Description: This is the presidential address by former President of the Society of Actuaries, Henry F. Rood. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1958, Vol. 10, No. 28.

Description: Informal discussion of the role of life insurance in the national savings. Topics included: A. Life insurance company market share of the savings dollar. B. Impact of mutual fund investments on life insurance company sales. Types of marketing procedures used in the sale of life insurance in combination with mutual fund investments. C. Strategic desirability of variable life insurance policies as a means of recognizing the demand for equity investments. Statutory changes required before such policies can be marketed.

Description: This presentation is from the Digest of Informal Discussion, Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1955 Volume 7, Number 17. This discussion on technology reviews recent [as of 1955] uses of electronic data processing equipment and major computer installations. The speakers also look at the prospects of joint use of large-scale installations by two or more companies, and discuss specific actuarial activities that can be accommodated by electronic data processing machinery, such as calculation of dividends, cash values, and policy reserves.

Description: This general discussion focused on: A. The increase on maximum limits on single premiums accepted based on investment conditions, B. Steps a smaller company might take to meet the current demand for pension plans, C. The extent to which companies have: 1. Transferred to their field or district offices functions which had previously been performed in the home office 2. Transferred to the home office or to central collection offices functions which had previously been performed in agency offices D. Steps taken to revise or supplement company retirement plan benefits to recognize higher salary scales and the possibility of still further inflation, E. The advantages and disadvantages of the Bank Loan Plan under which a policyholder purchases a limited payment life policy and borrows part of the premium from a bank, and F. Changes which have been made in War Exclusion Riders, Disability and Double Indemnity provisions.

Description: This general discussion focuses mainly on automatic premium loans. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1950, Vol. 2, No. 3.

Description: From the 1960 Transactions Vol. 12 No. 32, this ‘Discussion of Subjects of Special Interest’ addresses the Life Insurance Company Income Tax Act of 1959.

Description: This discussion focused on the organization of the actuarial department within an organization. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1950, Vol. 2, No. 2.

Description: This discussion examines new products and marketing issues pertaining to individual life insurance. Topics include: A. Proper role for and impact of higher minimum amount and preferred risk policies. B. Changes made in recent years in the distribution of new issues by plan of insurance and mode of premium payment, C. Advantages and disadvantages of issuing to women a special life insurance policy, or class of policies, involving different basic assumptions from those used for other policies D. Plans marketing policies for which the insurance premiums are paid by 1 bank loans arranged with the assistance of the agent, 2 premium deposit plans, 3 bank drafts and postdated checks.

Description: This is a discussion about substandard mortality vs. standard mortality and the effects it will have on substandard premiums. Topics included: A. Statistical evidence on the trend of substandard mortality. Does it generally follow the trend of standard mortality? B. Effect this should have on substandard extra premiums. C. Does a lowering of substandard extras require any changes in underwriting rules, either as to the range of substandard classes or as to the ratings applied to some of the major impairments?

Description: Discussion of the following underwriting topics: A. In view of the low rates of mortality currently experienced on standard lives, is the standard classification too narrow? B. Do substandard extra premiums at the lower ratings make fair provision for the additional expenses incurred on substandard policies? C. What problems are encountered in issuing life insurance on persons residing outside the continental United States and Canada? D. What changes have been made recently in non-medical selection and why? E. How could greater use be made of mortality or morbidity studies conducted by hospitals, clinics, government agencies, universities and others outside of the life insurance business?