Description: In physics and engineering education, Fermi problems require solutions based on good approximate calculations with little or no actual data, involving making justified guesses and deducing bounds without using sophisticated tools. The idea of Fermi problems are of particular relevance to today's actuaries, as pricing, reserving, and financial reporting involve more and more complex stochastic components. The paper discusses some approximate solutions developed in academia in the spirit of Fermi problems.

Description: Actuary/accountant/tax attorney dialogue on recent guidance issued regarding treatment of deficiency reserves with respect to the “statutory reserves cap” of Internal Revenue Code section 807(d)(1).

Description: From a session at the 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium held in Washington DC, September 14-15, 2000 The National Association of Insurance Commissioners NAIC Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Model Regulation XXX sets forth the valuation requirements for life insurance with nonlevel premiums or nonlevel benefits, including term insurance and universal life with certain underlying guarantees. Panelists discussed the issues around implementation of the requirements. The issues discussed include: • Determination of X factors when no credible company mortality exists • Proper treatment of secondary guarantees in universal life insurance • Preparation of the mortality assumption opinion requirements • Impacts on product development and design

Description: The article highlights key considerations as companies begin to reserve for their IUL products under PBR.

Description: Summary of NAIC's Winter National Meeting

Description: Section 818c of the Life Insurance Company Income Tax Act of 1959 provides, for companies holding other than net level premium reserves, a choice of two methods: exact revaluation or approximate revaluation to this basis. This paper discusses the impact of the choice on the level of a company's tax reserves. A discussion paper follows.

Description: This article discusses a number of product variations seen in the market with respect to Universal Life products with secondary death benefit guarantees, factors leading to those designs and considerations regarding the adequacy of reserves that emerge under AXXX formulas. This article also identifies a series of factors that authors believe will make it difficult to quickly and equitably resolve these issues through formula-based changes.