Actuarial Standards Board News

The Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) released its 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the board’s accomplishments throughout the year. In 2023, the ASB adopted three revised actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs), approved four exposure drafts for comment, and introduced its 57th ASOP. In addition, the ASB continued development on 10 other new or revised ASOPs.

The Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) of the American Academy of Actuaries adopted a revision of Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 29, now titled Expense Provisions for Prospective Property/Casualty Risk Transfer and Risk Retention. The standard applies to actuaries when performing actuarial services with respect to developing or reviewing expense provisions for prospective property/casualty risk transfer or risk retention. This includes expense provisions developed or reviewed for insurance, reinsurance, self-insurance, loss portfolio transfers, or other mechanisms for prospective property/casualty risk transfer or risk retention. If the actuary’s actuarial services involve reviewing expense provisions developed by another party, the actuary should use the guidance in the ASOP to the extent practicable within the scope of the actuary’s assignment. 

The revision, which was exposed for comment twice, received 13 comment letters. Notable changes made to the standard include:

• The expansion of scope and new guidance on loss adjustment expense categories, intended measure, the timing of residual market expenses, the timing of statutory assessments, and documentation;

• Definitions for “coverage,” “expense provision,” “risk retention,” and “risk transfer” were added; and

• The list of required disclosures was expanded.

This standard is effective for work performed on or after July 1, 2024.

The Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) of the American Academy of Actuaries recently approved an exposure draft of a proposed revision of Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 12, Risk Classification (for All Practice Areas). The ASOP applies to actuaries when performing actuarial services with respect to designing, developing, selecting, modifying, reviewing, evaluating, or opining on any elements of a risk classification framework in connection with financial or personal security systems. The standard also applies to actuaries when performing actuarial services with respect to using any elements of a risk classification framework in connection with financial or personal security systems, to the extent practical and consistent with the scope of the actuary’s assignment. 

The original ASOP No. 12, adopted in 1989, was developed as the need for more formal guidance on risk classification increased as the selection process became more complex and more subject to public scrutiny. The ASOP was updated in 2005 to reflect ongoing changes in actuarial work related to risk classification at that time. In light of the evolution in practice since 2005, the ASB believes it is appropriate to revise the standard in order to reflect current generally accepted actuarial practice.

Notable changes include the removal of several existing definitions and the addition of new definitions such as “risk measure” and “unintended bias”; the addition of several new sections such as 3.2.4, Multivariate Effects, and 3.4, Potential for Unintended Bias; and revising the scope to expand the list of activities to which the standard applies.

The comment deadline is May 1, 2024. Information on how to submit comments can be found in the draft.

The Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) of the American Academy of Actuaries recently approved an exposure draft of a proposed revision of Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 7, Life, Health, or Property/Casualty Insurance Cash Flow Risk. The proposed revision would apply to actuaries when performing actuarial services involving life or health cash flow risks, and also to actuaries when performing actuarial services involving property/casualty cash flow risks specific to investments. 

Notable changes to ASOP No. 7 include broadening section 1.2, Scope, to include cash flow analysis an actuary performs for a noninsurance entity that insures or self-insures risk. The scope was also changed to apply to actuaries when performing actuarial services involving P/C investment cash flow risk. In addition, guidance was adjusted to include all types of cash flow analysis and to address when to perform a cash flow analysis. 

As this standard applies to three practice areas, the ASB is asking for specific input from each practice area (see the Request for Comments section in the Transmittal Memo). In particular, the ASB asks three questions about how the standard applies to P/C actuaries, and one each for the life and health areas. Your input is important, so please take the time to review the draft and submit comments.

The comment deadline is June 1, 2024. Information on how to submit comments can be found in the draft.