Actuarial Standard of Practice No. 10
Methods and Assumptions for Use in Life Insurance Company Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with U.S. GAAP
STANDARD OF PRACTICE
TRANSMITTAL MEMORANDUM
March 2011
TO: Members of Actuarial Organizations Governed by the Standards of Practice of the Actuarial Standards Board and Other Persons Interested in Methods and Assumptions for Use in Life Insurance Company Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with U.S. GAAP
FROM: Actuarial Standards Board (ASB)
SUBJ: Revision of Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 10
This document contains the final version of a revision of ASOP No. 10, now titled Methods and Assumptions for Use in Life Insurance Company Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Background
ASOP No. 10 was originally adopted by the ASB in 1989. The 1989 standard was developed by the American Academy of Actuaries (Academy) Committee on Life Insurance Financial Reporting for the Life Committee of the ASB. In 1992, ASOP No. 10 was expanded to incorporate certain Financial Reporting Recommendations. In 2000, it was revised to reflect GAAP developments since 1992.
Since 2000, several American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statements of Position pertinent to insurance contract accounting have been issued. In addition, certain features of insurance contracts are now considered under GAAP to be embedded derivatives. These features are accounted for at fair value, which has been more specifically defined. As a result of these developments, the ASB authorized another update to ASOP No. 10.
In this update, the task force recommending the changes has removed interpretations of GAAP literature and focused the standard on those activities for which actuaries are most directly responsible. This resulted in the deletion of the “Special Situations” and “Lock-In/Adjustment” sections in the previous version of ASOP No. 10. The ASB believes these sections included interpretations of authoritative GAAP guidance, which is beyond the scope of the actuary’s role. Actuaries can refer to other relevant literature for further information on topics that were deleted.
Exposure Draft
The exposure draft of this revised ASOP was issued in June 2010 with a comment deadline of September 30, 2010. Eight comment letters were received and changes were made in several sections in response. For a summary of the issues contained in these comment letters and the responses thereto, please see appendix 2.
Key Changes
The most significant changes from the exposure draft involve revisions to section 3.4 concerning “market-estimate assumptions.” The changes primarily clarify the guidance related to setting assumptions when there is limited observable information. In addition, section 3.6, Lock-In, was eliminated.
The ASB thanks everyone who took the time to contribute comments and suggestions on the exposure draft. The ASB adopted this revised standard at its March 2011 meeting.
Task Force to Revise ASOP No. 10
David Y. Rogers, Chairperson
David A. Brentlinger Patricia E. Matson
Robert G. Frasca Candace J. Woods
Life Committee of the ASB
Jeremy J. Brown, Chairperson
David A. Bretlinger David Y. Rogers
Dale S. Hagstrom Barbara L. Snyder
James B. Milholland Candace J. Woods
Esther H. Milnes
Actuarial Standards Board
Albert J. Beer, Chairperson
Alan D. Ford Patricia E. Matson
Patrick J. Grannan Robert G. Meilander
Stephen G. Kellison James J. Murphy
Thomas D. Levy James F. Verlautz
The ASB establishes and improves standards of actuarial practice. These ASOPs identify what the actuary should consider, document, and disclose when performing an actuarial assignment. The ASB’s goal is to set standards for appropriate practice for the U.S.
Section 1. Purpose, Scope, Cross References, and Effective Date
1.1 Purpose
This actuarial standard of practice (ASOP) provides guidance to actuaries when performing professional services related to the preparation of life insurance companies’ financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
1.2 Scope
This standard applies to actuaries when performing professional services related to selecting or reviewing methods or assumptions used in the preparation of life insurance company GAAP financial statements.
The actuary should comply with this standard except to the extent it may conflict with applicable law (statutes, regulations, and other legally binding authority) or authoritative GAAP guidance (such as Accounting Standards Codification, Staff Accounting Bulletins issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and other guidance issued by authoritative bodies). If the actuary departs from the guidance set forth in this standard in order to comply with authoritative GAAP guidance, applicable law (statutes, regulations, and other legally binding authority), or for any other reason the actuary deems appropriate, the actuary should refer to section 4.
1.3 Cross References
When this standard refers to the provisions of other documents, the reference includes the referenced documents as they may be amended or restated in the future, and any successor to them, by whatever name called. If any amended or restated document differs materially from the originally referenced document, the actuary should consider the guidance in this standard to the extent it is applicable and appropriate.
1.4 Effective Date
This standard will be effective for professional services supporting the preparation of life insurance company financial statements applicable to fiscal periods ending on or after October 15, 2011.
Section 2. Definitions
The terms below are defined for use in this actuarial standard of practice and are intended to conform with authoritative GAAP guidance, where applicable.
2.1 Best-Estimate Assumption
An assumption that reflects anticipated experience with no provision for risk of adverse deviation.
2.2 Costs
All benefit payments and expenses associated with issuing and maintaining a company’s insurance policies and contracts, with no provision for profit.
2.3 Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost (DPAC)
An asset representing the unamortized portion of policy acquisition expenses.
2.4 Deferred Sales Inducements (DSI)
An asset representing the unamortized portion of sales inducements to policyholders.
The portion of gross premium that provides for costs.
Amounts contractually required to be paid or anticipated to be contributed by the policyholder.
2.7 Lock-In
A requirement to continue using original basis assumptions (as set at issue, acquisition, or prior redetermination due to a premium deficiency).
2.8 Market-Estimate Assumption
An assumption that represents what a typical market participant would use in assessing the amount the participant would pay to acquire a given asset or the amount the participant would require to assume a given liability (a so-called “exit market” price).
2.9 Net GAAP Liability
The GAAP policy benefit liability less any associated DPAC, VOBA, and DSI.
2.10 Policy Benefit Liability
An accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to the payment of future costs and amounts accrued for unearned revenue. The amount accrued for unearned revenue may or may not be shown separately in the company’s financial statements, but is, in any case, included in the policy benefit liability for purposes of this standard.
A condition that exists when the net GAAP liability plus the present value of future gross premiums is less than the present value of future benefits and expenses using current best estimate assumptions.
2.12 Risk of Adverse Deviation
The risk that actual experience may differ from best-estimate assumptions in a manner that produces costs higher than assumed or revenues less than assumed.
2.13 Value of Business Acquired (VOBA)
The intangible asset that arises in the application of GAAP purchase accounting as the difference between the reported value and the fair value of insurance contract liabilities, or comparable amounts determined in purchased insurance business combinations.
Section 3. Analysis of Issues and Recommended Practices
3.1 The Role of the Actuary
The GAAP financial statements of life insurance companies are the responsibility of management. The methodologies used in determining financial statement amounts are, for any specific element, generally prescribed by authoritative GAAP guidance. Actuaries frequently participate in the processes of developing specific techniques for application of GAAP methods and selecting or considering assumptions used in the preparation of life insurance company financial statements. To the extent the actuary participates in these activities, the actuary should be guided by this standard. In addition, the actuary should be familiar with accounting and actuarial literature that is relevant to the activities in which the actuary is participating.
3.2 Categories of Assumptions
Two general approaches to establishing actuarial assumptions are used in the preparation of GAAP financial statements: best-estimate assumptions and market-estimate assumptions. The type of assumption used and whether any provisions for risk or uncertainty are included in the assumption are dictated by the particular circumstances and applicable accounting guidance. Some assumptions are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect emerging experience, whereas others are locked-in. The actuary should exercise care to ensure that the proper category of assumptions is used.
3.3 Best-Estimate Assumptions
In instances where GAAP requires best-estimate assumptions, the actuary should use assumptions that reflect management’s assessment of emerging experience without provisions for risk or uncertainty. Where there is no emerging experience, the actuary should use assumptions that reflect management’s expectations of how experience will emerge. Best-estimate assumptions may be established as the “most likely,” “average,” or “central” outcome, corresponding, respectively, to the mode, mean, or median of a probability distribution. Other interpretations of best estimate are possible. The actuary should use actuarial judgment to determine which interpretation of best-estimate is appropriate for the situation at hand with reference to the applicable authoritative GAAP guidance.
In advising management as to the selection of best-estimate assumptions, the actuary should consider, among other things, the characteristics and magnitude of the company’s business; the maturity of the company and its rate of growth; the prior experience of the company and the trends in that experience; as well as medical, economic, social, and technological developments that might affect future experience. The actuary’s advice should consider the company’s actual recent experience data, if, in the actuary’s judgment, it is relevant and credible.
The actuary should also consider relevant industry data or data from other similarly situated companies to supplement available company specific data. ASOP No. 23, Data Quality, gives further guidance to the actuary on issues related to the selection of data, use of imperfect data, and reliance on data supplied by others.
3.4 Market-Estimate Assumptions
Certain financial statement items (for example, derivatives and embedded derivatives) are measured at fair value in GAAP financial statements. When the fair value of an item is called for in GAAP financial statements and not readily observable in the marketplace, a value for such items may need to be calculated. Such calculations commonly incorporate market-estimate assumptions.
3.4.1 Reliability of Market-Estimate Assumptions
In determining market-estimate assumptions, the actuary should use reliable market information to the extent reasonably observable. Some assumptions (for example, the market’s assessment of future interest rates) may be directly observable in published sources that are commonly quoted for market-based information. The general acceptance of such information by the market may serve to enhance the actuary’s comfort with its reliability. The actuary should consider using multiple sources of information, when available, to help validate the reliability of the information.
When directly pertinent information is not observable, the actuary should seek to infer market-estimate assumptions from other observable information. Such information may be obtained by observing market transactions that imply the market’s assessment of the assumption. For example, when making a market-estimate assumption for the volatility of one-year returns on a stock market index, the actuary may be able to deduce that assumption from observing the price at which options on that index are trading.
3.4.3 Use of Relevant Information
Often, the actuary will not be able to observe market transactions that incorporate the assumptions that are needed. In such situations, the actuary should use available observable information that may have relevance in determining market participants’ assessment of the assumption that is required. For example, an actuary may have no means of directly observing the market’s assessment of mortality for a specific group of lives. However, industry mortality data or mortality assumptions used by market participants in pricing transactions involving similar sets of lives may be observable. The actuary may consider this information to be relevant in establishing an assumption even though the information is not directly observable for the specific group of lives under consideration.
3.4.4 Using Best-Estimate Assumptions
When there is insufficient observable information, a market-estimate assumption may be based on best-estimate assumptions. Such assumptions should always reflect market-observable information to the extent possible. When incorporating best-estimate assumptions, the actuary should consider whether including a margin for uncertainty is appropriate. If such a margin is included, the actuary should consider how much margin a market participant would use, based on the same considerations as discussed in sections 3.4.1 to 3.4.3.
3.5 Provision for Risk of Adverse Deviation
In certain instances GAAP requires a provision for the risk of adverse deviation in assumptions.
3.5.1 Degree of Risk
When determining the provision for risk of adverse deviation, the actuary should consider the degree of risk and uncertainty in that assumption in total and at each future duration. The actuary should consider policy features that reduce risk, such as indeterminate premiums or dividends, in determining a provision for adverse deviation in the assumptions. The actuary should consider the magnitude and frequency of fluctuations in relevant historical experience, if available. For assumptions that are relatively insignificant, the actuary may decide to add little or no provision for risk of adverse deviation.
3.5.2 Relationship to Best Estimates
In selecting assumptions that include provision for the risk of adverse deviation, the actuary should consider whether such assumptions bear a reasonable relationship to the best-estimate or market-estimate assumptions, as appropriate.
3.5.3 Effect of Provision
The provision for risk of adverse deviation should be such that the net GAAP liability is increased. If the direction of the effect of including a provision for adverse deviation in an assumption is not clear, the actuary should attempt to determine the nature of a provision for adverse deviation that is appropriate. If the actuary is unable to determine the directional effect, then the actuary need not include a provision for adverse deviation in that assumption. The additive impact of provisions for risk of adverse deviation should be established at a level that provides for an appropriate amount of adverse deviation in aggregate.
3.6 Internal Consistency
In advising management as to the selection of assumptions, the actuary should identify assumptions that, when taken together, reflect all pertinent areas of expected future experience and are specific to the product, line of business, or block of business for which financial statement values are being calculated. These assumptions should be internally consistent. Assumptions that are not dependent on specific product features or company specific considerations (for example, U.S. Treasury yields or volatility of a common equity index) should be consistent across product lines. Similar concepts of consistency should be applied in establishing provisions for risk of adverse deviation.
3.7 Methods and Techniques
Methods used to determine GAAP financial statement amounts are generally prescribed by authoritative GAAP guidance and will vary according to the specific literature that applies.
When developing detailed techniques for determining financial statement amounts in accordance with the prescribed GAAP methodology, the actuary should consider the following:
a. the substance of the relationship between the issuer of the policy and the policyholder;
b. the classification of the contract (for example, insurance versus investment);
c. the duration of the contract;
d. the materiality of resulting financial statement amounts;
e. the cash flow characteristics of the contract, including insurance company cash flows related to the contract but not directly associated with the contract provisions;
f. the sensitivity of the resulting financial statement amounts to changes in assumptions;
g. techniques consistent with those used historically for valuing contracts similar to those issued by the insurance company, if such information is available; and
h. any other items that are expected to have a material impact on the policy cash flows.
When testing for premium deficiency, GAAP guidance requires the actuary to use best-estimate assumptions, current at the time of testing, without making provision for adverse deviation. If recognition of a premium deficiency is required, the current best-estimate assumptions are used to determine future changes in the net GAAP liability. For types of contracts where lock-in applies, the current best-estimate assumptions are then subject to lock-in.
The actuary should use appropriate methods to recognize premiums in income. These methods are determined by authoritative GAAP guidance and vary by the type of contract. The recognition of GAAP net premiums in the policy benefit liability, DPAC, VOBA, and DSI computations should be consistent with the treatment of gross premiums in the income statement.
3.10 Simplifications and Approximations
The actuary may, when appropriate, use assumptions and techniques (for example, models) that simplify calculations. Simplification and approximations are acceptable only if the results are reasonably expected not to differ materially from more detailed calculations. The actuary should seek guidance from accounting professionals on questions related to financial statement materiality.
3.11 Documentation
The actuary should prepare and retain appropriate documentation regarding the methods, assumptions, procedures, and the sources of the data used. The documentation should be in a form such that another actuary qualified in the same practice area could assess the reasonableness of the actuary’s work.
Section 4. Communications and Disclosures
4.1 Communications
When issuing an actuarial report under this standard, the actuary should consider the intended purpose of the actuarial report and be guided by ASOP No. 41, Actuarial Communications, and the documentation and communication requirements included in ASOP No. 21, Responding to or Assisting Auditors or Examiners in Connection with Financial Statements for All Practice Areas.
4.2 Disclosures
The actuary should include the following, as applicable, in an actuarial communication:
a. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.2, if any material assumption or method was prescribed by applicable law (statutes, regulations, and other legally binding authority);
b. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.3, if the actuary states reliance on other sources, including authoritative GAAP guidance, and thereby disclaims responsibility for any material assumption or method selected by a party other than the actuary; and
c. the disclosure in ASOP No. 41, section 4.4, if, in the actuary’s professional judgment, the actuary has otherwise deviated materially from the guidance of this ASOP.
Appendix 1
Background and Current Practices
Note: This appendix is provided for informational purposes, but is not part of the standard of practice.
Background
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) developed Audits of Stock Life Insurance Companies (Audit Guide) in 1972 with the cooperation of life insurance company accountants and actuaries. The Audit Guide represented the first effort by the accounting profession to establish GAAP for the life insurance industry. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is now responsible for the determination of GAAP for companies whose financial statements are audited. It does so through the promulgation of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS).
GAAP standards for stock life insurance companies are primarily established by Accounting Standards Codification Topic 944 “Financial Services, Insurance” but other topics are also relevant. Prior to GAAP codification, these standards could be found in SFAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises, and SFAS No. 97, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments, among others. The FASB issued SFAS No. 60, which generally codified the concepts in the Audit Guide, in 1972. In 1987, the FASB issued SFAS No. 97, which (1) established GAAP for certain forms of insurance contracts not specifically addressed by SFAS No. 60, primarily universal life-type contracts; (2) established GAAP for investment contracts not involving a significant insurance component; and (3) revised GAAP for limited-payment contracts. In November 1990, the AICPA issued Practice Bulletin 8, providing guidance for certain questions related to SFAS No. 97.
In 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 120, Accounting and Reporting by Mutual Life Insurance Enterprises and by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Participating Contracts. This statement extended the requirements of SFAS No. 60 and SFAS No. 97 to mutual life insurers, established accounting for certain participating life insurance contracts of mutual life insurance enterprises (and stock life insurance subsidiaries of mutual life insurance enterprises), and permitted other stock life insurers to apply its provisions to participating life insurance contracts that meet the statement’s conditions. At the same time, the AICPA provided further clarification of the accounting requirements for long duration participating contracts in Statement of Position (SOP) No. 95-1, Accounting for Certain Insurance Activities of Mutual Life Insurance Enterprises. Other standards are also relevant, as is prevailing accounting practice in areas not specifically addressed by an SFAS. Prior to the issuance of SFAS No. 120, mutual life insurers’ statutory financial statements were, in practice, described as being in accordance with GAAP.
Current Practices
The Academy had promulgated Financial Reporting Recommendations and Interpretations applicable to GAAP for insurance companies, thus establishing guidance to actuaries in this area before the formal appearance of ASOP No. 10 in 1989. Because of changes in GAAP resulting from SFAS No. 97, SFAS No. 120, and evolution in actuarial practice, ASOP No. 10 was revised most recently in 2000. Since 2000, GAAP has continued to evolve and it is appropriate once again to replace certain existing guidance and to promulgate a more generally applicable standard of actuarial practice with respect to life insurance company GAAP financial statements.
Appendix 2
Comments on the Exposure Draft and Responses
The exposure draft of this revised ASOP, Methods and Assumptions for Use in Life Insurance Company Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with U.S. GAAP, was issued in June 2010 with a comment deadline of September 30, 2010. Eight comment letters were received, some of which were submitted on behalf of multiple commentators, such as by firms or committees. For purposes of this appendix, the term “commentator” may refer to more than one person associated with a particular comment letter.
The Task Force to Revise ASOP No. 10 carefully considered all comments received, and the Life Committee and the ASB reviewed the proposed changes and made modifications to the ASOP where appropriate.
Click here to view Appendix 2 in its entirety.
PDF Version: Download Here
Last Revised: May 2011
Effective Date: October 15, 2011
Document Number: 130
Document Status: superseded