Description: Public Law 93-445 provided for a complete restructuring of the railroad retirement system. This paper discusses 2 of the issues/problems underlying the need for the restructuring. These were 1 concurrent social security benefits paid to railroad annuitants 2 the approach used to increase benefits to keep up with inflation. Also a discussion of the basic achievement of the new law, which was to create a two-tiered benefit structure. Followed by 2 discussion papers submitted

Description: In this issue, we’re pleased to share with our members some recent nice activities and initiatives of AFIR- ERM on the risk management space. Please fi nd useful information in the article below from Michael Sherris, Chairman of AFIR- ERM Section.

Description: In addition to death and maturity guarantees on the mutual funds they sell, some insurance companies make it possible for the investor to extend the guarantees for a fixed number of years. In this paper, we consider the case when that option is of the European type that is, the investor, at maturity, can either close out the contract or extend it for the stated, fixed term. When extended, the guarantee is on the value of the fund at the original maturity date. The fund is assumed to be fully invested in common stock.

Description: Essay states a competing American ideals for the U.S. Health care system include free markets which foster competition, cost effectiveness and quality health care vs.public and private assistance which provides health care independent of a person’s financial means.

Description: This is a panel discussion session examining the complaints of life insurance consumers. The subjects include readability of contracts, risk classification methods, variety of product including the meaning of product names- what does the customer think he/she is buying or has bought, perceived lack of competition,

Description: A discussion of the need to connect the interrelated requirements of reserve requirements, capital requirements, risk management, IASB requirements and so forth.

Description: This article explores the methods of determining the optimal timing for risk management projects.

Description: Many risk management decisions involve the timing of implementing risk strategies. The cost of hedging, capital raising and securitization changes with the economic environment. The timing of de-risking and investment in new risk management functions affect the cost and benefit of these projects as well. Like investment timing, it is important to consider the timing in risk management decisions to maximize the gain of risk management projects. This paper discusses methods of determining the appropriate timing of implementing a risk management strategy or investing in risk management projects. It explains the human biases that may lead to inferior timing decisions. It also covers the costs and benefits of risk management projects and the impact of new information on the decision-making process. Timing considerations for financial risk hedging, insurance risk hedging and investment in new risk management projects are explained. Factors used for timing decisions include economic conditions, market volatility, credit rating, borrowing cost, capital adequacy and financial resources.

Description: A discussion of the mortality experience of many countries which demonstrates a dip/decline in mortality rates by age during the period from age 20 to 29. Consideration is then given to the causes of the phenomenon under review.

Description: Analysis of IASB position on the discount rate to use in computing the Fair Value of Insurance Liabilities