Description: Feature article describing how the Society of Actuaries (SOA) partnered with the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) and the Canadian Institute of Underwriters to conduct research focused on new medical tests and markers that may have significance and relevance to the life insurance markets to get a sense of where underwriting practices are going in the future.

Description: The article looks back at the development of life protection product underwriting and pricing in UK. It describes the development in waves of change, looking at different drivers, e.g. consolidation of the life insurance industry, the role of technology as a driver for efficiency gains via electronic underwriting. Different levels of sophistication are being discussed and possible implications for the relationship between direct offices and reinsurers. This rather thought provoking article is based upon Munich research as well as market experience and ties in with a number of current topics as for example potential changes as a result of the Retail Distribution Review and the Gender Directive implementation.

Description: Discusses how competitive pressures are dramatically altering the distribution process for life insurance. Product pricing and client service are cornerstones in the changes to distribution.

Description: Identifies current trends and considerations when setting the mortality improvement assumption for individual life insurance in the US.

Description: Part 2 of a discussion of the Chinese life insurance market with an emphasis on regulatory, investment, tax, and professional development issues.

Description: The author uses a reprint of an article from the very first edition of the “News from the Individual Life Insurance and Annuity Product Development Section” and assistance from the Taxation Section Council and Friends of that Council to decipher the changes between the life insurance tax environment back in the 1980s compared to today.

Description: NAIC Update on Issues Affecting Life and Annuity Product Development

Description: Author's views on whether insurers' actuaries should be concerned about impact of life settlements on product experience.

Description: Feature article describing the events of the recent 2012 ReFocus meeting.

Description: Chairperson’s column discussing the recent activities of the SOA’s Reinsurance Section.