Description: This is a panel discussion session on aspects of multi-line insurance company operations focusing on the organization structure, the role and relationship with agents, and the role of actuaries in these organizations. These organizations offer products ranging from life to health to property and casualty.

Description: Different mortality projection methodologies are utilized by actuaries across applications and practice areas. As a result, the SOA’s Longevity Advisory Group (“Advisory Group”) developed a single framework to serve as a consistent base for practitioners in projecting mortality improvement. The Mortality Improvement Model, MIM-2021, Tools and User Guides, compose the consistent approach

Description: Sam Gutterman presents his paper, 'Expenses and Pricing', at this session at the SOA 1998 Maui I Spring Meeting. He discusses the need to control expenses and reflect them appropriately in pricing as vital to an insurance company' s short-term and long-term success.

Description: A summary of the 2001 Individual Life and Annuity Expense Study

Description: Highlights from the 2002 Inter-Company Expense Study of U.S. Individual Life Insurance and Annuities.

Description: The author encourages actuaries to provide more disclosure and better communication about their work to eliminate the perception of the black box.

Description: The author encourages actuaries to broaden their skills so as to be able to become involved in larger business issues and not just be the numbers person.

Description: This article discusses the need to broaden and expand the actuarial profession. The author encourages adding new practice areas or enhancing existing ones.

Description: The percentage of the population who are obese has grown dramatically worldwide over the last several decades, although stabilizing recently in the United States. Studies have found the effects on mortality to be inconsistent and controversial because of methodological differences and the complexity of the relationship between obesity and mortality. This paper discusses this relationship and sheds light on the likely effects of this epidemic. Issues associated with the so-called obesity-mortality paradox, where mortality experience is lower for those individuals who are overweight and in some who are obese compared with the mortality of those in the normal weight category, are examined. Although certain recently reported studies of the relationship between mortality and obesity indicate that obesity is related to a reduced percent of additional mortality, this may in part be due to the shorter average time that those currently obese have been exposed to their condition. Nevertheless, the amount of health care costs and rates of disability associated with being obese are significant, contributing to the increase in overall health care costs as they become more numerous and age. Although obesity is being addressed with a great deal of activity and publicity, they will continue to prove challenging for individuals and society to manage and overcome.

Description: Essay discussing cost, quality and access of healthcare and then describes the need for rationing.