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 at a meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Diego, CA, June 22-23, 2000 The panel discusses: 1 Financial modeling tools used by the actuarial profession, 2 Pricing techniques used by Wall Street financial analysts, 3 Advantages and disadvantages of each approach 4 Market implications of each approach, and 5 Potential for harmonization of the two techniques.

Description: This presentation was session number 31PD at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 15-18 in Chicago. As opposed to reserves, benchmark surplus, and its supporting assets, relatively little attention is paid to free surplus and its supporting assets. The panelists approach these assets “as a portfolio to be managed with its own set of performance goals, risk tolerances, and characteristics, including issues and alternatives for managing unallocated free surplus.” Topics include diversification, setting asset and liability risk tolerances and adjusting risk in the portfolio, performance goals for the portfolio, impact of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, and the use of internal capital formulas to drive growth. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3.

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