Description: In the June 2014 issue of Product Matters, Doug Robbins of Pacific Life authored a fascinating article entitled “Velocity of Diversification.” Therein, he proposed a pricing measure that describes the “…speed at which confidence in profitability is attained”. How can stochastic modeling of mortality be applied to analyze the velocity of diversification, and how would that measure be affected by volatility in the underlying assumptions?

Description: This article examines the impact of a changing smoking rate on population-level mortality improvement and the importance of taking this driver into account.

Description: Feature article discussing the Life Settlements business: recent growth, pricing, and future of the business.

Description: This article is based on a recent high face amount mortality study completed for the SOA. The data was derived from the Milliman Industry Mortality Study and Analysis (MIMSA), a recent comprehensive life insurance industry study of mortality and lapse. There were a number of interesting findings in the high face amount study, several of which are discussed in this article.

Description: Article Board Of Governors by Bog in The Actuary, March 1979, Volume 13, Number 3

Description: This paper presents a brief history of life insurance risk assessment and explores a future including wearable devices, genetic testing and digital health data

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

Description: The article gives specific information as to why insurance companies would want to participate in intercompany mortality studies. Product Development News, August 2000, Issue No. 50.

Description: This article addresses the 2001 CSO Mortality Table and the implications for preneed insurance, for which the table has been deemed inadequate. The article explores interim measures such as additional reserves, treatment as substandard, and tax implications. There is also discussion of a model NAIC regulation which would mandate the use of 1980 CSO mortality for preneed as well as efforts to eventually establish a new preneed mortality table for valuation and nonforfeiture purposes.

Description: In 2015, LIMRA partnered with the SOA on a study that focused on examining individual LTC policy termination experience including both voluntary lapse and mortality results. This work was based on data submitted by 22 LTC carriers representing approximately 75 percent of the LTC lives inforce over the study period 2000-2011. This article discusses an area of emphasis for the policy terminations work which was to better understand the impact of data quality on reported results given the continued difficulty for insurers in accurately distinguishing voluntary lapse activity from deaths.