Read the latest issue of This Week—the Academy’s end-of-week digital newsletter, compiling a week’s worth of news, updates, and media coverage in one convenient, easy-to-use publication. (July 10, 2020)

The Pension Practice Council published an issue brief detailing why the investment return assumption should be determined by the asset allocation, not the other way around. (July 06, 2020)

The Academy’s next professionalism webinar, “In Times of Uncertainty, Professionalism is Certain,” will be held July 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Presenters—Academy past presidents Shawna Ackerman, Bob Beuerlein, Tom Terry, and Tom Wildsmith; and President-Elect nominee Maryellen Coggins—will discuss the Code of Professional Conduct and more. Academy President D. Joeff Williams will moderate. Continuing education and Joint Board for Enrollment of Actuaries (JBEA) credit will be available. (July 01, 2020)

Read the latest issue of This Week—the Academy’s end-of-week digital newsletter, compiling a week’s worth of news, updates, and media coverage in one convenient, easy-to-use publication. (July 02, 2020)

The Health Practice Council and its Task Force to Review Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) 11 filed a comment on the Actuarial Standards Board exposure draft, Reinsurance Involving Life Insurance, Annuities, or Health Benefit Plans in Financial Reports. (July 02, 2020)

The Risk Sharing Subcommittee filed comments with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on exposed Amendments to the HHS-Operated Risk Adjustment Data Validation Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s HHS-Operated Risk Adjustment Program.  (July 02, 2020)

The Intersector Group released the notes of its May 2020 conference call with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. (July 01, 2020)

The June “Professionalism Counts” column is a Q&A with three members of the Committee on Professional Responsibility on self-regulation, following release of the discussion paper Self-Regulation and the Actuarial Profession. (Actuarial Update, June 2020) (June 30, 2020)

In the July/August issue of Contingencies, the cover story, “Actuaries, Decision-Making, and COVID-19,” explores uncertainty—and opines that actuaries are uniquely qualified to lend perspective during this crisis. Other features include “Then and Now,” a look back at the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and how it can tell us a lot about how COVID-19 might play out; and “On Economics: First Principles,” which offers foundational principles of economics: what economics is, what it is not, and why actuaries should care. Also, a President’s Message from Academy President D. Joeff Williams delves deeper into uncertainty; communicating the unknown in “Up to Code”; and a Tradecraft piece developing a conservation strategy for life insurance to combat the effects of COVID-19. (July 01, 2020)

The June Actuarial Update introduces the four candidates who have been nominated to serve as regular directors on the Academy’s Board and will be voted on by the membership in an online election this summer. Also in the issue, the next professionalism webinar is set for July; a health issue brief on COVID-19 and a related online briefing on the pandemic and 2021 rate filings; the “Member Spotlight” features past Actuarial Standards Board Chairperson Tricia Matson; the “Professionalism Counts” column is a Q&A with three members of the Committee on Professional Responsibility on self-regulation; and a remembrance of Mary D. Miller, recipient of the Academy’s two highest service awards and Academy president during our 50th anniversary year. (June 30, 2020)

The Committee on Professional Responsibility has released a new discussion paper. Self-Regulation and the Actuarial Profession is intended to generate discussion among actuaries about the importance of self-regulation and how individual actuaries can help preserve self-regulation. It aims to raise actuaries’ awareness of the importance and value of self-regulation and identify actuaries’ responsibilities with respect to maintaining self-regulation of the actuarial profession in the United States. (June 29, 2020)

Read the latest issue of This Week—the Academy’s end-of-week digital newsletter, compiling a week’s worth of news, updates, and media coverage in one convenient, easy-to-use publication. (June 26, 2020)

The Summer Casualty Quarterly includes a Q&A with Academy Casualty Vice President Lisa Slotznick on the Casualty Practice Council’s comments to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on a discussion draft of the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act, including the impact on business interruption insurance. Also, Academy leadership and Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting (COPLFR) comments to the NAIC on statements of actuarial opinion; COPLFR releases FAQs on COVID-19 for appointed actuaries; a new workers’ compensation issue brief on presumptive benefits; and the P/C breakout sessions are set for November’s Annual Meeting and Public Policy Forum. (June 26, 2020)

The Casualty Practice Council commented on H.R. 7011, a proposal to facilitate expansion of Business Interruption insurance to include future pandemic events. (June 26, 2020)

The Workers’ Compensation Committee released an issue brief, Presumptive Benefits in Workers’ Compensation: Emerging Issues Before and After COVID-19, which covers what workers’ compensation presumption of benefits means, how laws vary by state, what occupations are covered by presumptions, what injuries or diseases are classified as presumptive, who is eligible, how claims can be rebuttable by the employers, what are the cost elements of workers’ compensation presumptions, and other cost considerations. (June 25, 2020)