Description: This is the presidential address by former President of the Society of Actuaries, John R. Larus. Discussion of events within the Society during the past year and anticipated events going forward with respect to Society programs and the examination structure, insurance regulatory changes, some reflection on the history of the Society of Actuaries and current demographics of its members.

Description: This discussion asks if the competitive position of smaller companies is improving or declining as compared to that of larger companies and if various developments have worked against smaller companies.

Description: This paper from the Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1974, Vol 26, Pt 1, No 76, provided the author's views of the future opportunities and challenges facing the life office actuary in Canada.

Description: This discussion looks at the approach for applying electronic computers to the operating practices of a company.

Description: Summary of panel discussion on Social Security. Examines the developments and outlook concerning the President's recommendations to Congress for the U.S. OASI system, including extension of coverage, need to increase both the tax rate and taxable wage levels, and liberalization of benefit formula. Also looks at the current developments in Canada.

Description: This discussion is about the pros and cons for smaller companies to affiliate or tie in with casualty carriers.

Description: Summary of discussions from various panelists on the topic of Social Security. They looked at recent developments with respect to general legislation expanding coverage, discussion of the Constitutional issues with respect to Social Security, developing experience of the new Canadian old-age pension plan, inadequacy of the funding levels relative to promised benefits for both the Canadian old-age plan and US Social Security.

Description: This discussion looked at: A. Problems relating to agents' compensation and other expenses arising from the increased proportion of term insurance being currently issued and from the sale, at commission rates lower than those under the regular series, of special policies with a large minimum amount, and of smaller regular series policies. B. The advantages and disadvantages of freely making quotations for special plans not in the rate book.

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: Discussion of the diversification activities of a number of life insurance companies. This includes the formation of, or acquisition of, property and casualty insurers, variable annuity companies, mutual fund management companies, banks, finance companies, leasing companies, real estate development companies, televisions and radio stations, newspapers, software consultants and other corporate enterprises. Discussion includes: 1. Activities really compatible with the llfe insurance product. 2. Activities otherwise compatible with corporate objectives or offering potentially large profit centers. 3. Activities which can be an excessive drain on corporate earnings and executive manpower 4. The actuary's role in these diversification activities. Then the discussion goes into a discussion of corporate planning models