Description: This paper examines tandem levels of salary and interest rates and finds that the absolute level of each assumption as well as the differential are significant cost determinants for defined benefit pension plans. In forming best-estimate salary and interest rate assumptions, the actuary must reconcile the difference, if any, between the currently observed rates and the valuation assumptions. Common practice is to choose expected long-term rather than observed rates for valuation purposes. The error in this procedure is analyzed and found to be tolerable for strictly temporary discrepancies between observed rates and valuation assumptions. For situations where these discrepancies are expected to persist for some time, a need is shown for nonuniform, calendar-year assumptions or their equivalent in order to develop best-estimate assumptions. Followed by several discussion papers submitted

Description: This article describes opportunities and challenges presented to Corporate Actuaries caused by swings in investment gains and losses, the cyclical nature of health insurance results, and increased investments in affiliates which divert use of surplus increase from organic growth to acquisitions. margins were much higher

Description: This meeting session from the April 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Orlando, presented a discussion on allocation of assets and investment income. The discussions included: implications of allocating specific assets to particular lines of business, introduction and management of specific allocation procedures, and the principal allocation methods.

Description: Panelists consider the future environment of the valuation actuary in the U.S., the current environment in Canada and elsewhere, and the likely future methods of determining financial solvency in the U.S. From the 1988 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 14, No. 4A.

Description: This session from the 1983 SOA Vancouver Meeting covers various measures of profitability by line of business, analysis of earnings and techniques to measure the surplus needed to support a line or product. From Record of Society Of Actuaries Vol. 9. No. 3

Description: Presented at October 1986 Annual Meeting. This session discussion is about how capital should be measured, cash flow based surplus, what performance measures are reliable, return on equity, book gains, terminal funds, how much surplus is needed, business planning for future capital needs, capital restructuring, how should multiple risks be combined and qualitative issues versus numbers as they relate to future growth.

Description: This article discusses the shift of capital in the 1980s from traditional Whole Life Insurance to Universal Life, Term, Variable products and Managed Care. Restructuring in the insurance industry presents challenges and opportunities for actuaries. The author exhorts actuaries to be part of the solution by updating actuarial science and expanding into new areas.

Description: Editorial discussing the areas in which actuaries can make a difference going forward.

Description: This paper deals with the selection of appropriate interest and inflation assumptions, which is one of the most important considerations in the valuation of a defined benefit pension plan. The paper begins by describing a simplified model in which the only important consideration is the selection of an appropriate differential between interest and inflation assumptions. The discussion then considers some situations that might lead the actuary to attempt to select a realistic level of interest and inflation assumptions, in addition to an appropriate differential. The author's conclusion is that in some situations the absolute level of the interest and inflation assumptions can be all but meaningless, and the differential between the two assumptions is the important factor. In other situations the use of this technique will produce serious inaccuracies in the valuation results. As always, the actuary must analyze each situation in order to determine which of the available techniques will produce the best results with the least effort, given the degree of accuracy required. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1976, Vol. 28.

Description: This session from the 1984 SOA Toronto Meeting discusses recent financial reporting developments in Canada and the United States, GAAP issues for annuities and UL, statutory issues, the NAIC annual statement blank and the possible future role of the valuation actuary. From Record of the Society of Actuaries Vol. 10, No. 4B