Description: The SOA Retirement Section and Research Institute’s Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program are pleased to make available material from a research study that explored: What Retirement Plan Features do Employees Really Want? The report presents the findings of an online survey of U.S. adults conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP. The purpose of the study was to gain insight into the features of retirement plans that are important to employees and where they may make trade-offs for the features they find most important. This report provides important observations for employers and other retirement stakeholders as they assess retirement plans.

Description: This paper compares two mortality projection models – the latest version of the CMI Mortality Projections Model and the latest version of MIM-2021.Both models were applied to data for England & Wales and the US, and the results were compared.

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: Emerging Applications of ESG Methods offers ground-up insights on cutting edge applications of economic scenario generation. The course will focus on the incorporation of climate change risk in scenario modeling and investment applications of ESGs. The following topics will be covered: Approaches to climate risk modeling. Climate risk is very different than classical financial economic risk. Radical uncertainty is amenable to scenario analysis and lack of data. Building special deterministic scenarios that go beyond NGFS requirements as well as bespoke scenarios. Holistic Approach to Climate Risk Modeling. Overview of different Climate Risk Modeling Applications. Use of ESG scenarios for Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA). Liquidity risk management.

Description: Interview with Assia Billig, FSA, FCIA, Ph.D., appointed chief actuary of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ (OSFI’s) Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA) in April 2019.

Description: As part of its ongoing effort to provide its stakeholders with useful information on COVID-19, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) recently launched an online conversation about the impact of COVID-19 on retirement risks.

Description: This report summarizes points made through an online discussion on issues related to spending in retirement, asset management, and the use of Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs).

Description: First in a series of articles for Retirement Section News focusing on Defined Contribution issues

Description: Brief discussion of highlights of past Living to 100 Research Symposia, urging readers to attend 2023 symposium

Description: This report includes information on variations in wind-up funding levels and examines differences in required PfADs attributable to differences in plan design.