Description: State and local pension plans provide their stakeholders with a great deal of information. However, that information is typically not presented in a user-friendly way. Summary documents often fail to give their readers a clear and comprehensive picture of a plan's finances. The premise of the SOA Project described in this article is that there is a need for concise summary reviews of a plan's operations. The Project's mandate included the preparation of two sample reviews of two different state systems that might serve as models, but not rigid templates for reviews prepared by plan management. This article describes and compares the two reviews and their accompanying dashboards, and also addresses the Project's broader goals. The article emphasizes that it is not the exact shape or format of a summary review that matters, but how effectively it conveys the current state and prospects of a plan's finances.

Description: The article discusses the sustainability of the ACA individual market from a public entitlement standpoint. A key point of measuring sustainability is the reliance on market forces rather than federal budget constraints. The article explains why an actuarial viewpoint of sustainability is necessary to a greater extent than other public assistance and social insurance programs. The article challenges actuaries to be a bold, objective voice in a space that is full of opinionated but often uninformed viewpoints.

Description: This article reviews studies find that the mortality gap has significantly reduced – though not eliminated – the overall progressivity of Social Security.

Description: Part One of a three part discussion of A Social Security System for the 21st Century, this part focuses the broader international, social, political, cultural and economic trends that will govern the viability and sustainability of a social security system in the 21st century.

Description: Focuses on these key China market questions: • How quickly is the market developing? • What is the market potential? • How are the existing foreign companies performing? • What are the main implications of China’s accession to the WTO? • How do different market entry options compare? • Which are the key issues to consider in establishing a joint venture? • What is the future outlook for new entrants?

Description: Highlights of the International Experience Study (IES), a joint research venture of the SOA’s International Section and Research Department, the International Actuarial Association, local actuarial associations and corporate sponsors to provide actuaries around the world with practical experience information in emerging markets.

Description: It summarizes the activities that took place on the “Day of reflection and evaluation of insurance in Argentina” held at the School of Economic Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (FCE-UBA) on October 17th. The main objective of the Day was to present the progress achieved through the National Strategic Plan for the Insurance Industry (PlaNeS 2012-2020) launched in 2012. The audience included the Superintendent and Vice Superintendent of Insurance, Juan Bontempo and Santiago Fraschina, as well as the Dean of the FCE-UBA, Professor Alberto Barbieri, and authorities of all insurance chambers and industry trade bodies.

Description: A summary of the IAA meetings in Vancouver in October 2015.

Description: This article discusses the need to be self-aware of our development items, and to stretch ourselves to get better in the areas that we must develop.

Description: Introduction of the Leadership & Development 20th Anniversary Special Edition of The Stepping Stone.