Description: This article explains the evolution of robo- advisers as a source of financial advice and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses relative to human advisers.

Description: The author, head of Alternatives Investment Specialists at Fortis Investments, recently presented a research paper on the potential benefits and possible pitfalls of investing in illiquid assets. This newsletter provides a brief summary of that paper. The full paper is available upon request.

Description: Feature article discussing the newly developed Build America Bonds BABs.

Description: The Society of Actuaries’ Pension Section Research Committee commissioned this study to help actuaries develop forward thinking long-term estimates of future equity risk premiums. Equity risk premium is the amount by which the total return of a stock market index, such as the S&P 500, exceeds that of government bonds. Equity risk premiums, calculated from historical data, have been used to project long term values of equity portfolios in retirement plans. The validity of using historical data to project future equity returns will be examined along with other forward looking methods.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New York City Meeting discusses using equities to support long term liabilities covering the following topics: rates, pricing implications, derivatives, GAAP and risk-based capital RBC implications. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 2.

Description: The Investment Symposium is a day-and-a-half long seminar that will focus on the issues and questions faced by investors and risk managers, especially related to insurance companies and retirement plans. Presenters will discuss the big picture issues and explore practical solutions to today’s challenges. Experts will share new approaches to portfolio management and cutting edge research in asset-liability management. Technology, regulation and the economic environment will

Description: This session at the SOA 2001 Annual Meeting looks at issues associated with historically low interest rates from the perspectives of new product development, an investment professional and a corporate view. Included is a discussion of alternative investments ane their risk/return trade offs.

Description: Time Track: Analyzing Historical Asset Returns by Richard Q. Wendt from Risks and Rewards Newsletter, September 2000, Issue No. 35.

Description: Bond Prices, Yields, and Convexity by Macroeconomic Advisers from Risks and Rewards Newsletter, April 2000, Issue No. 34.

Description: Is Risk/Return a sound tool for decision-making? No. It is not consistent, not objective, distorts decision and degrades governance. Why? What shall we do then?