Description: Studies default risk through the two-sided exit problem of a time-homogeneous di§usion process with tax payments of loss-carry-forward type and obtains explicit formulas for the exit probabilities. If the lower boundary is understood as the default threshold, then the nondefault probability is solved as a special case. A sufficient and necessary condition for the tax identity is discovered.

Description: A study of the effect of random interest rates on life insurance programs and on annuities both certain and non-certain. This is done under several assumptions on the stochastic structure of the interest rates.

Description: This paper describes reverse mortgages, a form of home equity conversion specifically suited to older homeowners who need cash from their homes but who still want to live in them. This paper describes the basic characteristics of a reverse mortgage as well as the types of guarantees generally thought necessary for a tenure reverse mortgage to be marketable. These guarantees create five types of risk susceptible to actuarial evaluation. Each risk is identified, and methods of charging for and minimizing these risks are discussed. Special underwriting hazards and the need for asset reserving are reviewed. Examples of pricing and reserving for a reverse mortgage are provided. Careful supervision of reverse mortgage lending by use of actuarial methods is recommended. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1992, Vol. 44.