Description: This research report studies the social media response to three extreme tornado outbreaks: May 22, 2011 in Joplin, MO, November 17, 2013 in Washington, IL and April 9, 2015 in Rochelle, IL. It uses Twitter data with a 14‐day period for each tornado event with a focus on a 24‐hour period surrounding the event. It starts with an overview of the data followed by analysis of geolocation, insurance related user influence, social network, and sentiment.

Description: In the last research column, the Research Expanding Boundaries Pool (REX Pool) was discussed, and it was noted that it is now open for business. Since that time, applications from the first round of the pool have been reviewed. In total, the Research Executive Committee (REC) received 17 applications for funding, totaling over $900,000. After much deliberation, the REC allocated its 2012 REX Pool budget of $400,000 to seven diverse ideas that will become new SOA-sponsored (or cosponsored) research projects.

Description: This is an article about The SOA’s Committee on Life Insurance Company Expenses CLICE and its completion of its fourth inter-company study of expenses for individual life and annuity business issued in the United States.

Description: Results of the 2005 inter-company study of expenses for individual life and annuity business conducted by the SOA’s Committee on Life Insurance Company Expenses, CLICE.

Description: As part of its ongoing effort to provide useful information on COVID-19, the Society of Actuaries issued a brief qualitative survey to its Retirement Section members to gain insight as to how COVID-19 is impacting the retirement programs and organizations they support, and also how it is impacting their work. The survey results are intended to help members compare their thinking and future expectations of COVID-19 with their peers, as well as inform future research efforts.

Description: In this era of rising health care costs, numerous efforts have been made to link quality and cost through multiple approaches. This is a report of a study, conducted by MPRO under contract with the SOA, in which they evaluate whether quality pays or not in an inpatient setting by carefully selecting a few hospitals in Southeast Michigan and retrospectively calculating their return on investment [ROI] in quality improvement [QI] activities within their organization.

Description: This research study was designed to answer the following questions: 1. What are the most commonly occurring risk categories? 2. What are the most commonly occurring risk subcategories? 3. What are the most commonly occurring individual risks? 4. Which individual risks tend to make front-page news? 5. Which risks generate the most extensive coverage in the form of repeat articles? The scope was defined as significant downside risk events experienced by Canadian nongovernmental organizations as reported in the first 10 pages of either Section A (Front) or Section B (Report on Business) of The Globe and Mail in a 2012 weekday (Monday-Friday) edition, as recorded in their online archives (“GlobeArchives”).

Description: This article summarizes a roundtable discussion moderated by Anna Rappaport. The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss a model of personal investing known as the Life–Cycle Model of Investing and Saving. This model is concerned with how individuals can find ways to smooth their consumption so that they have a roughly similar standard of living across different periods of time.

Description: This session takes a fresh look at the issues related to acute care focus and the challenges of providing coordinated care for chronic conditions in the United States and internationally. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 31, No. 2, Session 67

Description: This session discussion is about high cost claimants in medical benefit plans and how to control costs and anti-selection. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 15, No. 3B.