Description: This paper applies the research in Prospect Theory of Kahneman and Tversky to explain why sales of annuities lag sales of life insurance products. The author theorizes that life insurance is easier to sell because customers perceive themselves to be in the domain of losses, while potential annuity customers perceive themselves to be in the domain of gains. Kahneman and Tversky showed us that people are mostly risk averse in the domain of gains and risk seeking in the domain of losses. Purchase of an annuity or life product is a risky investment. Customers will find it easier to take the risk in the life insurance domain of losses than the annuity domain of gains. The author then proposes a hybrid life annuity product that might address both mortality and longevity risk in one product that would allow both products to be more competitive than stand-alone products.

Description: As IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts casts its net wide, reinsurers find themselves sailing toward new horizons of financial reporting. The transition to IFRS 17 is not just a regulatory compliance exercise but a transformational journey that reshapes the financial reporting landscape for reinsurers. The enhanced disclosure requirements, the granular contract-level accounting, and the measurement consistency across different reinsurance contracts promise to unveil a clearer financial picture. Yet, these new reporting waters could be choppy, demanding a sturdy understanding and application of IFRS 17's principles. This article describes benchmarking of IFRS 17 information provided at HY 2023 for four reinsurers.

Description: An overview of guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWB) on registered index-linkedannuity (RILA) products and a stochastic analysis of market risks.

Description: The paper describes a cost-benefit analysis to determine the value of electronic health records (EHRs) in life insurance accelerated underwriting programs. Sample cases from a carrier were underwritten pre-EHR and post-EHR and the mortality savings estimates from risk class changes using EHRs was compared to procurement costs. Results were developed to cover a range of scenarios. Factors to consider for carriers evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using EHRs in their own accelerated underwriting programs are also described.

Description: TAXING TIMES recently sat down with a group of retired tax actuaries to hear about how they got involved in actuarial tax matters and how their tax experience impacted their careers. Their insights will be useful for actuaries who are just starting out in the profession, as well as more seasoned actuaries.

Description: The article describes recently proposed regulations on the deduction of partially-worthless debts under section 166. It also provides background on the comments submitted by the insurance industry in response to the proposed regulations and additional guidance issued by Treasury and the IRS following the publication of the proposed regulations.

Description: This is the first of two articles discussing technologies used to control data. this article covers data management strategies.

Description: A table from an article in The Actuary Magazine entitled An Analysis of Risk Management Terminology - Your guide to speaking ERM with different industries.

Description: 2011 SOA International Financial Reporting for Insurers Seminar, Hong Kong. This is a spreadsheet associated with Session 26 – 'Presentation Workshop' held at the 2011 SOA International Financial Reporting for Insurers Seminar in Hong Kong. This spreadsheet facilitated the objectives of the workshop which focused on building the statement of comprehensive income using the exposure draft approach.