Description: The SOA is shining a spotlight on its research activities as it migrates into the areas of public policy and other relevant topics.

Description: Open meeting of the Society's Health Benefit Systems Practice Advancement Committee and Health Section Council, as well as the American Academy of Actuaries' Health Practice Council. The three committees review ongoing projects in the Health Practice area. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: The article endorses broader use of lifetime income in DC plans. It explains why the use of DB plans will continue to decline. The article points out that plans sponsors will not willingly take on additional ERISA fiduciary exposure. The article endorses three regulatory reforms that would increase the use of lifetime income in DC plans. 1. A robust annuity issuer safe harbor that would free employers from fiduciary exposure for putting an annuity provider on the DC platform. 2. A requirement that a plan offer a lifetime income option to qualify for the 404(c) safe harbor. 3. A revision to 404(c) to allow plan sponsors to allocate part or all of the employer match to lifetime income.

Description: This article describes the SOA's Risk Adjustment Research project, in the context of health care reform, and the preliminary data analysis that has been completed by the Research Task Force.

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

Description: From the 1985 Valuation Actuary Symposium A perspective on the role of the valuation actuary and how it has and will change in the USA, Canada, and the UK.

Description: Discussion of some of the debated aspects of the new health care law from an actuarial principles perspective.

Description: In Canada, the actuarial considerations involved in developing financial reporting and disclosure principles have for some years been under active study by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries CIA and others, with a goal of moving toward one system of financial reporting for all users. The author discusses current proposals starting with a 1974 report released by the CIA, and the work of an Advisory Committee with members from the actuarial and accounting professions, industry, and Provincial Insurance Departments, appointed by the Federal Superintendent of Insurance, which completed its work in the form of a written report.

Description: Discusses a variety of regulatory issues relative to pension plans, the professional responsibilities of pension consultants, and criteria which should be applied for determining assumptions, actuarial cost method and modifications in evaluating disability benefits. Also discusses determination of qualified actuary to represent client before the IRS.

Description: This session discussion is about two proposals for health-care reform will be presented, one from the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association and one from the Council for Affordable Health Care. These dramatically different proposals will be compared and open for critique. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 4A.