Description: Back in the day, when data was scarce and computers were slow, actuaries were forced to use simple methods to account for risk. By far, the most common method was to add a margin, usually 5% to a “best estimate” calculation. Remarkedly, this method still works quite well in the aggregate. The problem is that, in many cases, decisions today require a more in-depth analysis. For example, how big a risk is a health plan really taking if it lowers its premiums by 10% to attract more members? This session will discuss techniques for measuring risk in today’s environment. Speakers will also share the results from the 5/50 research project, which forms the foundation for the techniques.

Description: With seemingly unending demands on life & annuity companies for more intense and complex calculations, as well as greater sophistication around analytics, and all of this done at speed, never before has it been so important to seek out maximum efficiency in constructing models. In this session the panelists examine how the combination of various model efficiency approaches, pulling in many different facets of modeling and making it flexible enough to dial up or down various modeling components, can bring about incredible results. Not only does it become possible to produce and expand upon financial risk metrics via a building block approach, but also enables life insurers to produce analytics and dashboards to support strategic decisions that were simply not possible or cost effectively viable before.

Description: Hear AM Best rating analysts discuss the rating process and the best capital adequacy ratio (BCAR), a quantitative foundation for AM Best’s assessment of carriers’ financial strength. The benchmarking of BCAR scores for various company types (national MCOs, BCBS plans, smaller regional plans) will be discussed. Look at how changes in investment and underwriting environment impacted the results over the past several years. Further, AM Best’s view of the quality of capital and various factors impacting the overall assessment of the balance sheet strength will be discussed.

Description: "Hear AM Best rating analysts discuss the rating process and the best capital adequacy ratio (BCAR), a quantitative foundation for AM Best’s assessment of carriers’ financial strength. The benchmarking of BCAR scores for various company types (national MCOs, BCBS plans, smaller regional plans) will be discussed. Look at how changes in investment and underwriting environment impacted the results over the past several years. Further, AM Best’s view of the quality of capital and various factors impacting the overall assessment of the balance sheet strength will be discussed. By attending this session, you will: Gain an understanding of AM Best’s building block approach to ratings and how the BCAR results fit into the process. Learn the differences between RBC and BCAR models. Learn how various factors—e.g. liquidity, financial flexibility, financial leverage, the org structure—impact the final AM Best assessment of health companies' capital."

Description: Models are a staple of an insurance company's operations. However, models that are not appropriately governed may lead to underpriced products, under-funded reserves, unfairly treated customers, and potentially catastrophic operational, legal, and reputational risks. Model Risk Management (MRM), an essential component of an insurer's ERM function, needs to keep pace with the rapidly evolving model ecosystem to limit model risk and produce results that management can trust when employing company strategy. With the adoption of ASOP #56, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes such as PBR, LDTI and IFRS 17, it is increasingly important for MRM frameworks and processes to adapt, upgrade and evolve. Discuss insights on how to embed ASOP 56 into Model Risk Management (MRM) and assess the design, development, modifications, and validation of actuarial models, the advancement of analytics and technology that empower insurers for process optimization and automation, as well as the the key components, stakeholders, best practices, and strategic benefits of a comprehensive MRM framework. Go over use cases on enhancing MRM in the context of ASOP 56, technology, and model governance. Explore how automation and optimization of the MRM process will allow companies to realize the strategic benefits of MRM, ensure successful adoption of regulation changes, and the pros and cons of emerging technology on MRM. By attending the session, you will be able to: - Describe how ASOP 56 can help improve MRM processes. - Describe the key components, stakeholders, best practices, and strategic benefits of a comprehensive MRM framework. - Identify where and how to use technology to automate and optimize the MRM process. - Evaluate the impacts of emerging technology on MRM.

Description: Modeling Approaches and Challenges focuses on approaches to real world simulation and the challenges and considerations in real world simulation. Topics include: A frequency domain approach to build realistic multi-horizon scenarios. (Ortec approach) Cascade models structure linking models for major asset classes and economic variables. (Moody’s approach) Overview of models, calibrations & approaches within the context of different use cases. Deterministic & stochastic approaches. Importance of model re-calibration flexibility. We will also discuss specific insights into considerations and challenges in real world simulation, which include topics like: Setting capital market assumptions and/or calibration targets. Assumptions about correlation and causality. Calibrating the model to capital markets assumptions. Validating the model against capital market assumptions. Role of history, market data and stylized facts. Importance of back testing. Calibrating the model to multiple investment horizons. Inclusion of alterative asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure, and direct real estate. Associated issues of limited data, illiquidity and greater uncertainty about calibration targets.