Description: Actuarial Process Optimization is a framework for using technology to support the actuary of the future. In this article, we discuss the capabilities of new technologies and explore examples where they can be used to aid with providing strategic business direction, optimizing skillsets and use of technology, and maintaining governance, control, and risk frameworks.

Description: This article discusses the concept of Conservation of Mortality ("Conservation"). Conservation is the modeling principle that ensures consistency between assumptions of the total mortality of a population and mortality among population subsets. This article discusses the use cases for Conservation and the many ways that one could implement it in a model or an experience study. This article also discusses the potential issues that arise when using Conservation, and how one might solve or alleviate these issues.

Description: Inspired by the Wall Street Bets / GameStop stock episode in January 2021, this article outlines the market mechanics and risk considerations that lead to market failure. The consequences of unfilled buy orders, unfilled short sell orders, and more short shares than long shares are all explained. Also, some steps to protect a financial institution that has been caught shorting a popular company are explored.

Description: Discussion of the challenges actuaries face in selecting an interest rate for the purpose of calculating Withdrawal Liability for a Multiemployer pension fund in the US. Recent court cases are referenced.

Description: Future mortality improvement is an important assumption in the valuation of life insurance. In this session, presenters will discuss the work of the Life Mortality Improvements Subgroup (LMISG) of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Mortality and Longevity Oversight Advisory Council (MLOAC) developing mortality improvement scales for individual life insurance.

Description: The session will focus on International Financial Reporting Standards 17 (IFRS17) implementation, including methodologies (classifications, different measurement models, fulfillment cash flows, and contract service margins) for various U.S. products, operational challenges, controls, IFRS17/GAAP comparisons and analytics.

Description: T3: TAXING TIMES TIDBITS

Description: An overview of how the VM-31 requirements for documenting PBR approaches and assumptions can/should reflect the Actuarial Standard of Practice on Modeling, ASOP No. 56

Description: In this third issue of International News in 2022, we feature a contribution by SCOR, a leading reinsurer, highlighting the Actuarial Awards that SCOR presents annually, since 1996, to the best academic work in actuarial science, with annual prizes in several countries throughout the world. We also feature an article by Jessica Leong, FCAS, on barriers that Asian women must overcome to become leaders. Jessica recounts her own experience and how in overcoming some challenges she became the first Asian president of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Description: The article provides an overview of the federal tax treatment of long-term care insurance contracts, including a brief history of the tax treatment of long-term care insurance, the requirements that must be satisfied in order to be treated as qualified long-term care insurance under the Internal Revenue Code, and a brief discussion of qualified long-term care combination products and chronic and terminal illness accelerated death benefits offered under life insurance contracts.