Description: This article discusses considerations for statistical biases that may arise in LTC blocks due to historical benefit reductions. The article explores these biases in the context of experience studies and experience projections.

Description: Welcome to the May edition of The Financial Reporter! In her “Chairperson's Corner”, Joy Zhang highlights the section's upcoming activities for the year and ways for everyone to get engaged.

Description: This article addresses how the ARPA has lessened the financial burden on sponsors of corporate defined benefit plans.

Description: An interview with Bozenna Hinton, the newly elected President of the International Actuarial Association (IAA). In this wide-ranging conversation, President Hinton shares her vision for the IAA, discusses emerging trends in actuarial education, and offers insights on how the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and its members can contribute to the global actuarial community.

Description: The summary and introduction of an SOA research paper that explores valuable insights and recommendations for insurance companies considering entering the market of commercial long-term care insurance (LTCI) in the Asia-Pacific, based on individual health status.

Description: A description and status update on all recent research reports sponsored by the Financial Reporting Section.

Description: News about appointment of new commissioner of Social Security and movement on confirmation of public trustees.

Description: Social determinants of health (SDoH) have been a topic of growing interest in recent years, yet consensus about what the phrase represents and how health-related social needs should be studied or addressed by employers, health plans, providers and other stakeholders in the business of health care have been lacking. For many, low-income populations come to mind when considering the topic, yet SDoH include a wide range of factors beyond income. Many types of data are available, yet each presents distinct challenges and opportunities for analysis. In this article, we describe some of the underlying context for considering SDoH, as well as some of the potential data sources to consult and challenges to grapple with on this important topic.

Description: Defined benefit plans have been disappearing from the private sector retirement program landscape. 401k Plans that have taken their place are not designed to provide retiree lifetime income. Individuals seldom work for a single employer and thus have many retirement accounts spread about. This commentary discusses an alternative approach to providing retirement income a voluntary basis in a vehicle that is decoupled from employers.

Description: The article is an interview with Barbara Hogg who summarizes the results of a survey of Americans about their awareness of financial risks faced in retirement and how they are managing those risks. The survey was commissioned by the SOA and is the 11th iteration of such a survey.