• Professionalism in a Virtual World

    In this CCA cross discipline webinar, panelists take a look at new and old ASOPs, in particular, how do actuaries follow the ASOPs, particularly in this age of less formal and more frequent client interactions? How do you convey risk via text?

  • Webinar: Health Plan and PBM Cost Mitigation Strategies

    In this CCA healthcare series webinar, presenters discuss strategies that health plans and pharmacy benefits managers are using to manage these high cost treatments. In recent years, the number of high cost pharmaceutical treatments for a variety of conditions has been increasing. These drugs typically categorized as specialty drugs include infusion drugs, biologics, oncology, and gene therapy treatments for both common and relatively rare conditions.

  • Webinar: Retirement - New Angles and Variations on a Theme

    In this CCA retirement series webinar speakers will explore new angles on how to tackle the retirement problem – what retirement plan features do employees and retirees really want? As we enter a new decade and a new normal emerging out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the midst of major technological advancements and the transformation of the workplace, one thing remains constant – the retirement needs of the work force. If we have the opportunity to start from scratch and the ability to repeal ERISA and PPA, how would we design retirement policy for the nation? Are there areas where defined benefit plans are still the best option? Can defined contribution plans provide for adequate retirement income?

  • Webinar: International Actuarial Practice for Domestic U.S. Actuaries

  • Webinar: Risk Adjustment-Comprehensive, Controversial or Both?

    In this CCA healthcare series webinar, speakers will focus on the Medicare Risk Adjustment program that has been in place for a number of years while the relatively more recent ACA Risk Adjustment program for the individual healthcare exchanges adjusts for health risks between plans in a different manner. The presenters review each programs’ underlying methodology and how the healthcare industry views each program’s successes and pitfalls. We also discuss how recent legislation may impact one or both programs.

  • 001 - ASOP Updates

    Three Actuarial Standards of Practice recently became effective: ASOP 27 – Selection of Economic Assumptions for Measure Pension Obligations, effective August 1, 2021; ASOP 32 – Social Insurance, effective September 2, 2021; and ASOP 35 – Selection of Demographic and Other Noneconomic Assumptions for Measuring Pension Obligations, effective August 1, 2021. Panelists at this session discuss the changes to these ASOPs and how those changes may affect your consulting practice.

  • 002 - Business Session with Keynote Speaker

    The CCA’s Business Session begins with the welcoming of attendees, announcement of new directors, Treasurer’s Report and presentation of the CCA’s annual awards. The keynote presentation immediately follows.

  • 105 - Practical Aspects of Setting the Expected Return

    Speakers examine both technical and consulting challenges that arise when recommending expected return assumptions for public pension plans. They start by drilling down on some technical pitfalls, including how – and how not – to develop portfolio return statistics, mapping capital market assumptions from various sources, and even a review of the roles of arithmetic and geometric expected returns. Then speakers investigate the overlapping roles and responsibilities of the actuary and the investment consultant. How should the trustees understand differences between our often very different expected returns? And how can we work together to bring the trustees to a prudent understanding of the relationship between asset allocation and the actuary’s investment return assumption?

  • 104 - PBGC Discussion of Regulatory Guidance on the American Rescue Plan Act

    The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is arguably the most impactful piece of multiemployer legislation in recent history. ARPA set up a Special Financial Assistance program administered by the PBGC to provide substantial federal relief to deeply troubled multiemployer plans. While the intent of the legislation to provide substantial relief was clear, many details were left to the regulatory process and PBGC released interim final regulations for the Special Financial Assistance program on July 9, 2021. Representatives of the PBGC discuss the guidance in detail including the application process, the calculation of the amount of federal assistance, eligible plans, and operation and investment restrictions for plans that receive assistance.

  • 107 - COVID-19 and the New Workplace

    The pandemic and governments’ reactions to it have had a seismic impact on the workplace. Even for “knowledge workers” whose work wasn’t interrupted, travel (to the office or to client sites) was severely curtailed or eliminated, and the use of video conferencing soared. Our speakers share their views of how the workplace (both the consulting actuary’s and his/her client’s) will evolve, and whether any type of “return to normal” is possible. They’ll also discuss the variety of challenges the new workplace will pose, including managing projects and coordinating workflow, training (particularly for new hires and junior staff), achieving trust between team members, and ensuring effective communication of complex compensation and benefits concepts.

  • 109 - Innovative Healthcare Solutions

    Inefficiencies, high-cost, and gaps in care in the US healthcare system have created opportunities for innovative solutions to offer value to health plans and plan sponsors. This engaging session features leading experts who have spent years developing solutions for health plans as consultants and as strategic leaders within various innovative solution providers. The panel addresses where the biggest opportunities lie to reduce cost and improve care, as well as the various types of programs that have been proven to drive results.

  • 108 - Pharmacy Forecasting – Not Just for Pharmacy Actuaries Anymore

    The pharmaceutical landscape has been changing rapidly in the last decade. More and more of the spend on pharmaceutical drugs is being shifted to the medical benefit. Oncology, gene therapy, and many of the immunomodulators are now administered in a doctor’s office. New methods of forecasting and benefit management need to be considered when looking to the future. Where will these techniques come from? In this session the presenters discuss the history of pharmacy benefit forecasting and management and the emerging techniques that require a unique combination of methodologies from other actuarial disciplines.

  • 106 - Financial Vaccination for the Next Pandemic Available Through Your Captive

    The Covid-19 pandemic tested the robustness of corporate risk management strategies and insurance programs of virtually every company regardless of size or business sector. Many companies suddenly found themselves unprotected with unanticipated exposures or otherwise were left “holding the bag” of financial losses arising from the pandemic that had been inadequately insured. Speakers discuss innovative uses of corporate captives to close gaps in insurance products in the market regarding risks associated with pandemics as well as trends and emerging practices in captive utilization as a central tool for enterprise risk management. Speakers focus on proactive initiatives companies need to take before the next pandemic strikes.

  • 102 - Nonqualified Plans: Recent and Proposed Tax Proposals

    Panelists review the effect of recent tax proposals on nonqualified plans.

  • 103 - Annuity Purchase Revolution

    You tell me that it's evolution; Well, you know; We all want to change the world. A lot has evolved in the pension annuity purchase market over the last few years. Speaker address some of that evolution including the increasing market size, the use of independent fiduciaries, assets-in-kind transactions, the use of reinsurance, and other issues affecting the marketplace. We’ll also briefly touch on plan termination issues, but those will be more fully covered in “Lessons Learned from Plan Terminations” (Session 401).

  • 101 - Late Breaking Developments

    Speakers discuss the latest developments in the private pension sector. Recent rulings and regulations - proposed and final - are covered, in addition to pending retirement plan legislation and recent litigation activity.

  • 204 - Assessing Pension Investment Strategies in Today's Environment

    ARPA has changed the regulatory environment for corporate pension plans, loosening funding requirements and rules about benefit restrictions. The capital market environment has evolved in ways that few would have anticipated. Speakers review case studies that help sponsors reevaluate their funding and de-risking strategies, and showcase other new approaches emerging in the de-risking space, including the use of derivatives overlays.

  • 206 - DC Governance: How are Companies Managing Their DC Plans Around the World?

    DC plans have become the primary approach by companies to providing retirement benefits to their employees. The panel of international consultants address the current and emerging approaches multinational companies are using to manage their DC plans around the world.

  • 201 - Assumption Setting in a COVID-19 Environment

    Pension actuaries must consider how COVID-19 will affect the assumptions used in valuing pension plan obligations. Mortality is a natural assumption to start with, but the pandemic has dramatically affected the economy and workforce demographic patterns and will likely affect several assumptions. Speakers share how they are approaching this critical topic.

  • 202 - Dialogue with the PBGC

    PBGC representatives discuss current topics and issues relevant to single and multiemployer retirement plans.