Description: Research report describing the results of an Emerging Risks Survey conducted in 2012. The report includes comparisons to the four previous surveys as well as a survey sent to INARM members in April 2008.

Description: The Revenue Act of 1987 amended section 807d2B of the Internal Revenue Code. It established the interest rate used in the calculation of tax reserves to be the greater of the applicable federal interest rate or the prevailing maximum statutory valuation rate for the contract’s calendar year of issue. The amendment is effective for contracts issued in tax years beginning after December 31, 1987. This document shows all the applicable federal interest rates from 1998 - 2009.

Description: This paper describes in detail each of five options available to small Texas employers wanting to purchase insurance for their employees. It then describes the advantages and disadvantages to the various players: carriers, employers, employees, and agents. It points out that each player will act in its own interest.

Description: Insurance companies utilize derivatives in a variety of ways to manage and mitigate risks that are inherent in their investment or liability portfolios. They can be characterized by three main features: medium long-term duration; large volumes; and significant market risk exposure. Given the persistent low interest rate environment across the curve since the 2008 financial crisis, large companies need to hedge their liabilities, as illustrated by the significant recent increase from $786 billion as of fiscal year 2010 to $1,885 billion as of FY 2014 by insurance companies.As the Variable Annuities (VA) guarantees embedded within those liabilities hold a strong convex risk profile with respect to the underlying stock, VA carriers need to buy some convex hedge assets such as options to match the liability risk profile to improve hedge effectiveness, implying the growing cost of hedging. Such market impact of the quantity on the cost of hedging is further magnified in the recent period with the short-lived, but sharp transitions from low volatility to high volatility, when market volatility suddenly increases, even when there were no well-known fundamental catalysts. This partially stems from the growing managed volatility funds embedded within VA ($bn 400).VA carriers willing to trade a large quantity of options will see such market impact as an important dilemma, as the cost of placing one large order to close position will be far greater than the sum of infinitely small orders differed in time. In that context, managing market impact requires introducing an explicit market impact function, the influence of which the agent will try to minimize. The effect on hedge asset prices significantly depends on whether there is or not significant delta hedging activity. In case of no significant delta hedging activity, the risk appetite has a significant influence on the optimal execution strategy. If there is significant delta hedging activity, the optimal trading involve

Description: Current Status of managing costs & increasing costs, Future Direction of Consumerism, technology and defined contribution health plans. Issue No. 39.

Description: Since health care reform has made accountable care organizations a hot topic, an SOA workgroup is addressing relevant questions, including provider risk under various ACO models, limitations of the Medicare model for motivating change in the health care delivery system, strategic priorities, attribution of members, meaurement, and the roles actuaries can play.

Description: This article compares July 1 renewal premium trends to January 1 renewal premium trends by benefit plan.

Description: A new initiative, Commercial Health Care: What’s Next, will focus on education and research for health actuaries regarding issues that remain with the ACA.

Description: Feature article discussing the impact of the crisis that started in 2008 on pension plans and pension policies in a variety of countries.

Description: Discusses effect of allowing companies to sell health insurance policy in any state, if approved in one state, without requiring approval in any other state.