Description: As results emerged showing the influence of COVID-19 on recent mortality, the Society of Actuaries Research Institute’s Mortality and Longevity Strategic Research Program Steering Committee (MLPSC) began to ponder what it means for the future. Was the coronavirus pandemic just a temporary shock to U.S. mortality with mortality quickly returning to prepandemic levels upon its conclusion or a lingering factor in future U.S. mortality from the potential occurrence of new coronavirus variants, post-COVID-19 conditions (“long COVID”), deferral of needed health care treatment, a fatigued health care system and other elements? Only time will provide the answers to these questions.

Description: This report examines the mortality of Canadian pensioners subdivided by pension level, using data from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Québec Pension Plan (QPP)

Description: The document is a report summarizing key findings from the 2024 Retirement Risk Survey conducted by the Society of Actuaries Research Institute and Deloitte Consulting LLP. It focuses on the impact of family support on retirement planning and readiness among Americans ages 45 to 80.

Description: This article provides a perspective on the SOA’s Aging and Retirement research reports, and on the types of research that are included. The SOA does a lot of research on different retirement topics, and many people are not aware of the scope of this work. This article offers an overview of the big picture as we think about the future. The article describes longer-term challenges to the US retirement system and recent developments that have affected the system and created uncertainty. It provides an overview of what individuals have said about retirement and their view of post-retirement risks and planning in a variety of consumer research studies. It then reviews some of the research and provides information on summary reports which provide insight on the findings from multiple related research reports. It also provides information about consumer education and what is currently available and in process. It then focuses on how the SOA is helping retirement professionals understand current and expected change and discusses areas of uncertainty as we help those we serve deal with change.

Description: The Mortality Improvement Model, MIM-2021- V3. Different mortality projection methodologies are utilized by actuaries across applications and practice areas. As a result, the MIM Advisory Group (“Advisory Group”) developed a single framework to serve as a consistent base for practitioners in projecting mortality improvement.

Description: The document is a report prepared by the Society of Actuaries in 2012, focusing on surveys conducted in Canada and the United States regarding retirement risks. It compares the findings of the two countries, covering concerns, strategies, and perceptions related to retirement planning and financial security.

Description: The Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) have conducted a study on Asia's shifting demographics and its impact on retirement systems. This research explores retirement planning behaviors, financial awareness, and risk perceptions across different life stages, offering valuable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and individuals. Discover how these findings can enhance retirement security and uncover new opportunities for innovative financial protection solutions.

Description: This essay collection examines how changing family dynamics shape retirement security, offering insights on demographic trends, policy design, and actuarial strategy—because retirement is the ultimate family affair.

Description: Women have different resources and experiences than men in retirement, partly due to demographic and life cycle differences and partly due to societal practices. This article reviews the differences, the situation 25 years ago, and then compares the situation 25 years ago to the situation today. Some of the big long lasting issues are differences in life spans and periods of disability, differences in pay, different shares of caregiving responsibility and differences of time out of the workplace. It finds some things that have improved, but other issues that existed 25 years ago have still not been addressed. New issues have arisen. The article draws on a presentation given at the 25th anniversary of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). It also focuses on the impact of COVID and the changes that have taken place in the workplace in the last few years. It provides insights into and discussions of the pros and cons of remote and hybrid work arrangements. It provides insights into issues that still need to be addressed.

Description: In the past three years, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) compiled essay collections to address retirement issues. The 2018 call for essays expanded and complemented the discussion by identifying current and potential impacts that family structure, roles and dynamics have on retirement security in the United States. Family structure can, and in many instances does, play a significant role in retirement security worldwide, but this is often not recognized in retirement planning. The presenters will share several award-winning essays. Observations and highlights from the overall project will be shared, and ideas presented in related essays will be summarized.