Description: The paper o ers a simple framework for ranking the common reinsurance struc- tures in practice with the theory of stochastic orders. The basic idea is to slice the space of reinsurance structures into groups by expected loss cost to facilitate the comparisons within the group and between groups. Given the standard risk aversion assumption in economics, a spectrum of reinsurance structures with the same expected loss cost can be compared analytically with one another and sequenced based on their risk coverages under the convex order. The paper then expands the dimension of the comparison to groups of reinsurance structures with di erent expected loss costs, which can be ranked under the increasing convex order and the usual stochastic order. As such, the paper maps out the ordering for the entire space of reinsurance structures and presents it in a ma- trix format for quick reference. The implication

Description: A presentation at the Actuarial Research Conference in August 2006 in Montreal. This paper discusses the Basel VaR Value at Risk test of a bank's VaR model. It proposes an alternative, Quality Control of Risk Measures QCRM Hypothesis test. The alternative is more likely to reject an incorrect VaR model.

Description: Implementation of Statement of Position 03-1 for Lapse Protected Life Products

Description: Highlights of the 1997 International Underwriting Congress with an in depth discussion of 1 critical illness policies and 2 Use of population data where little insurance data exists.

Description: A review of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including a review of the need for life and health insurance actuaries to review and, in most cases, substantially strengthen their internal controls over financial reporting.

Description: This article discusses the advantages, logistical concerns, and pricing formulas of implementing a TNHP, in which members pay less for treatment from providers who meet higher quality and cost-effectiveness standards.

Description: The author delves into other important parts that should be in the scope of model validation besides the code.

Description: Discussion of American Academy of Actuaries Illustrations Work Group. This article deals specifically with the issue of using mortality improvement assumptions in the illustrations prohibited by the Model Illustration Regulation, suspected in some cases because some UL products incorporate low cost of insurance charges in late durations as part of their product design.

Description: New Zealand is about to launch its first variable annuity with guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits. The product design is mindful of the lessons from the financial crisis in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Description: The use of Other Comprehensive Income OCI is receiving its moment in the sun. It is being considered for housing some of the earnings volatility in the International Accounting Standards Board IASB current approach to measuring insurance contracts’ performance.