Description: This report was prepared for use in the educational curriculum of the Society of Actuaries. It describes the main features of structured settlement annuities in North America and current actuarial practices and issues related to this product. It draws upon a study note on the same topic authored by Roger Harbin, FSA in 1991. Perspective on the Canadian structured settlement market was provided by Robert (Bob) Nigol, B.A., M.A., Managing Partner of EPS Settlements Group of Canada.

Description: In this report, we consider high-level results from provisional mortality data released from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2021, including looking at changes by sex and age group.

Description: The Mortality Improvement subgroup of the American Academy of Actuaries’ Life Experience Committee and the Society of Actuaries’ Preferred Mortality Oversight Group Valuation Basic Table Team has released a recommendation for the methodology to use to develop the set of improvement factors to be used in conjunction with the 2008 Valuation Basic table or the 2015 Valuation Basic table for AG-38 purposes for year-end 2020.

Description: An update of selected key graphs from the Key Statistics section of previous COVID-19 briefs.

Description: This report provides an educational background on the process of building predictive models, as well as a detailed presentation of the model results. Predictive models provide a method to capture variation by multiple variables and understand the relationship between these variables. This allows for a deeper understanding of key variables than is possible under a traditional approach.

Description: This report provides a framework that actuaries can use to evaluate moderately adverse conditions.

Description: The Required Minimum Distribution (“RMD”) Working Group of the Society of Actuaries’ Taxation Section has completed new research identifying considerations for actuaries and annuity insurers in determining the actuarial present value of additional benefits for computing required minimum distributions under a deferred annuity contract. The paper discusses types of benefits covered under Treasury Regulation Section 1.401 (a)(9)–6, Q&A–12 as well as possible assumptions and methods for calculating the actuarial present values of additional benefits provided under an annuity contract. The appendices show examples for a variety of additional benefit types. EXCEL spreadsheets for the appendices are also provided. The discussion presented in the paper and the examples are provided for educational purposes and are not to be viewed as an authoritative interpretation of Q&A–12.

Description: The Individual Life Experience Committee has completed their latest report on intercompany mortality experience by amount of insurance under standard individually underwritten issues. This includes study years 2009-2016.

Description: The Society of Actuaries and LIMRA have sponsored a Variable Annuity Guaranteed Living Benefit Utilization Study. This study is an annual update of earlier investigations conducted since 2006.

Description: LIMRA, Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), the Society of Actuaries (SOA), and TAI have collaborated on an ongoing effort to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the individual life insurance industry’s mortality experience and share the emerging results with the insurance industry and the public. The Individual Life COVID-19 Project Work Group (Work Group) was formed as a collaboration of LIMRA, RGA, the SOA, and TAI to design, implement, and create the study and to produce and distribute a variety of analyses. This report is the fifth public release from this collaboration and contains the results of a cause of death analysis focused on how the rates of death for various causes were impacted throughout the pandemic period through the first quarter of 2021.