Description: This presentation is an open forum, session 58OF, from the 2004 Spring Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held June 14-15 in San Antonio, TX. The panelists present both theoretical and practical perspectives of the role of assumed asset returns and credit spreads in determining the fair value of policyholder liabilities. They cover financial economics, how other financial service companies value liabilities, what factors go into determining an appropriate discount rate for insurance liabilities, and issues currently being debated by the International Accounting Standards Board [IASB], and the Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB]. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 30, No. 2.

Description: This presentation is a Teaching Session, number 29TS, from the 2002 Valuation Actuary Symposium, held September 19-20 in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The panelists describe the three basic types of credit derivatives: total return swaps, credit default swaps, and credit spread options. They discuss techniques used to price credit derivatives, accounting and required capital treatment, the size and growth of the credit derivative market in the U.S., Canada, and globally, and early experience and performance of credit derivatives in an actual default case. Discussion from participants is included.