Description: This article warns product actuaries about arbitrage schemes using charities that might adversely affect mortality experience.

Description: Encourages readers to visit specified URL to read selected essays from “Life Insurance 2020 Foresight—A Call For Essays.

Description: New chairperson’s column discussing his goals for the Product Development Section.

Description: Discusses PLR 201105012, the investor control doctrine, and how the IRS concluded that shares of a Lifecycle Fund, available only through a life insurance company's separate account, still can be considered owned by the insurer and not the policyowner for federal income tax purposes even if it at least partly invests in shares of public funds.

Description: The article discusses court decisions on the tax basis and taxable gain in life insurance contracts.

Description: Description of general tax consequences of purchasing an insurance company, either through buying the assets or buying the stock.

Description: Mandatory implementation of life principle-based reserves (PBR) is just around the corner, and there is no shortage of work to do, as most products have yet to be moved to PBR. Oliver Wyman recently completed its 2019 PBR survey, with more than 40 participants covering 85 percent of the individual life market, including 23 of the top 25 life writers and five reinsurers. This article will expand on the key survey findings including implementation status and model simplifications.

Description: This article is an update, as of March 2019, on Financial Reporting Section sponsored projects in process and those recently completed.

Description: This article summarizes the key changes to VM-31 requirements in the 2020 version of the Valuation Manual for both life and variable annuities, and compares and contrasts the requirements for each. In addition, the article offers insights into common issues and recommendations for VM-31 reports from the viewpoints of a regulator, consultant, and company actuary.

Description: Read the February 2020 issue of Product Matters! published by the Product Development Section. Newsletters provide practical information for the working actuary, articles on trends that impact sections and news about section activities.