Description: A closer look at family tier factor rating assumptions, and how well they reflect actual claim cost data.

Description: Feature article discussing ASU 2010-26: the new Financial Accounting Standards Board FASB guidance which changes the definition of costs related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts that can be capitalized.

Description: Article discussing how U.S. insurance company financial reporting will undergo an unprecedented level of change within the next several years, including a convergence of US GAAP with international accounting standards. Communication to the public issues are emphasized

Description: Discussion of the latest FASB and IASB updates with respect to life insurance company financial reporting issues.

Description: Actuaries are accustomed to considering how much conservatism is appropriate in their estimates, whether made for pricing or for mea- surement of liabilities. In the proposals for a new standard on accounting for insurance contracts, this conservatism is referred to by the International Accounting Standards Board IASB and the Financial Accounting Standard Board FASB of the United States as the risk adjustment.

Description: Feature article discussing U.S. and international regulatory developments of interest to actuaries in the financial reporting field.

Description: Current status and initiatives related to PBR regulation

Description: On October 30, 2015, the SOA Assumption Development and Governance Group, an informal discussion group consisting of nearly 200 interested actuaries with topics pertaining to actuarial assumption development and governance, organized an industry discussion call on end-to-end assumption documentation practices. The purpose of this call was to generate a large list of ideas for best-practice assumption documentation. More than thirty companies were represented in the call, including direct insurers, reinsurers and consulting firms. This article is the work product of the discussion written by Laurie Li and Alex Zaidlin.

Description: This article is to outline the new requirements for valuation rates in VM-22, highlighting key differences and example calculations to enhance understanding.

Description: A discussion of permissible use and collection of genetic information for Health Risk Assessments and wellness programs under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.