Description: The article gives background on the Brazilian insurance market and summarizes the newly released regulations which deal with revised reserving guidelines and new capital requirements. Additional capital requirements are promulgated for credit, market, legal, underwriting and operational risks.

Description: Canada has been proactive in establishing governance frameworks for reinsurance transactions. Initiatives from individuals, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions OSFI and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries CIA have addressed concerns about and scrutiny of reinsurance transactions from worldwide securities and insurance regulators, rating agencies and the media. It is important to note that actuaries have played a vital role in identifying and developing these initiatives and will continue to have a major influence in further development of governance standards and in providing education. From The Actuary Magazine June 2007

Description: This article from The Actuary Magazine discusses the paper issued by the Emerging Issues Advisory Group on fair value liabilities. A change in the method used for financial reporting is on the way. The questions, what are the changes and what they mean to you are answered here.

Description: Discusses the emerging issue of non-formulaic reserves, which surrounds principles-based reserving, in a Q&A format.

Description: This article examines the changes in U.S. regulatory reserve and risk-based capital requirements that will significantly impact the insurance industry and practicing actuaries. It summarizes activity related to principles-based reserves and risk-based capital initiatives during 2005.

Description: This article describes the shortcomings of a rules–based valuation system and the benefits of a principles–based valuation system. It discusses the concerns that have arisen since the introduction of Canadian GAAP and Canada's current direction toward a principles-based valuation of insurance liabilities.

Description: This article summarizes statutory reporting and the Pinciple-Based Initiative that the Academy, the industry and the regulators have been working on in the U.S. It addresses whether a principles-based approach will simplify reporting regulations and make them more flexible.

Description: This article discusses the discount rate that should be used under GASB 45. Public employers now find themselves in a similar situation to private sector employers in the early 1990's in that GASB 45 requires them to measure liabilities including post-retirement medical liabilities using accrual accounting.

Description: This article examines employee stock option ESO cost accounting, the characteristics of ESO schemes, the requirements and recommendation of FAS 123R and SAB 107. It also explains why the lattice model is probably the best approach to measuring the cost of stock option grants.