Description: Life insurers have been allocating to alternative investments (private credits, real assets, private equities) in the past decades, searching for higher yields. Examine the macro trend in insurer's investment allocation, definitions of alternative investments, benefits of investing in them as well as consideration of regulatory complications involved. Come learn about alternative asset classes, best practice in ALM and regulatory trends in insurance asset management.

Description: In this session, the panelists discuss several common cognitive biases that can adversely impact the capital allocation decision process, introducing the notions of time, accounting convention, positivity, hierarchy, and social proof in describing them. Historical case examples of sub-optimal capital allocation are then explored, identifying the contributing behavioral factors including the simultaneous confluence of multiple factors. The panelists will close the session with several suggestions for attendees to consider for incorporation into their decision-making processes. At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to: - Learn common cognitive biases that impact capital allocation decisions - Differentiate which biases impact different aspects of the capital allocation process - Build awareness of biases affecting capital allocation decision models - Mitigate cognitive biases present in decision making processes

Description: As the industry has seen an increasing trend in asset allocations to private markets and structured credit investment over the past decade, this presentation aims to share the considerations and lessons learned from both asset manager and actuarial perspectives with regards to modeling and regulatory compliance. At the conclusion of this session, the attendees will gain an understanding of: 1. Overall industry trend in asset allocations and the underlying drivers of increasing allocation to complex assets2. The common types of complex assets, the unique characteristics and the associated challenges in pricing and performance monitoring 3. Actuarial modeling and regulatory reporting challenges and practical solutions under US and Bermuda regimes (e.g., PBR, AG53, CP2) 4. Ongoing monitoring of risks underlying complex assets

Description: The U.S. life insurance industry has been increasing its exposure to complex assets, either directly as investors or via offshore reinsurance (e.g., Bermuda). In order to address regulatory concerns about such investments and reinsurance arrangements, the NAIC has begun multiple initiatives to improve disclosure and strengthen regulatory requirements, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority is also strengthening its requirements. Hear a summary of these initiatives, and get an update on the latest developments at the NAIC and at the Academy on these topics.

Description: Occasionally, in the financial reporting world the stars align, and insurers get the opportunity to leverage their financial results and cashflows across multiple reporting use cases. Such opportunity came about with implementation of the U.S. generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) long-duration targeted improvements (LDTI) accounting standard, that required companies to move away from locked-in assumptions for traditional life and limited-pay products and produce best estimate liability cashflows for these business lines.

Description: Join us for an Economic Outlook Panel that will explore topics like "what are markets saying about likelihood and severity or a recession?" and "how is inflation impacting investment decisions?" Our investment experts speaking at this panel have backgrounds in asset management, insurance and pensions and plan to speak on current macroeconomic trends and their impact on the market. Audience members will have the opportunity to participate and ask question during this live webcast. Prepare for a lively conversation with a panel focused on impacts of our economic environment.

Description: Investing for retirement in other countries is different from investing for retirement in the U.S. and Canada. In developing countries, there are fewer investment opportunities and domestic markets are smaller and less liquid. National retirement systems may be established in part to support government debt issuance and to help develop domestic capital markets. Investment policy objectives tend to evolve over time as a country and its retirement system(s) develop together. Come broaden your horizons by painting a picture of a different investment paradigm than you are used to using examples from many countries around the world.

Description: This article takes a look at how defined benefit (DB) pension plan financials ended the third quarter of 2023 on a solid footing, improving the capacity to take meaningful de-risking actions; as DB plans look to de-risk at reasonable costs, they may find it beneficial to consider a broad range of investment options; and completing a core bond allocation with private credit and income-oriented alternative strategies can help achieve important savings over other frequently pursued de-risking approaches, without materially increasing the funded status volatility or downside risk

Description: Overview of Investment Section activity and history.

Description: The Federal funds rate increased by 4.25% in 2022 with further increases in 2023, which have already resulted in a liquidity crisis for a few banks. As the rapid increase of the interest rates pushed the new money rates above the yields of many life insurers’ investment portfolios, insurance companies are facing a dilemma between compressed margins from peer pressure and the concern with liquidity shortfalls and realized capital losses should mass surrenders happen. This paper discussed main emerging risks under rising interest rate environment, and several ways to mitigate these risks.