Description: Pension accounting standards continue to evolve across the globe with objectives, methods and assumptions varying, sometimes substantially, from one jurisdiction to the next. The presenters will compare the primary global pension accounting standards (US GAAP and IFRS), review recent developments and address whether or not the current standards adequately serve stakeholders such as plan participants, investors, management and regulators.

Description: The discount rate is one of the most critical topics in IFRS 17, which may have important repercussion on product profitability. Having a low discount rate may indicate a low profitability of a group of contracts, while a realistic expectation may differ. A similar issue was prevalent especially for U.S. companies when discount rates were set using a market consistent framework. The session is intended to help develop a discount rate framework that aligns with the business practices and address the concerns around the market consistent framework. This session will cover practical implementation considerations to set and apply IFRS 17 discount rates. The panelists will discuss alternative approaches to allow for a level of illiquidity premium for business supported by fixed assets with credit risks. Discussions will also cover other implementation considerations including granularity of setting the discount rate, application to new business, implications on asset and liability modeling, and a planning aspect for a successful implementation of the discount rate setting process. The panelists will share case studies to illustrate different approaches of setting the discount rate and their potential financial impacts. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: understand key requirements of setting discount rates under IFRS 17; understand how to align the discount rate to the actual business practices; understand implications of the discount rate in actuarial modeling; understand potential impacts on financial results; and develop a realistic plan to set discount rates appropriate to the business practices.

Description: Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential in order to monitor and communicate a life insurance companies’ financial results, and effectively manage the business. This presentation will illustrate how the currently used KPIs may develop and evolve with the adoption and implementation of IFRS 17. Will the IFRS 17 insurance revenue be an appropriate measure for growth? Will the profitability and new business value measures be different? The panelists will discuss the implications of IFRS 17 on the existing KPIs and the possible changes that may lay ahead

Description: Market consistent valuations require path-dependent discounting for scenarios. IFRS 17's requirement to discount best-estimate cashflows using locked-in rates could give non-sensical results in many instances. This article describes a technique for calibrating each of the scenario's cashflows so that they can be discounted with other discount factors or curves without distorting the value of underlying options and guarantees.

Description: This session will have two sections: General consideration of IFRS17 implementation for VA writers and reinsurers A case study of IFRS17 implementation for a reinsurer The first section will go over VFA and GM approaches that are available for VA writers. Both approaches have their own challenges. We will highlight some of the challenges and how to approach/overcome them. Additionally, we will discuss how hedging/ALM can help smooth the transition. The second section will go over the details of implementation process of a VA reinsurer. The case study will explore valuation challenges unique to reinsurers assuming business that would otherwise be valued under the VFA. It will also go over some of the modeling difficulties, project management, and database requirement.

Description: IFRS 17 is a significant change that requires insurers to invest time and resources. The presenters will address wider implications of the new standard, and a senior leaders' panel will cover a number of perspectives. They will address the latest developments of the standard and interpretations, emerging technology that is accelerating implementation, insights from implementing IFRS 17 in Canada and globally, reinsurance considerations and opportunities for the actuarial profession.

Description: This article highlights some key implications for onerous contracts under IFRS 17.

Description: IFRS 17 is causing insurers to rethink their investment management and ALM strategy. The presenters examine issues arising under IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 and the resulting challenges facing insurers, including the volatility and impact on financial statements. Solutions will be proposed including a discussion on how to deal with the disconnect between economic and accounting results. A case study will present the tradeoffs insurers must consider to optimize their portfolio under IFRS 17.

Description: This article lays conceptual foundations associated with projecting investment-related discretionary elements of various life insurance and annuity products. It outlines potential implementation approaches that may be appropriate when calculations are performed in a risk-neutral setting. The article concludes that crediting rates in risk-neutral models can be projected as in real-world models, except that the modeled provision for expected credit losses should be modified to equal real-world expected losses initially, but over the projection reflect management’s evolving expectation, moving ultimately to risk neutral expected losses.

Description: The discount rate is one of the most critical topics in IFRS 17 and may have important repercussions on product profitability. The presenters will cover practical implementation considerations, including alternative approaches to illiquidity premium calculation for business supported by fixed assets with credit risks. Other implementation considerations will also be covered, including granularity of setting the discount rate, application to new business, and implications on asset and liability modeling. The presenters will then discuss how discount rates could be utilized in an Economic Scenario Generator (ESG) to assist IFRS17 calculations, particularly for risk-neutral valuation of the time value of options and guarantees.