Description: The Society of Actuaries’ Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program is pleased to make available a summary report that highlights key findings from the latest biennial survey, Risks and Process of Retirement. The survey, the eleventh in the series, was conducted online of Americans ages 45 to 80. The purpose of the study is to evaluate Americans’ awareness of potential financial risks in retirement, how this awareness impacts the management of their finances with respect to retirement, and how Americans are managing the process of leaving the workforce. The survey was conducted by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc. The full report of findings is forthcoming and will be posted soon. Additionally, several special topics reports examining aspects of the findings will be posted as they become available.

Description: As part of its ongoing effort to provide useful information on COVID-19, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) recently launched a series of reports exploring the impact of COVID-19 on retirement risks.This report is based on a follow-up conversation among actuaries from the SOA Retirement Section Council and the Retirement Section Defined Contribution Initiative Project Oversight Group. The actuaries that participated are currently working with plan sponsors of defined contribution plans in the United States and Canada. This report summarizes observations raised during the conversation about the current issues being discussed with clients to deal with immediate concerns as well as broader considerations about defined contribution plans, emergency funds and financial wellness.

Description: As part of its ongoing effort to provide useful information on COVID-19, the Society of Actuaries issued a brief survey to its Investment Section members to gain insight as to how COVID-19 is impacting investment professionals. The survey results are intended to help members compare their thinking and future expectations of COVID-19 with their peers.

Description: The SOA Research Institute along with the Corporate Finance & Enterprise Risk Management Curriculum Committee, Financial Reporting Section, and Individual Life & Annuity Curriculum Committee are pleased to make available a research report that aids students and practitioners with their understanding of the rating agencies as they affect the insurance industry.

Description: The SOA Research Institute conducted an online survey of 1,000 U.S. respondents who are actively saving for both their retirement and a family member’s or friend’s college education. The results offer a better understanding of the challenges families face. Read the report for detailed findings or peruse the infographic for an overview.

Description: The Society of Actuaries’ Committee on Finance Research and Investment Section are pleased to make available a research report explores gross domestic product (GDP) as a metric of economic growth.

Description: The devastation wrought by opioid related deaths is national news. This article looks at the details behind the statistics.

Description: This report examines the impact on risk scores in risk adjustment models when there are timing differences for model updates and risk factor mappings.

Description: The SOA is pleased to make available a research report providing insight and considerations for the actuarial profession in assessing the potential risk and opportunities of MACRA to both provider and payer organizations.

Description: The Health Care Cost Trends Strategic Research Committee is looking for research proposals to study the impact of Artificial Intelligence on any of the following elements of healthcare • Evaluate the impact on predictability of financial results • Evaluate the impact on the efficiency of care management techniques applied to members • Compare results to traditional risk adjustment and traditional methodologies of predictive analytics • Determine an overall financial impact of applying AI to identify these high cost claimants.