Description: Discussion of how the weak equity environment has led to a growth in the sale of fixed annuities and fixed account allocations within variable annuities. Includes a description of typical product design features and changes in the nonforfeiture laws to accomodate the low interest rate environment.

Description: The decrease in interest rates over the last several years has led to decreases in the maximum valuation rate and maximum nonforfeiture interest rate, and companies need to prepare for these changes.

Description: We analyze how volatility management techniques in VAs affected policyholders and insurance companies

Description: Discussion of solvency problems and the actuary's role in addressing them in the life insurance industry.

Description: Discussion of new individual life, annuity and disability product developments designed to meet conditions in today's market. This article was presented at the Spring 1975 Meeting in Los Angeles.

Description: Presented at May 2002 Spring Meeting. Discusses industry trends in agent compensation with the intent of retaining and attracting the better performing agents and aligning incentives with desired behaviors, while placing the insurer in an acceptable financial position.

Description: In recent years, insurance companies have been introducing saving products whose returns are linked to equity market performance. Equity-indexed annuities [EIA's] are one of the products of this kind. This paper is a study on the recent introduction and popularity growth of equity-indexed annuities. An index is considered which provides a minimum interest guarantee and a participation in the increase in an index.

Description: The article discusses the developments thus far with the adoption of the NAIC Valuation Manual and what steps still lie ahead. It also discusses the NAIC Life Actuarial Task Force’s response to the NAIC’s VM-20 Impact Study. In general, outcomes of the Phase III testing support the suggestion that the modifications made to VM-20 as a result of the NAIC Impact Study made progress in addressing the excessive conservatism demonstrated in the Phase I and Phase II testing.

Description: This session is about the measurement and management of the risk of transfers by plan participants to and from alternative investment options within GICs sold to 401 k plans. Includes a discussion of the various types of GICs marketed.

Description: This presentation, session number 7PD, took place at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 15-18 in Chicago. The panelists discusses current separate account product topics including quantifying the cost of guarantees such as minimum death benefits and minimum living benefits, and equity-indexed product investing and hedging. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 26, No. 3.