Description: From the April 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Houston. Discussion of how the insurance industries in several countries have dealt with high levels of inflation with respect to the development and marketing of insurance products. Also discussed: I. the overall business and economic environment 2. the taxation structure of insurance companies 3. the availability of suitable investments 4. the insurance regulatory climate and 5. the structure of worldwide capital markets Possible applications to U.S. insurance in the 1980's were explored.

Description: This article describes how Long-Term Care riders attached to Life Insurance policies provide real insurance value at a reasonable cost and allow life insurance companies to compete on a basis other than cost.

Description: Response to Life Insurance 2020 Foresight – A Call for Essays. An essay stating the author’s vision for the future of the life insurance sector.

Description: This panel discussion is from the 1991 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held May 16-17 in New York. The panelists discuss various aspects of accelerated benefits, also known as “living benefits riders,” such as types of benefits, marketing, tax issues, pricing, valuation, and reinsurance. Regulatory issues are discussed, including the work of the American Council of Life Insurance, ‘ACLI,’ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, ‘NAIC,’ and their committees, in developing a Model Regulation. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 2.

Description: On March 19 the Actuaries Club of New York heard a report by Messrs. Dale R. Gustafson and James J. Murphy on the sweeping change in coverage on old policies that Northwestern Mutual Life is offering its policyholders to address a problem caused by the US 1959 Income Tax Act.

Description: Evan Borisenko looks at previous challenging environments for the life insurance industry, such as the a period of severe stagnation in the 1930s, the increased inflation in the 1980s and a catastrophe like the Spanish influenza after the World War I. Evan explains that "while each event described above challenged the life insurance industry in a unique way, each event stimulated an equally unique solution." The article concludes that we "fight to repeat history" in a way that we as actuaries should be able to propose unique solutions with when faced with crisis in the future.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. Credit insurance, long the mainstay in this venue, is being supplanted by a vast array of products designed to meet the particular needs of borrowers without the encumbrance of regulation. This session discusses the activity in this segment of the insurance industry as well as concepts that might transfer to other related instruments.

Description: Panelists discuss new methods, ideas, and approaches to products designed to provide adequate compensation to agents under new compensation arrangements and appropriate profits for insurers, while maintaining customer values. From the 1987 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 13, No. 2.

Description: The Canadian Institute of Actuaries held a panel discussion on product innovation at its June 1981 meeting. This article consists of edited excerpts from a document that was distributed in advance to stimulate discussion, and some remarks on the discussion that took place. This article discusses some of the products developed in response to the current high and volatile interest rate environment, such as flexible premium policies annuities and insurance and adjustable single premium policies.

Description: This paper illustrates the calculation of embedded value of an insurance company. The principles should be applicable to similar calculations for other companies.