Description: This session will explore the uses of financial models at companies as well as the history of how we have arrived at the current day status of how models are used and viewed internally. Financial models can be very useful tools for many actuarial purposes - a key asset for many areas of a company including forecasting and understanding key shifts in business demographics. However, many modeling challenges have companies treating models as a liability and only using them for necessary processes. This session will explore why this is the case and explore opportunities to turn financial models into a key asset supporting key decisions.

Description: In 2006, a pioneering research paper was published on practical considerations for Economic Capital (EC), which has remained a staple on the Society of Actuaries (SOA) exam syllabus ever since. For many, that time represented the golden era of EC-often dubbed the œquantification of Enterprise Risk Management with nearly every major U.S. life insurer performing some form of EC calculation. However, following the 2008-2009 financial crisis, EC fell into disfavor in some circles. Several companies that appeared healthy from an EC perspective prior to the crisis were found to be far more vulnerable afterward.

Description: This session will take a deep dive into emerging mortality experience for long-term care policyholders over age 90. How do we sort fact from fiction when it comes to recent experience that is blurred by the pandemic? This session will look at actual experience of healthy and disabled policies before, during and after the pandemic to help actuaries set assumptions.

Description: Diane Swonk, Economist, KPMG, Currently the chief economist for global auditing firm KPMG, Diane Swonk has more than 30 years of experience in financial services and sits on advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Board and its regional banks. She is currently on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce economic advisory board.

Description: This session will provide an in-depth exploration of model governance, with a particular focus on its relationship to model architecture and its role in fostering resilient, scalable models. We will examine key architectural principles—including scalability, flexibility, modularity, and standardization—and their impact on model reliability and maintainability.We will also highlight the benefits of conducting Architecture Reviews and introduce a development philosophy centered on writing resilient code, building trustworthy models, and implementing structured governance to mitigate risks and technical debt.Beyond architecture, we will take a broader look at model governance, outlining key roles, approval processes, and documentation standards that promote accountability and transparency. Drawing from real-world experience, we will share practical strategies for operationalizing governance and architectural best practices within a production environment, highlighting how these approaches support sustainable, scalable modeling frameworks.The session will also explore the consequences of weak governance—such as inefficiencies, compliance gaps, and audit vulnerabilities—underscoring the importance of proactive, structured oversight.Additionally, we will cover the latest regulatory updates relevant to actuarial model governance, including OSFI’s Draft Guideline, updates in AI-related regulation, and the BMA’s Consultation Paper on model validation.By the end of the session, attendees will gain practical insights into building and implementing governance frameworks that enhance model oversight, support regulatory compliance, and drive long-term sustainability in actuarial modeling.

Description: Summary of an expert roundtable on generative AI in healthcare and health insurance, focusing on use cases, governance, trust, risks, and evolving actuarial skills.

Description: Review the summary of SOA’s October 2025 Exam ASTAM in terms of the number of candidates writing, passing, and the associated pass rates.