Acronyms Flashcards

1
Q

Contract Design Stakeholders

A

ALPACAS

Actuaries
Lawyers
Providers of benefits
Accountants
Customer
Administrator
Shareholders / Financial backers
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2
Q

Contract Design Factors

A

AMPLE DIRECT FACTORS

Administration systems
Marketability
Profitability
Level and form of benefits
Early leaver benefits
Discretionary benefits
Interests and needs of customers
Risk appetite of the parties involved
Expenses vs charges
Competition
Terms and conditions of contract
Financing (capital requirements)
Accounting implications
Consistency with other products
Timing of contributions or premiums
Options and guarantees
Regulatory requirements
Subsidies (cross)
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3
Q

Reasons for calculating provisions

A

BAD MEDICS

Benefit improvements for a benefit scheme
Accounts and reports (published and internal)
Discontinuance / surrender benefits

Mergers and acquisitions
Excess of assets over liabilities and so whether discretionary benefits can be awarded
Disclosure information for beneficiaries
Investment strategy
Contribution / premium setting
Supervisory solvency reports
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4
Q

Considerations when using past data to set future assumptions

A

BEST ARCHER

Balance of homogenous groups underlying the data may have changed
Economic situation may have changed
Social conditions may have changed
Trends over time, eg medical, demographic

Abnormal fluctuations
Random fluctuations
Changes in regulation
Heterogeneity within the group to which the assumptions will apply
Errors in data
Recording differences (e.g. in categorization of smoker)

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5
Q

Characteristics of a prime property

A

CALL ST

Comparable properties for rent review
Age, condition and flexibility of use
Location
Lease structure

Size
Tenant quality

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6
Q

Common aims of accounting standards (for benefit scheme disclosures)

A

CARD

Consistency in accounting treatment from year to year
Avoiding distortions resulting from contribution fluctuations
Recognising the realistic costs of accruing benefits
Disclosure of appropriate information

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7
Q

Practical problems with overseas investment

A

CATERPILLAR

Custodian needed
Additional admin required
Time delays
Expenses incurred / expertise needed
Regulation poor
Political instability 
Information harder to obtain (and less of it)
Language difficulties
Liquidity problems
Accounting differences
Restrictions on foreign ownership / repatriation problems
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8
Q

Main difficulties of overseas investment

A

MTV

Mismatching domestic liabilities
Taxation (may not be able to recover withholding taxes paid)
Volatility of currency

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9
Q

Additional reports accompanying accounts

A

CIRCUS

Chairperson`s / CEO`s statements
Investment report
Remuneration report
Corporate governance report
Uncertainty (risk) report
Strategic report
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10
Q

Expenses incurred by product provider

A

COST RAID

Commission
Overheads
Sales / advertising
Terminal, eg paying benefits

Renewal administration, eg collecting premiums / contributions
Asset management
Initial administration, eg setting up new client records
Design of the contract

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11
Q

External environment factors

A

CREATE GRAND LISTS

Corporate structure
Regulation and legislation
Environmental issues and climate change
Accounting standards
Tax
Economic outlook (eg interest rates, inflation, growth)
Governance
Risk management requirements
Adequacy of capital and solvency
New business environment
Demographic trends
Lifestyle considerations
International practice
State benefits
Technology
Social and cultural trends
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12
Q

Inappropriate advice

A

CRIMES

Complicated products
Rubbish (ie incompetent) advisor
Integrity of advisor lacking, eg due to sales-related payments
Model or parameter errors
Errors in data relating to beneficiaries
State-encouraged but inappropriate actions

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13
Q

Benefit scheme info to disclose in accounts

A

DIM CLAIMS

Directors benefit costs
Investment return over year
Membership movements

Change in surplus / deficit over year
Liabilities accruing over year
Assumptions
Increase in past service liabilities
Method
Surplus / deficit
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14
Q

Reasons for analyzing surplus

A

DIVERGENCE

Divergence of actual vs expected (show financial effect /significance of)
Information to management and for accounts
Variance of whole is equal to the sum of the variances from the individual sources
Experience monitoring to feedback into ACC
Reconcile values for successive years
Group into one-off / recurring sources of surplus
Executive remuneration schemes (data for)
New business strain (show effects of)
Check on valuation assumptions and calculations
Extra check on valuation data and progressiveness of actual vs expected (show financial effect / significance of)

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15
Q

Considerations in assessing different models

A

FENCED

Fit for purpose
Expertise available in house
Need flexibility
Cost of each option
Expected number of times used
Desired accuracy
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16
Q

Types of actuarial advice

A

FIR

Factual
Indicative
Recommendation

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17
Q

Evaluation of risk mitigation options

A

FIRM

Feasibility and cost
Impact on frequency / severity / expected value
Resulting secondary risks
Mitigation required in response to secondary risks

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18
Q

Importance of risk reporting

A

FRAUD CRIME

Financing (appropriate price, reserves, capital requirements)
Rating agencies
Attractiveness to investors
Understand better (risks and their financial impact)
Determine appropriate control systems

Changes over time
Regulator
Interactions
Monitor effectiveness of controls
Emerging risk identification
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19
Q

Economic situations in which cash is attractive

A

GRID

General economic uncertainty
Recession expected
Interest rates expected to rise
Depreciation of domestic currency expected

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20
Q

Aims of a regulator

A

GRIP

Give confidence in the system
Reduce financial crime
Inefficiencies in the market corrected (and efficient and orderly markets promoted)
Protect consumers

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21
Q

Economic factors

A

IS FIERCE

Inflation
Short-term interest rates

Fiscal deficit
Imports / exports
Employment rate
Returns on alternative investments
Currency
Economic growth
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22
Q

Factors to consider when setting assumptions

A

LUNCH

Legislation / regulation
Use of the assumptions
Needs of the client
Consistency between assumptions
How financially significant is/are the assumption(s)
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23
Q

Additional criteria for an insurable risk

A

MUD PIS

Moral hazard eliminated as far as possible
Ultimate limit on liability undertaken
Data exists with which to price risk

Pooling a large number of similar risks
Independent risk events
Small probability of occurrence

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24
Q

Risk responses

A

PIRATE

Partially transfer
Ignore
Reduce
Accept (retain all)
Transfer
Evade (avoid)
25
Q

Identification of causes of risk in projects

A

PNEFCPB

Preston North End Football Club Plays Brilliantly

Political risks
Natural risks
Economic risks
Financial risks
Crime
Project risks
Business risks
26
Q

General reasons for holding cash

A

POURS

Protect monetary values
Opportunities (to take advantage of)
Uncertain liabilities
Recently received cashflow
Short-term liabilities
27
Q

WHEN information from a benefit scheme should be disclosed

A

PRICE

Payment commencement
Request
Intervals
Combination
Entry
28
Q

Problems with industry data

A

QUERIED

Quantity (credibility)
Up-to-date?
Errors
Relevance (heterogeneity)
Incomplete?
Exceptionals
Detail and format
29
Q

Why financial providers need capital

A

REG CUSHION

Regulatory requirement to demonstrate solvency
Expenses of launching a new product / starting a new operation
Guarantees can be offered

Cashflow timing management
Unexpected events cushion, eg adverse experience
Smooth profit
Help demonstrate financial strength
Investment freedom to mismatch in pursuit of higher returns
Opportunities. eg mergers and acquisitions
New business strain financing

30
Q

Reasons for using reinsurance

A

SAD LIFE

Smooth results
Avoid large losses
Diversification (investment mismatchment)

Limit exposure to risk (single event, accumulations)
Increase capacity to accept risk
Financial assistance
Expertise

31
Q

Reasons for underwriting

A

SAFARI

Suitable approach (eg increase premiums / reduce SA) and special terms
Avoid anti-selection
Financial underwriting against over-insurance
Actual experience in line with expected
Risk classification (risks rated fairly)
Identify substandard health risks

32
Q

Benefits of a good risk management system

A

SAMOSAS

Stability / quality of business improved
Avoid surprises
Management of capital improved
Opportunities exploited for profit
Synergies identified
Arbitrage identified
Stakeholders given confidence
33
Q

Model design: Operational issues

A

SCARCER FILES

Simple but retains key features
Clear results
Adequately documented
Range of implementation methods
Communicable workings and outputs
Easy to understand
Refineable & developable
Frequency of cashflows (balance accuracy vs practicality)
Independent verification of outputs
Length of run not too long
Expense not too high
Sensible joint behaviour of variables
34
Q

Info to disclose to benefit scheme members

A

SCRIBE

Strategy for investment
Contribution obligations
Risks involved
Insolvency entitlement
Benefit entitlements
Expense charges
35
Q

Functions of a regulator

A

SERVICE

Setting sanctions
Enforcing regulations
Reviewing and influencing government policy
Vetting and registering firms and individuals
Investigating breaches
Checking management and conduct of providers
Educating consumers and the public

36
Q

Ways of valuing assets

A

SHAM FADS

Smoothed market value
Historic book value
Adjusted book value
Market value

Fair value
Arbitrage value
Discounted cashflow
Stochastic modelling

37
Q

Reasons why disclosure is important

A

SIMMERS

Sponsor is aware of financial significance of benefits
Informed decisions can be made
Mis-selling is avoided
Manages the expectations of members
Encourages take up
Regulatory requirement
Security of scheme improved as sponsor / trustees are made more accountable

38
Q

Factors affecting investment strategy

A

SOUNDER TRACTORS

Size of the assets (absolute / relative)
Objectives 
Uncertainty of the liabilities 
Nature of the liabilities 
Diversification
Existing portfolio
Return (expected long-term)
Tax treatment of the assets / investor
Restrictions - statutory / legal / voluntary
Accrual of liabilities in the future
Currency of the existing liabilities
Term of the existing liabilities
Other funds’ strategies (competition) 
Risk appetite 
Solvency and accounting requirements
39
Q

Types of selection

A

STATiC

Spurious
Time
Adverse
Temporary 
initial
Class
40
Q

Investment and risk characteristics of assets

A

SYSTEM T

Security (default and other risks)
Yield (real or nominal, running yield, expected return, compare with other assets)
Spread (volatility of market values, diversification)
Term
Expenses or Exchange rate
Marketability

Tax

41
Q

Regulatory influences on assets held

A

TECH SCAM

Types of assets that a provider can invest in
Extent to which mismatching is allowed
Currency matching requirement
Hold certain assets, eg government bonds

Single counterparty maximum exposure
Custodianship of assets
Amount of any one asset used to demo solvency may be restricted
Mismatch reserve

42
Q

Sources of data

A

TRAINERS

Tables eg actuarial mortality tables
Reinsurers 
Abroad (data from overseas contracts)
Industry data
National statistics
Experience investigations on the existing contract
Regulatory reports and company accounts
Similar contracts
43
Q

Characteristics of investors

A

TRAITOR

Tax position
Regulation on investor
Assets already held
Income / cashflow requirements
Tastes (liabilities, education, fashion)
Other assets and other investors
Risk appetite
44
Q

Factors to consider for discontinuance terms

A

A POLICY CEASES

Auction values

Profit (including recovery of costs incurred)
O
Lapse and re-entry risk
Increase in benefits will require underwriting
Consistency (with other payouts, premiums paid, and maturity values)
Y

Competition
Expectations
Asset share
Selection
Equity
Simplicity and stability
45
Q

Features of good system for monitoring business

A

ACCREDIT DOT

Allow for key drivers
Calculations not overly complex
Clear results
Results validated
Easy to collect data
Documented
Inputs consistent
Tailored

Data validated
Output consistent (over time and with other analyses)
Timely production of results

46
Q

Investment uncertainty

A

AGE ROT

Actions by central bank
Globalisation
Economic cycle

Return
Overseas influences
Type of investment

47
Q

Reserving uncertainty

A

BALANCED FLACCID DAFT CRUMB

Behaviour of third parties
Amounts of claims
Latent claims
Assumption on distribution
New classes
Catastrophes
Economic conditions
Development patterns
Frequency of claims
Legislation
Area (globalisation)
Climate change
Claim handling procedures
Inflation
Demand surge

Distribution channels
Arrangements for profit shares
Format of data
Third party handlers

Competitive pressure
Reserving philosophy
Unusual / large risks
Mix of business
Bodily injury claims
48
Q

Sponsor covenant

A

CAB RIDES

Credit rating
Accounts / Financial metrics
Business outlook

Risk-based measures 
Independent Business Review
Default risk implied by market
Employer factors 
Scheme characteristics
49
Q

Analysis of policy experience

A

CALMNESS Q

Cancellations
Alterations in premium rates
Lapses
Mix of business
New business volumes
Endorsements
Strike rate
Source (persistency / profitability)

Quotation volumes

50
Q

Key risk types

A

CLOG RUM

Credit
Liquidity
Operational
Group

Reserve
Underwriting
Market

51
Q

Claims characteristics

A

CRAFT CRAMPS VENDS DRILLS

Catastrophes
Reporting delays
Accumulations
Frequency
Trends  
Currency 
Reinsurance
Amount (severity)
Moral hazard
Partial payments
Settlement delays 
Volatility
Event delays
Nil claims
Definition
Seasonality
Distribution
Reopened claims
Inflation
Large claims
Latent claims
Salvage and subrogation
52
Q

Stakeholders of a general insurance company

A

CRAMPERS

Credit rating agencies
Reinsurers and brokers
Auditors
Management
Policyholders
Employees
Regulators
Shareholders
53
Q

Surrender value principles

A

PALACE DICE

PRE
Asset shares
Later durations ( maturity values )
Avoid discontinuities
Continuing policyholders
Early durations  (premiums )

Document clearly
Infrequent changes
Competition
Ease of calculation

54
Q

Assumptions needed for a capital model

A

REDUCE DOG CRITIC

RI share of ultimate claims and RI bad debt
Exhaustion of reinsurance and reinsurer
Downgrade assumptions
Ultimate gross claims (including CHE)
Ceded premiums
Expenses    

Dividends
Operational losses
Gross written premium

Catastrophe claims
Reserve movements (gross), by COB
Inflation 
Tax
Investment returns, split by asset class 
Claims payment profiles
55
Q

Principles underlying the legislation and regulation of institutional investment practices

A

REPEAT CAFE

Regular reporting
Expert advice
Performance measurement
Explicit mandates
Activism
Transparency

Clear objectives
Appropriate benchmarks
Focus on asset allocation
Effective decision making and operations

56
Q

Factors affecting data

A

SEMI COMA

Size of company
Existence of legacy systems
Management and staff
Integrity of data systems

Class of business
Organisation (nature of)
Method of sale
Age of company

57
Q

Adjustments to data

A

TRIM RILLS CRUNCH

Trends
Risk
Inflation
Mix

Reinsurance
IBNR
Large claims
Light experience
Sales channel
Cover
Regulations
Underwriting
Nil claims
Claims handling
Heavy experience
58
Q

Investment and capital analyses

A

RICE AD

Risk assessment
Investment policy
Capital requirements
Evaluate existing portfolio

Allocate capital between classes
Determine return on capital