Description: Hot Topics in Setting Pension Return Assumptions is the third in a series, following Mathematics of Pension Return Assumption and Inflation, focusing on Effects, Forecasts, and Role in Pension Valuations. What time horizon is more appropriate for Capital Market Assumption (CMA) forecasts: mid-term or long-term time horizon, or a blend of both? How do we map the asset classes of a plan's own investment policy to the asset classes of investment forecasters' CMAs? If we use asset-smoothing for valuation assets, should we use market-driven expected returns or smoothed/average versions of them?

Description: With large public filers having adopted LDTI in 2023, company practices are continuing to evolve as it relates to experience monitoring, assumption unlocking, as well as both internal and external communication and disclosures related to assumptions. In this diverse session featuring representatives from both insurance companies as well as industry analysts, we'll explore how companies approach emerging experience in a given year through a case study approach. The moderator will explore various topics such as off-cycle experience monitoring, experience outliers, simplifications and approximations, and materiality considerations. Each 'what-if' scenario will start with a prompt from the moderator, discussion among the industry panelists as to how they would approach the situation within their own organization, followed by commentary from the analysts as to how they might expect companies to respond in each case. Audience participation will be encouraged to explore potential alternative approaches in an engaging, interactive session.

Description: Learn from panelists from different companies as they come together to discuss their experiences.

Description: Modeling Approaches and Challenges focuses on approaches to real world simulation and the challenges and considerations in real world simulation. Topics include: A frequency domain approach to build realistic multi-horizon scenarios. (Ortec approach) Cascade models structure linking models for major asset classes and economic variables. (Moody’s approach) Overview of models, calibrations & approaches within the context of different use cases. Deterministic & stochastic approaches. Importance of model re-calibration flexibility. We will also discuss specific insights into considerations and challenges in real world simulation, which include topics like: Setting capital market assumptions and/or calibration targets. Assumptions about correlation and causality. Calibrating the model to capital markets assumptions. Validating the model against capital market assumptions. Role of history, market data and stylized facts. Importance of back testing. Calibrating the model to multiple investment horizons. Inclusion of alterative asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure, and direct real estate. Associated issues of limited data, illiquidity and greater uncertainty about calibration targets.

Description: Learn about the innovations of life & health products and distribution in the Asia market.