Description: This is the first report in a series on the current state and future opportunity of the retirement market in China. This report, edition one of the series, summarizes the significant outcomes from the study. Also included in this edition is a retirement forecast outlining the drivers of change for China’s retirement market and the resulting opportunities.

Description: The Financial Reporting Section, Reinsurance Section and Committee on Life Insurance Research announce the release of a report that provides illustrative examples of how various accounting regimes apply to a range of insurance contracts. This research was performed by an Ernst & Young LLP team. The study investigates the differences that occur when measurement is made under different bases.

Description: The purpose of this research is to a) identify regulatory structures and influences in North America, b) provide examples that illustrate regulatory risk, and c) suggest mitigation ideas for both insurers and their regulators. The audiences for this paper are a) actuaries who must price policies, value policies, or manage capital, b) other insurance professionals who deal with operational risk, strategic risk, and capital planning, and c) regulators who protect the interests of policyholders and address the solvency of insurers.

Description: The objectives of this research project are to: • Provide a perspective on the definition of regulatory risk • Reveal current differences in regulatory risk concerns between the United States and Canada • Identify mitigation tactics that can be used to address regulatory risks • Identify the type and frequency of regulatory risk disclosures to stakeholders. The research had three parts: (1) identify key risks; (2) identify key risk scenarios and mitigation tactics; and (3) identify risk disclosure practices. The research was conducted via two sets of phone interviews with participating company representatives.

Description: This report studies the impact of unemployment and underemployment on insurance business. It introduces the concepts, theoretical background, and patterns of unemployment and underemployment. It also touches on economic policies that have been used to improve labor market conditions and maintain the market’s stability.

Description: This report summarizes the results of a company survey of select period mortality assumptions. This project was sponsored by the SOA’s Product Development Section and the Committee on Life Insurance Research.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) congratulate this year’s SOA James C. Hickman Scholars, which includes three new recipients and nine others who will have their stipends renewed. The program provides stipends to doctoral students who will, through their studies, address research and education needs of the profession, including both the theoretical and practical aspects. The new Hickman Scholars for this year include Hong Beng Lim from the University of Iowa and two recipients from the University of Waterloo; Wenyuan Li and Yechao Meng. Each will receive a $20,000 stipend for the 2020—2021 academic year.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Board of Directors (Board) gathered in Savannah, Georgia March 6–7 to discuss key strategies and essential initiatives. Discussions focused on optimizing the candidate pipeline, AI strategy and global growth. The Exam Exemptions Task Force and the Governance Review Task Force provided updates to the Board.

Description: Press release for Predicting High-Cost Members in the HCCI Database.

Description: The SOA announced the winning papers on Retirement 20/20 program.