The Pension Practice Council’s Forward Thinking Task Force released a public policy monograph that introduces a framework to examine retirement plans and policy proposals designed to provide a secure and sufficient retirement as part of its Retirement for the AGES initiative. In conjunction with the release of the monograph, the Academy hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on the initiative. Read the news release here.

The Individual Disability Table Work Group released detailed instructions on how to use the newly revised individual disability valuation table.

On Jan. 16, 2014 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) experts Thomas L. Hayes, D. Andrew Neal, and moderator Stuart B. Mathewson discussed the current state of the NFIP, how the passage of the Biggert-Waters Act has affected the NFIP and its policyholders thus far, and the options available to Congress to revise Biggert-Waters to reduce its immediate effect on premiums. This webinar is part of the Academy Capitol Forum Lunchtime Guest Webinar Series.

The Solvency Committee submitted comments to the International Actuarial Association on the International Association of Insurance Supervisors’ proposal, Basic Capital Requirements for Global Systemically Important Insurers (G-SIIs).

The Financial Reporting Committee sent comments to the Financial Accounting Standards Board and International Accounting Standards Board regarding their joint project on classification and measurement of financial instruments.

The Life Practice Council submitted comments on the proposed “actuarial standard” in the Report of Rector & Associates to the NAIC Principle-Based Reserving Implementation (EX) Task Force. 

The Separate Account Products Work Group commented on the Potential Actions/Recommendations (Document 2) exposed for comment in November by the NAIC Separate Account Risk (E) Working Group.

Senior Pension Fellow Don Fuerst sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding their request to make Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) consistent with the pension funding rules in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Read the news release.

The Rate Review Practice Note Work Group submitted technical comments to the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) on a new proposed list of changes to the Unified Rate Review Template (URRT) for quarterly 2014 and annual 2015 filings. The letter also reiterates several other technical comments on the URRT and actuarial memorandum instructions.

In the Academy’s Jan. 2 webinar, “IFRS Update: Where In The World Are We Going With Insurance Contracts?” members of the Academy’s Risk Management and Financial Reporting Council discussed the Academy’s and other key stakeholders’ responses to the 2013 International Accounting Standards Board and Financial Accounting Standards Board exposure drafts on insurance contracts. Presenters offered their opinions on the timing and likelihood of passage of any new standards, as well as the effect they would have on insurers, regulators, and actuaries. Click here to listen to the recorded webinar.

The Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting released its 2013 practice note on statements of actuarial opinion on P&C loss reserves.

The Health Practice Council submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in response to the proposed rule regarding benefit and payment parameters for 2015. The letter represents input from three Academy work groups on issues associated with composite rating, proposed changes to the actuarial value calculator and methodology, and the three risk-sharing mechanisms.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee adopted the Academy/SOA's group long-term disability valuation table and actuarial guideline at its fall national meeting.

The Individual Dsiability Table Work Group gave a presentation on an updated table to the NAIC's Health Actuarial Task Force.

The Long-Term Care Principle-Based Work Group presented an update to the NAIC's Long-Term Care Actuarial Working Group on work to complete the LTC principle-based approach model.

The Academy/SOA's Individual Disability Table Work Group provided a final report and actuarial guideline on a new individual disability table to the NAIC's Health Actuarial Task Force at its fall national meeting.

The Pension Committee submitted comments to the Internal Revenue Service on Notice 2013-49: Updated Static Mortality Tables for the Years 2014 and 2015.

The Casualty Practice Council presented background and introductory material before the NAIC’s P/C Risk-Based Capital Working Group in conjunction with presentation by Casualty Actuarial Society updating its research on underwriting risk charges in NAIC P/C risk-based capital.

Life Financial Soundness / Risk Management Committee provided a response to the NAIC’s Life Actuarial Task Force regarding questions from the New York Insurance Department on Academy’s proposal for treatment of due premiums.

Life Reserves Work Group provides memo to the NAIC’s Life Actuarial Task Force of VM-20 on current and long-term spread tables.