Description: This article is about the 2008 Living to 100 Symposium which highlighted changes in longevity, biological perspectives, mortality trends and more .

Description: This is an article from a free-lance writer and is his debut performance in The Actuary. The article presents a humorous look at the information contained in the obituaries of the New York Times.

Description: This article is a book review of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism written by Anne Case and Angus Deaton. The book highlights factors that have attributed to the decline in life expectancy in the U.S. over the past two decades. Overall, there has been a significant increase in deaths of despair from drug overdoses, suicides, and alcoholic liver disease that has impacted life expectancy. The review of this book highlights key points and factors in this increase in deaths of despair based on the research of the authors. From an actuarial perspective, this book identifies areas within the U.S. society and economy that would continue this trend and impact future mortality rates and improvement scales.

Description: Medical and underwriting experts discuss medical developments and underwriting practices that could improve mortality rates and risk classification, respectively, in the future. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 3.

Description: Heart disease, critical illness insurance and the path to change – a personal essay by Jing Lang, FSA, FCIA, FLMI.

Description: This is a reprint of a 'tongue-in-cheek' letter that appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association about correlation between life expectancy and the length of life lines.

Description: This collection of data shows a trend in mortality during a period of many medical breakthroughs and social improvements.

Description: Study of the Effect of a Flu Pandemic on Insured Mortality Using the Delphi Method

Description: As the population and workforce age, it is important to rethink how and when we retire. This article provides a big picture overview of issues related to opening up more options for exit from the labor force and gradual retirement. It reviews developments in the last few years that are important including the growth of gig employment, more remote work, more technology, workforce shortages, and changes in employee benefits that previously were a barrier to gradual retirement. It calls for more focus on adaption to the aging society. Several publications are cited and it includes a reference list.

Description: Spreadsheet with documentation for exhibits to the May 2007 report: The Potential Impact of Pandemic Influenza on the U.S. Life insurance Industry