Description: The failure of a few large life insurers in the early 1990's led to public concern about the safety of annuities purchased by qualified retirement plans. As a result, the Department of Labor issued guidelines, known as the 'Safest Annuity Rule,' for selecting annuity providers. This study examines whether the Safest Annuity Rule is significantly changing the market for insured annuities issued to tax-qualified pension plans, particularly upon the termination of defined benefit plans. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1997-98 Reports.

Description: In the early 1990s, when several large U.S. and Canadian life insurers teetered on the brink of insolvency and finally collapsed, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its 'safest annuity' provision [DOL Interpretive Bulletin 95-1] ruling that private pension plans buying annuities had the fiduciary obligation to choose the 'safest available' provider. This article examines the effect this ruling has had on the annuity market.

Description: This is a discussion about employee benefit plans: -Group Life - What has been the effect of the new law taxing employer contributions in excess of $50K? What special underwriting problems have occurred, what underwriting techniques used, what has the mortality experience been? -Group Health - What are special considerations where premium rates are guaranteed for greater than one year? Are any additional reserves established? What are the current developments in Group dental? Have any experience studies been made? What is the potential market for group dental? -Group Annuities - What volume of business has been written on separate accounts or segregated funds? What problems have arisen in administering this type of plan? -Miscellaneous- What has been the experience on high limit accidental death and dismemberment benefits? In pension plans has there been an increase in joint and survivorship options? Has there been an increase in disability benefits under retirement plans? To what extent is the new money concept being adopted in fields other than group annuities? What is the current outlook with regard to reducing or eliminating the difference in taxes imposed on insured employee benefit plans vs self-insured plans? From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1964, Vol. 16 Pt. 2