Description: Discussion of some of the debated aspects of the new health care law from an actuarial principles perspective.

Description: This article examines the concept of Actuarial Value, especially as it applies to the Medicare plan of benefits. It discusses the cost-sharing responsibility of Medicare beneficiaries and the means by which they mitigate this risk.

Description: The OCI-Solution of IASB’s IFRS 4 Phase II requires that interest expense for the Profit and Loss (P&L) calculation be based on a yield curve instead of a flat rate locked-in at policy issue. The article has a discussion of analysis of the impact from locking in the yield curve on the IFRS 4 profit pattern as well as general conclusions reached.

Description: Understanding the Deferred Acquisition Cost (DAC) asset balance movements from one reporting period to the next can be a challenge when reportinged under FAS 97. The mechanics of FAS 97 call for an amortization ratio (i.e., k factor) that forces the amortization of the DAC asset to be matched to the earnings received over the life of the product. However, the fact that the k factor is dynamically set results in “unlocking” components of the DAC rollforward. This article shows how the basic equation for the amortization ratio can be used to derive equations that provide insights into what the DAC balance represents. Furthermore, partial derivatives of these equations are used to show how unexpected changes in the Estimated Gross Profit (EGP) stream impact the amortization and unlocking components of the DAC rollforward.

Description: In this paper, we introduce a political risk variable, d, to measure risk of foreign direct investment FDI. The political risk variable has opposite effects of loss reduction and loss prevention in Ehrlich and Becker 1972. The unique characteristics of political risk insurance make the applications of actuarially-based pricing models infeasible. In this study, by taking into account the effects of self-protection and self-insurance through the variable d and by maximizing utility function, we find the equilibrium for insured and insurer in a competitive market and in a monopoly one. In addition, under the equilibrium status, the boundary for the amount of investment, the insurance coverage, and the minimum required rate of return on the FDI are derived.

Description: May 2016 issue of Pension Section News

Description: The article recaps existing ideas for assessing credibility and describes questions remaining to be answered.

Description: This article delves into a new line of statistical thinking of the author, that may be useful for product development actuaries. The key concept is how product design can produce products that diversify quickly, meaning that the company can be confident of a profitable product line, based on fewer sales than might be true for other designs.

Description: A discussion of regulatory considerations for pension plans considering the use of longevity risk hedging contracts in Canada.

Description: From 4 to 8 June 2018, the German Association of Actuaries, in conjunction with the IAA, will host the 31st International Congress of Actuaries in Berlin.