Description: As the search continues for a solution to the U.S. Social Security system’s financing problems, the U.S. Congress is considering raising the normal retirement age for U.S. workers. The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee heard testimony on Feb. 26, 1998 from Christopher Bone, chief actuary, Actuarial Sciences Associates, Somerset, N.J., Ron Gebhardtsbauer, senior pension fellow, American Academy of Actuaries, and Robert Myers, former chief actuary of the U.S. Social Security Administration and professor emeritus, Temple University. All discussed the impact of a higher normal retirement age. This article summarizes the testimony of these three actuaries.

Description: This article announces that Lester Thurow, economist, professor and author, will be the keynote speaker at the Society of Actuaries' 1998 annual meeting, Oct. 18-21, in New York.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 32, Number 3 - March 1998

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 32, Number 5 - May 1998

Description: Recent testimony on Social Security was given to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging by David Langer, who defended the current system and strongly opposed recent moves to privatize. This article summarizes Mr. Langer's testimony.

Description: This article describes the Actuarial Research Clearinghouse [ARCH] CD-ROM Project whereby the highlights of each Actuarial Research Conference [ARC] presentation are videotaped and then digitized and recorded on a CD-ROM. This disk is then used to develop a computer-based, user-friendly, multimedia summary of the highlights of ARC.

Description: This editorial reviews the benefits of managed care, notes the public pressure to relax controls around this system and the expected cost impact of doing so.

Description: The actuarial profession continues to grow in Asia with help from the Society of Actuaries. In September 1998, the SOA board voted to focus the SOA’s efforts in Asia by renaming the Asia Committee the China Region Committee [CRC] and forming the Southeast Asia Committee [SEAC]. This article describes president-elect, Howard J. Bolnick's Sept. 23-28, 1998 visit to Beijing, Tianjin, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur, where he and a delegation met with members of these committees to identify their needs and discuss strategies to accomplish their mandates. A secondary purpose was to learn more about China to help the SOA more effectively participate in International Actuarial Association [IAA] activities.

Description: Article from The Actuary, June 1999 – volume 33 - Issue 6: Independent brokerage agencies have been the alternative distribution system of choice by life insurers using methods other than the career agency system to bring products to market.

Description: In this editorial, the author draws on the past to briefly address the uncertainties of the future. From The Actuary Vol. 33, No. 8.