Description: Recently the interest rates have been slowly trending up from the lowest point in August 2020. The focus of this article is on current market trends for long-duration products —including life insurance, annuities, and long-term care insurance —following an extended period of low interest rates, and lessons carriers can learn from similar historical periods of rising interest rates. Innovative and flexible product features will continue to be essential, as the current interest trend may not substantially increase insurers’ portfolio rates. When designing or modifying product features, insurers should consider profitability in a wide breadth of interest rate scenarios and be particularly mindful of the impact that crediting rates and asset durations will have on earnings.

Description: Measuring the interplay between climate risk and morbidity and mortality is complex and often requires a multidisciplined team approach to meeting objectives. In this session, presenters discuss their journey and the twists and turns encountered in examining the link between wildfires, air quality, pollution, and morbidity and mortality implications. In addition to sharing their insights about the process, presenters will provide results from their, such as: - Mortality and morbidity risk trends influenced by climate change, wildfires, and air quality issues - Regional, risk class, socioeconomic, and temporal variations in these trends - Projections based on the observed trends and their implications for the future - The impacts on specific causes of morbidity and mortality, such as respiratory disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease By attending this session, you will gain a better understanding of the following: - Implications of the study for life and health insurers - Key risk factors for individuals affected by air quality issues, the drivers for morbidity and mortality impact, and differences between the general and insured population - Process, data, models, and considerations needed for examining the mortality and morbidity consequences of climate risks like wildfires

Description: Welcome to the appellate court. We’ve seen some scare in mass media on climate-linked mortality, but not sure what to make of that in our actuarial practice. Both data and research is quickly evolving around climate change’s impact globally and to US mortality. We’ll share a few tidbits from recent actuarial research on wildfires and air pollution in particular. At the same time, there are still many unknowns on the long-term effects, and this phase of understanding is ripe for calling on a diverse group of experts. We bring expert witnesses from different professions to the actuarial stand to answer whether climate change’s impacts from heat wildfire-induced air pollution to mental health is a credible and material threat to insured mortality. The audience should come ready to judge the arguments presented.

Description: This panel will take a holistic deep dive on the intersection of pending regulatory, actuarial, and technical developments in artificial intelligence (AI). Panelists will explore how AI and the diverse and evolving regulatory landscape surrounding this technology will impact actuaries' day-to-day jobs in managing risk, and what the (re)insurance industry is doing to leverage AI to streamline internal processes and simplify underwriting.

Description: This article summarizes the findings of the 2020/2021 Milliman UL/IUL/VUL survey. The survey covers a range of specific product and actuarial issues and the results provide a good tool for benchmarking

Description: The article summarizes some of the key changes in modeling, assumptions, underwriting, and design for long term care combo products over the past 30+ years. The objective is to inspire an innovative spirit that adapts to changing market needs, for example, dealing with long COVID

Description: This article is the final installment of our three-part series on economic scenario generators (“ESGs”). Part I and II were published in the November 2019 and August 2020 issues of The Modeling Platform. Part III contextualizes the framework for selecting, building, and validating ESGs and focuses on the Academy Interest Rate Generator (“AIRG”), the most commonly used real-world ESG for US actuaries

Description: Indexed universal life (IUL) continues to be the most popular universal life (UL) product with sales reaching $1B in Q4 2023, according to LIMRA. There is little long term experience for IUL and many companies value and model IUL just like UL, but there are material potential differences that need to be considered for valuation and projection purposes. Presenters will discuss key risks and differences between IUL and UL relating to policyholder behavior and how to value, project, monitor and manage those risks to avoid repeating misestimates of the past. Presenters will also discuss broader life assumption risks such as mortality and yearly renewable term (YRT) reinsurance risk. Attendees will learn about options on how to potentially address underperforming blocks of IUL and will obtain an improved perspective on the risks of IUL products and the differences versus UL and how to incorporate these differences into their valuation and projection exercises.

Description: Hear about the latest trends and insights in regard to recent developments in the Life Insurance market. The speakers will discuss changes to the valuation, new business, and product development landscape in light of the recent economic environment, regulatory changes, and the evolution of underwriting practices. Attendees will learn about how pricing, valuation, and forecasting practices are adapting to meet objectives.

Description: The report discusses using behavioral science in redesigning life insurance underwriting questionnaires to improve disclosure rates. It includes an experimental study, industry survey insights, and discussions on application forms, behavioral science application, and organizational engagement with behavioral science in the insurance industry.