Description: The Society of Actuaries, in conjunction with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, recently commissioned a research project on Benefits at Risk and Jean-Francois Begin is conducting the research. Prepare to review Professor Begin's findings and review other work related to determining capital adequacy for benefits payable in non-insured pension payout schemes. This session will be of interest to actuaries working with non-insured defined contribution solutions and to actuaries working in trusteed defined benefit pension plans.

Description: With the persistent low interest rate environment, fast pace of regulatory changes and the size of insurers' back-books relative to new business, it is no surprise that insurers have become increasingly focused on their management of non-guaranteed elements ('NGE') for life and annuity business. Come explore the opportunities and challenges offered by NGE management, with consideration for market trends, regulation, the new ASOP 2 and emerging case law.

Description: Take part in a practical and forward-looking discussion for long duration targeted improvements (LDTI) implications on financial planning and analysis (FP&A). This session will provide an update on emerging industry practices and considerations for reflecting LDTI in FP&A, including operational headwinds and new opportunities.

Description: Assumptions have been a critical component of actuarial work since the rise of the profession hundreds of years ago. Without well-developed, credible assumptions, reliable financial projections are an impossibility. Yet in 2023, there is still a wide range of assumption processes and governance practices in place throughout the life industry. Follow assumption and governance experts from Oliver Wyman to dig deep into results from our 2023 assumption process and governance survey. Examine what we're seeing currently practiced throughout the industry and offer insights into what we're doing well, as well as where we have opportunities to improve. Explore topics, such as assumption governance frameworks, governance costs, development and review, approval processes, implementation and usage, monitoring, and challenges.Gain a better understanding of how your own assumption processes compare against others in the industry, and learn best practices that can be implemented to improve assumption processes.

Description: The pension risk transfer (PRT) market has increasingly expanded to include the complexity of deferred participants who have additional options that do not exist for a retiree already receiving their benefit. Assumptions on the timing of benefit commencement and form of payment elected are highly dependent on specific pension plan provisions and the census population. These assumptions can have significant impact on the reserves and cash flows affecting not only the initial price but the future profitability of the deal and require a balance of both pension experience and annuity pricing. Learn about considerations for assumptions fit for purpose from pension actuaries working in the PRT market and who specialize in the assumption setting process for deferred lives.

Description: The annuity market has been declining while the Registered Index Linked Annuity (RILA) market has been expanding. Discover why the market is growing along with key features and considerations for the product from an actuarial perspective.

Description: Throughout this session, the presenters will focus on tax rules pertaining to life and annuities, highlighting the recent changes to interest rates under Internal Revenue Code Section 7702 which determines whether a contract qualifies as a life insurance contract. In addition, recent annuity changes will be discussed such as required minimum distributions. Background and examples will be provided on the cash value accumulation test, the guideline premium requirements and the cash value corridor rules under 7702.

Description: Historically different approaches have been used by actuaries in modeling mortality improvement. The SOA has recently released a framework that practitioners can use to project mortality improvement, providing methodological consistency across a range of applications.

Description: This session will kick off the key National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) activities with a primary focus on updates to principle-based reserve valuations and appointed actuary topics. Hear insights into the current set of activities and initiatives being considered and/or adopted by the NAIC Life Actuarial Task Force (LATF) and the NAIC Risk Based Capital Working Group as well as Actuarial Standards Board. In addition, other actuarial practice issues and other appointed actuary and opinion topics relevant to life insurance, variable annuities and fixed annuities will be discussed. By the end of the session, attendees will understand what changes are being made to reserves, RBC, PBR and actuarial standards and related topics, and the anticipated timing of such emerging changes.

Description: Given the rise in interest rates during 2022, join an insightful discussion on the implications of increasing rates on fixed annuity (FA) and fixed index annuity (FIA) business by looking at industry experience for FA and FIA products for 2022 compared to earlier years. Additionally, you will walk through partial withdrawals, guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) utilization, mortality and what to expect as interest rate volatility continues.