Description: This panel discussion is from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists discuss emerging trends in the financial condition of the life insurance industry, how the financial condition of a company is determined by the rating agencies, and the value and reliability of ratings with respect to a company’s current and future financial condition. The potential role of actuaries, the value of the statutory financial statements, the users of the ratings, and how they affect the rated companies are discussed. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.