Description: As technology continues to advance and consumers' preferences constantly change, the need for insurance to be sold at more competitive prices has become apparent, forcing the Broker channel to adjust its business model and also creating a new opportunity for the Direct-to-Consumer channel. The presenter will examine how various channels have co-existed in the past, and evaluate how they will evolve and co-exist in the future. The discussion will also include an analysis of a channel strategy to optimize results for the growth of a company. Presenters will include representative from the following distribution channels

Description: Despite the slowdown in the economy, premium growth in emerging markets fared relatively well compared to advanced insurance markets. Yet, there exists an enormous range in premium density and penetration between emerging and advanced markets. The presenters explore the demand side and attempt to lay out possible solutions to narrow the protection gap.

Description: Microinsurance mechanisms provide coverage to low income earners, but a growing middle class is often lacking adequate access to insurance services. The author explores ways in which insurance may be more accessible.

Description: In this article, Tze Leong introduces the subject of Takaful (Islamic insurance) to a worldwide audience based on his experiences and observations in Malaysia and its surrounding region. Through this, he shares some reflections that we could apply to the conventional insurance market.

Description: A discussion of the theoretically correct approach to the valuation of cross-border insurance ventures

Description: The Survey of Emerging Risks has been successfully conducted in North America for 15 years, which provides a consistent report by tracking the opinions of risk managers on the emerging topics beyond the current business cycle with strategic plans over decades. For the first time the survey is also being specifically introduced in China and Greater Asia, with the aim of surveying the actuarial and risk management professionals' opinions on emerging risks in the local market. In relation to the Society of Actuaries, Greater Asia is defined as markets that participate in our Greater Asia Committee. These are additional areas outside of mainland China that include markets such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The survey is sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute and comprises both quantitative and qualitative questions in English and Chinese (Simplified). With a wide range of response options and allowing for anonymous comments, the survey results serve as a platform to share the risk views of local actuaries and risk managers in China and Greater Asia.

Description: Notes on the IAA meeting that took place in D.C. in May

Description: To remain relevant, life insurers need to understand changing consumer behavior and the shifting sands of buying triggers. The presenters will look at consumer studies, both U.S. and global, that reveal changing behaviors that influence the decision to buy or not buy life insurance. They will look at four demographic and economic categories including Millennials, Generation X, Boomers and the Silent Generation and how these generational groups do or don't differ in their feelings and behaviors around life and health. The presenters will address new growth opportunities for companies that align their value proposition to these changing attitudes. They will explore opportunities around health and wellness to increase policy holder engagement and share insight into generational attitudes around wearables and the sharing of personal data.

Description: Digital is the main reason over half of the companies on the Fortune 500 have disappeared since 2000." (CEO Accenture). We cannot be sure how global technology megatrends will disrupt the life insurance industry, but we can be certain that the future will not look like today. As large quantities of available data are no longer owned by insurance companies and statistical techniques become more accessible to non-statisticians, the pressure to keep up with technological advancement increases. Life actuaries must think critically about and be prepared for the coming changes and position themselves as leaders in an industry lagging behind in new technology adoption.

Description: The importance of financial wellness has been increasingly recognized in the last few years. More organizations are sponsoring programs to assist people in different stages of their life