Description: In this era of enterprise risk management, actuaries should reassess what we tell the public about what we provide. We should allow buyers to make informed choices based upon all the facts. We should recognize that regulatory and judicial forces will be focused on the products we produce for a very long time. This 2004 editorial from The Actuary Magazine discusses some common financial practices that are undergoing closer regulatory scrutiny.

Description: This report identifies and reviews relevant literature with respect to the valuation of private placement debt [PPD] and real estate, develops a case study examining the effectiveness of an actuarial valuation methods for PPD, and proposes guidelines regarding the valuation of illiquid assets.

Description: This article summarizes a recent session at an SOA meeting that presented tips on improving and speeding the product filing process.

Description: The president of the SOA speaks about creating an actuarial 'brand'.

Description: This report, part of the Society of Actuaries [SOA] ‘Experience Studies – Business Practice Surveys,’ presents the results of the survey on Life Settlements, prepared by the SOA Committee on Life Insurance Mortality and Underwriting Surveys Life Settlements Survey Subcommittee. The responses from two separate surveys, one to direct writers and the other to reinsurers, have been combined into this single report. Survey question topics include company characteristics, market participation, market management, and consequences to the Industry.

Description: This report presents the results of a study of individual life insurance lapse experience in the United States conducted jointly by LIMRA International and the Society of Actuaries. The study presents lapse experience for whole life, term life, universal life, and variable universal life plans traced through 2002.

Description: Editorial by Steve By Steve Konnath I'm honored to be the new chairman of the Marketing and Distribution MaD Section Council. I have a tough job living up to the expectations set by our outgoing chair, Juliet Sandrowicz. From News Direct, January 2008, Issue No. 57.

Description: Table of contents for The Actuary Magazine - December 2004

Description: When we put together a newsletter for you, we submit all of the content about two months in advance of the publication date. I'm writing this editor's note on July 5th. I'm thinking forward and wondering what the rest of the summer will bring to us. What will have happened between July 5th and September 5th? From News Direct, September 2006, Number 54.

Description: First of all, I probably watch too many awards shows -- the kind where the winners have a long list of people to thank for their success -- one of whom always turns out to be their muse. A muse seems to be a very popular thing to have, but all it does for me is cause visions of Zeus' daughters in long, white, flowing robes to flitter through my mind and I begin to wonder why they are giving the award to the winner and not to the muse. Well, just like the bandito Gold Hat in the 1948 film version of "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" didn't need no stinkin? badge to pursue his dream, I don't need a muse to pursue mine and neither should you.