Description: Discusses results of author's recent survey of professionals in the viatical and life settlement, a.k.a. secondary insurance industry, to discover how actuaries could best serve this particular business.

Description: This article details different methods for calculating mortality impact associated with new underwriting programs. A common simplified calculation is compared and contrasted with two first principles approaches. The strengths and weaknesses of both approaches are discussed.

Description: One of the most fundamental concepts in actuarial practice is the time value of money. For any work in which future cash flows are allowed for, such as reserving or pricing, it is natural to discount to present values so that an appropriate amount of money can be set aside today, allowing for future investment returns. This article discusses yield curve extrapolation methods along with the benefits and drawbacks of these methods.

Description: The article was written to address a concern that the author had that reinsurance considerations were being relegated to the back of the product development cycle. He was concerned that reinsurance input on benefit design, underwriting and pricing was not getting into the process. From Small Talk Newsletter, November 2005, Issue No. 25.

Description: This article discusses the structure of and the dangers posed by Stranger-Originated Life Insurance STOLI.

Description: Milliman was engaged by the SOA to conduct two Accelerated Underwriting (AU) surveys, one of direct companies and another of reinsurers. The surveys explored actual results from 2019–2021 and expected results from 2022.

Description: Underwriting specialty risks in life insurance can be challenging, but due diligence is at the core of what allows us to make the best and most informed decision.

Description: This article begins with a brief review of the treatment of QAB charges under the Code and the guidance the Internal Revenue Service the “Service” has issued regarding the manner in which taxpayers should account for QAB charges Part I. It then describes Rev. Rul. 2005-6’s three alternatives for addressing improper accounting for QAB charges Part II. It also includes a discussion about an Alternative C closing agreement.

Description: Read the Quo Vadis Reinsurance.

Description: This article discusses how small companies, by staying simple and focused and not taking immeasurably disastrous risks, bring sanity to an insane world.