Description: This article explores the challenges of financial reporting in the 21st century particularly on the international scene.

Description: Comparison of S&P’s published ratings standards in the United States and Europe with regards to capital adequacy ratios.

Description: The first preliminary results on international experience studies on mortality and persistency for the pilot countries of Taiwan, Mexico and South Korea are discussed and future expansion of the studies are explained.

Description: Actuary of the Future Section session recap covering market research.

Description: Panelists discuss the process and challenges presented by mergers or acquisitions. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.

Description: This is an article discussing the update on the SOA international experience study which has expanded the topics being studied from individual life insurance mortality and persistency experience to also include agent retention and productivity.

Description: A discussion of European CFO Embedded Value Guidelines

Description: Deferred Bonus Reserves by William R. Horbatt & C. Daniel Stubbs, Jr. from International Section News,October 2004

Description: Deferred bonus policyholder dividend reserves arise because “the policyholders’ share of net income … that cannot be distributed to stockholders shall be excluded from stockholders’ equity” by establishing a reserve. This article provides background on local minimum policyholder participation practices in the US and Europe, presents relevant accounting issues and discuss the two different accounting interpretations and make a recommendation as to which the authors feel is most appropriate at this point in time.

Description: Notes the seminars were almost totally revamped this year with a focus on developments towards Phase II of IFRS. These were held in Hong Kong, Manila and Taipei.