Description: An ongoing discussion of the theoretically correct discount rate for valuing insurance liabilities: whether or not the credit rating of the insurer should affect the discount rate used. See related articles including the article “On the Fair Value of Insurance Liabilities: The Regulator’s Option” in the December, 2005 issue of The Financial Reporter.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. This is a discussion presenting a FASB update with regard to fair value accounting and the valuation of insurance liabilities.

Description: The author notes that “current market value is highly relevant, but its accuracy is limited. Historical accounting, on the other hand, is highly accurate, but is of little relevance.” The article then goes on to discuss two leading methods for performing fair valuation of liabilities: the actuarial appraisal method and the option pricing method, and how they can be reconciled.

Description: This paper attempts to advance practice and methodology with respect to life insurance company valuation. From Society of Actuaries Financial Reporting Monograph, M-AS99-1.

Description: A summary of a scientific paper written to address the differences and similarities between the option pricing method now more commonly known as fair valuation and the actuarial appraisal method.

Description: Discussion rebutting the Dec. 2004 issue of The Financial Reporter article titled, “On the Fair Value of Insurance Liabilities,” authored by Don Solow. That article expressed disagreement with the position of the International Accounting Standards Board and the Financial Accounting Standards Board to reflect the value of “own credit risk” in the fair valuation of insurance liabilities.

Description: 1999 SOA Annual Meeting, San Francisco. The panelists reviewed emerging proposals for reporting liabilities at fair value. Topics covered: 1. The Fair-Value Symposium in March 1999. 2. The measures and objectives of fair-value reporting. 3. The implication for the income statement and balance sheet. 4. The alternatives to fair-value reporting, such as embedded value. 5. The impact on asset/liability management. 6. The status of deliberations at the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the AICPA.