Business Economics and Public Policy Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
11-2016
Publication Source
Insurance: Mathematics and Economics
Volume
71
Start Page
268
Last Page
283
DOI
10.1016/j.insmatheco.2016.09.007
Abstract
Life insurers use accounting and actuarial techniques to smooth reporting of firm assets and liabilities, seeking to transfer surpluses in good years to cover benefit payouts in bad years. Yet these techniques have been criticized as they make it difficult to assess insurers’ true financial status. We develop stylized and realistically-calibrated models of a participating life annuity, an insurance product that pays retirees guaranteed lifelong benefits along with variable non-guaranteed surplus. Our goal is to illustrate how accounting and actuarial techniques for this type of financial contract shape policyholder wellbeing, along with insurer profitability and stability. Smoothing adds value to both the annuitant and the insurer, so curtailing smoothing could undermine the market for long-term retirement payout products.
Copyright/Permission Statement
© 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords
smoothing, variable annuity, life insurance, retirement, historical cost accounting, fair market valuation
Recommended Citation
Maurer, R., Mitchell, O. S., Rogalla, R., & Siegelin, I. (2016). Accounting and Actuarial Smoothing of Retirement Payouts in Participating Life Annuities. Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, 71 268-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.insmatheco.2016.09.007
Embargo Date
9-22-2018
Included in
Business Commons, Economics Commons, Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons
Date Posted: 27 November 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.