Description: Discussion and Opinion on how randomness affects measurement of provider contracting risk-sharing agreements

Description: This article discusses the risk mix related mathematical rationale for national average ACA premium rates dropping for the first time in 2019.

Description: A summary and analysis of REG-103163-18, the proposed regulations providing guidance for property-casualty loss reserve discounting (LRD) under IRC Section 846.

Description: This article is the first installment of a three-part series that aims to provide an overview of ESGs and will focus on the general motivation for stochastic modeling, its advantages and its limitations. Future articles will further break down the key factors of ESGs and the application of these factors to better understand the Academy Interest Rate Generator (AIRG).

Description: Many retirement actuaries have experience developing, implementing, and monitoring Liability Driven Investing (LDI) strategies for plan sponsors. These strategies typically involve modifying a plan’s investment strategy to remove a significant portion of the investment and interest rate risk now or at some point in the future when specific triggers are met. The tactics often involve the use of fixed income assets to cash flow and/or duration match the liabilities. In the spirit of helping actuaries expand their roles in an evolving defined contribution world, this article explores the application of LDI and derisking strategies within defined contribution and individual retirement accounts. The economic theory behind this approach is called the lifecycle hypothesis, or lifecycle finance. The benefits of the lifecycle finance method are that it provides a safe approach to save for retirement and a secure source of floor income during retirement. Similar to pension plans, each individual has his or her own idiosyncratic needs, wants, and risks that should be considered. Actuaries are uniquely situated to help defined contribution plan sponsors, individuals, and even themselves implement the lifecycle finance approach by developing and distributing tools and methods that focus on income (rather than wealth), LDI strategies, and personalization.

Description: Discussion of potential volatility to non-participating long-duration traditional contract reserves under US GAAP targeted improvements to accounting for long-duration insurance contracts. Discusses the impact of revising assumptions as well as interaction of revising assumptions with changes to discount rates.