Description: Decentralized finance, or DeFi, is an emerging financial system powered by blockchain technology. This research report aims to introduce actuaries to DeFi and help them develop a solid understanding of DeFi. It will begin with addressing “what is DeFi?” by providing an introduction on blockchains and DeFi. It will then discuss in further detail the key characteristics, applications, opportunities, and risks of DeFi. After providing the foundation, this report will discuss the potential adoption of DeFi and its interaction with the current financial system (sometime referred to as traditional finance for contrast with DeFi), and the implications for practicing and aspiring actuaries. In addition, a glossary of terms used in DeFi and a brief history of the development of DeFi have been included in the appendix.

Description: This study presents a comprehensive approach of real option analysis to climate adaptation policies aiming to mitigate flood risk. The framework focuses on pricing catastrophic risk in coastal regions, allowing for economic growth and uncertainty in the mean sea level rise.

Description: This session will explore the uses of financial models at companies as well as the history of how we have arrived at the current day status of how models are used and viewed internally. Financial models can be very useful tools for many actuarial purposes - a key asset for many areas of a company including forecasting and understanding key shifts in business demographics. However, many modeling challenges have companies treating models as a liability and only using them for necessary processes. This session will explore why this is the case and explore opportunities to turn financial models into a key asset supporting key decisions.

Description: CMS has pioneered innovative strategies for Medicare and Medicaid to address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Employers can learn from these models to implement similar approaches for their employee populations. Learn how employers can understand and address SDOH, the incentives for doing so, and the broader benefits.

Description: The landscape of insurance is ever evolving with pet insurance emerging as a significant and rapidly growing segment. This webinar will cover a broad spectrum of topics essential for actuaries venturing into pet insurance, including: The pet insurance market, including major players, consolidation of the market, M&A activity. Actuarial issues like anti-selection spirals and the need (and opportunity) for growth. Regulatory headwinds. Whether you're new to pet insurance or looking to deepen your expertise, this webinar will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate this growing field successfully.

Description: Join us in this webinar where we explore the intricate relationship between Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) and insurance, diving into the art of risk management within this industry. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse insurance products offered by PEOs, the positioning of PEOs in the actuarial landscape, and the strategic navigation of regulatory challenges.

Description: This webcast will update listeners on the financial status of the U.S. Social Security program, describe half a dozen widespread myths, and discuss the reality of "waste, fraud and abuse" in the program.

Description: In 2006, a pioneering research paper was published on practical considerations for Economic Capital (EC), which has remained a staple on the Society of Actuaries (SOA) exam syllabus ever since. For many, that time represented the golden era of EC-often dubbed the œquantification of Enterprise Risk Management with nearly every major U.S. life insurer performing some form of EC calculation. However, following the 2008-2009 financial crisis, EC fell into disfavor in some circles. Several companies that appeared healthy from an EC perspective prior to the crisis were found to be far more vulnerable afterward.

Description: In this webcast, two points of view are presented - Seven Life Defining Decisions, which presents an individual perspective on lifetime financial choices, and Life-Cycle Fund Design, which discusses the design of a comprehensive life-cycle fund model that includes human capital risk, longevity risk, bequest motive, parameter uncertainty, and different types of annuities and provides a model for financial risk.

Description: This interactive webcast uses case studies and a new framework to show how retirement plans and practices can be fitted to best serve organizations’ missions and objectives, guided by data and analytics measuring their workforce impact.