Description: Summary of research project designed to document method to credit interest rates to account value based products. The investment year method (IYM) can theoretically align with investment strategy and be fair to policyholders. These products were designed in the 1980s with guaranteed nominal rates above what is currently accessible so most products credit the guaranteed rate. This paper documents how it could be resurrected during the next interest rate cycle.

Description: This article discusses how small insurance companies can get into the complex equity indexed market by using alliances wherein there is one primary company and one or more secondary companies. The primary company would perform all of the functions for itself and some of the functions for the secondary companies. The companies pool assets to reach critical mass.

Description: Discussion of the selling of life insurance to the middle income market through banks and with the support of new technologies and underwriting processes.

Description: Discussion of expense management in a small life insurance company

Description: How can actuaries innovate solutions to the challenges posed by policyholder behavior risks?

Description: This article describes the four keys to successful worksite marketing: 1. Onsite selling either with group meetings or one-on one using professional enrollers. 2. Use a process that has been proven successful. 3. Gain employer sponsorship/commitment/endorsement. 4. Ensure your insurance company is committed as evidenced by high quality service from issue on through the life cycle of the policy.

Description: The author proposes an annuity clearinghouse to encourage employers to offer annuity accumulation products in their defined contribution plans. This addresses the lack of portability that is associated with, and discourages the use of, defined contribution plans.

Description: This article helps illustrate that a guaranteed income stream in retirement has much more value than merely longevity protection. Used properly, a payout annuity is also a hedge against one's retirement nest egg evaporating, leaving the retiree living check to check on a fixed income only. The article will be of interest to those involved in product development and design, sales and marketing, and payout annuities or guaranteed withdrawal benefits in general.