Description: The most recent U.S. population data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from the U.S. Census at year-end 2021 includes the first ten months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. While we know the pandemic has had significant impacts on both the U.S. population and insured population mortality, we also see increased mortality due to many other non-COVID causes of death. Where are the biggest changes and what does this non-COVID excess mortality mean over the next few years? Take part as an expert panel hosts an interactive discussion to examine data from general population as well as from both individual life and group life experience studies to explore how these changes might spur innovation in underwriting, assumption setting and pricing.

Description: Joint Risk Management Section chairperson's corner, June 2023

Description: An update on the activities of the JRMS

Description: The article is authored by the chair of the Joint Risk Management Section and provides an update of recent changes relevant to members of the council, as well as interested non-members.

Description: An update on the activities of the JRMS Council.

Description: An update to the risk management readers on what the JRMS is planning to do over 2023 to serve its membership.

Description: Our goal in this article is to dive deeper into the role longevity swaps could play in the US PRT market by drawing comparisons to the UK and highlighting recent commercial developments that can jump start the US market’s need for longevity reinsurance.

Description: The Federal funds rate increased by 4.25% in 2022 with further increases in 2023, which have already resulted in a liquidity crisis for a few banks. As the rapid increase of the interest rates pushed the new money rates above the yields of many life insurers’ investment portfolios, insurance companies are facing a dilemma between compressed margins from peer pressure and the concern with liquidity shortfalls and realized capital losses should mass surrenders happen. This paper discussed main emerging risks under rising interest rate environment, and several ways to mitigate these risks.

Description: Both under favorable and stressed conditions, companies heavily rely on reinsurance and the market has seen a number of major transactions enacted in this space over recent months. Reinsurance offers a wider variety of opportunities in order to manage stressed balance sheets and enhance return on capital, upon which insurers must continually reflect in order to capture all the potential value. For example, captive reinsurance, which offers expense or cost reduction advantages in addition to risk management and control, is becoming more widespread as more U.S. jurisdictions allow parents companies to benefit from these captive formations. Upon enacting a transaction, ensuring the implementation of effective reinsurance operations is crucial in order to avoid operational inefficiencies and monitor the transaction's performance. Understanding the potential opportunities and common pitfalls in reinsurance processes is vital for capturing the full value of reinsurance. By attending the session, you will: Explore all the options available where reinsurance can be leveraged to improve capital and tax position, as well as achieving the optimal balance of risk appetite and underwriting profit. Furthermore, the presentation will provide real life case studies on how innovation and operational excellence can improve earnings by reducing costs related to inefficiencies, reducing process timing, improving controls, and reducing reinsurance leakage.

Description: This is the second part of a 2 part series on Real options analysis (ROA). This article looks into the limitations of using financial option theory when doing real options analysis with projects that are long-dated and uncertain, such as: 1. First-degree homogeneity, 2. Uncertainty must derive from Brownian motion, and 3. Risk neutrality.