Description: This paper shows the application of a threshold strategy on the surplus level of an insurance risk model results in a process that can be analyzed as a doubly infinite Markov chain with finite blocks. The resulting procedures are then used to calculate the probability distributions for time of ruin, the surplus immediately prior to ruin, and the deficit at ruin. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House, 2008, Vol.1.

Description: This note presents a review of calculator financial functions for the Texas Instruments BA II PLUS calculator. This note, including a number of the examples used as illustrations, is reprinted with permission from the 3rd edition of the book Mathematics of Investment and Credit, by S. Broverman. Also, several examples from SOA/CAS math of finance exams old Course 2 will be presented illustrating the use of the calculator.

Description: How does mortality experience impact earnings under the new GAAP financial framework? This article discusses how to isolate key components from financial models related to decrements, as well as how to handle the changes in the financial reporting landscape including: the aggregation of insurance policies into cohorts, dynamic reserving, and the limitations imposed by caps and floors. Looking at the components of earnings, such as the present value of benefits, expenses, and premiums, and how these elements interact is critical to form a comprehensive earnings story.

Description: Cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments are offered to low-income individual insurance buyers under the ACA. After October 2017, the difference in costs between the standard silver plan and CSR variants were defunded. To cover the costs of defunding, insurers have increased rates either through "broad loading" or "silver loading." States are approaching this adjustment differently, which is leading to some interesting differences between states. This article will review these differences.

Description: This is the second part of a 2 part series on Real options analysis (ROA). This article looks into the limitations of using financial option theory when doing real options analysis with projects that are long-dated and uncertain, such as: 1. First-degree homogeneity, 2. Uncertainty must derive from Brownian motion, and 3. Risk neutrality.

Description: This article aims to delve into the rationale and calculation logic of the variable fee approach (VFA) which is applied to the insurance contracts with direct participation features under IFRS 17. In actual practice, the variable fee approach can be implemented in two methods, which are from fee income or total cash flows point of view. These two methods will achieve the same outcomes but are featured with different insights and varying degree of operational ease. Detailed roll-forward steps of contractual service margin (CSM) for these two methods are elaborated in the article, along with a numerical example by using a variable universal life product to help the readers comprehend the rationale behind the variable fee approach.