Description: Several key market trends have encouraged the development and launch of direct to consumer business models over the last few years. The presenters will look at the impact this is having on traditional business models and the potential it has to open up growth paths to target markets. They will cover several new entrants coming to market aiming to solve specific industry gaps and/or create new opportunities in distribution, risk assessment, customer engagement and the consumer buying experience.

Description: The presenters will dig into the little rider that most actuaries don't spend much time thinking about. A regulator, a direct writer and a consultant will discuss their thoughts on this rider and point out areas where actuaries should focus before deeming it insignificant. Topics will include the current study underway to update the industry experience study (most recently done in 1952), underwriting considerations, interactions with other riders, benefit designs, unique issues on UL policies, tax implications and reserving considerations

Description: As technology continues to advance and consumers' preferences constantly change, the need for insurance to be sold at more competitive prices has become apparent, forcing the Broker channel to adjust its business model and also creating a new opportunity for the Direct-to-Consumer channel. The presenter will examine how various channels have co-existed in the past, and evaluate how they will evolve and co-exist in the future. The discussion will also include an analysis of a channel strategy to optimize results for the growth of a company. Presenters will include representative from the following distribution channels

Description: The days of reinsurance treaties bound by a handshake are long gone. Treaties have evolved into complex legal documents. The session will use a recently released study on recapture provisions as a starting point and will expand the discussion to other key treaty provisions. The focus will be on understanding the intentions, concerns and relative positions of both the direct company and the reinsurer so that a mutually beneficial compromise can be explored.

Description: Over the last few years, many direct companies have started inforce management programs and are now navigating what actions can be taken to optimize the business. At the same time, the legal, compliance, and regulatory environments are also changing. The presenters will explore the development and implementation of programs such as changing non-guaranteed elements or efforts to improve experience while considering the changing compliance environment, including New York Regulation 210, ASOP2 and litigation challenges.

Description: Underwriting has continually evolved throughout the history of insurance. Technology advancements over time have opened, and will continue to open, new underwriting possibilities from both process automation and content standpoints.

Description: Session 176: The Future of Medical Records in Underwriting

Description: Future mortality improvement is an important assumption in the valuation of life insurance and annuities. In this session, presenters will discuss the work of the Mortality Improvement subgroup of the American Academy of Actuaries’ Life Experience Committee and the Society of Actuaries’ Preferred Mortality Oversight Group Valuation Basic Table Team in developing mortality improvement scales for AG-38 and VM-20. In addition, two recent SOA efforts on mortality improvement will be examined. Research on developing a broader framework for modeling mortality improvement assumptions is being developed to enable U.S. actuaries additional ways to follow a consistent approach across a variety of actuarial practice applications. Results from a study on U.S. population mortality by socioeconomic category and how it fits into the broader consistent framework will be presented. Additionally, results of a survey on mortality improvement practices of life insurance companies and reinsurers in Canada and the U.S. will be shared.

Description: This research report discusses simplified issue underwriting in life insurance. It examines recent developments, characteristics, challenges, current practices, assumptions and data elements.

Description: The presenters in this classic session will explore protection and accumulation products as well discuss the current state of the hybrid Life/LTC market. They will also examine the latest trends and the challenges to innovation and highlight key factors impacting the product actuary including the impact of technology, regulation and competitive environment.