Description: There is nothing like a serious financial crisis to see if your risk management process works or not. The depth and breadth of the financial crisis in 2008 identified the strengths and more importantly exposed the weaknesses of the risk management process at Lincoln Financial. Enterprise Risk Management is tasked with understanding all the key risks inside a company and preparing the company to respond to those weaknesses. Lincoln Financial was exposed to multiple stress points as a result of the financial crisis and found themselves with insufficient resources to weather the storm. Ultimately the risk management process at Lincoln Financial was not fully capable of dealing with the depth and scope of the financial stress. Without access to government support it can be argued that Lincoln would not have survived the most profound financial crisis of the modern era. Presented at 2010 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, Society of Actuaries, April 12-15, 2010.

Description: Comparison of open code and closed code actuarial modeling systems, focusing on advantages and disadvantages of each group.

Description: This paper establishes a framework to analyze the volatility of corporate profits as a result of variability in accounting for pension plans. It models a Canadian corporation that maintains a defined-benefit pension plan and that has adequate cash flow to fully fund the pension plan, should it wish. Volatility of corporate profits is important because many senior executives have some component of their compensation directly related to corporate profitability and consequently do not want any surprises with respect to actual profits compared to expected profits. The volatility management techniques considered are investment policies for the pension plan, funding the pension plan, and an alternative plan design. The analysis is timely since changes are proposed to the accounting standards to eliminate most smoothing techniques. The results suggest that, depending on the investment environment, reduced volatility may be accompanied by by enhanced return, which is a result that few would expect.

Description: This panel discussion, which occurred at the May 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Colorado Springs, led a discussion related to employer's accounting for pensions and other post-employment benefits. Topics included: 1. Present accounting rules and background in connection with pension plans 2. The purposes for pension accounting rules in general 3. The nature of pension arrangements and the implication of their character for: a. Corporate liabilities and net worth h. Periodic charges to corporate income on account of pensions 4. Effect of actuarial gains and losses and the relationship of non-penslon post-retirement benefits to pensions, from an accounting viewpoint

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. Discusses recent changes in the Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum Regulation, the ways in which the new requirements can be fulfilled, and the use of asset-adequacy analysis in other areas of the company.

Description: This presentation is from session number 4, presented at the 1999 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 23-24 in Los Angeles. Noting that under U.S. GAAP, setting assumptions and accounting practices can have a significant impact on the earnings process [i.e., actual results, sources of earnings, and the earnings analysis process], the panelists address options available to the actuary for setting assumptions and defining practices for specific product types [both FAS60 and FAS97], the advantages, disadvantages, and practical considerations associated with each approach, and specific examples of the effect of the different approaches on earnings. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: This presentation is a Health Section meeting from the 1991 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 20-23 in Toronto. The session leader, the incoming chair of the section, covers administrative matters, and then the next speaker addresses a newly completed research project, sponsored by the Society and Health Section, on the variation by duration in small group medical insurance claim costs. The speakers then discuss current developments in small group reform, and the various parties involved, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners [NAIC], and the Health Insurance Association of America [HIAA], and the work that has been done, including modeling to address the impact of a small group reform mechanism. The speakers discuss how the various parties' objectives can differ. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 4B.

Description: In this paper, chapter V of the 1987 Valuation Actuary Handbook, the authors start with a discussion of how the recent economic environment with volatile interest rates has changed the valuation and surplus management process to one more dependent on actuarial judgment. In a discussion of surplus policy, the authors identify four “layers” of surplus which have been identified by scenario testing. These surplus layers, along with policy reserves, are based on specific invested assets. The paper discusses implications for the future and notes the actuary’s ability to advise management on surplus adequacy is a basic tool of risk management.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held April 18-19 in New Orleans. The panelists discuss the design and pricing of immediate annuities, as well as related topics including reserving issues, asset strategies, asset/liability matching, reinsurance considerations, and NAIC Actuarial Guidelines IX-A and IX-B. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 1.

Description: An update to the 1975-79 report, this time including experience by amounts as well as by lives.