Description: Description of the mathematics involved when looking at low probability events within a company from the perspective of the C-Suite. The accumulation of small probability events leads to a much higher probability of at least one of them happening in a given period.

Description: Opportunities frequently come in the guise of change within a company or the industry and the person who is willing and able to adapt to the changing environment can benefit from these opportunities. Whether the change is voluntary or involuntary, there will always be challenges faced and benefits reaped; and the more you prepare yourself for the possibility of change the quicker you’ll be able to adapt.

Description: Full version of Product Development News, August 2001, Issue No. 51.

Description: In actuarial work, we are frequently confronted with problems with more than one apparently reasonable answer. This article deals with one of these, where the Federal DAC cost can be applied in an apparently reasonable, but incorrect, manner.

Description: Long-term guarantees place unanticipated burdens on companies because of the degree to which the environment can change. These risks are compounded when combined with estimation of policyholder behavior, especially when solid experience data is not available. When risks are properly reflected, long-term guarantees do not always provide value to the customer in excess of the manufacturing cost. The product development actuary is challenged to compare customer value to company cost and use that measurement to identify novel ways to design products to better serve customers.