Description: This article demonstrates that the alternative method of adjusting DAC amortization for actual experience fails to serve its purpose if amortization is based on amounts in force at the end of a reporting period. In that situation, the method would increase the amortization rate for excess terminations. Applying that increased rate to a lower basis, however, does not reliably reduce the unamortized DAC balance as required.

Description: This article provides an update, as of October 2023, on Financial Reporting Section research projects in process and those recently completed.

Description: Welcome to the May edition of The Financial Reporter! In her “Chairperson's Corner”, Joy Zhang highlights the section's upcoming activities for the year and ways for everyone to get engaged.

Description: Modeling Approaches and Challenges focuses on approaches to real world simulation and the challenges and considerations in real world simulation. Topics include: A frequency domain approach to build realistic multi-horizon scenarios. (Ortec approach) Cascade models structure linking models for major asset classes and economic variables. (Moody’s approach) Overview of models, calibrations & approaches within the context of different use cases. Deterministic & stochastic approaches. Importance of model re-calibration flexibility. We will also discuss specific insights into considerations and challenges in real world simulation, which include topics like: Setting capital market assumptions and/or calibration targets. Assumptions about correlation and causality. Calibrating the model to capital markets assumptions. Validating the model against capital market assumptions. Role of history, market data and stylized facts. Importance of back testing. Calibrating the model to multiple investment horizons. Inclusion of alterative asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure, and direct real estate. Associated issues of limited data, illiquidity and greater uncertainty about calibration targets.

Description: At the conclusion of the first part, attendees will be able to describe sources of reserve redundancy for products under Principle Based Reserve (PBR) and products under Commissioners' Annuity Reserve Valuation Method (CARVM). Such products include Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Fixed Annuity with and without rider. We will also review sources of capital redundancy from the C-1 factor under Risk-Based Capital (RBC) and assets such as Unrated Asset Credit Fund can have high C-1 factor even if its risks are limited. At the conclusion of the second part, the attendees will learn about potential Reserve Relief reinsurance solutions. Such solutions can provide Reserve Relief for annuity and term life businesses, as well as potential innovative asset-side solutions. Asset managers can structure assets that the C-1 factor aligned with the corresponding risk.

Description: Hear diverse perspectives from both a reinsurer and carrier on how to best structure financial reinsurance transactions. Join us as we consider various ceding company objectives as well as impacts from the dynamic economic and regulatory environment. By attending this session, you will be able to: - Better understand common reinsurance transactions - Evaluate whether reinsurance transactions can help you meet your company's objectives and challenges - Gain an appreciation for the ever-changing economic and regulatory environment

Description: With higher interest rates and aging populations, the Bermuda offshore reinsurance market has been heating up, particularly to firms backed by asset management firms and private equity. Increased competition along with changing regulatory requirements, and evolving expectations around model governance have actuaries facing heavier production and results explanation workloads. This creates additional challenges on top of an already complex Bermuda reporting regime, particularly with the Scenarios-Based Approach (SBA) and Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement (BSCR).

Description: "Are you a health actuary affected by recent developments in business practices and accounting standards that have created situations in which you may be involved in estimating balances under accounting rules that differ from those typically used by insurers? In this session you will learn about situations where non-insurance accounting regimes may intersect actuarial practice, with an intended focus on two particular topics. One topic is general accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for insurance brokers under ASC 606 (Revenue Recognition) for commissions on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement contracts, where the broker may get to recognize the expected value of all future commissions on a contract as revenue when the contract is placed. The other topic is GAAP under ASC 460 (Guarantees) in situations where a non-provider entity is bearing risk related to health care services, which can occur under the CMS Direct Contracting/ACO REACH model or under private sector care coordination contracts."

Description: Under long-duration targeted improvements (LDTI), there are a few insurance liability balances that now are required to be fair valued, market risk benefit (MRB). The session will start from all the applicable balances that are required to be fair valued under LDTI ((i.e., MRB, financial accounting statement (FAS) 133, value of business acquired (VOBA) upon business combination)). The session will use a case study to discuss some of the nuances and general considerations for an MRB, FAS 133 and VOBA balances for a business combination for an fixed indexed annuity (FIA) contract. The case study will discuss some MRB fair value considerations and followed by FAS 133 fair value techniques. It will go over VOBA fair value estimation by using actuarial appraisal method with a few twists (e.g., using market yield in generating distributable earnings is better than using book yield and adjusted to bring it to fair value later on).

Description: By attending the session, you will learn: - Different perspectives around what FP&A is used for (e.g., strategic planning, performance measurement, management compensation, liquidity management, etc.) and why - Challenges leaders have faced and how they are being addressing - How recent regulatory, accounting, and technological change has impacted the FP&A function - Objectives for various organizations around both new analytics for business management, efficient production of forecast results, and potential for faster 'top down' forecasting