Description: SOA and LIMRA request mortality data for deferred annuities issued 2015–2024 to support an updated industry experience study.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (“SOA”) Research Institute is the research arm of the SOA, providing objective, data-driven research that brings together tried and true practices and future-focused approaches to address societal challenges and business needs. The Institute provides trusted knowledge, extensive experience and new technologies to help effectively identify, predict and manage risks.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute received a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to educate insurance actuaries on the use of wildfire risk datasets and models to be developed by researchers from academia and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Description: Strategic Risk Management was given lower priority in a recent survey of ERM Objectives. This article tells how the author believes that recent events have caused many to shift to a more short term focus and in the future there will be a shift back to a priority for the longer term view that stands behind Strategic Risk Management when the environment settles down and things again seem to be more predictable.

Description: Lifetime pension pools convert a lump sum into lifelong income, periodically adjusting benefit payouts based on mortality and investment experience. Volatility-targeting strategies can enhance benefit stability by dynamically adjusting the investment portfolio’s exposure to risky assets in the context of these pools, demonstrating superior performance compared to traditional static asset allocation methods.

Description: In *From Distress to Distinction*, Chris Droussiotis explores a novel approach to valuing distressed companies using option pricing theory, drawing parallels to the financial challenges faced by startups. With over 30 years in banking and startup advising, he emphasizes that both distressed firms and early-stage ventures endure periods of negative cash flow but retain potential for recovery. He combines Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model to evaluate distressed firms’ recovery prospects and debt sustainability. A case study on Spirit Airlines illustrates this approach: though its current equity value is negative, projected future cash flows suggest significant potential recovery. Droussiotis concludes that strategic valuation, using trend, peer, and expected analysis, can reveal hidden value in distressed companies, guiding effective investment and restructuring decisions.

Description: Prepare for an interactive session around how members choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, and how actuaries can help be part of the discussion! You will participate in a decision-making activity to set the stage for understanding member selection. Then, dive into an actuarial analysis of the 2023 Medicare Advantage competitive landscape, with an emphasis on what benefits drive membership decisions. This presentation will evaluate plan components prevalent amongst the strongest plan offerings in the market, including supplemental benefit prevalence, member cost sharing, and the underlying benefit value. You will better understand which benefits drive the most significant membership changes, as well as how to think about what the most impactful benefit changes will be for 2024.

Description: A diverse panel of health actuaries will be available to answer any attendee questions. An ACA question, we have it covered! A valuation question, we will find a solution. A professionalism issue, we will make a ruling! A regulatory concern, we will help guide the way!! No question is off limits! There are no stupid questions!

Description: What relevance does ESG and Sustainability have for actuaries? In the Life and Health space, we know that large protection gaps persist, reminding us of the challenges reinsurers and insurers face in reaching underserved customers who are often lower-income, less healthy, and more likely to suffer impacts of climate change. The Sustainable Actuary is focused on solving these challenges to make life and health insurance more inclusive. This ImpACTful panel will dive into these challenges and provide practical case studies of more inclusive insurance products that balance considerations for people, the planet, and profit. Listeners will walk away with ideas for how to use their actuarial expertise to enable greater social impact and sustainable business value.

Description: With there being over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, some states are considering or have expanded Medicaid-like coverage to this population. Healthier Oregon launched in July 2022 to provide such benefits, and now covers more than 20,000 Oregonians. Hear about the structure of the program, along with its capitation rate build (which integrates federal participation for emergency and pregnancy-related services), risk corridor design, and related policy and implementation considerations. After attending this session, you will gain an understanding of the actuarial, regulatory and practical considerations for covering this population through managed care.