Description: This paper presents an approach to analyzing continuing care retirement community [CCRC] data, and demonstrates the methods using data from a large CCRC. It is assumed that residents make transitions among a number of states that represent the levels of care required by residents. There is randomness associated with both the transition times and the states entered at these times. The model is conveniently characterized in terms of transition intensity functions, which represent the instantaneous rates of transition between pairs of states.

Description: Underwriting is one of several areas in the insurance industry being impacted by insurtech. In this session, we will hear from experienced experts in underwriting transformation. Digitization, machine learning and other approaches are among topics to be discussed.

Description: This is the third and final article in a series on the Power BI suite of tools available from Microsoft. A high level look at its analytical capabilities.

Description: Explores the open vs. closed systems debate with regards to actuarial modeling and exposes the over-simplification. Valuable for anyone who uses models.

Description: Discusses the graphics capabilities of the computer language R.

Description: Discusses ways to minimize errors in Excel spreadsheets used for risk modeling.

Description: This article discusses the management and testing of spreadsheets.

Description: Members of the American Academy of Actuaries’ Solvency Committee have put together an acronym reference chart. This handy guide can be folded up to fit in your wallet and quickly reviewed so you can fearlessly enter an elevator.

Description: In this paper, we introduce a family of leptokurtic symmetric distributions represented by the difference of two gamma variates. Properties of this family are discussed. The Laplace, sums of Laplace and normal distributions all arise as special cases of this family. We propose a two-step method for fitting data to this family. We develop a statistical test for goodness-of-fit and introduce a test of normality of the data. A simulation study is provided to illustrate the theory.

Description: Investment Correspondent's report for the Opening session of the 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibit in Boston, MA.