Life Conference 2024

The lifetime mortgage market is competitive and insurance company Insodex is experiencing reduced sales and market share. The marketing director is behind on their targets and needs the finance division to buy into their ambitious plans. But with a risky approach out of line with standard practice, the actuaries within the division may have some ethical questions to consider.

This session features an unreleased professional skills video related to equity release: ‘Growthbusters’. Audience members will be asked to consider and discuss the ethical issues highlighted.

Speaker: Alan Marshall, IFoA

Venue: Kimpton Clock Tower

Venue: Kimpton Clock Tower

In late January this year, then Shadow Chancellor (now Chancellor) Rachel Reeves and City Minister Tulip Siddiq unveiled ‘Labour’s Plan for Financial Services’ and its 6 policy priorities. One of those priorities focused on improving people’s financial inclusion and resilience. The need for this is both stark and increasing:

• In July 2023 almost a third (30%) of adults could not meet an unexpected expense of £850 – up from 27% in November 2021
• Only 54% of those aged under 45 could cope with their household income being halved for a 3-month period, and 62% of those aged 45 to 64 (see: Resolution Foundation’s Irregular Payments report)
• Among renters, the numbers able to cope with this temporary income reduction are lower at just 38% and 41% respectively (see: Resolution Foundation’s Irregular Payments report)
• Most employees (73%) with a steady job see notable fluctuations in their monthly pay. The average variation was found to exceed the average household spend on groceries. (See: UK government’s summary on sickness absence and health in the workplace)
• Traditional forms of support are in decline: 28% of employers pay sick pay greater than the minimum statutory sick pay (SSP) of £116.75 a week
• The SSP rate represents just 17% of average earnings (as at May 2024)
• The number of people unable to work due to sickness reached a record high of 2.8 million in December 2023 to February 2024

The economic growth that the government is seeking and that underpins both its ambition and key missions can only be achieved if it draws on the skills, energy, and ambition of all citizens. That includes the millions who are financially excluded or at risk of becoming so.

In this plenary, Johnny Timpson will discuss why now is the time for the insurance industry and profession to lead and work with stakeholders in:

• turning government policy into practice by championing inclusion and access
• embracing resilience and prevention
• supporting healthy ageing in and beyond work across all determinants of health

In addition, Johnny will share several steps we can take to improve the financial awareness, inclusion, and resilience of the nation.

Speaker: Johnny Timpson OBE

The UK is reforming Solvency II at the same time as EIOPA is implementing changes. This is leading to divergences in approach and capital requirements.

We will discuss the:

• different drivers for change in UK and Europe
• challenges for dual reporting firms
• opportunities that will arise through reinsuring between different regulatory regimes

This talk will bring together speakers from the UK and the Netherlands who are directly dealing with the impacts of Solvency II change.

Speakers: Jeroen Gielen and Victor Vincent, KPMG Netherlands, Alisa Dolgova, KPMG and David Otudeko, Association of British Insurers

The presentation will focus on some of the challenges and opportunities facing the equity release market, focusing on:

• an update on the UK and wider markets, including the impact of the boom in BPA business and the economic environment
• company responses to this, including any emerging trends in modelling and managing property risk given the economic climate
• the impact of recent regulatory developments in the asset class, covering Solvency UK and the MA requirements, Consumer Duty, and climate reporting requirements
• a look forward on its potential role in the longer term in retirement provisioning and some of the challenges in getting there

Speakers: Raj Saundh, EY and IFoA ERM Working Party

The bulk annuity market continues to thrive. But the trustees of defined benefit pension schemes find themselves grappling with a host of challenges as they look to insure their scheme. Insurers can gain an advantage in the market by understanding these issues well and developing solutions that work for trustees.

In this session, we will take a detailed look across the spectrum of challenges faced by trustees, including:

• getting comfortable transacting with a new entrant in the market
• finding a home for illiquid assets
• maintaining a high-quality member experience

For each challenge, we will examine its origin and distinguish between the short and long-term implications. We will then take an insurer’s perspective to shed light on how to work with trustees to adeptly address these issues.

The presentation will be suitable for anyone interested in the bulk annuity space.

Speakers: Rupal Mepani and Lara Desay, Hymans Robertson

Many life insurers use proxy models to speed up simulation-based risk and capital modelling. To date, an unpleasant trade-off for increased rapidity has usually been reduced confidence in the accuracy of the Solvency II SCR. This prompts considerable validation effort, which is both technically and operationally challenging.

This talk will present the key ideas from 2 recent papers that pave the way to the end of this trade-off. Using straightforward examples, we will give practitioners important insights into measuring proxy errors in the SCR.

Even better, we will show that under some circumstances practitioners can completely remove proxy errors and rapidly produce validated and accurate SCR values, without needing to balance trade-offs among these driving factors. This will allow proxy models to become a key risk management tool, rather than a potential ‘single point of failure’ within risk and capital models that attracts considerable regulatory focus.

We will use basic mathematical notation and concepts, suitable for all actuaries involved in proxy modelling. Attendees will become acquainted with the key ideas from the papers, sufficient to understand applicability to their own modelling.

Speakers: Dan Crispin, Rothesay and Paul Teggin, Polynya Consulting Actuaries Limited

With ever-evolving public and corporate sentiment and scrutiny, and rapidly developing new regulation, greenwashing and climate litigation risk (CLR) pose significant risk to life insurers.

Exposure can manifest in numerous ways, such as policy wordings, greenwashing in disclosures and product marketing, or asset devaluation. One key challenge to insurers’ approaches to mitigate greenwashing and CLR is their cross-cutting nature. Buy-in from multiple departments such as risk, investments, and underwriting are required.

The FCA has released new anti-greenwashing rules on labelling insurance investment products. And the Climate Risk Financial Forum has published a seminal paper addressing how financial services companies should address CLR. Following these, this panel provides critical insights into key controls, mitigating actions, and practical strategies insurers should consider to ensure they are not caught off-guard. These risks may manifest into extensive losses on both the assets and liabilities side of the balance sheet and significant reputational risk if left unattended. Understanding the complexities of greenwashing is crucial to insurers maintaining trust and credibility with both the market and the regulators.

We focus on specific areas such as:

• implications of ‘anti-greenwashing’ rules across multiple jurisdictions
• real-world case studies and mitigating strategies
• approaches for in-house teams of life insurance companies to ensure a synchronised response across all departments

Speakers: Namir Chowdhury, Kabari Bhattacharya, Richard Monks, EY and Laura Spanswick, Lloyd’s Banking Group

The pandemic and the ongoing pressures on the healthcare system have significantly disrupted mortality trends. Where traditional actuarial methods typically extrapolated mortality trends into the future, solely relying on these approaches no longer works in a post-pandemic world.

In this session we will explore:

• key factors and drivers affecting mortality rates following the pandemic
• how these have impacted the ability to project mortality trends into the future
• how the use of expert insights from actuarial and health disciplines can help develop forward-looking scenarios for future mortality trends

Speakers: Stuart McDonald and Lydia Dutton, LCP

Ever since the UK introduced the pension freedoms in 2015, there have been widespread calls for product innovation. While the urgency was muted when inflation was negligible, the backdrop has dramatically changed in the post pandemic world. Leading pension providers are still reporting waves of outflows at retirement driven by a polarised attitude to risk, including the:

• dash for cash by those uncomfortable with capital markets exposure
• popularity of DIY investment platforms where retirees may overload on market risk

Fortunately we are not alone. We can learn lessons from our continental neighbours, who committed to solve these exact problems in recent years. They raised billions in new products, keeping policy holders in-house and bolstering revenues.

In this session BNP Paribas, long-term partner of life insurers, will present the story of product innovation based on the example of Germany. It will show how it was the actuaries who grasped the opportunity and the solution. By demystifying instruments of capital protection, existing solutions will be brought to life in the context of the UK market.

Speakers: Mike Bayley and Christian Eck, BNP Paribas

The first full year 2023 reporting under IFRS 17 in March 2024 marked the culmination of a 26-year journey to develop an insurance accounting standard. The Financial Reporting Group of the IFoA will:

• provide an overview of what we learnt from the first year of IFRS 17 reporting
• consider future IFRS developments relevant for insurers, including IFRS 18 (published in April 2024) and the post implementation review of IFRS 17
• assess the future of UK GAAP as applied by those insurers who do not report under IFRS (for example mutual insurers and the subsidiary accounts for certain listed insurers)

Speakers: Anthony Coughlan, PwC and Kamran Foroughi, WTW

Could actuaries be responsible for the next big data privacy scandal? Is following the letter of the law enough when it comes to AI? Just because you can, does it mean you should?

The information age has brought unparalleled opportunity for those with the right tools. Actuaries now have access to unprecedented modelling power and efficiency in their work through data science, machine learning, and AI.

But tread with caution. Using real examples and case studies, the Data Science Community – Professionalism, Regulation and Ethics Working Party explores the ethical use of these tools. It talks through some of the regulatory and professional obligations actuaries should consider before embracing them.

Speakers: Murray Lidgitt, Hymans Robertson and Hazel Davis, Sabre

Recent macroeconomic volatility has forced the UK’s life insurers to reconsider their risk management practices and investment decisions. Rising rates have accelerated new business pipelines and caused insurers to rationalise the composition of their balance sheets. Tightening public credit spreads have led to reports of firms choosing to hold onto significant volumes of gilts.

In our talk, we:

• outline the impact of the elevated rates environment on insurers’ balance sheets and debt profiles
• discuss how rates hedging strategies may need to evolve in light of central bank base rate cuts and substantial new business pipelines
• assess the impact of tightening public credit spreads on insurers’ asset allocations, including a modelled view of the relative attractiveness of gilts and public credit

Relevant articles:

• Gilts vs credit: the matching adjustment’s Dave vs Goliath?
• Interest rates and capital headroom: a retrospective

Speakers: Suanne Chong and James Gillespie, Natwest Markets

Funded reinsurance is attracting more attention, particularly in the pension risk transfer market. This session aims to bring to life funded reinsurance using a real-world example, Project Abigail. Speakers from the cedant (Canada Life), the reinsurance broker (Guy Carpenter), and the reinsurer (Resolution Re) offer up diverse perspectives on these structures and their innate challenges.

Project Abigail concerned Canada Life’s recapture of an internally reinsured c£5 billion portfolio of annuities, alongside their retender and placement in the external funded reinsurance market. Despite material challenges and a wide market participation in the tender, both work streams were completed back-to-back in just 93 business days.

This talk is a case study of the project, including:

• motivations: why recapture and place externally?
• process: recapture, placement, and stakeholder management required
• tender: overview of the funded reinsurance tender process, including international counterparties
• obstacles: funded reinsurance challenges and how these were overcome, including counterparty
• exposure, structural considerations, collateral, and timing
• outcome: summary of impacts on all parties

Speakers: Karl Chappell, Resolution Life, Sean Munday, Canada Life, and Jessica Elkin, Guy Carpenter

In 2023, Phoenix Group carried out a major Part VII transfer to combine 4 of its life companies into one life company. Some 5 million policies and £140 billion of assets were transferred, covering several with-profits funds (including the large Standard Life with-profits fund), plus unit-linked and non-profit business. Several rationalisations, updates, and simplifications were carried out as part of the transfer, and the transfer enabled significant capital synergies to be recognised. The 2 speakers for this session will provide summaries and insights of the key aspects as follows:

Richard Preston (Phoenix) was one of the senior project actuaries who worked on the transfer. Richard’s presentation will cover Phoenix’s rationale for the transfer and for its design, the all-important communications aspects, and the key challenges faced and overcome.

John Jenkins (Milliman) was the Independent Expert (IE) for the transfer. John’s presentation will include the key IE considerations arising, the financial analyses carried out, some interesting features and aspects arising, and how policyholder objections were answered.

This session will require no prior detailed knowledge. It will be of interest to actuaries involved in other Part VII transfers or in the simplification and rationalisation of life company operations.

Speakers: John Jenkins, Milliman and Richard Preston, The Phoenix Group

A key part of the PRA’s Solvency UK reforms of the matching adjustment (MA) is the introduction of MA attestation. Since the PRA published Consultation Paper 19/23 (CP19/23), firms have been tackling the design and implementation of their MA attestation solutions. In June 2024 the PRA’s expectations were finalised in Policy Statement 10/24 (PS10/24).

This presentation is the sequel to our well received MA attestation talk at IFoA Life Conference 2023 (‘No time for procrastination, we need to talk about MA attestation’).

In this presentation we will use our first-hand practical experience, market insights, and planned publications following industry round table events to discuss:

• the impact of PS10/24 on firms, including any key changes from CP19/23
• a summary of industry readiness ahead of first MA attestation submissions for YE24
• the key challenges and decisions firms are facing when designing and implementing their solution, including setting fundamental spread additions
• a look forward to how MA attestation solutions may evolve following the first MA attestation submission

This talk is aimed at those interested in the impact of MA attestation on life insurers and who have a working understanding of the MA.

Speakers: Andrew James and James Kay, PwC

This session will provide an overview of recent outputs from the CMI, with a focus on recent analyses by:

• the Annuities Committee
• the Assurances Committee
• the Income Protection Committee
• the Mortality Projections Committee
• the Self Administered Pension Schemes Committee
• other CMI outputs in 2024

Speakers: Cobus Daneel, Chair of CMI Mortality Projections Committee, Chris Reynolds, Chair of CMI Assurances Committee, Jamie Funnell, Chair of CMI Annuities Committee and Stuart McDonald, Deputy Chair of CMI Executive Committee

Consumer Duty has put increased focus on how much value different customers get from financial products. But how well is the protection industry serving different customer groups? Who are the most underserved groups, and what can the industry do to help serve these groups better?

Using consumer research commissioned by Pacific Life Re in the UK and Ireland, we analyse different customer characteristics such as ethnicity, sexuality, and gender. And we look at how well each group is served by the industry.

We also look at some of the potential drivers for these differences. Using examples from other markets we’ll also explore ways to better serve these customers by changing products, distribution, and the customer journey.

Read our report

Speakers: Richard Purcell, Aaron Saldanha and Carl Padget, Pacific Life Re

3 quarters of registered suicides in the UK in 2022 were men. 1 in 8 men report experiencing symptoms of mental ill-health, compared to 1 in 5 women. Since the pandemic mental health has become more at the forefront of conversations.

The NHS has 5 ways to mental health wellbeing which we will explore in a panel discussion with leaders. We’ll discuss the panelists’ mental health journey and how they try to achieve mental health wellbeing.

The discussion will be hosted by Graham Griffin who is a Learning Business Partner at KPMG and a Mental Health England First Aid Instructor. Graham has been hosting a podcast about men’s mental health where he has discussed ‘leadership with mental health’ and ‘positive mental health culture’.

Speakers: Graham Griffin

This session will provide an overview of the global landscape around regulatory capital. It will focus on the latest pillar 1 developments under some key regimes and regulatory frameworks from a life insurance perspective. This is expected to include Solvency UK, Solvency II, North American regimes (for example Bermuda, US, Canada), Asia Pacific (for example Japan, China, Hong Kong), and Insurance Capital Standard.

The session will consider:

• key issues and areas of focus as well as global trends in the regulatory capital landscape
• potential implications such as influences on other regimes and transaction opportunities

Speakers: David Burton, Kenny Chong and Angela McShane

The IFoA report ‘Climate Scorpion’ shares the latest IFoA research collaboration with climate scientists. It explores the potential for extreme climate risks, their knock-on social effects, and actions we can take to manage them.

In this session, we explore how the actuarial approach towards ruinous risks can be applied to climate change. We explore the key findings from the paper, namely:

• the rate of global warming accelerated in 2023: there is early indication this is not temporary
• life in the tail: increased warming is now driving more severe impacts across the planet
• an overshoot of the 1.5°C temperature threshold is likely
• the sting in the tail of the Earth’s climate sensitivity
• warming above 1.5°C is dangerous, increasing the risk of triggering multiple climate tipping points

Speakers: Sandy Trust, M&G and Lucy Saye, Deloitte

Model validation will become increasingly important for insurers to undertake. There are indications from the PRA in the ‘Dear CEO Letter’ and ‘2023 Business Plan’ that life insurers should consider how model risk management proposals applying to the banking sector can apply to them. The government has also issued ‘AI regulatory principles’ and initial guidance on how these will be implemented by regulators.

This presentation will aim to:

• give an overview of some common AI and machine learning (ML) models used in the insurance and finance sectors
• look at the differences these may have to ‘standard’ insurance models
• explore how to shape the validation framework for AI and ML models. This will consider how to use the data science lifecycle for setting up governance and validation, the complexity and uncertainty guidelines around AI and ML, and how the scope may differ to a ‘standard’ insurance validation (for example consideration of ethics).
• compare ‘standard’ insurance validations and AI and ML validations. This would be broken down into the key components of a validation for example data, assumptions, documentation, output and results, and model uses
• give a high-level summary of common themes and findings when validating AI and ML models

Speakers: Martin Hall and Diana Dobre, KPMG

In the face of a monumental housing shortfall exceeding 4.3 million homes, the UK is grappling with a housing gap surpassing one trillion pounds. This requires urgent action for societal and economic stability.

UK insurers, with assets over £2 trillion, including allocation to illiquid investments, emerge as key players in addressing this challenge. Through bulk purchase annuities (BPAs), insurers play a critical role in funding housing initiatives such as supporting affordable housing projects and build-to-rent developments. Aligned with ESG principles, these investments not only yield financial returns but also foster social impact.

The talk aims to delve into various aspects of the housing gap issue, showcasing insights, potential solutions, and the significance of collaboration for addressing the crisis effectively.

This presentation will explore:

• the economic implications of the UK’s housing gap
• UK insurers’ potential capacity to allocate billions to housing over the next decade
• opportunities for additional funding from insurers’ balance sheets
• the role of ESG principles in promoting sustainable housing solutions
• regulatory dynamics shaping insurers’ involvement
• the importance of collaboration among insurers, policymakers, and housing providers in addressing the crisis

Speakers: Chee Lim, Hymans Robertson and Simon Century, L&G

Closed with-profits funds often have peak risks as they approach the sunset clause. This can be a particular challenge where the main fund is uncomfortable taking on this risk itself. Reinsurance has been used in these cases to manage this risk. It enables a more equitable distribution of surplus and eases the way into the merger with the main fund.

Speakers: Russell Monro, Gallagher Re and John Jenkins, Milliman

Navigating M&A transactions post IFRS 17 implementation presents both challenges and opportunities for the insurance industry. Post-IFRS 17, M&A transactions call for a deeper understanding of a target insurer’s financial position and risk profile requiring greater scrutiny of its insurance liabilities including CSM, risk adjustment, profit margin for run-off, in-force and new business. Careful consideration is required if the reporting base is different to IFRS requiring conversion adjustments particularly for IFRS 17. There are potential challenges in terms of:

• valuing the entities given the difference in reporting bases
• profit recognition under the different reporting bases
• demonstrating the intrinsic value of the M&A transaction in stakeholder communications
• analysts, investors, and external stakeholder understanding of the value of the transaction
• challenges in recognition and integration of the target on day 1: acquisition balance sheet, interim reporting, and transition to IFRS 17 for acquired entity, and wider integration of target including integrating reporting system post-acquisition

The shift in the financial reporting due to IFRS 17 also offers opportunities for strategic acquisitions. Insurers with robust IFRS 17 reporting processes and strong systems and data capabilities may be more attractive targets.

This session aims to go through key considerations in this evolving landscape where M&A professionals, insurers, and others must work together to adapt to the new reporting requirements post IFRS 17 environment.

Speakers: Natalia Mirin, Kholeka Mdluli and Bhavin Bhatt, Grant Thornton

In this session, we will talk through the stories from actuarial careers and teams – stories that are exciting, challenging, heart-warming, diverse, and simply inspirational.

We will:

• shine the light on the human side of our jobs, the big-project challenges, and the good stuff that feels like a comforting bowl of soup on a cold day
• discuss how actuaries can reframe our ‘human interactions’ to improve the team’s wellbeing and achieve better (project) outcomes in a world of AI and computers
• give top tips on what matters, when you need to meet regulatory deadlines and also put people first
• provide handy guidance on creating and maintaining a highly functioning and diverse team, including key pitfalls to avoid in leading and supporting
• talk about relationships and actuarial communities. Staying connected and investing in our connections has never been more important. We will highlight the benefits of who we must keep close, how to get closer to our role models, and how to advance our career progression.
• finish with a tasty summary of all key ingredients for the most enjoyable modern actuarial role

Speakers: Hana Drake, 4most and Jenny Ware, Aviva

There has been an increase in electronic vape use in recent times. Contrary to popular belief, vaping does carry health risks, though long-term studies are needed to clarify the extent.

The latest data shows that 4.7 million adults in Great Britain used e-cigarettes in 2023 (9.1% of the population). Of these, 2.7 million (56%) are ex-smokers, 1.7 million (37%) are current smokers, and 320,000 are never smokers.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is making its way through Parliament, which will ban the sale of disposable vapes. It will also introduce policy that creates a ‘smoke-free generation’, by raising the age of sale of tobacco from 18, by one year, every year, until no one can legally buy a tobacco product in the UK.

What are the health consequences of electronic vape use? How much of an impact will the Tobacco and Vapes Bill make on both vape and cigarette smoking prevalence? And what are the demographic and socioeconomic implications?

We will explore the impact on mortality and longevity and long-term health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease over time using stochastic cause of death modelling.

Speakers: Nicky Draper and Chris Martin, Crystallise Ltd

The PRA’s consultation on solvent exit planning (CP2/24) proposes new requirements for insurers to identify triggers for considering closure, and to better prepare for what they need to do to secure an orderly exit from the market, in both stressed and non-stressed circumstances.

Based on our market insights this interactive session will cover:

• who is impacted and the requirements of the proposed changes
• how to create a well designed SEA (solvent exit analysis) that is value-adding and more than just box-ticking
• who are the key stakeholders and why they should be interested
• reflections and learnings from developing a contingency closure plan: what were the key challenges, where can you make efficiencies, and where can you bring new insights
• our views on the latest regulatory statements (expected in the second half of 2024)

Speakers: Jignesh Mistry, PwC and Andrew Collins, LV

The UK economy has a productivity problem, a retirement affordability problem, and an acute need to finance climate solutions. A more agile regulatory regime could unlock the innovative investment needed to deliver growth, transition to a net zero economy, and achieve better outcomes for pensioners.

Last autumn, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published proposals designed to enable broader and quicker investment by insurers in their matching adjustment portfolios. This is a pragmatic move in the right direction. However, we have identified assets that would qualify under legislation, but not under the detailed PRA rules.

More generally, we need the regime to be agile enough to quickly respond to future funding needs. For example, to support the net zero transition where we do not know what new technologies will emerge, or how this funding might be structured.

We have proposed the introduction of a ‘matching adjustment sandbox’ targeted at facilitating more flexible and innovative investments in annuity funds. The sandbox framework would allow insurers to safely investigate expanding the range of MA eligible assets. A mechanism such as the sandbox is a tool that regulators and industry could use to ensure the regime keeps pace with market developments.

The PRA committed to investigating the proposal in its 2024 business plan and set up a subject expert group to discuss with industry. In this session we outline the details of the sandbox proposal, provide an update on discussions held to date, and invite wider discussion from attendees over the proposal.

Speakers: Sarah O’Sullivan, The Phoenix Group

In this session, we’ll explore financial solutions for individuals in later stages of life, where immediate liquidity is crucial while protecting valuable assets. Dive into:

• the dynamics of equity release and mortgage loans, 2 distinct paths for addressing sudden financial needs amidst limited income
• how insurers finance equity release products, shedding light on risk management strategies and regulatory compliance

These are significant subjects, presenting a formidable challenge in choosing between 2 options, involving questions such as:

• why use equity release for financing?
• what are the key distinctions between equity release products and mortgage loans?
• which option, equity release or a mortgage loan, better aligns with the specific needs and goals of retirees?
• how do insurance companies finance equity release products and the role that securitisation plays in managing the risk involved
• how does securitisation enable insurers to benefit from matching adjustment on their balance sheets by aligning future assets and liabilities?
  how does risk-neutral valuation, mandated by regulatory bodies, prevent insurance companies from overleveraging matching adjustment benefits, thereby reducing the risk of insolvency in the future?
• what are the risks associated with equity release products from the prospectives of various stakeholders?
• what lessons can be gleaned from historical events such as the 2009 financial crisis and its impact on property values?
• how does Solvency II regulation impact the viability and attractiveness of equity release products for insurers?
• can equity release replace mortgage loans for aged people?

Speakers: Muskan Vashisth and Chirag Kohli, WNS Global Services

An insurer’s ability to originate private assets has been considered a key driver for new bulk purchase annuity (BPA) competitiveness. It is a key focus of insurers aiming to deliver their assumed target portfolio.

But constantly evolving markets can also generate massive relative value opportunities on a large proportion of the portfolio as it drifts from its efficient frontier. Cycling through these market opportunities generates continuous value and is a key means of managing the overall balance sheet.

Insurers often consider the relative rewards of credit exposures, with well publicised events driving headlines across a range of key market participants. But structural opportunities in government bonds and cross-currency markets also come to the foreground of extracting value from insurers’ public portfolios.

This session aims to:

• provide a comprehensive overview of back-book optimisation for a matching adjustment (MA) fund in the rates and credit space
• cover the fundamentals of MA portfolio optimisation
• discuss several recent real-life case studies of back-book optimisation in an MA fund
• highlight relevant current and future opportunities in the market

Speakers: Holly Steward and Kyle Audley, The Phoenix Group

With the substantial increase in volume in the UK bulk-purchased annuity (BPA) over the last 2 years, the role of funded reinsurance in supporting such growth is becoming more prominent. This is both for the purpose of balance sheet optimisation tool and front-end pricing enhancement.

Funded reinsurance represents an efficient way of attracting inflows of capital to support the growing BPA market and has attracted increasing levels of scrutiny from regulators.

This step change in volume has driven many innovations being either explored or implemented in the UK funded re space. Many players have also started drawing insights from other global markets active with funded re. In this session, we propose to cover:

• the market outlook on the UK BPA industry and funded reinsurance
• the role of the IFoA’s Funded Re Working Party
• interpretation of the key focusing areas from PRA Funded Re CP/ SS (if it is released before the conference)

Speakers: Wei Hou, Grant Thornton and Shreyas Sridhar, Canada Life

In this interactive workshop, the IFoA’s Climate Scenario Working Party will support a room full of storytellers as they develop a climate scenario to inform business strategy.

We will take the audience through a high-level overview of how climate scenarios can be used and the benefits of scenario analysis.

We’ll set the scene with some top-down statistics and probing questions to explore the complex and interconnected problems that life insurers may face. And we’ll help structure a scenario and set the boundaries and scope.

The workshop will first decide the problem statement: what are we trying to answer with the use of a climate scenario? The audience can decide the direction we take and what areas of life insurance will be impacted by climate risk.

We will consider:

• the type of business life insurance companies could write (UL, protection, pensions)
• how climate risk could impact those – split by transition and physical risk
• how those risks interact with traditional actuarial concepts such as new business volumes and persistency rates
  

Speakers: Oliver Hampshire, Deloitte, Peter Murphy, Royal London and Arjun Brara, EY

Cohort effects have been considered an important element of mortality trend modelling in the UK for more than 20 years. This follows the recognition of the strong mortality improvements associated with those born around 1930 (the ‘golden cohort’).

But models typically fit negative cohort effects for lives currently aged around 50 to 80, especially for males. As noted in CMI working paper 110, there may be issues with cohort effects being fitted at younger ages.

As lives below age 65 where the effect is most pronounced now approach retirement, these effects are becoming more material for writers of annuities, longevity swaps, and other longevity exposed business. This presentation will consider the following key questions, among others.

• Is it appropriate to project these negative impacts on life expectancy forward over longer periods? Are they really more persistent cohort effects, or something else?
• What effects and causes of death are driving these effects and how relevant are these to future old age mortality?
• Are there socioeconomic differentials in these effects that need to be considered? How impactful should they be for insured lives?

The session would be of interest to actuaries at all levels with an interest in longevity, whether from the perspective of research, pricing, or valuation. Some familiarity with basic longevity concepts would be helpful, but not essential.

Speakers: Patrick Cheung and Michael Anderson, RGA

Policymakers have woken up to the economic opportunity and systemic risk of pensions in the UK. The current regulatory regime is complex and disparate which drives different incentives and behaviours depending on the regime. This means a customer with the same pension can be subject to different outcomes depending on the regulator.

In this talk we look at the pensions sector from the ground up. We ask, if we were building it from scratch, would we ever have designed it in this way?

Starting from the state pension, through pension accumulation and onto pension decumulation, we dissect the status quo to outline our vision for the regime. The talk looks at:

• the case for a sovereign wealth fund in the UK and the impact of the triple lock
• the economic and consumer impact of increasing savings rates and productive investment the UK economy
• broader accumulation products like the ‘pot for life’
• a potential revival of DB pensions
• the pensions dashboard

And it questions if market consistent valuation really delivers better outcomes for consumers.

Leveraging consumer research on what consumers want and need, we build a vision of a pensions system that works for the consumer and ask what’s stopping us from making this vision a reality?

Speakers: Sarah O’Sullivan and Connor McBain, The Phoenix Group

At present there are limited decumulation options for defined contribution (DC) retirees. This group is going to grow larger and larger as the defined benefit (DB) generation passes retirement age. Options are limited to drawdown, annuitisation or a mix of the 2. These options can be ideal for some people. But the limited and binary nature of the products means there may be a large market segment that isn’t offered a product that best meets their needs.

In decumulation collective defined contribution (CDC) is an emerging solution that is designed to sit between drawdown and annuitisation. It allows retirees to retain an element of investment risk (upside and downside), while providing protection from longevity risk.

In this presentation we will:

• introduce the product
• outline its regulatory status
• go through hypothetical implementations including investment strategy frameworks
• outline the potential involvement of life firms

Speakers: James Franklin-Adams, Aon and Alan Newton, Grant Thornton

How do you bring a traditional life reinsurance company to the age of cloud and machine learning? In this talk, we share our journey of digitally transforming a reinsurer, equipping it with the technology to streamline its processes and the confidence to achieve its bold vision.

We discuss how we started with a business as usual (BAU) state that relied heavily on Excel files. This led to:

• long manual processes
• decentralised data
• difficulties collaborating
• challenges expanding the business

Our journey involved:

• understanding the current landscape and progressively incorporating cloud technology to centralise our data in a secure way
• working closely with actuaries to codify their processes in Python
• adopting Jupyter notebooks to reduce time for BAU tasks
• exploring our data to analyse relationships and trends in our data at scale
• starting to use machine learning to unlock new opportunities

We will share details about one of our recent successes using machine learning.

Finally, we will discuss additional opportunities we see in this space.

Speakers: Eddie Forson, Laith Gharib, and Bhishma Patel, ToucanberryTech

This topic will outline the challenging operating environment for development of life and health business over recent years. We will then explore some UK and worldwide trends in mortality, morbidity, health insurance claims types, and development of health business and business mix.

The topic will conclude with an exploration of potential future scenarios for development of health business. These are underpinned by economic growth projections, climate change, AI, and medical and diagnostic advances.

Speakers: Natalia Mirin and Christine Fairall

Many insurers have worked for some years on frameworks for the use, risk management, and governance of AI in the (generally) analytics context. But the advent of generative AI – fundamentally different from ‘analytical’ AI in many ways – requires a rethink of such frameworks.

In this session, 2 life actuaries using generative AI will discuss their practical experiences and share lessons from their IAA AI workstream to outline the:

• main differences between generative AI and other types of AI
• primary use cases for generative AI for life insurers (plus adjacent stakeholders such as asset managers and rating agencies)
• challenges relating to generative AI use and the opportunity cost of non-use
• suggested governance and risk management framework

Speakers: Masimba Zata, Moodys and Matthew Edwards, IFoA Council

2022 was the year that accelerated the growth of the BPA market in a way that no one expected. Rising rates and the subsequent LDI crisis left many pension schemes’ liquidity poor but funding rich.

Today, demand for BPA is at an all-time high and not expected to slow down, with volumes expected to hit £50 to 60 billion this year. This is creating interesting dynamics on both sides of the fence.

To meet the rising demand, insurers are increasing capacity through growing their teams with new hires, improving operational evolution, and finding new sources of capital to support the volume of business they can write.

On the other hand, trustees have several key questions and challenges to overcome. 2 are:

• how they wish to de-risk, with increasing appetite for exploring longevity only and captive solutions
• transforming their asset allocations for buy-out: no easy feat with illiquids

Finally, the volume of assets expected to flow from pension schemes to insurers has the potential to fundamentally impact the investment universe. So what does the investment market look like 5 years on?

We will discuss:

• how insurers need to evolve their people and operational strategies to not only meet customer demand but ensure ongoing protection
• considerations for trustees as they explore the various flavours of de-risking
• how the current illiquids dynamic could become an attractive opportunity for both institutional and retail investors
• a 5-year forward-looking view of the investment universe following the current wave of bulk annuity transactions

Speakers: Kieran Mistry and Justine Lowe, The Phoenix Group

Turbulent financial markets in recent times have tested insurers’ liquidity plans. While reinsurance has always been in the capital management toolbox, it is not always the first port of call for liquidity. During this presentation, we will highlight some of the liquidity challenges facing insurance companies and how reinsurance can help.

The session will explore:

• macroeconomic and capital market trends in recent years
• instances of stressed liquidity events for insurance companies
• liquidity needs of insurance companies including collateral calls
• sources of liquidity and cost of liquidity
• how reinsurance can address liquidity needs of insurers including addressing financial market risks
• case studies highlighting reinsurance use for liquidity purposes

Speakers: Gandhar Suryavanshi and Paul Renwick, Swiss Re

The same questions come up time and time again about the difficulties in funding long-term care. There are concerns on the availability or the quality of data that can be used to understand the dynamics of funding long-term care.

This has deterred organisations (public and private) from attempting to put a solution to this age-old question. The working party is making sure that actuaries are part of the conversation about developing a solution.

In this session the working party intends to give update on developments since its webinar in June 2024. The session will cover:

• updates on the working party engagement in different conversations
• feasibility results for using data available data from different sources to design long-term insurance product
• an estimation of cost of care at different stages of progressing to needing care, using global and UK data

In this session, 2 members of the Social Care Working Party will discuss these points and answer the audience questions. This will be a high-level session rather than a technical one. It should be of interest to actuaries at all levels with an interest in long-term care.

Speakers: Mohamed Elsheemy and David McDwyer, NHS and Tom Kenny, We are Just

Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are the vehicle used to fund the long-term care needs (and sometimes other costs) coming out of catastrophic injury cases, primarily from motor accidents. They are paid for the life of the claimant.

Care costs can be significant, leading to essentially a large impaired annuity. These mostly sit on the balance sheets of the motor insurers leading to the indirect creation of composite insurers, often with large and growing life liabilities.

These are a life liability but relatively little is known about them in the life assurance field. PPOs are often reserved for using fairly simplistic techniques.

This presentation looks to quantify the possible impact of mis-estimating the shape of mortality. The speaker will cover:

• what is a PPO
• background to the UK PPO market
• how the PPOs liability is determined at outset
• the impact of mortality shape
• what is the correct shape
• what does it all mean

Speakers: Niel Daniels, Gen Re

In the race for position in the UK bulk annuity market, many insurers have ear-marked investment in alternative (illiquid or privately placed) assets and structured investments as a key component of their long-term investment strategy. Collateralisation of loans and investment in property related developments feature strongly.

Energy projects on the other hand are seldom considered. This is despite the significant increase in projected energy requirements over the coming decades, the long-term nature of the projects (providing a good match for annuity liabilities), and the opportunity, in financing energy projects, to expedite societal transition to cleaner energy sources.

This presentation will cover the key areas to consider when financing energy investments. Among others these include the structure of energy markets (and why this is important), risk assessment and quantification, valuation methods, demand forecasting, and the international context.

Speakers: Joseph McCarthy, Optimal Actuarial Solutions Ltd

Consumer Duty came into effect in July 2023. This session will explore the key changes and challenges for life insurers in embedding the new regime, based on our work with several insurers.

We will focus on the most significant and relevant issues for actuaries, including:

• fair value assessments
• closed book reviews and reserving implications of potential remediation exercises, for example in relation to vulnerable customers and tracing and management of gone-aways
• the interaction of Consumer Duty with net zero targets
• changes to TAS 200 (including internal and external reporting)
• management of outsourced service providers

We will be joined by David Blunt, former Head of the Conduct Specialists Department at the FCA and member of the FCA’s Consumer Duty senior advisory group.

Speakers: Becca Peet and David Blunt, Mazars

There is limited actuarial capacity in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. So it’s important to recognise the challenges insurers have faced in implementing IFRS 17 and the pivotal considerations that lie ahead.

This presentation delves into the key challenges faced by insurers during the implementation journey, explores how they overcame them, and sheds light on strategic pathways post-implementation.

Throughout the implementation phase, insurers have grappled with the complexities of data aggregation, model development, and establishing robust governance frameworks. The shortage of technical expertise, archaic reserving and capital requirements, coupled with diverse regulatory environments across MEA jurisdictions, intensifies the implementation hurdles.

At the core of the company is its strategy. Looking beyond the horizon of implementation, insurers must proactively strategise their post-IFRS 17 roadmap. Embracing technology-driven solutions for data management and customer experience, refining actuarial methodologies, and fortifying risk management practices emerge as imperative considerations. Fostering stakeholder engagement and nurturing a culture of continuous learning and adaptation are paramount for long-term sustainability and competitive advantage.

Join this session as speaker Nikhil Dodhia walks through the challenges encountered in implementing IFRS 17 in the MEA region. Nikhil also unravels the strategic imperatives for insurers to thrive in the evolving landscape post-implementation. Let’s embark on this journey together, forging a path towards enduring success and resilience in the MEA insurance industry.

Speakers: Nikhil Dodhia, Zamara Actuaries, Administrators and Consultants Limited, Kenya

This session will provide a professional skills session looking at ethical issues related to gossip in a professional environment, through a DEI lens. The session will introduce a particularly relevant storyboard to spark debate. It will ask attendees to consider and discuss the ethical issues related to the line between idle gossip and breaking the Actuaries’ Code. It will also include an update on developments in the IFoA’s professional standards and regulation. 

Speakers: TBC

In an ever-evolving insurance landscape, group life insurance stands out as a critical component of corporate benefit structures worldwide. This presentation delves into the intricacies and regional nuances of group life business. There is a special focus on the UK, India, and Latin America, offering life actuaries a comparative insight into global markets. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these diverse regions, enhancing strategic approaches in global markets.

• Overview of global group life insurance: a brief exploration of the global trends and economic factors influencing group life insurance, setting the stage for a deeper regional analysis
• UK: maturity and innovation:

• • Examination of the mature UK market
  • Discussion on regulatory changes and their impact on product innovation and pricing strategies

• India: rapid growth and emerging opportunities:

• • Insights into the booming group life market in India
  • Analysis of demographic shifts and their implications for product development and distribution

• Latin America: diverse landscapes and untapped potential:

• • Overview of the varied insurance regulatory environments across Latin America
  • Strategies for navigating these markets to tap into untapped potential

• Comparative analysis and strategic insights:

• • Drawing lessons from each region to inform global strategy, focusing on product adaptability, pricing, and distribution channels

Speakers: Chris Reynolds and Christina Cosma, Sirius Pt, Zurich

Reinsurance continues to be a key management tool for UK insurers to help manage risk, capital capacity, availability of suitable assets, and dividend flows. The UK and Bermuda have enjoyed a close relationship for many years and the relationship has recently evolved and strengthened into the life reinsurance market.

This panel session will explore the risks and benefits of using reinsurance to policyholders, insurers, and the broader UK market and economy, with a focus on Bermuda-based reinsurers and funded re.

Speakers: Jeetesh Patel, The Phoenix Group, Archbold Muhle, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Andrew Sooboodoo, InEvo Re and James Claxton, EY

In September 2022, the liability driven investment (LDI) community found itself thrust into the public eye and the forefront of capital markets as a radical shift in fiscal policy and immediate response in gilt yields triggered a ‘doom loop’ for leveraged portfolios. That in turn led to a complete breakdown in the function of gilt markets until the Bank of England stepped in as a circuit breaker.

As prices settled and volatility fell, affected institutions reflected on their direct experience of this liquidity event. Though life insurers outwardly emerged relatively unscathed, the renewed focus on this topic has led to considerable development in the monitoring, measurement, and management of liquidity risk.

2 years on, the environment that life insurers operate within has evolved. Specifically the:

• reduction in leveraged LDI has changed supply and demand dynamics
• development of liquidity solutions and widening of collateral eligibility mean that liquidity metrics today may not be directly comparable to those pre-crisis
• increase in defined benefit scheme funding levels due to the LDI crisis has accelerated prospective bulk purchase annuity transactions

This session will discuss the impact of the LDI crisis on the risk profile of a life insurer under different stress scenarios.

Speakers: Holly Steward and Rhian Littlewood, The Phoenix Group

The last year has seen radical acceleration in the thinking around how climate scenarios should be constructed and developed. There can remain some value in the use of NGFS and IEA scenarios. But disclosures that only use these scenarios without suitable caveats and exploring alternative scenarios are likely to land somewhere between embarrassing and harmful.

The recent IFoA risk alert highlights the need for actuaries to understand, consider, and articulate the challenges and limitations of these published scenarios when using them in their work.

This challenge for actuaries and CROs is to:

1. understand recent critiques of these scenarios to suitably caveat internal and external disclosures
2. develop complementary approaches that address some of the shortfalls
3. address the better understanding of these emerging risks and uncertainties into their broader ERM practices

We believe that 2024 will represent a pivot in the general conduct and approach to climate scenarios as understanding of new approaches becomes embedded. We will discuss the thinking behind this belief by exploring:

• a summary of recent critiques of climate scenario analysis highlighting the emerging issues and uncertainties that CROs and actuaries need to understand and address
• the recent IFoA risk alert and emerging techniques to develop ‘decision-useful’ approaches
• the importance and emerging techniques to incorporate biodiversity risks and opportunities
• the implications for ERM, ORSA, and disclosures
• a client case study on the development of decision useful climate scenarios using complex risk analysis

Speakers: Nick Spencer and Charlie Howell, Milliman

Most people will now have had some exposure to large language model tools such as ChatGPT and will have been impressed by their ability to write essays or generate computer code. Fewer people will be aware of the next phase of AI, which will turn AI chat assistants into more fully fledged AI colleagues.

These emerging set of tools come under the broad term of ‘AI agents’, which are AI-based systems with capabilities beyond a simple chat interface. They can interact with external tools, access data, and most importantly plan and perform arbitrarily complex tasks.

In this talk we will explore the emerging field of AI agents. We’ll discuss our experiences using such frameworks to build end-to-end actuarial modelling solutions and demo some POCs we have been working on.

We will also cover topics related to building such complex AI systems including:

• prompt-engineering
• fine-tuning
• retrieval augmented generation
• function calling
• specific AI agent frameworks

and how they will allow AI to participate in all the different stages of the actuarial modelling process from coding and testing to documentation and analysis.

We are in the process of forming an IFoA working party to investigate the impact of this new technology on the actuarial profession. We hope the ideas and topics covered in this talk encourage participation in our initiative.

Speakers: Daniel Ramsay and Arlen Galicia Carreon, WTW

This presentation will compare the capital management and modelling practices between banks and insurers, focusing on:

• key differences in modelling methodologies and the rationale for these
• a comparison of capitalisation levels (that is, which group is better capitalised given the risks on their balance sheet)
• dividend / capital repatriation approaches – key differences and rationale
• what can each learn from the other?

Speakers: Phillip Olivier, Deloitte

This is a tale of holding your nerve completing a £5 billion real estate transaction in a tough economic climate.

In 2023, Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) joined the UK’s leading life sciences platform Bruntwood Scitech (a joint venture between Legal & General and Bruntwood) in creating a £5 billion life sciences, technology, and innovation real estate platform headquartered in Manchester. This session describes the transaction that brought this platform together.

Underwriting the deal was extremely complex as the transaction included several distinct parts including:

• purchasing over £500 million of new real estate to bring into the portfolio
• pricing the existing portfolio within the joint venture to bring GMPF into the business
• planning what the new joint venture would do: it is planned to expand and redevelop existing science and technology campuses and city centre innovation hubs across the UK

This was one of the largest real estate transactions in Europe last year, undertaken at an unprecedented time in the economy. It creates an exciting platform aligned to government initiatives and is a great example of bringing together insurance, pension, and private capital to deliver productive finance.

Speakers: Wes Erlam and Gareth Mee, L&G

There has been a lot of activity in the retirement market in the last 10+ years, with the government and regulators looking to increase pension flexibility and boost retirement income. But average earners need to make contributions of more than 16% per year to be on track for a moderate standard of living. That’s far higher than the contributions paid by most savers today. There is more we should be doing to improve outcomes for retirees.

So, what is the solution: retirement product innovation or improving consumer engagement?

On retirement product design innovation, we will consider various solutions such as:

• better risk sharing and longevity pooling through solutions like CDC. We’ll consider what the key next steps for CDC are that will make it a success.
• investment pathways – a triumph or a failure? We will reflect on the success of investment pathways and the key results and themes from our industry benchmarking survey, which looks at customer demographics and behaviours, asset strategy, key areas of challenge, and industry next steps
• sophisticated default solutions for customers, including later life annuitisation
• how customers can optimise multi-product solutions, pulling income from a combination of sources in the most efficient way, for example state pension, private pension, and equity release

On improving consumer engagement, we will consider:

• the impact of the changes to the guidance/advice boundary
• how we can offer customers better digital products and tools
• whether customers need mid-life MOTs for their savings

Speakers: Ben Stroud and Andrew Valentine, Hymans Robertson

The Solvency II reforms for internal models will go live at the end of 2024 and are relevant for any firm with an internal model or who plan on applying for one in the future.

In this session we will cover what this means in practice for internal model and partial internal model firms and what changes firms can expect compared to the current Solvency II regime. There will be a focus on major model change applications and ongoing monitoring of internal models.

Speakers: Abigail Caldwell, Dan Georgescu and Avni Gangadia, Bank of England

Globally, we cut down over 10 million hectares of forest each year: an area the size of Scotland and Wales combined. Deforestation is a key driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. It creates financial risks for asset owners and has broader implications for communities and society.

If life insurers are to be part of the solution in reducing deforestation, there is a need to both understand the issue and the steps that can be taken to tackle deforestation. This includes assessing exposure to deforestation within investment portfolios, setting measurable targets for engagement, and working with other financial actors to create systemic change.

The presentation will include case studies to illustrate the financial implications of deforestation and actions that can be taken to address this important issue.

Speakers: Emma Gollub and Helen Beddow, Global Canpoy and Sarah Clare and Andre Rachin, Hymans

The Bermuda Monetary Authority has strengthened the Bermudian regulatory regime, including changes to capital measurement and greater regulatory fees. What are the implications for the M&A and the risk transfer markets?

This session will outline the changes to the Bermudian regulatory regime and a perspective on the impact observed to date within the industry, benefiting from the views of Carlos Montalvo, the first Executive Director of EIOPA, and Damian Cooper, a PwC Partner based in Bermuda.

Speakers: Carlos Montalvo, Damian Cooper and Martin Watson, PwC

Following on from last year’s successful hot topics panel, this session will discuss hot topics in with-profits. Hearing from a range of voices, we anticipate a lively discussion giving insights into good practice and ideas helpful for managing with-profits funds into the future.

Key topics to be discussed include:

• Consumer Duty and customer engagement
• new business challenges including product innovation
• gone-aways and disengaged customers
• investment including ESG considerations
• managing fund run-off and sunset clauses
• process harmonisation and simplification

Speakers: Louise Pattullo and Stephanie Lord, EY, Jonathan Peat, The Phoenix Group, and Eithne McManus

In September 2020, the IFoA CPD Scheme switched the focus from the quantity of CPD carried out in each year, to an outcomes-focused approach to learning and development.

The introduction of reflective practice discussions has required a change in mindset. It encourages members to reflect on how their CPD activities have helped them to meet their learning goals and where their real learning has taken place.

This session offers a chance to:

• hear about the link between a growth mindset and the evolution of our CPD Scheme
• learn how the reflective practice programme works
• take part in a facilitated session on reflective practice
• hear views from the IFoA team and volunteer IFoA members who have been involved in holding the discussions

Speakers: Caoimhe McDonagh, IFoA

As part of the Solvency II reforms, the PRA has set out a new requirement for firms to produce an analysis of change (AoC) on the SCR as a validation tool for the SCR.

The production of an AoC for the SCR will be challenging given the constraints that firms will be working under. Firms could choose to use a ‘brute force’ approach. But we expect this will be time consuming and reduce the value of the AoC as a tool that can help validate the results before they are reported.

We expect some firms will be looking to find simplifications and approximations for each of the SCR steps to produce a sufficiently accurate AoC in reasonable time. This will in turn allow the SCR AoC to be a useful tool within the reporting cycle.

This talk will discuss several different techniques to estimate the changes in the SCR given changes in the ‘base balance sheet’. It will:

• use a realistic example and apply the different techniques to estimate the relevant steps in the AoC
• compare them against each other and against a ‘fully accurate’ AoC in each step

Speakers: Maynard Kuona, KPMG

The BPA market is busier than ever. As the market grows, a lot of work is being put towards understanding pension scheme risks. But how much do we understand the longevity models used by these schemes and why does choosing the right model matter? We discuss this in this 3-part presentation.

In the first part, we discuss the long history of longevity models going back to 1825 and discuss some of the breakthrough models. We describe how researchers have sought to extend these models to study emerging patterns or model specific causes of deaths.

In the second part, we present a novel framework we have developed for longevity model selection. The framework encompasses a wide variety of longevity models and uses a Bayesian model selection procedure for selecting the model best informed by the data. The aim is to bring more automation into longevity model selection and shed more light on model uncertainties.

In the third part, we do a case study for a large defined benefit pension scheme. We look at the liabilities of the scheme over the last 10 years. And we explore how different the results and profit emergence would have looked had the longevity model been chosen differently.

Speakers: Alex Diana, University of Essex and Aniketh Pittea, Grant Thornton

With the roll-out of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test programmes across the UK, diagnosis of one of the leading causes of life insurance claims is set to change forever. Cancers are a significant cause of death, CI, and IP claims. Survival rates from cancer are highly dependent upon the extent of disease progression at diagnosis. Changing detection rates would be expected to affect cancer mortality.

We’ll examine how a national screening programme could result in earlier detection and examine impacts beyond a reduction in cancer mortality.

Drawing from extensive modelling of cancer progression, diagnosis and treatment, as well as analysis of all parts of the protection journey, the session will look to cover:

• an introduction into multi-cancer early detection tests
• an overview of existing tests and those in development
• the accessibility, effectiveness, and costs
• the question of why might we expect an impact on mortality and morbidity claims?
• a critical illness deep-dive
• the effects of MCED testing on mortality and morbidity assumptions
• our modelling of cancer progression, diagnoses, and treatments
• a look at early analysis of the impact of screening on cancer mortality
• the considerations for underwriting, operations, and proposition development
• the consideration of how insurers can help consumers with a positive MCED test
• the key questions to consider and required actions for the protection market

Speakers: Donna Cowell and Richard Marshall, WTW

With the final parts of the Solvency UK reforms coming live at the end of 2024, this session will provide high-level insights on the industry’s experience of the attestation implementation. We’ll explore key lessons learned by leveraging industry surveys and discussions as firms embed the attestation into business-as-usual operations.

Areas of focus will include:

• different approaches firms took, including the timing and resourcing profile of the implementation project
• examples of implementation hurdles encountered and solutions
• risk management challenges faced and controls implemented
• early view of the size of FS add-ons
• areas likely to come under further supervisory attention

We will also look at knock-on impacts of the changes to investment flexibility, such as the differing strategic approaches taken by firms in response to greater investment flexibility.

Speakers: Brandon Choong, Deloitte and Clarence Er, Just Group

Population health management (PHM) aims to improve the health of a given population. It does this by taking a data-driven approach to the planning and delivery of proactive care to achieve optimal outcomes.

There are many valuable applications of actuarial science and the professional approaches of IFoA members within this multi-disciplinary field. Some pioneering actuaries are already working in the UK’s NHS. The opportunity to add value and improve health outcomes through the application of the actuarial skillset is immense. Come see how you can get involved.

The first half of the session will cover high level views of why and how health actuaries can play a greater role in population health. It will present the brochure, published in June, that the PHM working party developed to articulate and promote the roles that actuaries could play and how health organisations can engage with actuaries. Reaction to the brochure, and experience of using it, during recent months will be discussed.

The second half will delve into a key topic within the field of population health: risk stratification. This is the application of analytical and statistical approaches to segment populations and prioritise interventions. There is renewed vigour within England’s NHS for wider practical implementation of risk stratification tools to deliver proactive patient care. It is a subject that the working party has researched as part of its work on impactability models and it is timely to revisit this topic.

Speakers: David Beddows, Swiss Re, David McDwyer, NHS and John Seymour, Hannover Re

Climate change is at the forefront of discussions for many companies. Climate change-related disclosures and reporting are important tools and allow stakeholders to understand climate-related risks a company is facing. They help various stakeholders take informed decisions.

The landscape for climate change-related reporting requirements is ever evolving, with a trend from voluntary to mandatory. Many global disclosure standards and requirements influence local requirements and other related standards.

The presentation will be an extension and update of our 2023 paper: Overview of climate disclosures

It will:

• explore these ideas further, giving a general background to disclosure requirements
• discuss greenwashing
• detail disclosure organisations including the ISSB
• provide details on a country level including green taxonomies
• discuss wider opinion-pieces, including business-related challenges and how businesses can meet these challenges

Speakers: TBC

Are you thinking of becoming a chief actuary but are unclear of how to progress? Hear from a senior actuary about their journey to chief actuary and how they developed the competencies required for the role. A member of the IFoA’s regulatory team will talk through the requirements for applying for a practising certificate and how to ensure a successful application.

Speakers: Stephanie McGowan, IFoA

Look ahead 5 years into the future and consider:

• AI and tech developments
• cloud versus in-house infrastructures
• regulatory changes: what we expect, what might occur
• ESG implications: more regulation, more modelling capabilities

The potential enhancements to modelling capability provide opportunities to improve speed and accuracy of actuarial modelling. But they will also change the role that actuaries play in developing and testing models.

The presentation will consider the potential changes and the changing role of actuaries in planning and delivering change in actuarial models, including:

• impacts on infrastructure
• development, testing, and acceptance of the models of the future
• how to engage and gain approvals from stakeholders
• implementation and transition from project into business-as-usual

Speakers: Chris Poutney, KPMG, Tony Firth and Paul Gilmour, Aviva

In recent years, neural networks have gained much attention in the actuarial industry because they can be seen as a natural extension of linear regression. A few advanced models such as localGLMnet and Generalised Mixed Effects Neural Network have been developed by actuaries in the insurance context.

In this presentation, the IFoA’s Actuarial Data Science Working Party:

• shares its findings in how these neural network models can be applied to predict medical costs of an insurance dataset containing both numerical and categorical variable
• compares these neural network models against linear regression models in their performances and interpretations
• shares thoughts on how these models can be adopted and used with business and commercial insights

Speakers: Patricia Wang, Lloyd’s of London

In the contemporary world, large-scale conflicts have become a distressing reality, profoundly affecting nations and economies worldwide. The Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars are examples of growing political instability in the global environment.

The repercussions extend beyond immediate casualties and infrastructure damage, infiltrating various sectors, including the global insurance markets. These markets face unique challenges in the wake of such conflicts. Consequently, it has become imperative to examine the implications for the insurance industry.

This involves several key steps including:

• determining the magnitude of impact of such circumstances on various insurance sectors including life, health, property, cyber risk, and political risk insurance
• evaluating potential strategies to mitigate the impact
• identifying the hurdles encountered by global reinsurers
• emergence of specialized war insurance to address modern warfare
• formulating initiatives to support refugees and improve their situation

Speakers: Sunny Aggarwal, Sarveish Arora and Riya Arora, WeDapt, Gurugram, India

It is universally acknowledged that mental wellness is a key growing risk for insurers. The insurance industry has mainly tackled this from a claims perspective without yet exploring the potential to build this into product development. Customers are looking for product solutions that would provide for them. The challenge is how to price this unknown and potentially costly risk.

Our topic will explore:

• global mental wellness trends and forecasting
• customer mental wellness product needs
• product development opportunities such as within a mortality accelerator or as a severe illness rider
• claims to cover, for example anxiety, depression, and bipolar, then splitting out the more frequent versus those where payments are more needed
• adjusting underwriting for mental wellness risks
• various mental wellness in-force interventions, how to connect them to risk, and their data results

Speakers: Adam Musnitzky, Emma Freeman and Matt Singlton, Swiss Re

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT is reshaping the insurance industry. Despite its spectacular potential, generative AI isn’t without shortcomings. One example is that we do not have control of the data on which the AI has been trained. Other issues include bias in technology, data security issues, and ‘hallucinations’ where the AI creates nonsensical outputs.

What if we had more control on the data on which the AI has been trained? What if we could control the way the AI interprets certain information? What if we could have an actuarial GPT?

In this presentation, we describe how we went about building an actuarial chatbot. We describe the journey from specifying the requirements for the AI, choosing training datasets, testing the technology, and interacting with the chatbot. We also discuss some of the challenges we faced in building such a technology.

We aim to make the presentation accessible by breaking down the task of building the chatbot into 10 simple steps. We perform a live demonstration of the actuarial chatbot and show some examples of how it can assist actuaries. Finally, we discuss our vision for the chatbot and potential future applications.

Speakers: Aniketh Pittea, Shivang Ang, and Miles Davis, Grant Thornton

In the UK retirement market, we’ve seen many recent highs and lows. From pension freedoms and volatile pot performance to record annuity rates. When is it ever a good time to retire? Are there good options or is it down to the best of the bunch?

In this session, we will talk about customer needs in retirement and how customer outcomes are front and centre of product development in a post consumer duty world.

We’ll look at a case study of the launch of a new smoothed managed fund. We will cover the journey from ideation to launch with a look under the bonnet at the smoothing mechanics. We’ll consider the fit with customer needs in a dynamic retirement market.

The talk should be of interest to people at all levels with an interest in the retirement market. That includes anyone interested in innovation and product development within the retirement space and who may be looking at ways to answer some of the questions around retirement planning and choices.

Speakers: Peter Cowell and Jeffrey Baker, The Phoenix Group and Jenelle Cherrie, WTW

We have got comfortable with internal models standards. But capital models are not the only important models for our business. Many models have the potential to generate value, or destroy value if poorly managed.

We see an increased focus on MRM, both globally (Canada and Bermuda) and in the UK, with banks subject to PRA supervision. Use of open-source models and AI means that previous MRM frameworks may no longer be fit for purpose. There is an expectation that MRM will be an area of increased focus for UK insurers.

This session will cover:

• highlights from a survey of UK life insurers on approaches to MRM
• elements of a good MRM framework
• impacts of data science, open-source models, AI on MRM, covering risks, opportunities, and challenges

We will focus on life insurance MRM where we recognise the models are typically more complex than in banks and need greater levels of expert judgement when setting assumptions.

Speakers: Teresa Murphy, Arlen Galicia Carreon and Will Machin, WTW