Description: 1999 SOA Annual Meeting, San Francisco. This panel examined the determination and use of the cost of capital for both stock and mutual companies. Topics covered included: 1. How to measure the cost of capital. 2. Use of cost of capital in choosing among options or setting an enterprise's direction. 3. Should different costs of capital be used for different purposes? 4. Options for financing and the effect on cost. 5. Maximizing return by proper mix of options. 6. Example of an acquisition. 7. Appropriate amount of capital. 8. International perspective.