Description: Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2016 is an update to Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2015 that includes three additional years of historical U.S. population mortality data and modification of two input values designed to improve the model’s year-over-year financial stability. The page includes the updated Scale MP-2016, the accompanying Scale MP-2016 document, and an updated RPEC_2014_v2016 Model Implementation Tool for actuaries to create their own mortality improvement scales using RPEC’s model and the updated data set.

Description: This is an update of a report published originally in June 20211 comparing total U.S. population mortality to baseline expectations by age and sex. The report now includes U.S. population numbers through August 17, 2022, so the years 2020 and 2021 are now mostly complete.

Description: We highlight a new approach leveraging predictive analytics to identify high risk and rising risk opioid users for more effective screening and follow-up care.

Description: Demographic challenges due to longevity increases and low fertility rates will lower economic growth as measured by GDP. By deconstructing GDP growth between population and productivity growth the article describes the problem and presents potential solutions. The article builds off an SOA research paper published in November 2023, Demographics and Productivity: Drivers of Economic Growth.

Description: This report covers historical mortality from 1999-2018 by race as categorized by population data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) WONDER database. Mortality for all deaths and six specific causes of death are considered over this period. Additionally, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced mortality as a whole and this report shows the breakdown of COVID-19 deaths by race.

Description: Provides insights into learnings from the work of the Committee on Post-retirement Needs and Risks and describes new projects in 2016.

Description: In the past three years, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) compiled essay collections to address retirement issues. The 2018 call for essays expanded and complemented the discussion by identifying current and potential impacts that family structure, roles and dynamics have on retirement security in the United States. Family structure can, and in many instances does, play a significant role in retirement security worldwide, but this is often not recognized in retirement planning. The presenters will share several award-winning essays. Observations and highlights from the overall project will be shared, and ideas presented in related essays will be summarized.

Description: This article focuses on the period between full-time work and complete exit from the labor force. It is a write of 2019 annual meeting session. It provides some overview of labor market data and employer issues for people nearing and entering retirement. It discusses employer issues with regard to keeping employees longer and phased retirement. It provides some overview of societal issues. It discusses the value and importance of longer work. Note that the article precedes and does not reflect the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Description: Family structures have expanded in recent decades and so have some beneficiary forms in insurance, banking and investment accounts. This essay includes suggestions for further expansion of those little-discussed but very important forms.

Description: The article provides a summary of key issues presented at the 2023 U.S. Living to 100 Symposium focused on the interests of retirement professionals and retirees. It provides an overview of the subjects covered. The discussion focused on the well-being of retirees and the development of the retirement system. It is focused on late-in-life issues and having the best life possible during that period. It balances technical and lifestyle issues, with an emphasis on mortality and longevity trends and influences. Some of the topics discussed include the impact of COVID, climate, housing, and age-friendly communities. The Elder Tech Symposium was merged into Living to 100 and includes discussion of a variety of technology approaches to improve lives and simplify support. The symposium recognized that the decisions needed and concerns during retirement are different later in life, particularly as people decline.