Description: This article addresses the concern that while risk assessment models are supposed to help identify and reduce risk, they can be a source of risk themselves. A new report released by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries in August 2008 helps address that potential problem by providing useful guidance to actuaries who are charged with designing, implementing and using advanced models.

Description: The first annual SOA Predictive Analytics Symposium was held in Chicago and exceeded all expectations in attendance, presentation quality, and relevant content.

Description: The theme of this presentation relates to solving portfolio selection problems using linear and fractional programming. Two key contributions: 1. Generalization of the CVaR linear optimization framework. 2. Equivalences among four formulations of Coherent Distortion Risk Mearures optimization problems. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, 2012, Vol. 1.

Description: Using data from a large insurance company, we construct a parametric model for the joint survival function based on a Hougaard copula function.

Description: A brief introduction to a new SOA research on liability-driven investment benchmark model.

Description: Feature article describing a new method of computing professional athletes’ salaries using actuarial skills/ the economic value concept. From The Actuary Magazine, Dec 2009

Description: Authored by a MIB Solutions team of Tom Rhodes, Stuart Klugman, Marianne Purushotham and Stacy Gill, the report summarizes the results of a study on the application and adoption of credibility theory within the life insurance and annuity industry. This excel spreadsheet is a numerical example relating to the application of Credibility for lapses. Please see the SOA website research section for the complete research report on Credibility Theory Practices.

Description: The attached report presents the results of a survey conducted by the Society of Actuaries Mortality and Underwriting Survey Committee in July of 2008 under the following categories: 1. Modeling Mortality Risk. 2. Use of Reinsurance to Manage Mortality. 3. Retention / Large Case Management. 4. Catastrophe Reinsurance. 5. Mortality Concentration of Risk. 6. Catastrophic Bonds.

Description: The American Academy of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries have joined resources to maintain this Economic Scenario Generators Excel Workbook tool for use in regulatory reserve and capital calculations. Please see the SOA website research pages for further information on this tool and how to use it.

Description: The article warns against treating the results of a stochastic model with more deference than other actuarial analysis, and describes some hidden risks involved with choice of model and calibration.