Want to learn what you missed at the NAIC Summer Meeting? Register now for the Life Practice Council’s Sept. 19 webinar to learn about the Academy’s activities at the meeting and progress on principle-based reserving (PBR), which is now being adopted by the states. Speakers will lead an in-depth discussion of reserving developments for non-variable annuities (VM-22) and also provide updates on Life Actuarial Task Force activity and the Academy’s professionalism initiatives. (August 28, 2013)

Two Academy practice councils made presentations at the NAIC’s Center for Insurance Policy and Research Summit. Dave Neve, chairperson of the Life Financial Soundness Risk Management Committee, made a presentation on issues related to internal modeling for PBR at the summit on behalf of the Life Practice Council. Academy Vice President Mike Angelina, representing the Casualty Practice Council, presented actuarial perspectives on both property/casualty insurance issues and the effects of current liability reporting. (August 27, 2013)

Members can vote for four regular directors starting on Monday, Aug. 26. Please check for an email from Intelliscan on Monday (elections@intelliscaninc.net), the Academy's election vendor, for your online ballot. For those without email addresses, you will receive your ballot by regular mail. If you can't find your ballot and would like to vote online, visit the Intelliscan website to submit your votes. Elections will be open until Sept. 16-We encourage you to vote! To learn more about this year's candidates, visit the Academy Board Election Center. (August 26, 2013)

The Life Practice Council and its subgroups delivered several presentations, reports and amendment proposals to the Life Actuarial Task Force on various topics at the August 22 and 23 meeting.  They included:

·         Amendment proposals on letters of credit, due premiums, and VM-20 scope

·         Report and presentation proposing an aggregate margin approach for VM-20

·         Report and presentation on a potential reserve methodology for non-variable annuities in VM-22

·         Report on nonforfeiture treatment of certain fixed deferred annuities

·         Presentation of a recent survey conducted on modeling efficiency

·         Presentation updating the task force on progress made by the AOMR Communication Group

The Pension Committee published an issue brief addressing the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s deficit in its single-employer program.  The issue brief concludes that the agency’s methods and assumptions have produced a reasonable representation of the PBGC single-employer program’s current obligation and deficit.  The issue brief explains that while policymakers should explore new sources of income to address the deficit, immediate premium increases on plan sponsors are unnecessary and potentially counterproductive. Read the news release. (August 22, 2013)

Award-winning author, journalist, and radio and TV personality Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the international bestsellers Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, will share his wit and insight at the Academy’s annual meeting on Nov. 4. At this year’s event, held in conjunction with the CAS Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, the Academy also will install its 49th president, welcome new regular directors elected over the summer, and recognize recipients of three prestigious awards. Don’t’ miss it! (August 12, 2013)

The Minimum Value Practice Note Work Group released a practice note exposure draft related to determinations of minimum value (MV) and actuarial value (AV) under the Affordable Care Act for a 45-day exposure period. Comments on Minimum Value and Actuarial Value Determinations Under the Affordable Care Act should be submitted by September 30. (August 12, 2013)

The Social Security Committee updated its annual issue brief on the 2013 Social Security Trustees Report that outlined the trust fund’s current financial status, long-range estimates of the program’s solvency, and the need to reform the program to ensure sustainable solvency. (August 12, 2013)

Online voting for the four open regular director positions on the Academy board will open August 26. Academy members will receive an email on August 12 from Intelliscan, our election vendor, announcing that Academy election information will be sent to you soon. This email will come from elections@intelliscaninc.net. Please be sure to add it to your safe senders list and to check your Spam folder to make sure you receive it. Read Academy President Cecil Bykerk's message to members on the election process and upcoming dates. (August 08, 2013)

Large Group Medical Business Practice Note Work Group released an updated practice note on large group medical business. (August 07, 2013)

The Pension Committee submitted its views to the Department of Labor regarding the agency’s proposal to add lifetime-income information to pension benefit statements. The committee commended the DOL for requiring lifetime income disclosures under section 105 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and offered comments on specific topics, including assumed rates of return, drawdown illustrations, and projected retirement ages. (August 07, 2013)