Description: Review the syllabus for the Spring 2024 Life ALM and Modeling (ILALAM) Exam.

Description: Review the ILALAM Syllabus for Fall 2023.

Description: View the Fall 2022 Life ALM and Modeling Exam.

Description: View the Spring 2023 Life ALM and Modeling Introductory Syllabi.

Description: View the Fall 2022 ILA – Life Product Management Exam Syllabus.

Description: Spring 2022 ILA – Life Product Management Exam Syllabi

Description: Fall 2021 ILA – Life Product Management Exam Syllabi

Description: View the Fall 2020 ILA – Life Product Management Exam Syllabi.

Description: View the ILA – Life Product Management Exam Syllabi.

Description: Syllabi for SOA's Spring 2020 administration of ILA - Life Product Management Exam

Description: Syllabi for SOA's Fall 2019 adminstration of ILA - Life Product Management Exam

Description: Fall 2016 Exam Syllabi

Description: 2015 Quantitative Finance and Investment Core Exam Syllabus

Description: View the spring 2014 Quantitative Finance and Investment – Core Exam syllabus.

Description: Syllabus for Fall 2013 Quantitative Finance and Investment Core.

Description: Spring 2013 Advanced Portfolio Management Exam syllabus.

Description: Syllabus for spring 2012 Advanced Portfolio Management.

Description: The financial crisis and lessons for insurers

Description: Spring 2008 Investment Advanced Portfolio Management Exam syllabus.

Description: Spring 2011 Advanced Portfolio Management Exam syllabus.

Description: The Introductory Study Note has a complete listing of all study notes as well as errata and other important information.

Description: Fall 2011 exam syllabus.

Description: Syllabus for 2009 Spring Exam APM.

Description: Syllabus for Spring 2010 APM Exam.

Description: This research project examines operational risk management practices and assess the viability of ORM as a formal discipline. A key goal of this initiative has been to determine whether the management of operational risk is feasible, and, if so, what issues need to be addressed in order to effectively implement ORM within a broader ERM context.

Description: The current financial model put forth as the market value of public sector pension benefit liabilities is simply the expected cash flows of the accumulated benefit obligation, as defined for current private sector financial reporting, discounted using a risk-free yield curve. This model is in serious need of an overhaul. This monograph addresses this issue.

Description: Introduction to the paper that documents the flaws of the current financial model.

Description: This paper asks the Modligliani-Miller question regarding the mortgage markets. The paper is essentially about the genesis of the credit crisis. The proposed answer is that the practice of risk should not be allowed without actuarial supervision.

Description: This paper introduces basic embedded value EV principles, concepts and formulas that will be especially valuable to the beginning students of EV.

Description: The report examines various benchmarks for analyzing option adjusted spreads of the major fixed income asset classes of life insurance companies.

Description: Securitization of mortgage pools was one of the great financial innovations of modern times. Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO), which took this innovation one step further, are a classic example of what we understand today by the term "financial engineering." Together, these instruments brought liquidity to the real estate mortgage market by attracting new sources of funding for real estate loans. From The Actuary Magazine October 2007

Description: In order for actuaries to play a valuable role in the realm of enterprise risk management ERM, they must provide value-added advice and quantitative analyses. In this paper, the authors use stochastic simulation technology to present a risk metric for defined benefit pension plans that provides improved measures of the plan’s solvency and provides a tool for pension plan managers to determine the value of risk mitigation activities.

Description: This paper uses stochastic simulation technology to present a risk metric for defined benefit pension plans that provides improved measures of the plan's solvency and provides a tool for pension plan managers to determine the value of risk mitigation activities. From 2006 Enterprise Risk Management Symposium, M-AS06-1.

Description: This session 12PD of the 2005 Valuation Actuary Symposium covers issues related to financial statement disclosure. Panelists discuss financial statement disclosure requirements in the United States and other jurisdictions and examine the quantity and quality of financial risk disclosures by life insurance companies.

Description: Full version of Risks & Rewards Newsletter, August 2005, Issue No. 47.

Description: At the November meeting of the IASB’s SAC, I raised strong support for the concept of a priority project to accelerate the development of a new conceptual framework for the IASB with emphasis on the role of reliability, the definition of liability, the meaning of probable, the effects of contingencies i.e. contingent probabilities, the unit of account and accounting for contractual rights and obligations. Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a longer address to the International Accounting Standards Board on guiding principles.

Description: Presented at May 2005 Spring Meeting. Panelists discuss the process of setting long-term investment assumptions from a practical perspective, including changes in equity return premium, use of risk-neutral scenarios and methodology, and special considerations for setting pricing scenarios.

Description: Prepared for the Society of Actuaries by STATLAB at the University of Western Ontario, this report contains the results of a cash flow testing, ‘CFT,’ software survey performed in 2004. The results were based on the responses of 110 life insurance companies in the U.S. and Canada. The goal of the survey was to produce a report that will serve as a reference for comparing the available CFT packages and lead to better software and modeling techniques. CFT refers to analysis which is used to support both the Asset Adequacy Analysis for the Actuarial Opinion for U.S. companies, and the ALM Provision for Adverse Deviations in applying the Canadian Asset Liability Method to determine reserves for Canadian companies.

Description: Full version of Small Talk Newsletter, November 2004, Issue No. 23.

Description: Discussion of how non actuaries are taking on many of the enterprise risk management roles of insurance companies. Discusses changes actuaries need to make to re-assert their roles. Also discusses roles actuaries can play in enterprise risk management outside of the insurance and pension industries

Description: At the 2004 Valuation Actuary Symposium, a panel of appointed actuaries, with the help of substantial audience participation, shares its perspectives and practical experience in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the appointed actuary.

Description: From a session at the Spring meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-15, 2004 Discussion of risk and pricing issues of particular concern with respect to life insurance and annuity products in times of relatively low interest rates

Description: This presentation, session number 43PD at the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held June 14-15 in San Antonio, TX, discusses the use of mortgage-backed securities by life insurance companies. “Insurance companies in the United States have, for many years, invested in mortgage-backed securities MBS. The suitability of MBS for insurance company portfolios has been called into question by recent changes in interest rate volatility and increased capital requirements.” Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 2.

Description: From a session at the Spring meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-15, 2004 This session covers different methods for estimating future volatility of financial markets, how to predict the effect of volatility on insurance company results, alternative approaches to managing volatility and the impact on volatility management on the choice of modeling method.

Description: A number of insurance companies have recently implemented, or are in the process of implementing, economic risk capital. These programs are being implemented because of concerns with the existing regulatory and accounting frameworks and/or companies' desire to have a capital framework which is more consistent with their risk profile. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 2, Spring Meeting, San Antonio, TX, June 14-15, 2004, Session 47PD.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 38, Number 5 - May 2004

Description: This session from the 2003 SOA Orlando Meeting covers insolvencies of insurance companies in the U.S., developments within the IAA with respect to solvency assessment and risk measurement. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 3.

Description: This session from the 2003 SOA Orlando Meeting covers credit derivatives and how they have evolved, credit-default swaps CDSs, the advantages and disadvantages of credit derivatives and the regulatory overview. From the Society of Actuaries Record, Volume 29, No. 3.

Description: This session covers the differences between quantitative models and traditional techniques for measuring credit exposure pricing models versus portfolio risk management models and an introduction to some commercially available models, such as J. P. Morgan’s Credit Metrics and Moody’s/KMV Portfolio Manager. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 1, Washington, D.C. Spring Meeting, May 29–30, 2003, Session 19PD.

Description: Fixed Annuities—Product Design and Investment Considerations

Description: Full version of Small Talk Newsletter, May 2003, Issue No. 20.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 2003 Washington, DC Spring Meeting explore economic capital from the standpoint of an SOA task force including an industry survey, one company's implementation, and a regulator.

Description: The full version of The Financial Reporter, Issue No. 52, March 2003.

Description: Reflections of a Regulatory Actuary by Larry Gorski

Description: 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Lake Buena Vista, FL. In this teaching session the instructor explained how to scrutinize model results and use models to make strategic decisions. Specific topics included validation of asset models, modeling considerations for derivatives and assets with embedded options, using models to assist with portfolio management, and using models to improve portfolio yields and realized product spreads.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. This session describes the general features of advance programs operated by various Federal Home Loan Banks, summarizes potential benefits to insurers and identifies key issues surrounding the programs.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. Attendees learn about the new capital allocation, the financial products company 'FPC' model recently developed by S&P -including S&P's view of interest rate risk and credit risk in the FPC model, challenges of implementing the model for a life insurance company, and how the FPC model compares to economic capital methodology.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. This session discusses financial management in the year 2001, which displayed an economic environment unlike that of any year since the 1960s.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. This session covers the current status of FAS 133 and extensions such as the proposed statement of position on accounting and reporting by insurance enterprises for certain nontraditional, long-duration contracts and for separate accounts.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. Discusses the basics of asset allocation for life insurance companies, such as primary asset classes, asset allocation in a tax-free environment, and the impact of rating agencies on company management.

Description: From an interactive forum session at the 2001 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 29-30, 2001 Discussion of the major financial reporting issues and concerns of senior actuaries in life insurance companies. Discussion focused cash flow testing methods and interpretation of results.

Description: From a teaching session at the 2001 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 29-30, 2001 Panelists analyze the modeling considerations in projecting asset cash flows and asset valuations.

Description: This session 151TS of the New Orleans Spring Meetinguses real life examples to demonstrate the more complex collateral types and structures and the risks and rewards of these financial instruments. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 3.

Description: This session discusses how floating rate funding agreements, which have put options or short maturities, became an important product for many insurers in the 1990s. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 3, Session 29PD.

Description: Panelists cover the following: • Requirements for filing an opinion on asset adequacy • Satisfying Actuarial Standards of Practice • Minimum requirement for examination of assets • Methods for performing asset adequacy analysis including cash flow testing • Examples of blocks of business and methods employed From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 27, No. 2, Session 35PD of the Totonto Spring Meeting.

Description: The Retirement Protection Act of 1994 (RPA) established mortality assumptions to be used when calculating current liabilities for pension plans. This was the first time that standard tables had been mandated for this purpose. The Secretary of the Treasury

Description: Study Note Corner from Pension Section News, October 2000, Issue No. 44.

Description: From a session at the 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium held in Washington DC, September 14-15, 2000 Discussion of newer and more innovative investment structures and the modeling of these securities in cash-flowing testing and asset/liabilities management analysis.

Description: From a panel discussion session at the 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium held in Washington DC, September 14-15, 2000 Overview of New York Regulation 163, including the limits on different types of derivative activities, the Derivative Use Plan required by New York, and the reporting and control requirements.

Description: From a session at the 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium held in Washington DC, September 14-15, 2000 This session talks about the issues that smaller companies deal with. Topics included: • Section 7 opinions —changing cash-flow testing requirements • C-3 risk-based capital requirements and methodologies • Setting and resetting X factors for Regulation XXX • Developing internal management systems • Regulatory update • Using outside consultants

Description: Actuaries are trained to measure and manage risks, for example, mortality, morbidity, interest rate, and asset default risks. However, the range of risks to which companies are exposed is wider than is sometimes considered. This complex array of risks needs to be managed holistically in concert and not in isolation. The actuary is increasingly called upon to assist in this process and needs a broader perspective and more powerful toolkit. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3: Chicago Annual Meeting, October 15-18, 2000, Session 54PD.

Description: From a session 11 PD at a meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Diego, CA, June 22-23, 2000 This discussion presents an introduction to credit derivatives. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 1.

Description: This presentation, session number 102PD, took place at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 17-20 in San Francisco. The panelists discuss the characteristics of more popular forms of asset-backed securities, including receivables, home equity loans, home improvement loans, and manufactured housing loans. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 25, No. 3.

Description: 1999 SOA Annual Meeting, San Francisco. This panel expanded on earlier research to examine the potential costs of long-term guarantees, transfer risk modeling techniques, and the formulation of practical strategies to manage investment accumulation products.

Description: In session 38PD of the San Francisco Annual Meeting panelists discuss the pros and cons of the recent development of securitization in the U.K. life insurance industry, and the applicability of these issues to the North American life and health market. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 25, No. 3.

Description: This presentation is an open forum, session number 8OF, from the 1999 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 23-24 in Los Angeles. The panelists explore risk quantification from multiple perspectives, including: value-at-risk techniques and their application in the financial services industry, internal risk-based surplus formulas, and an NAIC Risk-Based Capital [RBC] Update. They discuss the application of existing and emerging risk evaluation techniques to one’s company or client circumstances. Discussion from participants is included.

Description: This presentation is from session number 2, presented at the 1999 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 23-24 in Los Angeles. The panelists discuss current statutory valuation issues pertaining to life and annuity products. They provide updates on the Unified Valuation Law [UVL] Task Force, equity-indexed products [including NAIC actuarial guidelines ZZZ and ZZZZ], NAIC actuarial guidelines XXXIII and XXXIV, variable annuity guaranteed living benefits VAGLB, the NAIC Model Regulation for Group Annuity Separate Accounts, Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum Regulation [AOMR] revisions, and other current topics.

Description: This presentation is from session number 3, presented at the 1999 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 23-24 in Los Angeles. The panelists address specific asset modeling issues of current interest, including purpose of model considerations, dynamic reinvestment strategies, and less than rigorous modeling of asset optionality.

Description: Full version of Small Talk Newsletter, December 1998, Issue No. 12.

Description: This article describes the four keys to successful worksite marketing: 1. Onsite selling either with group meetings or one-on one using professional enrollers. 2. Use a process that has been proven successful. 3. Gain employer sponsorship/commitment/endorsement. 4. Ensure your insurance company is committed as evidenced by high quality service from issue on through the life cycle of the policy.

Description: So What’s New with the AOMR? by James R. Thompson from Small Talk Newsletter, December 1998, Issue No. 12.

Description: Panelists provide an overview of risk-based capital requirements. Also discussed are shortcomings and proposed changes currently under consideration. Practical issues with the implementation of these ideas are also presented. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 3.

Description: In session 74 PD of the New York Annual Meeting panelists examine the necessary steps to ensure that both customers and boards are comfortable with the investment activities of mutual fund managers. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 3.

Description: In session 32 IF of the New York Annual Meeting the panel discusses the ongoing consolidation at the domestic and foreign levels of the financial services industry, and the ensuing need for an international accounting standard. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 3.

Description: This session at the 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses issues related to variable and fixed deferred annuity modeling.

Description: This session at the 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium presents a framework for managing surplus based on the knowledge bases of the CFA designation and the SOA curriculum for the finance and investment specialty.

Description: This session at the SOA 1998 Maui I Spring Meeting discusses issues related to the more direct involvement of actuaries on the asset side of the balance sheet.

Description: This panel at the SOA 1998 Maui I Spring Meeting discusses issues surrounding the growing trend among insurance companies to hire outside money managers including rationale, selection criteria, performance measures and managing the outside manager.

Description: 1998 SOA Spring Meeting, Maui. The panelists discussed the many factors involved with insurance company decisions on whether they are putting their money to work in a most prudent fashion. This session focused on the practical aspects of asset allocation.

Description: Panelists at this session of the SOA 1998 Maui II Spring Meeting examine the basics of value-at-risk as an effective risk management concept and how it can be used to manage an investment portfolio.

Description: This article suggests ways for small insurance companies to obtain modeling information on more intricate assets, such as collateralized mortgage obligations [CMO], at a low cost.

Description: Full version of Small Talk Newsletter, May 1998, Issue No. 11.

Description: This article describes the nature and features of collateralized mortgage obligations [CMO], identifies their key risk factors, and suggests steps that small insurers can take to effectively and economically model them.

Description: The author explains his negative opinion about the requirement to value collateralized mortgage obligations [CMO] using the New York Seven interest rate scenarios.

Description: 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium. The panelists addressed the practical implications of how to use value-at-risk in a real-life setting, risk-based surplus, and an update of the C-3 component of RBC. This session is a mix between the regulatory situation and quantitative analysis.

Description: 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium. This session about strengthening reserves based on cash-flow testing provided some practical solutions to reserve-strengthening issues using reinsurance and a look at the issue from a small company perspective.

Description: 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium. The panelists discussed the keys to an effective Asset Liability Management process and the conceptual tools that they're using, including value-at-risk, optimization techniques, and holistic ALM.

Description: 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium. The panelists discussed applying economic scenario generators in the life insurance business, a particular generator that has been developed at SS&C Technology Company, a way of reducing the number of scenarios to get the maximum amount of information, and what to look for in a software vendor.

Description: 1998 Valuation Actuary Symposium. Dynamic Financial Condition Analysis is analysis and sensitivity testing and stress testing. Stated another way it is measuring the ability of a company to support future operations. The panelists provided an update on recent Society research that has been done and examples in practice.

Description: In session 120IF of the Washington Annual Meeting panelists discuss latest developments related to Dynamic Financial Condition Analysis. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 3.

Description: 1997 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Session 3 looks at considerations in strengthening reserves as a result of cash flow testing results.

Description: 1997 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Session 17 discusses market value measures and its uses in asset liability management.

Description: This 1997 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Session 15 focuses on life modeling.

Description: 1997 Valuation Actuary Symposium, Session 21 looks at advanced topics in annuity modeling.

Description: In session 4 PD of the Montreal Spring Meeting panelists discuss the complexities and timing issues involved in determining an earned interest rate. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 2.

Description: In session 60D of the Montreal Spring Meeting panelists discuss the pros and cons of asset segmentation, as well recent trends. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 2.

Description: This panel at the SOA 1997 Palm Desert Spring Meeting discusses how ratings and rating agencies affect health care insurance and related organizations. Advice is offered on maintaining a good relationship with rating services.

Description: This discussion looks at cash-flow testing and its use by smaller insurance companies. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 1.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This discussion examines the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model law regarding the use of assumption reinsurance.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. Discusses the latest additions to the Handbook, recent developments/requirements in Canada, and current research to support the Dynamic Financial Condition Analysis Handbook.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. The SOA has co-sponsored a research project on the use of derivatives by the insurance industry, using annual statement data reported by insurance companies. This session presents the results of the study, and implications with respect to sufficiency of RBC are discussed.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This discussion looks at recent developments and emerging issues with the NAIC.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This discussion presents an introduction to Monte Carlo and why it is used for integration and valuation of complex formulas. Moreover, results using low-discrepancy sequences instead of the Monte Carlo simulation for pension fund analysis is shared.

Description: 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium Proceedings, Session 11, discusses health financial projections and projection modeling in general.

Description: Presented at June 1996 Spring Meeting. Provides overview of modern pricing of assets such as derivatives. It includes theory and practical applications, particularly how they relate to insurance companies.

Description: Presented at June 1996 Spring Meeting. Panelists discuss the impacts on preparing reserves and an Actuarial Opinion and Memorandum caused by differing reserve requirements in each state.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. This teaching session covers course F-585 in the exam materials, which is intended to provide background for the actuary who aspires to become the chief financial officer of a financial institution. It addresses raising capital and financial management.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. Presents an overview of conference co-sponsored by the SOA on fair value of insurance liabilities, including a comparison of some of the methods presented. A status update of recent industry and professional activities and what the future may hold for the use of fair value of insurance liabilities in insurance company financial statements is also provided.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. The investment environment has undergone significant change over the last several years through the introduction of many sophisticated investment vehicles. This session provides an update on current challenges encountered by life insurance companies in accounting for this new array of investments. Among the issues covered will be accounting for derivatives, mortgage-backed securities, and other hedging vehicles. The session also includes some of the system and projection modeling challenges encountered as a by-product of investment in these vehicles.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. In this teaching session, various forms of asset-backed securities, e.g., credit cards, auto, home equity, commercial real estate, mobile homes, etc., are examined. Also discussed is basic structures and the risks and opportunities and critical parameters involved.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. This session offers a retrospective and prospective look at the development of actuarial pricing models and technology tools.

Description: Panelists of this teaching session discuss: [1] policyholder and company behavior and its impact on model and assumptions, [2] model purpose and structure, data collection, and behavior models, and [3] the modeling process, including objectives, considerations, constraints, and validation. Session 10 of the 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium. This session about asset modeling discussed securities with options and derivatives, corporate government debt, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, real estate equities, and investment and disinvestment strategies.

Description: 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium. Topics discussed in this session on GAAP and purchase GAAP included: 1. FAS 115, so-called actuarial or SEC adjustments, and how practice has been evolving in that area. 2. How companies determine the gross margins for mutual GAAP products and the traditional participating business of mutual companies. 3. Mutual company GAAP. 4. Basics of purchase accounting.

Description: 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium. A panel of actuarial regulators answered the questions: 1. What are the regulatory expectations from asset adequacy analysis? 2. When regulators review a company's opinion and memoranda, what are the things they are looking for? 3. What are the things that haven't been done as well as they like? 4. What do they feel can be improved on in the process? 5. How does the process itself work?

Description: 1996 Valuation Actuary Symposium. This session discusses the purposes of building an asset model, the resource requirements, model validation, model granularity, understanding spreads, and model interest rates.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Boston Meeting covers a general overview of basic interest rate models, the meaning of an arbitrage free model, the considerations in choosing an appropriate interest rate scenario generator, the uses, alternative approaches, the double mean reverting process model - DMRP, and how good the results are in terms of historical rates. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4b.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Boston Meeting reviews issues relating to various methods of evaluating portfolio managers. Specifically addressed will be developing benchmarks based on liability requirements, linking the benchmarks to business needs, measuring performance against the benchmark and an SPDA benchmark. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4a.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Boston Meeting examines the background and reasons leading to recent Canadian and U.S. insurance company failures, covering the roles of management, actuaries, rating agencies, and regulators. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4a.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Boston Meeting presents the issues in developing a reinsurance arrangement for fixed annuity products including rate crediting strategies, reinsurer solvency risk, fund management and regulatory issues. Also included is reinsurance of interest sensitive products, variable life and annuity and terminal funding. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4a.

Description: Presented at September 1995 Valuation Actuary Symposium. This session talks about the tools and methods for asset modeling, particularly mortgages and asset-backed securities.

Description: Discusses the severe adverse effects on U.S. capital markets that will occur due to the passage of FAS 115, which requires marking certain assets to market without a corresponding adjustment to liabilities.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Vancouver Meeting covers the impact on insurance companies from rating, the different rating agencies, the varying processes and information used by the rating agencies and criticism of rating agencies. It also covers information from A.M. Best. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 3b.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 29, Number 6 - June 1995

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New York City Meeting discusses Financial Accounting Standard 115 for valuing assets at market, surplus volatility and what that means in a market-value accounting environment and fair value of liabilities. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 2.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New York City Meeting discusses Financial Accounting Standard FAS 115, a company's FLUX score and how it is calculated, the valuation actuary, how to manage off-balance-sheet assets, and how to manage risk-based capital RBC. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 2.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New York City Meeting discusses the history and evolution of the NAIC Model Investment Law, its current status, provisions and highlights, and the impact of the proposed law on actuarial practice and life insurance companies. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 2.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New Orleans Meeting provides information on insurance company ratings including the Moody's rating: the process, quantitative measures, qualitative rating, and the level of surplus. Other issues are the reliance on credit agencies for GIC buyers and how organizations use the ratings. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Spring Meeting reviews investment products for the senior market, such as deferred and immediate annuities, mutual funds, and reverse mortgages. Discussion will include product design, pricing administration, regulation, and marketing. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA Spring Meeting has a panel of investment experts that answer investment-related questions from the audience including investment policy for long term care insurance, asset allocation and derivatives. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: The session from the 1995 SOA New Orleans Meeting focuses on advanced cash-flow techniques, different approaches to incorporate interest sensitivity into pricing and product pricing including option-pricing approaches to asset/liability risk pricing. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: This session from the 1995 SOA New Orleans Meeting introduces Course 220, touching on the topics covered of macroeconomics, financial markets and asset definition, portfolio management, and investment strategies, corporate finance and asset management and the reading materials. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: This session from the 1995 New Orleans Meeting covers FASB/AICPA pronouncements concerning application of GAAP to mutual life insurance companies. Panelists will discuss practical issues, including materiality and use of approximations. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 1.

Description: 1995 Valuation Actuary Symposium. In this session panelists discussed how cash-flow testing models can be used to provide significant Asset/Liability Management information, making the transition from cash-flow testing to ALM, definitions of ALM, the key assumptions in ALM, and evaluating results.

Description: 1995 Valuation Actuary Symposium. This session covers various approaches to determining fair value of liabilities, Financial Accounting Standard 115, and other GAAP-related matters.

Description: 1995 Valuation Actuary Symposium. In this session about small company issues, the panel discussed the role of actuaries in strategic alliances, the cost of regulatory compliance, and cash-flow-testing software.

Description: Valuation Actuary Symposium This is a session on cash flow testing issues in small companies.

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, San Francisco. In this session the panelists led the audience through case studies that required the development of various difficult assumptions where experience is limited. The panel discussed the key issues and how they would go about developing each assumption.

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, San Francisco. This session explored the product design, pricing, and investment management strategies to mitigate the risk of long term minimum interest rates in a low interest rate environment.

Description: 1994 SOA meeting, Orlando. This session is about the committee's dynamic solvency handbook and their progress to date. Topics discussed: 1. Should this report be a required opinion/report? 2. Should it be an internal confidential analysis? 3. What are the actuary's role and responsibilities?

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, Orlando. The first report on a study of bond investment results of life insurance companies with high-yield bond portfolios was presented at this session. The study, covering years 1986-92, was commissioned by the Society of Actuaries Ufe Insurance Practice Research Committee.

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, Orlando. This teaching session introduced Course 230 to seasoned actuaries who missed the opportunity to study ALM material on their road to Fellowship. The focus of this session was to expose the various subjects covered, identify reading materials, and highlight a few topics.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 28, Number 3 - March 1994

Description: Summary of Part II of the survey of Appointed Actuaries, sponsored by the American Academy of Actuaries Committee on Life Insurance Financia1 Reporting and the Society of Actuaries Financial Reporting Section, which asked appointed actuary various questions on methodology and assumptions employed for asset adequacy testing.

Description: This session from the 1994 Valuation Actuary Symposium covers the collapse of the real estate market in the early 1990's and the problems it created in cash flow testing and valuation work. It also covers an integrated asset/liability model and the applications beyond cash flow testing including an example for an SPDA.

Description: This session from the 1994 Valuation Actuary Symposium presents a question and answer format relating to various valuation topics.

Description: 1993 SOA Annual Meeting, New York. This session is about practice notes. The panelists debated the value of them and then discussed being aware of our legal liability.

Description: 1993 SOA Annual Meeting in New York. This session is about Dynamic Solvency Handbook developed by The Financial and Investment Management Practice Education Committee. The handbook is for actuaries who prepare solvency reports, and the targeted completion date was December 31, 1994.

Description: This session from the 1993 Valuation Actuary Symposium looks at an overview of developments in 1993 including a regulator's viewpoint of various valuation actuary issues, an update on the valuation actuary and health insurance, current developments in reinsurance that should be considered in the valuation process and a sample actuarial opinion and memorandum.

Description: 1993 SOA Meeting, Quebec. The new SVL has expanded the scope and responsibilities of the valuation actuary. Topics covered: • Risk of legal liability for actuaries? • Vagueness of actuarial standards related to adequacy testing? • Reliance on other company experts? • Consultants versus company actuary perspectives? • The science versus the art of the process?

Description: 1993 SOA Spring Meeting, Boston. This session addressed the new risk-based capital requirement. Topics included: 1. How reasonable is the framework of basing the formulas on simplistic application of the C-1, C-2, C-3, and C-4 risks? 2. Will this be effective in stanching the proliferation of RBC formulas by the regulatory bodies? 3. Which lines of business are treated relatively badly by the formulas? 4. Is there realistically anything that can be done to prevent company comparisons and renkings? 5. What are the administrative problems faced by the regulators in the oversight process requirement that this will create?

Description: This session is about appraisals of blocks of health business: issues to consider, building a model, setting assumptions and ASB requirements. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 19, No. 1A.

Description: This session from the 1993 Valuation Actuary Symposium looks at asset models and economic scenario generation.

Description: This session from the 1993 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses the growth and deterioration of commercial mortgages and the modeling of commercial mortgages, real estate and CMO's.

Description: This session from the 1994 Valuation Actuary Symposium provides an introduction and overview to the symposium including several NAIC-related activities, regulation XXX, proposed GGG regulation, and the entire life practice notes at the time.

Description: This paper, originally published in 1992 in the Transactions of Society of Actuaries Vol. 44, deals with a topic that is becoming increasingly important to actuaries in most fields of practice. “Without relying on formulas, this paper presents the important concepts underlying the theory of arbitrage-free pricing of interest-rate-contingent cash flows.” This paper, by James A. Tilley, won the 1992-93 Annual Prize, and the Halmstad Prize for 1992. The paper includes written discussion and the author’s review of the discussions.

Description: Without relying on formulas, this paper presents the important concepts underlying the theory of arbitrage-free pricing of interest-rate-contingent cash flows: absence of opportunities for riskless arbitrage, completeness of markets, relative prices that do not depend on individual investors' subjective views or risk preferences, and expected-value pricing in the risk-neutral world. Using these concepts, the paper then describes the steps required to build continuous stochastic models of interest rates, including models that are either partially or fully arbitrage free.

Description: 1992 SOA Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. This 1992 session on the Statutory Valuation Opinion covered the following topics: 1. Regulatory issues and the amendments to the standard valuation law. 2. Practical considerations, such as accumulating data, setting assumptions and creating models. 3. Issues and considerations involved in cash-flow testing.

Description: 1992 SOA Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. This session on cash-flow testing for product actuaries covered the following topics: 1. Guidance notes designed to help in writing up reports on cash-flow testing. 2. Investment strategies in product design. 3. Surplus requirements.

Description: 1992 SOA Regional Meeting, Anaheim. In this panel discussion of the evaluation of the adequacy of capital, the speakers addressed the NAIC risk-based capital proposal, rating agency techniques, and valuation actuary views.

Description: This session is about GICS and other insurance company products that are used by private pension plans.

Description: This session from the 1992 Valuation Actuary Symposium looks at how the valuation actuary may ensure his work stands up to regulatory and professional scrutiny including a discussion on the Standard Valuation Law SVL, the model regulation, Actuarial Standards of Practice ASP 7 and 14, forming an opinion, the content of the opinion and the content of the memorandum.

Description: Presenters discuss: [1] market-value accounting, [2] accounting for mortgage-backed securities [MBSs] and collateralized mortgage obligations [CMOs], [3] the emergence of earnings under FAS 60 and FAS 97 products, and [4] effectively communicating financial results to management. Session 10 of the 1992 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: This paper reviews Redington's theory of immunization and sketches how it may be extended to the general case of stochastic flows by means of modern option-pricing theory. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1992 Vol. 1 .

Description: This paper introduces the symbolic valuation, a stochastic valuation which allows flexible interest rate and cash flow assumptions, and provides an illustration which values a simple SPDA product. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1992, Vol. 1.

Description: This session from the 1992 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses cash-flow testing and looks at the sensitivity of key assumptions including interest rates, policyholder lapsation and asset cash flow.

Description: This session from the 1992 Valuation Actuary Symposium focuses on Risk-Based Capital issues and the important points concerning A.M. Best's view of leverage and capital adequacy in the review process.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 26, Number 1 - January 1992

Description: Index to SOA Publications 89-91 by author.

Description: This presentation is a panel discussion from the 1991 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 20-23 in Toronto. The panelists discuss the current life insurance company merger and acquisition environment, and determining the value of a life insurance company. Topics include the actuarial valuation methodology, including the just adopted actuarial standard of practice, investment analyst valuation, and the risks associated with change of control. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 4B.

Description: This presentation is a panel discussion from the 1991 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 20-23 in Toronto. The panelists discuss the obligations and requirements with respect to cash flow testing for yearend 1991, at that time contained in Actuarial Standard of Practice No. 14. Topics include difficulties in the cash-flow testing process, such as asset and liability construction and assumptions, and strategy. Other topics are interpretation of results, how to cost-justify cash-flow testing, Canadian cash-flow techniques and issues, and asset liquidation versus borrowing. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 4A.

Description: This Guide lists sources that the actuary may use to gain knowledge on investments and asset/liability management. Its purpose is to make available a preliminary road map for the actuary seeking direction to enhance his or her knowledge in these areas.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists discuss determining an optimal investment strategy in the current economic environment, taking into account prospects for the future, and how investment decisions are affected by product features. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held April 18-19 in New Orleans. The panelists discuss the design and pricing of immediate annuities, as well as related topics including reserving issues, asset strategies, asset/liability matching, reinsurance considerations, and NAIC Actuarial Guidelines IX-A and IX-B. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 1.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held April 18-19 in New Orleans. The panelists discuss determining an optimal investment strategy in the current economic environment, taking into account prospects for the future, and how investment decisions are affected by product features. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 1.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held April 18-19 in New Orleans. The panelists discuss securitization of assets as dividing future cash flows into tranches, which are then sold to insurance companies and pension funds. The cash flow traits of collateralized mortgage obligations, collateralized bond obligations, and asset backed securities based on automobile loans, credit cards, and receivables are discussed. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 1.

Description: This presentation is a concurrent session from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held April 18-19 in New Orleans. The panel will discuss the approaches and techniques used for pricing and modeling insurance products, including commercial software, internal systems, maintenance issues, staff training, and asset/liability systems. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 1.

Description: Discusses asset and liability modeling for collateralized mortgage obligations [CMOs]. Assumes knowledge from previous Session 3. Session 8 of the 1991 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: Panelists discuss many developments over the year 1991 that impact the valuation actuary. Session 1 of the 1991 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: Panelists provide a primer on Collateralized Mortgage Obligations [CMOs], exploring how they are constructed and why they exist. Session 3 of the 1991 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: Provides a how-to session on modeling assets and liabilities in the Valuation Actuary's work to comply with the Standard Valuation Law. Comparisons of the methods discussed are occasionally made with the requirements of New York Regulation 126. Session 12 of the 1991 Valuation Actuary Symposium.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 Annual Meeting is about techniques, methods, and assumptions for projecting cash flows for reserve analysis with emphasis on year-end reporting and communicating results. New York Regulation 126, proposed changes to the Standard Valuation Law, and actuarial standards of practice are discussed.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 Annual Meeting looks at mutual company GAAP issues including objectives, common features, comparison to stock company GAAP, and the effect on management of the company.

Description: 1990 Valuation Actuary Symposium Proceedings on sessions 7 and 13. The discussion for both workshops covered three major topics: l. Asset segmentation 2. Measuring investment results 3. Measuring interest margins.

Description: This session 10 of the 1990 Valuation Actuary Symposium is a panel discussion on collateralized mortgage obligations and other asset projections.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting is about modeling investments including the relationship to pricing, modeling techniques, scenario creation, and modeling of collaterized mortgage obligations [CMO].

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting is about the various factors to be considered in determining the interest margins for interest-sensitive life insurance, annuities and GICs, i.e. the difference in earned and credited rates including practical considerations. Valuing embedded options in assets and liabilities is also discussed.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting is about asset segmentation, i.e. segmenting assets among lines of business or liabilities, practical issues involved in the process, and how this enhances asset/liability mangement.

Description: In light of recent life insurance company insolvencies, this session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting looks at industry solvency issues. The question of whether or not there is a surplus crisis is debated.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 San Francisco Spring Meeting focuses on the relationship between the pricing actuary and the valuation actuary from the standpoint of each.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 Hartford Spring Meeting presents an overview of asset backed securities including the various types available - many based on auto loans and credit cards, their return characterisitics, and the credit risk aspects of this market.

Description: This session at the SOA 1990 Hartford Spring Meeting is about the various factors to be considered in determining the interest margins for interest-sensitive life insurance, annuities and GICs, i.e. the difference in earned and credited rates including practical considerations. Valuing embedded options in assets and liabilities is also discussed.

Description: This session discussion is about collateralized mortgage obligations, its definition, characteristics, underlying assumptions, modeling of these securities for pricing and projection purposes and dynamic performance characteristics of CMO classes. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 3A.

Description: Table of contents for the Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 3A in New York on October 22-25, 1989.

Description: List of workshops and sessions from the New York Annual Meeting with no written record. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 3B.

Description: This session at the 1989 Valuation Actuary Symposium discusses modeling techniques for both assets and liabilities. Considerations are given for which assumptions are needed and how to determine them.

Description: This session discussion is about the actuary should be aware of techniques that are available to compare the expected returns from many different types of investments. Understanding these techniques will assist the actuary in pricing many of today's insurance products as well as measuring their ongoing profitability. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 2.

Description: This session discussion is about various asset related items that are needed to perform necessary projections. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 2.

Description: This session discussion is about communications between the actuary and the investment officer and his department. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 2.

Description: This session discussion is about coping with cash-flow testing in a small company. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 2.

Description: Discusses investment strategies that can be used for various product-expense and policyholder-behavior patterns. These include buy/sell, hold, exchange, long-term, optimization, hedging of the business and investment risks, and immunizing strategies. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 4A.

Description: Panelists discuss major pricing issues with immediate annuities: [1] mortality assumptions, including improvement projections and substandard risks, [2] investment strategy, [3] expenses, and [4] valuation. Also discussed separately is a description of structured settlements and special issues with marketing such products. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 4A.

Description: This paper describes several methods of creating interest rate scenarios that the actuary can use for pricing analysis or asset-liability testing. Discussions of the paper are included.

Description: Discusses making changes to non-guaranteed elements in interest-sensitive business, participating business, and indeterminate-premium business. Considers equity between newer and older blocks of business. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 3.

Description: Discusses securitizing policyholder loans [PHLs], including the history, purpose, and benefits of such transactions. Then, using the example of Prudential's large $619 million PHL securitization, panelists discuss it from perspectives of the seller [Pru], actuarial cash flows of the PHLs being securitized, the securities issuer, and the marketing of the securities. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 3.

Description: Panelists prognosticate about the future in terms of economic and financial scenarios, and future insurance markets, products, and distribution systems. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 3.

Description: This article discusses the new Investment Section. The initial targeted areas are expected to be: Modeling, Corporate Finance, Capital Management and Investment Instruments.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 22, Number 5 - May 1988

Description: This article discusses how the refereeing process for Transactions articles, which has been in place for some time, is being changed.

Description: Panelists discuss: [1] a way to study interest-rate risk using stochastic methods, [2] a conceptual framework needed to evaluate the suitability of an investment strategy for insurance liabilities, and [3] how one company [Capital Holding] develops investment strategies and asset/liability management policies. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 2.

Description: Discussed the beginning of the Investment Section of the Society of Actuaries. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: Discusses innovative ways in which insurance companies can obtain capital for investment and new business. Includes purchasing collateralized mortgage obligations [CMOs]. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: Full version of The Actuary Newsletter Volume 21, Number 5 - May 1987

Description: Guest speaker Fred Carr [notably, of Executive Life Ins. Co.] talks about three risks in the life insurance and financial services industries: interest-rate risk, management risk, and credit-quality risk. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: Covers current and emerging issues in statutory and GAAP financial reporting in the United States and Canada. One segment focuses on the Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB] proposal for a new accounting model for universal life insurance, with comments by a member of the FASB staff. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: Panelists discuss issues faced by the insurance-company portfolio manager, how to measure or value interest-rate risk, some of the new cash investment vehicles available, the futures and options market, construction of a synthetic security, and the review of mortgage-backed securities under new analytical techniques. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 3.

Description: Discusses the importance of coordinating the trends in investment markets with product characteristics, investment strategies, and asset modeling. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 2.

Description: Presented at May 1986 Spring Meeting. This session discussion is about the purposes, tools and methods available, scenario testing, updating, special issues and problems. This discussion anticipates the development of new Valuation Actuary reserve adequacy opinion requirements.

Description: Presented at April 1985 Spring Meeting. Discusses: Futures, Options, Floating rate securities, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Leased equipment, Joint ventures, Stripped securities, Zero coupon bonds, Mortgage pools, Sales - leasebacks.