Description: A research report providing a primer on the mechanics and uses of the Hidden Markov Model for actuarial and financial applications.

Description: The article provides a summary of the Drake Risk & Opportunity Forum held on October 21, 2022. The forum was a hybrid conference that attracted more than 200 attendees from 17 states, two countries, 48 employers, and five universities. Following an introduction by the Zimpleman College of Business Dean, the forum held six sessions. First was an insurance company CRO panel followed by a panel of non-insurance company CROs. Gary Zhu shared his outlook for interest rates and capital markets. The fourth panel discussed insurance capital models. The fifth panel discussed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria when building insurance company investment portfolios. The final session of the day was a discussion about the NAIC, how they operate, and their priorities for the coming year.

Description: As companies strive to remain competitive in today's dynamic marketplace, the role of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) has evolved significantly. It has transitioned from a purely operational function to a strategic imperative. This is most apparent in the life insurance sector, where complex regulatory changes and technological advancements are reshaping traditional practices. In this session, we will delve into the critical aspects of modernizing FP&A within the life insurance industry, exploring key challenges, emerging trends, and best practices. Key areas of discussion include: - Navigating Different Regulatory Frameworks: Companies have to navigate different regulatory lenses for various purposes including budgeting, capital management, rating agencies review, etc. The implementation of regulatory frameworks such as IFRS 17, LDTI, and Principles-Based Reserves (PBR), and the recent trend in establishing Bermuda entities has significant implications for financial reporting and capital management in the life insurance sector. We will discuss how companies can explore strategies for compliance and adaptation within the FP&A process. - Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation: Companies are faced with higher expectations to guide both internal and external parties on the financial impact of their plans. A comprehensive exploration enabled by advanced analytics is critical for communicating, prioritizing, and allocating a company's resources on transactions, product development, and capital management. Our panel will explore how strategic planning has advanced in recent years, providing insights into effective approaches for aligning strategic objectives with financial resources. - Technological Advancements: The rapid pace of technological innovation has opened new possibilities for FP&A, offering advanced modeling techniques and data analytics capabilities. However, many organizations face challenges in harnessing these technologies effectively. This session will examine the role of technology in modernizing FP&A and highlight best practices for implementation. By attending this session, participants will gain: - Strategies for aligning strategic planning with resource allocation and effectively communicating financial impacts to internal and external stakeholders. - An understanding of the current state of FP&A within the life insurance industry, including emerging trends and challenges. - Insight into the implications of regulatory and technological advancements on FP&A processes and functions. - Best practices for leveraging technology to enhance FP&A capabilities and drive strategic decision-making.

Description: The session will address the potential benefits of (re)opening corporate defined benefit plans for plans for plan sponsors and participants alike. Despite a shift from DB to DC trend over the last 20 years, this topic is particularly relevant as many US plan sponsors are enjoying overfunded DB plan funded status, struggling with retirement income solutions in DC plans, and navigating workforce management and recruiting considerations. This session will discuss how innovative plan designs, such as market-return cash balance plans and variable-annuity plans, reduce plan sponsor risks associated with traditional DB designs. We will also discuss investment, balance sheet, retirement readiness, and implementation considerations.

Description: In this session, we will discuss best practices in ALM and Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) modeling approaches to account for the complex relationships between insurance liabilities and the portfolios backing them. We will highlight how robust modeling techniques not only result in optimal asset decisions from a long-term value perspective but can also result in better capital efficiency. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to identify the key aspects of a successful ALM and SAA framework for liabilities subject to PBR.

Description: June 2024, AG54 will begin for new RILA sales. This guidance requires companies to determine an interim value that is more aligned with the market value of the position on a daily basis. This discussion will talk through companies adoption of AG54, lessons learned, approaches and integration with the administration system. Additionally this session will discuss how AG54 impacts new product design, reserving and capital implications.

Description: Our previous article, “Introduction of Cashflow Matching Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) Framework,” introduced the concept and included a real-world case study that developed a liability-driven investment strategy for a single line of business (LOB) for a life insurer. This article expands the framework and the case study from a single LOB to simultaneously optimize asset allocation across multiple LOBs. It discusses how this multi-line SAA framework can enable an insurance company to efficiently tag its asset holdings to each LOB, identify opportunities in the public and private asset markets to enhance risk-adjusted returns, and develop a deeper understanding of the trade-off between the degree of cashflow matching and risk-adjusted returns across LOBs.

Description: When formulating a personal investment strategy, the application of a disciplined methodology can lead to more rational decision making by the investor. From The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2005