Description: Article from The Actuary, April 1972 – volume 6 - Issue 4 revisits the topic of natural reserves and how they indicate the level of cash values that can be provided under such assumptions without gain or loss from surrender.

Description: Insurance accounting is in the midst of significant changes, many of which were proposed during a time of severe economic uncertainty. Given the concern about these regulations by many insurance finance executives, it is time for a re-examination of the capabilities of the financial reporting function. For insurers, actuarial components are a critical part of the financial reports, and so actuaries can be expected to play a critical role in moving the overall financial and regulatory reporting function forward. In fact, the financial and regulatory reporting function in an insurance company cannot advance significantly without actuarial expertise. This article explains how actuaries are therefore in the position of being able to help drive the evolution of a company’s finance function.

Description: This article looks at the recent trend of mergers and acquisitions between very large organizations. The driving forces, issues involved and keys to success are discussed. The role of the actuary in this process is also reviewed.

Description: The new Risk Based Capital Standards RBC standards ushers in a new era of scrutiny and control by state insurance departments. This article summarizes the new features and the effects on companies.

Description: Article from The Actuary, June 1971 – volume 5 - Issue 6 answers the question- What are adjusted earnings?

Description: This article examines employee stock option ESO cost accounting, the characteristics of ESO schemes, the requirements and recommendation of FAS 123R and SAB 107. It also explains why the lattice model is probably the best approach to measuring the cost of stock option grants.

Description: This article discusses the discount rate that should be used under GASB 45. Public employers now find themselves in a similar situation to private sector employers in the early 1990's in that GASB 45 requires them to measure liabilities including post-retirement medical liabilities using accrual accounting.