Description: The crisis has spread due to a systematic failure of the regulatory system. Over the last 20 years, regulations that fostered market stability were eliminated and new financial instruments were allowed to propagate without any real oversight. Instead of bailing out weak financial firms, we should be liquidating them. All doubtful asses need to be written-downs. We need accurate and transparent accounting.

Description: The SEC recently approved a financial disclosure rule mandating that a company must release material and market-moving information to all investors simultaneously. This article looks at the new rule designed to make financial disclosure fairer for all investors and how it may pose problems for larger insurers, while it may level the playing field for smaller insurers.

Description: This article discusses the new valuation concepts under Regulation XXX and the practical issues that need to be addressed by companies.

Description: This article summarizes current regulatory activity discussed at the Spring 2009 meetings of the N.A.I.C. and the National Council of Insurance Legislators.

Description: In February 2015, the Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel appointed Alexis MacIvor as the chief of Branch 4 of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions & Products). That branch (sometimes referred to by our readers as the “Insurance Branch”) has seven attorneys who work exclusively on issues concerning the taxation of insurance companies and the products those companies issue. Because of the importance of that branch’s work product to the issues that life actuaries must address every day, the Taxing Times Editorial Board and the Taxation Section Council thought our readers would appreciate the opportunity to meet Alexis and welcome her to the insurance tax actuarial community. Mark Smith of our editorial board recently met with Ms. MacIvor to talk about her background and her new role.

Description: This articles notes that there are fewer small insurance companies. It discusses how the impact of mergers and acquisitions and new regulations affect the declining number of small insurance companies.

Description: An article recapping the SOA's participation in the NAIC Summer 2023 meeting.