Description: Principle-based reserving requires modeling assets and liabilities across a range of scenarios to assess the sufficiency of assets when determining reserves, a major shift from the current formulaic framework. These changes will require valuation actuaries to evolve their skill set by heightening their focus on creative analysis, gaining deeper understanding of complex projections and clearly communicating drivers of reserve movements to stakeholders in order to influence strategic decision-making. The panelists will discuss the way that they see the role of the valuation actuary changing in response to the change in focus in reserving requirements. They will also discuss successful characteristics along with best practices for understanding and explaining results in the new paradigm. The audience will be given the opportunity to interact through polling and facilitated discussion of their stories, experiences and observations.

Description: Feature article discussing the isolated impact of changing the discount rate due to FASB changes.

Description: Discussion of potential volatility to non-participating long-duration traditional contract reserves under US GAAP targeted improvements to accounting for long-duration insurance contracts. Discusses the impact of revising assumptions as well as interaction of revising assumptions with changes to discount rates.

Description: Read the October 2019 issue of Taxing Times, published by the Taxation Section. Newsletters provide practical information for the working actuary, articles on trends that impact sections and news about section activities.

Description: Intended for actuaries interested in understanding more about the Medical Loss Ratio and the impact Quality Improving Activities (QIA) and fraud reduction expenses have on the rebate calculation. This session will focus on what expenses qualifies as QIA, examples of programs from major carriers, current regulations and the differences between commercial, and Medicare, and Medicaid requirements.

Description: This session will cover assumption determination for annuities under VM-21 with emphasis on contract holder behavior assumptions, prudent estimate mortality assumptions and measuring credibility.

Description: This article discusses the possible factors that could impact shareholders' reported equity upon transition from IFRS 4 to IFRS 17. It classifies these factors in two categories: 'Factors Related to Insurer's Business and Accounting Practices up to the Transition Date' and 'Factors Related to Implementation of IFRS 17'. It also briefly discusses improvements that are expected in the financial statements from adopting IFRS 17.

Description: While most actuaries work for companies and have as a primary objective the financial success of their employers, regulatory actuaries primarily serve the public interest. In part one of this presentation, we will explore the role of actuaries whose priority is to serve the public interest. Regulation is developed by a deliberative process that includes regulators, the American Academy of Actuaries, trade associations and the companies that will be affected by the regulation. In part two of this session, we will present a series of vignettes each focusing on recent updates to the Valuation Manual. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will have a deeper appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes in the development of regulation.

Description: FASB has provided broad guidance for application of the targeted improvements in Actuarial Standards Update 2018-12 for U.S GAAP financial reporting. However, the broad guidance provided leads to several interpretation and modeling challenges for life insurance, annuity, disability and LTC products. The presenters focus these challenges and possible methods to address them. Audience participation is encouraged. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: - Describe the changes made to U.S. GAAP under the targeted improvements - Explain various interpretations of modeling products under the changes to U.S. GAAP

Description: ASU 2018-12 introduced a new concept called “market risk benefits” (MRBs). MRBs are a new accounting classification for benefits within deposit contracts, offering protection from “other than nominal market risk.” This applies to products with account values, including variable and indexed annuities with guaranteed living or death benefits attached (aka GMxBs). ASU 2018-12 Section 944-40-30-19D mentions both a non-option and an option-based valuation approach to account for MRBs. This article considers the option-based approach. The purpose is to highlight weaknesses in the current application of the option approach to MRBs, propose an alternative method, and consider the benefits of the new approach. The intent of this article is to persuade practictioners / actuaries / accountants that this is a better approach for applying the fair value option method to market risk benefits.