Research Insights, a Society of Actuaries Podcast

This podcast discusses Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2017, the annual update to the RPEC_2014 model and its corresponding mortality improvement scales, released by the Society of Actuaries Retirement Plans Experience Committee (RPEC). This new version of the model reflects historical U.S. population mortality experience through 2015.

This podcast discusses The Older Age Underwriting Practices Survey, a survey designed to elicit feedback regarding underwriting guidelines, requirements, assumptions and practices utilized in the assessment of older age applicants. This survey was sent to US and Canadian direct life insurance companies.

This podcast discusses the recently released report which serves as a primer on the mechanics and uses of the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for actuarial and financial applications. The report also includes development of a new application for the HMM to mortgage-backed securities exchange-traded funds.

In this episode, Dale Hall, FSA, MAAA, CERA, CFA, Managing Director of Research discusses the Living to 100 Monograph topic, Senior Citizen in 2050, with Ronora Stryker, ASA, MAAA, Research Actuary.

This podcasts discusses the following:

The Society of Actuaries Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks and Financial Finesse are pleased to make available the first of five briefs focused on retirement literacy issues. This first brief in the series explores retirement from a holistic perspective looking at non-financial issues. Subsequent briefs will address a number of financial issues such as the cost of retirement and managing risk. The brief was developed by a team lead by Greg Ward of Financial Finesse.

Senior SOA Research staff discuss the upcoming SOA Annual Meeting, highlighting meeting sessions and their favorite things to do in Boston.

This podcast discusses the recent release of historical U.S. population mortality rates by gender and single year of age for calendar years 2000-2015. To develop these rates, the SOA relied upon data furnished by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Social Security Administration. A document summarizing key observations and the process used to develop the rates, along with a table of the rates themselves, can be found here.

In this episode the winning Financial Wellness essays in the Individual Strategies category are discussed.

This podcast discussed 2 recently released reports:

Climate, Weather and Environmental Sources for Actuaries

This report was prepared in response to the Society of Actuaries' request for a set of data, analysis and discussion sources pertaining to climate change, environmental risks and weather. The report is a collection of sources that deal with the questions of how do scientists know, and what could actuaries do.

Climate Sources for Actuaries

This research initiates the development of a repository of information regarding existing climate and environmental sustainability research of interest to actuaries. The repository, which is referred to as the Climate Sources for Actuaries Resource Index (or Resource Index), will be of use to the SOA and the Climate & Environmental Sustainability Research Committee in developing their future environmental research programs; to actuaries practicing in the area of climate change and environmental sustainability; to actuaries and their employers, who need to understand the implications of climate change to their existing areas of practice; and to climate researchers interested in improved financial projections associated with climate change.

In this introductory episode, Dale Hall, FSA, MAAA, CERA, CFA, Managing Director of Research discusses the Living to 100 Monograph with Ronora Stryker, ASA, MAAA, Research Actuary.

***Please note, this podcast was recorded prior to the cancellation of the Valuation Actuary Symposium due to Hurricane Harvey.***