Description: This panel addressed the multitude of issues companies face as banks and insurers become partners. Panelists discussed: 1. Legal issues surrounding mergers of banks and insurers, including the focus of federal regulators. 2. Recent applications by insurers for thrift charters and acquisitions of thrifts. 3. Successful bancassurance models in other parts of the world and best practices applicable in the U.S. 4. U.S. bank distribution models. 5. Financial implications of the manufacturers and distributors having the same parent, including impact on product development, underwriting, and transfer pricing. 6. Impact on carriers relying on banks for distribution when those banks merge with other carriers.

Description: 1999 SOA Annual Meeting, San Francisco. Presenters, each offering a different perspective, discuss a case study involving a successful bancassurance program focusing on: 1. Targeted customer segments. 2. Insurance products involved. 3. Distribution channels utilized. 4. Selling/underwriting/issue processes. 5. Refinements to the initial offering. 6. Key success factors. 7. Sales results.

Description: 1993 SOA Annual Meeting, New York. This session is about product design and pricing of products with bonus features. Topics included: 1. The need for maximum long-term benefits. 2. Designs that maximize long-term benefits. 3. Reasons we should focus on benefits and not cash values. 4. Principles of equity behind bonus features. 5. A practical method to define equity. 6. A summary of current regulatory activity. 7. The definition of equity. 8. The need for cash values. 9. Reasons for considering maximum limits on non-guaranteed elements. 10. Disclosure of non-guaranteed elements. 11. Reserving practices.

Description: Panelists discussed the implications of the growing trend in Canada toward demutualization of mutual companies into stock companies. Topics covered include: 1. The Canadian demutualization process and some interesting differences between companies and across borders. 2. How is eligibility determined? 3. What process is being used to determine allocation of shareholder value? 4. What mechanisms are in place to protect policyholders' reasonable expectations? 5. What internal and financial structural changes are driven by demutualization? 6. How financial markets assess stock value for companies operating internationally.

Description: This session discussion was conducted in the format of a debate: Should regulation of reinsurance be under federal or state regulatory control?

Description: 1998 SOA Spring Meeting, Maui. Panelists address the various issues surrounding the conversion of a mutual insurance company to a mutual insurance holding company structure. Actual experiences were discussed presenting the perceptions of company management, their advisers, and the regulators.

Description: 1998 SOA Annual Meeting, New York. Panelists discussed the activity of the newly emerging mutual holding company structure. Advantages and disadvantages of a MHC structure were addressed.