Description: 2023 looks to already be the costliest year for insured severe thunderstorm damage in the U.S. surpassing the 2020 record of $44 billion, by August, and may very well surpass $50 billion for the full year. In addition to property damage, severe storms and hail have led to fatalities in the U.S. and the risks to populations in vulnerable structures seems to be worsening.

Description: This paper compares two mortality projection models – the latest version of the CMI Mortality Projections Model and the latest version of MIM-2021.Both models were applied to data for England & Wales and the US, and the results were compared.

Description: The SOA offers emerging research projects and reports on risk management, including research on predictive analytics, climate risk and general insurance risk.

Description: Research Sponsorship Opportunity: Post Pandemic Mortality by Generation

Description: Life insurance and annuity illustrations are an important part of the sales and ongoing policy maintenance process educating consumers on how the products could perform in a given set of circumstances. While candidates for Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries and even practicing actuaries may have a general knowledge of what they are and awareness of the regulations and applicable standards of actuarial practice, they may not know much about the intricacies of illustrations and illustration testing. The purpose of this project is to create a resource to improve actuarial practitioners’ understanding of illustrations. Additionally, this topic is not currently addressed in the exam curriculum. It is intended that selected sections of the report on this research would be suitable for inclusion in the Fellowship syllabus.

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: The SOA Research Institute Mortality & Longevity Strategic Research Program and the Catastrophe & Climate Strategic Research Program Steering Committees [The Committees] are seeking researchers to investigate the impact of outdoor air quality and pollution on morbidity and mortality, with a focus on climate change including the impacts of wildfires focusing on regions where air quality has deteriorated significantly in recent history.

Description: July 2023 was the hottest month on record in parts of the Southwest U.S. and was also the hottest month on record globally. It will be helpful to study the impacts of excessive heat and the applications to actuarial practice including quantification of risks resulting from it.

Description: The cyber insurance market looks like it’s growing—rapidly, in fact. However, there’s more to the cyber insurance market than the outward appearance of strong growth. Worldwide aggregate premium’s upward trend may even be cause for alarm. The increase in premium against a flat rate of insured exposure is a key sign that the market could turn from growth to constriction if a solution isn’t found in the near future. If the cyber insurance sector hopes to reach such lofty goals as exceeding $30 billion in global premium by 2028, it’s going to need more capital. Whether directly into the insurance sector or via support from reinsurance and retrocession, fresh capital should help insurers achieve greater market penetration, build a broader foundation for ongoing expansion, and chart a course for long-term sustainable profitable growth. The same sources capital insurers have used since the early days of the market won’t be enough, though. Thankfully, the insurance linked securities (ILS) market seems poised to help, particularly with several promising recent transactions. New sources of capital could bolster the foundation for future cyber re/insurance growth.