Description: This paper provides an overview of those cognitive biases most often responsible for flawed risk assessments and provides practical techniques to mitigate them. Through a combination of mathematical rigor, case study, metaphor, and logic, the author highlights systematic errors in our thinking about risk and provides ways to avoid them.

Description: A sound enterprise risk management (ERM) framework functions as an ecosystem by balancing the interdependencies of its elements while constantly adapting to an ever‐changing, external environment. Each stakeholder has a unique role to play in forming a thriving ERM ecosystem by integrating risk‐conscientiousness in decision‐making. A resilient ERM framework has a single well‐ understood risk language and culture to promote healthy risk‐taking behaviors. The central focus of such a framework is concentrated around all stakeholders and everyone is held accountable. Every day, external forces can potentially disrupt how we operatively conduct business. Unforeseen changes in regulation, market trends, terrorist’s attacks and extreme natural disasters are often categorized as extremely adverse. How then will your ERM ecosystem survive the one‐in‐200 event and continue to flourish through dynamically changing environments?

Description: We develop a model based on causal mortality in order to better understand inequalities in life expectancy across socioeconomic circumstances.

Description: From the 2010 Long Term Care Think Tank Session, a summary on the activities and findings of the Committee on Post-Retirement Needs and Risks, which focuses on understanding and mechanisms to assist in the distribution phase of retirement, by developing middle market consumer profiles, managing post-retirement risks, surveys and studies.

Description: The Internal Revenue Code includes certain rules that apply when a taxpayer has a change in method of accounting. A special rule applies when a life insurance company changes its basis of computing reserves. The article discusses two recent court cases, Bosamia v. Commissioner and Capital One Financial Corp. v. Commissioner, that address change-in-method-of-accounting issues. The article examines whether and how the courts' conclusions in these two cases might apply to changes in basis of computing reserves to correct errors.

Description: Essays advocating for incentive compensation linked to the level of risk in an organization.

Description: Reminding that incentive compensation needs to hit the target on average, needs to have variability related to the level of control over company’s fortune and ensure people are participating.

Description: Summary of the ReFocus 2018 Conference, jointly sponsored by the American Council of Life Insurers and the SOA.

Description: Financial institutions have and continue to suffer substantial financial losses because of their exposures to various operational risks and insufficient risk management. Quantifying operational risk is a critical component of an institution’s ability to manage risk. The model described in the article provides a numerical measure for operational risks existing in a business entity through statistical methods. It takes experience data to reflect both the general features and company specifics of the defined operational risks, while also allowing for managerial discretion. An important achievement is to suggest a level of capital to hold against potential losses arising from operational risks.

Description: Read the August 2016 issue of Risk Management published by the Joint Risk Management Section. Newsletters provide practical information for the working actuary, articles on trends that impact sections and news about section activities.