, and the Halmstad Prize for 1992. The paper includes written discussion and the author’s review of the discussions.

Description: Explains that the conflict of two forces – a need for economic growth in a world that can no longer provide growing oil supply – sets the financial system up for a systemic risk of collapse.

Description: This is a short story on the retirement income calculator.

Description: Acquisitions and divestitures present unique challenges to actuaries, both before and after the sale. The panelists at this presentation address the following issues for pension as well as for health and welfare plans: 1. What considerations are there when a company is being bought or sold? 2. Can the buyer and the seller ever agree upon the retiree medical liability? 3. Is the buyer interested in the income statement or the balance sheet? 4. What are some of the hidden liabilities? 5. What regulatory issues need to be considered? From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 17, No. 3B.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This session discusses recent regulatory and economic developments in Mexico, including but not limited to the devaluation of the peso, an update on NAFTA, the changing market conditions, and an update in privatization of the social security scheme.

Description: Article from The Actuary, November 1971 – volume 5 - Issue 9 is an update on the current efforts of the ALC-LIAA Joint Actuarial Committee to bring about certain changes in the Standard Valuation Law and the Standard Non-forfeiture Law. These efforts may have an important influence on operations of life insurance companies in the United States.

Description: Article from The Actuary, January 1972 – volume 6 - Issue 1 discusses Keynes impact on inflation.

Description: Highlights a new research paper on determining discount rates for pension plans, by John Turner. The paper breaks new ground on deciding on the appropriate discount rate for untradeable benefit obligations, with a comprehensive summary of the field.