Description: The article outlines a shareholder value framework for pension risk management and applies this framework to pension funding decisions in light of rising PBGC premiums due to 2013’s BBA legislation. The article finds that the new legislation significantly incentivizes plan sponsors to increase pension funding. Moreover, many tax-paying pension plan sponsors can increase shareholder value by increasing pension plan contributions.

Description: The article discusses the sustainability of the ACA individual market from a public entitlement standpoint. A key point of measuring sustainability is the reliance on market forces rather than federal budget constraints. The article explains why an actuarial viewpoint of sustainability is necessary to a greater extent than other public assistance and social insurance programs. The article challenges actuaries to be a bold, objective voice in a space that is full of opinionated but often uninformed viewpoints.

Description: A discussion of the recently revised Society of Actuaries Global Initiatives Policy, which covers a variety of issues including relationships with other actuarial associations, professional development issues, and education issues.

Description: This article continues the Passing the Torch Interview Series. Linda Liu and Amanda Jacques invite Simon Curtis, currently president of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) and recently joined Deloitte as a partner in their Toronto office after a long career at Manulife. Simon shares with us his career experience and talks about the changes and challenges facing the actuarial profession.

Description: Discusses some common practices by actuaries and others in the insurance industry that are now undergoing closer regulatory scrutiny.

Description: Model governance must deal with the effects organizational culture, including normalization of behaviors that are inconsistent with appropriate governance.

Description: Sir Derek Morris carried out a review of the actuarial profession in the United Kingdom at the request of the UK government and reported in March 2005. This article starts with a reprint of an article originally published in The Actuary about the conclusions of the Morris report and continues with an update on what has happened over the 5 years since Morris reported.

Description: Discussion of the standards set by ASOP 23 on data quality within a health insurance context.

Description: A discussion of permissible use and collection of genetic information for Health Risk Assessments and wellness programs under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.