Description: This editorial notes that a letter, appearing in this issue of The Actuary,’ may not be alone in maintaining that the vagaries of our regulatory system handicap companies to the point that United States policyholders get poorer value for their premium dollar than do those in other countries.’ The article goes on to discuss guaranteed surrender values, the state regulatory system in the U.S and other topics in addressing this question.

Description: This article on recent developments in insurance regulation, is a discussion of the new Model Nonforfeiture and Valuation Laws the continuation of an article from the November, 1981 issue of The Actuary, and to be continued in next month’s issue. It covers topics including mortality assumptions and the new 1980 CSO Mortality Tables, maximum valuation interest rates, and maximum nonforfeiture interest rates.

Description: This article discusses that “the investment returns earned by life insurance companies over the past decade have permitted the sale of contracts guaranteeing relatively high rates of interest. The contracts have given rise to problems in the areas of the federal securities laws, of federal income taxes, and of state valuation requirements,” as insurers, starting in the 1960’s began issuing annuity contracts that provided for the allocation of contributions to separate accounts.

Description: This article discusses the Financial Condition Examination Handbook and the Market Conduct Examination Handbook, both of which became effective January 1, 1977 after approval by the Executive Committee of the NAIC. The purpose of this new guidance is to update and simplify the examination process for all insurance companies.

Description: The author reviews and provides analysis of a report prepared by Douglas H. Carruthers, Q.C., as special legal counsel, to review the relationship between insurers and the public and in particular, the role of insurance intermediaries in the province of Ontario. The report was completed in 1975 and made public in 1976, and effectively recommends a new regulatory framework. The author of this article analyses and critiques the various proposals in the report.

Description: This article analyzes the events leading to low interest rates and recommends careful asset/liability management and risk analysis to address future challenges with interest rates.

Description: A review of the Flesch formula for measuring the readability of insurance policies

Description: This article describes some implications of increasing government intervention in the industry, such as the potential to eliminate the industry's ability to classify risk due to anti-discrimination laws and pressure to expand social 'insurance' programs

Description: This article consists of excerpts from the author’s presidential address to the Southeastern Actuaries’ Club on November 21, 1980. The author notes ‘the only thing we could all possibly agree on today about the economic situation is that the degree of uncertainty is high,’ and ‘it is this uncertainty that presents us actuaries with professional problems which cannot be addressed by traditional methods.’ In explaining how we can deal with inflation and uncertainty the author argues for repeal of both the Standard Valuation Law and the Standard Nonforfeiture Law.

Description: A discussion of the role and responsibilities of actuaries beyond crunching numbers