Description: The editorial explores the reasons for the current low interest rates and introduces the February/March 2016 issue of The Actuary in which experts offer strategies on how to cope with the complex issues facing insurance companies and investment actuaries.

Description: Chairperson reviews the section's goals and mission.

Description: Accomplishments of the past year and a look at initiatives for the year ahead.

Description: Insight into activities of Actuaries Without Borders (AWB), a section of the International Actuarial Association, and SOA involvement in the section. AWB’s mandate is to provide volunteers for projects in countries where the actuarial profession is at an early level of development.

Description: It is, without doubt, the poorest people in the world who are most in need of the security that insurance brings. Renata De Leers and Queenie Chow discuss why the micro-insurance market has low penetration, and why actuaries are so well placed to assist insurers in understanding their clients' needs.

Description: The world around us keeps changing F.A.S.T. propelling life insurance companies to respond with F.R.E.S.H. product solutions.

Description: The pension and longevity risk transfer market is growing rapidly, with British-pioneered pension and longevity de-risking emerging outside of the UK and US, with over $270bn in transactions completed globally since 2007. Emerging markets include the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France and Australia. This article describes the solutions available to plan sponsors who are looking to secure member benefits and achieve a lower risk future, and provides real-world examples of companies who have used innovative solutions to meet their unique needs.

Description: Feature article that introduces readers to Actuaries Without Borders (AWB), which provides volunteers for projects in countries where the actuarial profession is at an early level of development. The article also highlights recent international projects undertaken by AWB.

Description: The SOA has a growing number of research projects specifically addressing opportunities and insights for its membership in Asia.

Description: The international presence of SOA-designated actuaries is on the increase, and the International Section will be aligning many of its activities to complement those of the SOA’s International Committee while continuing current successful activities and initiatives.