Description: 1999 SOA Regional Meeting, Atlanta. In this presentation on translating bond default experience studies into a pricing deduction, the panelists focus on: 1. An approach to anticipating defaults of publicly rated companies. 2. Use of bond default experience studies in a specific company environment. 3. A Wall street approach.

Description: 1993 SOA Meeting, Quebec. This session is about capital management. Topics included: 1. Capital allocation. 2. Capital rationing. 3. Financial or product-line management issues.

Description: To discuss the principles to be followed in the determination of dividend distribution scheme, how to ensure the fairness and sustainability of dividend distribution, and the specific issues to be considered in the practice of dividend distribution.

Description: First, the presenters will discuss long term asset mix for an insurance company. Many people attempt to find a perfect solution. Unlike tactical calls on the trading floor, a good strategic asset allocation analysis oftentimes requires the understanding the company's liability and a good long term view of the economy. Many challenging issues arise during this analysis: Best method or metric to determine the optimal asset allocation strategy, alignment with risk tolerance, variation for inforce versus new business, asset classes and derivative instruments available and fit into the modeling exercise. We will attempt to answer these questions by comparing a few popular measures in an Efficient Frontier Analysis. Second, the presenters will cover derivative from a practitioner's point of view. Derivatives are perceived as complex, risky investment vehicles from the public. However, derivatives are commonly used in various areas. Hedging is always a common topic in management discussion. Actuaries should keep current on this important topic. We will provide an overview on the current usage of derivatives in insurance companies. They will also touch on how derivatives are used in product development, the ongoing changes in the derivatives regulation and challenges faced by insurance companies from the practitioner's perspective.

Description: Infrastructure investments are growing as an asset class in institutional portfolios because they present significant diversification benefits to investors, and importantly for pension plans, typically represent long-term projects. Infrastructure presents a unique opportunity for investors interested in long-duration products that help match liabilities. This session outlines the structure of infrastructure deals, how investments can be made through either equity or debt financing, the importance of ESG, and how to incorporate infrastructure in an institutional portfolio.

Description: 1998 SOA Spring Meeting, Maui. The panelists discussed the many factors involved with insurance company decisions on whether they are putting their money to work in a most prudent fashion. This session focused on the practical aspects of asset allocation.

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, San Francisco. This session explored the product design, pricing, and investment management strategies to mitigate the risk of long term minimum interest rates in a low interest rate environment.

Description: 1998 SOA Spring Meeting, Maui. Panel discusses the some of the newer outlets that portfolio managers have been using for their investable cash. Topics discussed: 1. New risk classes. 2. Update on insurance and catastrophe risk bonds. 3. Capital-efficient structured notes. 4. Leveraged debt and equity plays. 5. Other risk/reward enhancement techniques.

Description: 1999 SOA Regional Meeting, Atlanta. In this session on financial performance measurement in life insurance companies, the panelists discussed: 1. Value-added financial analysis. 2. Performance management using transfer pricing. 3. Investment benchmarking.

Description: 1994 SOA Spring Meeting, Orlando. This session is about raising capital for mutual companies. Subjects discussed: 1. Access to capital markets. 2. Use of surplus debentures. 3. Demutualization. 4. Securitization. 5. Sale/leaseback of home office. 6. Sales of blocks of business. 7. Rating agency perspectives.