Articles

Search Results Page 1 of 111.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next Last

Actuarial Post Magazine Awards Winners Edition December 2024

Welcome to the Actuarial Post Awards 2024 winner’s edition and we hope you enjoy reading about their responses on having won their award. The awards this year were, once again I am in danger of repeating myself every year, but they were our biggest to date in terms of engagement and votes cast across all of the categories. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), Bolton Associates and Star Actuarial Futures for supporting our awards this year.
Posted on Friday Dec 20

Guide to setting expense reserves under the new Funding Code

The new defined benefit (DB) funding code of practice (new Funding Code) requires all schemes to achieve funding levels that ensure low dependency on their sponsoring employer in the long-term. This means that schemes must strive for their funding position to be robust enough so that no further employer contributions are expected. To meet the objective of operating independently of employer support, in addition to having sufficient funds to meet the promised member benefits, schemes should be able to cover all their expected future expenses.
Posted on Thursday Dec 19

Smooth(ing) Operator

Private equity can be a great asset. It’s generally the most significant way to have any real world impact as an investor (eg infrastructure assets like renewable power, natural capital, or health- or climate- focused venture capital), and managers typically have more operational control than in public equities, so can do more with it. Moreover, past performance has generally been very strong. However, from a quantitative perspective, private market returns can’t be taken at face value, at least not as a direct comparator with public assets.
Posted on Wednesday Dec 18

LGPS reforms welcome but what does it mean for the future

There were lots of headlines surrounding the Mansion House announcements made by the Chancellor on LGPS reforms, but it’s important to take a close look at the detail in the consultation to get a better picture of the proposals. In summary, we think there are three main strands to the proposals that will have the biggest impact on participating employers
Posted on Tuesday Dec 17

Crunching HIV AIDS data during a time of fear and loathing

This year marks four decades since scientists developed an antibody test for HIV, the breakthrough coming a year after it had been confirmed as the virus that causes AIDS. It was an important milestone – and not just for clinicians and policymakers. Professionals across a range of industries had been grappling with the potential impact of a devastating and highly infectious disease.
Posted on Monday Dec 16

From back room to C suite the actuary’s evolving role

About 20 years ago, when I decided to become an actuary, job opportunities were good for people with our specialised skillset. However, there were not that many actuaries, even less so female, in key corporate leadership roles. Today, I’m glad to say that has changed dramatically. Since I started, many actuaries have evolved from the purely technical background into the limelight, assuming more commercial roles.
Posted on Friday Dec 13

Regulators working together to better inform pension savers

When I mention to someone that I work in pensions, it often results in one of two reactions. Either they quickly change the subject to the weather, or they ask what they should do with their pensions. The straightforward response is usually to point them in the direction of independent financial advice. However, people may only resort to this when they are considering action which is likely to have a significant impact on their retirement savings.
Posted on Thursday Dec 12

New modelling approaches for a new year

As technology, society, and the world of work continue to evolve at an accelerating pace, finding time to reflect on these changes can be challenging. But, as Confucius observed, “it is wise to study the past if you would define the future”, and the turn of the year offers an apposite opportunity to pause. Our predictions for 2024, written just one short year ago, provide a valuable point of comparison for our upcoming annual forecast.
Posted on Wednesday Dec 11

Final Day for Voting in the 2024 Actuarial Post Awards

It's your last chance to vote in the 2024 Actuarial Post Awards as the voting window slams shut tonight. We have been celebrating and rewarding talent and achievements of individuals in the actuarial arena since 2012. We would like to thank our sponsors who support the awards, this year Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) sponsor Actuary of the Year and Bolton Associates sponsor GI Actuary of the Year. Sustainability Actuary of the Year is sponsored by Star Actuarial Futures. It's your final chance to cast your vote today.
Posted on Tuesday Dec 10

MBWL mergers and acquisitions webinar

Barnett Waddingham webinar, join global experts as they share their knowledge and experiences on the ever-evolving landscape of mergers and acquisitions, and the significant implications for employee benefits and pensions globally.
Posted on Monday Dec 9

Distinctive. Relevant. Chartered - Chartered Actuary

Chartered Actuary status is a widely recognised mark of regulatory distinction, assuring the public that actuaries are qualified and held to a protected, globally recognised standard. Currently, anyone doing actuarial work may call themselves an actuary, regardless of their qualifications. Chartered status can only be used by actuaries who have achieved the level of qualification, professionalism and expertise demanded by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA).
Posted on Friday Dec 6

TPR Pensions Dashboards webinar 2024

If you were unable to able to join the pensions dashboards webinar on 26 November 2024, we encourage you to watch the recording. This session provides crucial information from industry experts to support schemes in meeting their pensions dashboards duties.

Key topics covered:
• Getting data dashboards ready – data, governance and record keeping
• TPR’s compliance and enforcement approach
• Hot topics from the industry

The session concludes with a 30 minute Q&A, offering clarity on common questions asked. To ensure your scheme is on track, watch the webinar today.
Posted on Thursday Dec 5

Retirement roulette and what factors tip the longevity odds

How long a pensioner lives in retirement can seem like a game of chance, with so many possible factors like income, location, affluence and employment history seeming to affect the odds. Recent analysis by the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) of UK defined benefit pension scheme members reveals which of these factors can make a winning bet for living longer. This article explores these findings through case studies of financial sector pensioners, public sector retirees, and pensioners in Scotland, highlighting key insights for pension scheme stakeholders setting mortality assumptions.
Posted on Thursday Dec 5

What does COP29 mean for investors

Against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical fragmentation and the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the US, COP29 (the 29th annual UN-hosted international climate conference) seemed to go fairly under the radar this year, with less mainstream press coverage than in previous years. But, over in Azerbaijan, the 29th climate conference took place, with over 65,000 delegates registered to attend and 80 Heads of States present.
Posted on Tuesday Dec 3

GLP1 drugs changing weight loss and Life & Health insurance

Weight-loss injectables like Wegovy or Ozempic are gaining popularity amid an escalating global obesity crisis. Since 1975, worldwide obesity rates have nearly tripled, with projections indicating that over half of the global population will be overweight or obese by 2035. John Schoonbee, Global Chief Medical Officer, and Adam Strange, Life & Health R&D Manager, elaborate on the impact of GLP-1 drugs on weight loss, metabolic health and insurance. These medications influence risk factors such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Additionally, they discuss the implications of these drugs on Life & Health insurance, including life, critical illness, and disability income, as well as future underwriting risk assessments.
Posted on Monday Dec 2

Severe droughts a growing challenge for global supply chains

A severe, prolonged drought in the Mediterranean has significantly impacted olive production. This event shines the spotlight on the vulnerability of food supply chains to droughts, which are predicted to become more prevalent under climate change. The Mediterranean region has been experiencing a severe drought, driven by a complex interplay of meteorological and hydrological factors. Northern Africa has been enduring these conditions for over six years, and southern Italy, Spain and Portugal for approximately two years.
Posted on Monday Dec 2

Stars of the Future Edition of Actuarial Post Magazine

Our Stars of the Future 2024 take centre stage in the magazine this month. We would like to congratulate our overall winner Twinkle Popat from Aviva who is featured on our front cover and to our runners up Miraj Shah from Aon and Dhvani Sanghavi from Phoenix Group. A huge vote of thanks must go to our sponsors Star Actuarial Futures who continue to support this ever-popular award. We have placed all the other nominees in alphabetical order as the competition was so close once again this year.
Posted on Friday Nov 29

The Role of GPS Tracking in Actuarial Risk Assessment

The actuarial field, known for its reliance on data, statistics, and risk analysis, is continually evolving with the integration of new technologies. One such technology, GPS tracking, has revolutionized risk assessment for actuaries by providing essential insights into vehicle and asset management. The global positioning system (GPS) offers real-time location data, making it a valuable tool for assessing risks in various industries.
Posted on Wednesday Nov 27

Actuarial Post Awards 2024 Vote Now

We would like to announce, that after yet another record number of nominations for the Actuarial Post Awards that you can now vote for the nominees that made the shortlist in their category. We would like to thank you once again for joining us as we continue to celebrate and reward the talent and achievements of individuals in the actuarial arena. With 8 awards to be won, cast your votes here for your colleagues, employees and team. Celebrating Actuarial talent since 2012.
Posted on Tuesday Nov 26

Hopes and fears for pensions in 2025

In this ‘Year of Elections’ both in the UK and across the world, there was much to affect markets, change views and to give increased reason for thought in the UK pensions industry. As the final weeks of 2024 approach, Matthew Arends, partner and head of UK retirement policy at Aon, looks ahead to what will be concentrating minds in 2025. 2024 saw the UK pensions landscape continue to evolve and there is no sign of that changing as we approach 2025.
Posted on Monday Nov 25

Navigating market concentration how to invest your equities

In 2024, the share of developed market equities encompassed by the largest ten US stocks came close to 25% - the highest share for decades and a huge rise from only 10% as recently as 2017. This has raised concerns that markets are too concentrated in a few stocks. Comparisons are often made drawn with the tech bubble (also known as dot-com bubble) of the late 90’s, which was marked by a similar boom in technology companies, but which came to a grisly end in the early 2000s.
Posted on Friday Nov 22

The growing European cyber insurance market

WTW cyber leaders, Dr. Kennet K. Otto, Georgy Matov and host Anand Patel discuss if there is a difference in the European cyber insurance market compared to the US and the London market.
Posted on Friday Nov 22

No one size fits all for IFRS 17

It has been a long journey, but after many years in the making, a number of insurers made their first full set of reports in March of this year under IFRS 17. The demands of the new reporting standard precipitated a swathe of digital transformation across the insurance industry in recent years, upgrading systems and infrastructure, as well as the skills needed by actuaries, and finance and IT teams to support these changes.
Posted on Wednesday Nov 20

Hey Siri invest my money

Imagine a future where retirement planning is as easy as saying, “Hey Siri, invest my money.” With the rise of AI use in financial services that future is almost here, making money management simpler and more accessible than ever. AI has powered finance for decades, from fraud detection to credit scoring. The 2000s brought more personalised developments like robo-advisors and automated investing. Today, AI is embedded in everyday usage with increasingly smart apps for personal money management in the palm of your hand.
Posted on Tuesday Nov 19

Government proposals for DC consolidation

The Government wants to set a minimum size for multi-employer DC schemes (from 2030 or later) but is not currently telling them how to invest. New duties for employers are also being considered. The Government has published an interim response to the first stage of its pensions review, alongside a consultation paper proposing fundamental changes to the market for workplace defined contribution (DC) schemes.
Posted on Monday Nov 18