Description: 1988 Valuation Actuary Symposium. The speakers in this session addressed the relative volatility of participating whole life versus universal life and the annual-premium versus single- premium basis.

Description: From the 1986 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held in Washington DC in October 1986 Discussion of the process for setting assumptions for cash flow testing of interest sensitive products for reserve valuation analysis under statutory accounting in the USA and Canadian GAAP.

Description: From a session at the 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium held in Washington DC, September 14-15, 2000 In this session, panelists discussed how they have leveraged cash-flow testing to: • Influence investment decisions • Analyze risks • Expand Cash flow testing models to meet management requirements • Provide relevant information to regulators and rating agencies Panelists discussed the enhancements required to meet these needs and provide guidance on communication of results to a nontechnical audience.

Description: This presentation is a panel discussion, session number 2PD, from the 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 19-20 in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The panelists introduce major life and annuity statutory and GAAP valuation issues, which are covered in depth at subsequent sessions. There is also a brief update on activities of the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB]. Statutory topics include the draft National Association of Insurance Commissioners [NAIC] Actuarial Guideline MMMM for variable products with guaranteed living benefits, amendments to the Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum Regulation [AOMR], Regulation XXX mortality factors, and codification update, potential changes to the Standard Valuation Law, risk-based capital, and adoption of the 2001 CSO Mortality Table for valuation. GAAP topics include Statement of Financial Reporting Standards [SFAS] 133, 141, and 142, and two draft AICPA Statements of Position [SOP], one on nontraditional, long-duration products and another on internal replacements. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: This presentation is an open forum, session number 37OF, from the 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 19-20 in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The panelist provides background on this new version of statutory accounting, formally called the Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, an NAIC document that took effect at the beginning of 2001, noting that even though the accounting isn’t yet formally an accreditation standard, it’s basically in effect everywhere. The panelist discusses the three key classes of documents within the manual: the Statutory Statement of Accounting Principles [SSAP] Appendix A consisting of various excerpts from NAIC model laws and regulations, and Appendix B, containing interpretations of the Emerging Accounting Issues Working Group. The panelist then discusses the relevant pieces of accounting guidance that are important to health valuation actuaries. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: Panelists consider the future environment of the valuation actuary in the U.S., the current environment in Canada and elsewhere, and the likely future methods of determining financial solvency in the U.S. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 4A.

Description: This session discussion is about tools, techniques, and methods used by the health valuation actuary HVA in dealing with business projections, cash-flow analysis, valuation on nonguaranteed premium business, target surplus analysis, reinsurance and claim reserves. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 1A.

Description: The discount rate is one of the most critical topics in IFRS 17, which may have important repercussion on product profitability. Having a low discount rate may indicate a low profitability of a group of contracts, while a realistic expectation may differ. A similar issue was prevalent especially for U.S. companies when discount rates were set using a market consistent framework. The session is intended to help develop a discount rate framework that aligns with the business practices and address the concerns around the market consistent framework. This session will cover practical implementation considerations to set and apply IFRS 17 discount rates. The panelists will discuss alternative approaches to allow for a level of illiquidity premium for business supported by fixed assets with credit risks. Discussions will also cover other implementation considerations including granularity of setting the discount rate, application to new business, implications on asset and liability modeling, and a planning aspect for a successful implementation of the discount rate setting process. The panelists will share case studies to illustrate different approaches of setting the discount rate and their potential financial impacts. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: understand key requirements of setting discount rates under IFRS 17; understand how to align the discount rate to the actual business practices; understand implications of the discount rate in actuarial modeling; understand potential impacts on financial results; and develop a realistic plan to set discount rates appropriate to the business practices.

Description: As the Valuation Manual continues to evolve and PBR standards for additional products are drafted and incorporated, it will become increasingly important for companies to understand where the requirements are consistent across products, as well as how they differ. This session will scan the life (VM-20) and annuity (VM-21, VM-22) PBR standards across the Valuation Manual to compare and contrast key requirements. Attendees will understand where common methods and techniques can be used across products and platforms. Attendees will also be better positioned to consider assumption and margin setting, asset and derivative modeling, and model efficiency techniques for all types of principles-based valuations. Additionally, this session will profile specific challenges that can arise when actuaries use models to project PBR reserves at future dates for internal planning, pricing, and projections across life and annuity businesses.

Description: Author's views about adjustment of earnings. The thesis is, simply, that the distortion of earnings is caused by the establishment of a statutory reserve in the annual statement which differs from a realistic evaluation of the future liability. As a corollary, the concept of prepaid acquisition expense as a basis of adjustment will be seen to be inappropriate.