The IFoA seeks to inform policy debates in the public interest. We do this by drawing on the expertise of our members, who work across a range of industries and sectors on some of the biggest public policy issues facing society
Using the actuarial skillset, we offer unique, informed, and impartial insights into long-term issues across 3 broad policy areas.
Our 3 key policy priorities are:
People are living longer and as populations age it is important that individuals are supported to maintain their financial, physical and mental wellbeing in later life. Planning for retirement is far more complicated for consumers than it used to be.
The shift from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution (DC) pensions places the onus on individuals to know how much they need to save to have an adequate income in retirement; for many the State Pension and auto enrolment will only get them to a minimum level of income.
The gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy has been growing, and so the demand for social care is increasing. The complexity and lack of public understanding about the current system means that people are not well prepared for potential care costs in later life.
Actuaries can help regulators and businesses to understand and manage longevity risk and encourage policymakers to consider the generational impact of policy decisions made today.
For overviews of our policies in this area, view our 100 year life policy summaries.
You can find out more about our policies related to 100 year life at:
The risks facing society are evolving rapidly and it is important that individuals and businesses are able to access the protection they need to thrive in the modern world. Insurance products need to be fit-for-purpose in light of changes in societal need, technological advances, the changing global economy, environmental threats and the impact of geopolitical decisions.
The impact of increasing personalisation of insurance is not uniform across all groups of consumers. It will benefit some, but could leave others without protection. In particular, vulnerable groups of consumers may be more exposed to risk or find cover less affordable.
Our work in this space looks to explore the effect of this trend on consumers, identify ways to better equip individuals to manage the impact of this trend, and consider possible policy solutions.
For overviews of our policies in this area, view our future of insurance policy summaries.
You can learn more and find insurance consultations and policy papers on our future of insurance page.
As a public interest body, the IFoA is a supporter of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their underlying principle of global prosperity for people and the planet, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Many of us do not know how our pension pot is invested and it is not always easy to understand whether the investments fit with our values. Global leaders have committed to the Paris Agreement, and harnessing the capital in financial markets will be crucial to meeting this target.
Actuaries have expertise in green finance and climate-related financial disclosures, which will support the transition to a net-zero carbon economy. In addition to Climate Action (Goal 13), actuaries have expertise across a number of the goals, including financing major infrastructure projects (Goal 9), managing the transition to a less-cash society (Goal 10) and improving road safety (Goal 3).
For overviews of our policies in this area, view our sustainability policy summaries.
Learn about our work on climate change and sustainability with our research, consultation responses, blog posts, and more at our sustainability hub.
If you have any questions regarding our policy and public affairs work, please contact the IFoA Policy Team.