Description: The Society of Actuaries Research Institute (SOA) and LIMRA are soliciting surrender and lapse experience for individual Term and Whole Life policies for calendar years 2015 through 2022 to be used to complete a 2015-2022 Term and Whole Life Lapse and Surrender Experience Study (Study).

Description: The SOA Research Institute seeks proposals and essays on actuarial aspects of 401(k) plans, including similar plans like 403(b) and 457. Topics include investment impact, participant behavior, plan features, and AI's role. Submissions aim to enhance understanding and future research on retirement savings adequacy and system improvements.

Description: Session Categories for 2025 ValAct

Description: Driver-based forecasting is a powerful tool to predict and estimate future outcomes. In recent years, driver-based forecasting has gained significant attention as a technique for actuaries to forecast the financial performance of insurance companies. Often there can be frustration around the ability to use forecasts to manage the business. However the objective of a driver-based forecast is to break down historic and projected movement based on the key drivers which impact the results. The key is to understand what the key drivers are on forecasts and what is the relative level of impact and influence we have on the drivers. Listen in on a discussion on the core principles of driver-based forecasting, including how to identify key drivers, collect accurate data, and leverage the latest technology to generate forecasts that traditional models can't match. Explore with us the various driver-based models and how actuaries can leverage them to enhance their decision-making capabilities. Then join the conversation about the challenges actuaries face when implementing this technique and how to mitigate these problems.

Description: A panel of actuaries and investment experts share their experience with the AG53 requirements for Asset Adequacy Testing. Discuss challenging areas in the inaugural year of the consideration of complex assets as well as discuss potential areas of future regulatory expectations

Description: FASB published LTDI requirements in 2018. The effective date for insurers who are SEC filers to publish US GAAP financials under LDTI is January 1, 2023. The effective date for non-public insurers is January 1, 2025. LDTI requires insurers to identify a new category of benefits called market risk benefits (MRBs) in insurance products. Broadly, variable annuity (VA) and fixed indexed annuity (FIA) guaranteed minimum death, accumulation, withdrawal, and income benefits fall under MRBs. Valuing MRBs requires calculating the liability on a fair value basis. Valuing FIA MRBs on a fair value basis can be complicated as several aspects of FIAs such as option budgets and policyholder behavior are driven by company management decisions and the competitive landscape.

Description: The rapid and persistent rise in rates has increased many insurer's concerns around liquidity, disintermediation, and overall ALM risk management. Learn an overview of ALM, including the goals and reasons for performing it, common approaches, and real-world examples of common pit falls and mistakes that have been made in the industry. Explore the differences in approaches, and the pros and cons of these various approaches.Learn about the importance of understanding the ALM approach, with clearly defined strategic objectives. Additionally,discover an understanding of the value to both managing risk and optimizing enterprise value. Come away with a deep appreciation for the value that a well-constructed ALM program can bring to valuation/capital planning/asset adequacy testing/pricing (life and annuity).

Description: Actuaries are increasingly being asked to incorporate Economic Scenario Generators into their work. Whether it be a Risk Neutral model for pricing or a Real-World version for Economic Capital modelling, using these tools can help produce a much more robust analysis. Unfortunately, these models and their underpinnings are also very complicated, which can lead to confusion. Come watch the presenters try to demystify some of this. In particular, they will address the following questions: • What is the difference between Real-World and Risk Neutral scenarios? • When should I use one or the other? • How are these models calibrated? • What are some of the misconceptions about these models? At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: • Explain the difference between Real-World and a Risk Neutral scenarios • Understand the appropriate usage of both • Identify some of the calibration questions that go into developing an appropriate set of scenarios • Avoid some of the common misconceptions about these scenarios

Description: "Most patients enter the health care system through their primary care provider or through the Emergency Room or an Urgent Care Center. How an emergency room is structured, managed, and provides care is one of the major forces impacting the total cost of care. Yet it is often an after-thought and ignored by both health plans and health systems. In reality, the structured introduction of efficient practices can substantially reduce the quantity and cost of health care services. Further explore useful information to better understand and see how there are still substantial opportunities for improvement."

Description: Hot Topics in Setting Pension Return Assumptions is the third in a series, following Mathematics of Pension Return Assumption and Inflation, focusing on Effects, Forecasts, and Role in Pension Valuations. What time horizon is more appropriate for Capital Market Assumption (CMA) forecasts: mid-term or long-term time horizon, or a blend of both? How do we map the asset classes of a plan's own investment policy to the asset classes of investment forecasters' CMAs? If we use asset-smoothing for valuation assets, should we use market-driven expected returns or smoothed/average versions of them?