Description: In this paper two theorems concerning the optimality of the perfect-fit and perfect-smoothness graduations are proved. Two examples are presented and some difficulties with regard to computational feasibility are reviewed. A discussion of the paper follows. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1978, Vol. 30.

Description: In March this year a charter for the new corporation, the College Retirement Equities Fund, was granted by the State of New York and it is expected that within a few months the Fund will begin operations as a supplement to TIAA annuities. The purpose of this paper is to describe this rather novel type of corporation, which presents some unusual and interesting actuarial problems. Comparisons of the performance of fixed annuities vs. variable annuities are provided.

Description: This paper deals with the problem of determining the effect on reserves of variations in the assumptions. A general approach to this problem is presented and then used to extend Lidstone's theorem, mainly to cases involving a nonmonotone critical function. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1981, Vol. 33.

Description: The impetus for this paper is a concern that a unification of pricing, valuation, and management-basis financials may be essential to ensure the viability of life insurance companies in the variable economic environment of the foreseeable future, which will have serious effects on interest-sensitive products. The paper offers hypotheses on which any unification should be based. The proposed unification is structured on an equity capital management approach and on a variation of the level-return-on-equity accounting method. Discussions of this paper are included.

Description: 1984 Study covering experience of individual disability loss-of-time policies for 1982-1983. The study separates the first year of the benefit period, and combined second and third year experience of the benefit period. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1984 Reports

Description: This paper traces the background of the surgeon general's 1979 report on smoking, highlights its principle conclusions with respect to mortality, and summarizes its findings regarding socioeconomic and demographic differences between smokers and nonsmokers. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1980, Vol. 32.

Description: This paper illustrates a procedure for analyzing the sources of profit under FAS 97 and suggests an analytical procedure for reflecting actual experience and revised future assumptions in the recalculation of the estimated gross profit defined by FAS 97.

Description: A new approach to computing annual pension costs, based on an open-group projection of the participant population for a number of years, was described in detail in a paper published in the 1975 Transactions, entitled 'The Forecast Valuation Method for Pension Plans.' That paper described the operation of such a cost method at the initial valuation date. This paper discusses several alternative approaches to projection valuation methods and also describes how costs should be computed at valuation dates after the first one. In addition, the author illustrates projected contributions and asset buildups under both traditional [closed-group] cost methods and projected [open-group] cost methods, for a number of years under a variety of assumptions as to the growth rate of the participant group. Projection valuation methods have not been described heretofore in sufficient detail to make it possible for actuaries to use them on a recurring basis or for the Internal Revenue Service to make a determination as to the acceptability of such approaches for computing tax-deductible pension plan contributions. It is the hope of the author that this paper will fill both of those gaps. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: This is a discussion of the paper, Group Weekly Indemnity Continuation Table Study by Morton D. Miller. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1951, Vol. 3, No. 7.

Description: This paper shows how net costs of virtually all life insurance contracts may be compared, using, for each contract, the ratio of two interest-adjusted cost indexes denoted as Interest Adjusted Cost indexes. The paper includes a discussion of how the relative cost of early termination of the contract may best be shown to the buyer. Followed by discussion papers submitted by various authors