Description: A look at the IRS initiative, the Industry Issue Resolution IIR Program, and its requested use to address the tax treatment of hedges of VA contract guarantees. The IIR Program is designed to address tax issues that are common to many business taxpayers and are frequently disputed.

Description: Editor’s column describing the contents of the July 2011 issue of In The Public Interest.

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: Article discussing financial reporting topics discussed at the International Actuarial Association meeting in Washington D.C. in April.

Description: The NAIC Innovation work group has set out 10 ideas for improving the LTC insurance market. This article discusses and critiques those ideas.

Description: summary of Canadian topics from recent Retirement Section Council meeting. Update on defined contribution initiative and potential US legislation. Highlight recent SOA research on retirement income.

Description: Description of Social Security COLA for December 2020 and wage-indexed program parameters for 2021.

Description: There is no silver bullet to improving retirement income outcomes for retirees. However, a combination of changes can be of significant value in addressing this overlooked issue. Although QLACs on the surface have potential value, they are not nearly as efficient as they could be. So far, employer plans have provided limited options for retirement income solutions. IRAs may not cost effectively serve the best interest of retirees. Employer plans should be encouraged to become retirement income providers and alternative approaches should be considered. The current prohibition on allowing plans to modify benefit payouts based on mortality experience should be reconsidered to allow for innovative plan income designs. Improvements to the deaccumulation stage of the retiree nest egg are challenging yet necessary.

Description: Overview of regulations and best practices for governance of PBR valuation processes, including standards, oversight, controls and review related to the PBR analysis

Description: Feature article discussing the National Academy of Social Insurance NASI, its 2011 Annual Conference, and in particular the session on Social Security Reform.