Description: This article discusses the potential impact that low interest rates can have on the Life Insurance industry, even if they occur for a short period of time.

Description: Retirees and their advisors should construct diversified portfolios of retirement income, allocating among various retirement income classes that include Social Security, annuities, and systematic withdrawals from invested assets. This essay discusses the pros and cons of various retirement income generators and the issues with constructing retirement income portfolios.

Description: Outlines a collective structure that can be used to convert a lump sum payout into a lifetime income stream, with a 2% COLA that is contingent on funded status and with a smoothed pricing for the annuity conversion factor.

Description: The Actuary Vol. 22 , No. 7. This articles explores the dangers posed by many guaranteed-return life insurance and annuity products.

Description: The appropriate role for actuaries when advising on long-term investment strategies for individual retirement savings.

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: Longevity insurance benefits are deferred annuities that begin payment at advanced older ages, such as at age 82. With a longevity insurance benefit, the problem of asset decumulation with uncertain life expectancy is simplified. Instead of planning for an uncertain period, retirees can plan for the fixed period from the date of their retirement to the date at which they start receiving the longevity insurance benefit. Originally, Social Security was structured as a longevity insurance benefit program, with roughly 50 percent of those entering the workforce surviving to receive the benefits. Over time, however, as life expectancy has improved, Social Security benefits have slowly transformed into benefits that most people entering the work force ultimately receive. While adding longevity insurance as a new benefit when Social Security is already facing a financing deficit would be problematic, reintroduction of a longevity insurance benefit a s part of Social Security reform package that involved benefit cuts could be an important policy innovation.

Description: New Zealand is about to launch its first variable annuity with guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits. The product design is mindful of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Description: ERM and Investment strategies for healthcare companies

Description: This article addresses the issues of short-term volatility, the non-equivalency of traders and, how product development is being impacted by market consistency.