Risk Management Flashcards

1
Q

What can a stakeholder do with his risks?

What does his decision depend on?

A

Retain - immaterial, diversified, mental
Transfer - some or all
Minimise - locks on front door

Depends on - probability, surplus, price of insurance

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2
Q

How is risk classification used in the design if a contract?

A

Price charged more accurate

Remove useless parts like child rider

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3
Q

The fundamental rationale of insurance is what?

A

If price one company will accept a risk is lower than expected cost of keeping it to an individual then insurance is mutually beneficial

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4
Q

Why must there be credible and volumous data in insurance?

A

To make accurate frequency and size assumptions of risks

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5
Q

What is the process of underwriting?

A

Collect data (form, report, exam, tests)
Assess customer risk (specialist underwriters, see if required standard for normal rates)
Give special terms if high risk, or reject
Set premium commensurate with risk (fair price paid)

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6
Q

How does underwriting manage risk?

A

Substandard lives identified and terms set
Avoid anti-selection
Financial underwriting against over insurance
Experience equals expected when contracts priced
Risk classification to ensure fair price charged
Reinsurance is easier to obtain

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7
Q

What special terms are possible after underwriting?

A

Standard premium plus extra for risk
Standard benefit minus extra for risk
Exclusion clause, no payment if claim due to specific event

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8
Q

What factors effect mortality and morbidity ratings factors?

A

Current health
Occupation
Leisure pursuit
Normal country of residence

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9
Q

Why is medical underwriting done?

A

Find if applicant meets required standard of health, if not, how bad is it?

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10
Q

What’s the big decision in whether to reinsure?

A

Risk held versus cost of mitigating plus assistance in other ways from reinsurer

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11
Q

What are the 3 main benefits of reinsurance?

A

Reduce variability of claims (smooth profit, reduce capital requirements, reduce risk of insolvency)
Limit large losses (aggregate and single)
Benefit from reinsurer expertise and financial assistance

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12
Q

How can a reinsurer provide financial assistance?

A

Administration costs
Actuarial services costs
Other actuarial advice costs

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13
Q

What risk is retained with any reinsurance?

A

Default of the reinsurer

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14
Q

What two overall types of reinsurance are there, what are the 3 categories, with products?

A
Reinsurer takes risk completely on
Reinsurer pays insurer at time of claim
Proportional (surplus, quota share)
Non proportional (risk, aggregate, catastrophe, stop loss)
Financial reinsurance
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15
Q

Why would the value of benefits expected to be paid by reinsurer be lower than the price to purchase reinsurance?

A

Profit plus expenses plus contingencies

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16
Q

What is the process of deciding on reinsurance?

A

Assess holding risk vs reinsurance cost plus benefits of reinsurance
Find expected value of benefit to be paid
Sensitivity test this using various assumptions to find expected cost and variance
Weigh up liquidity risk if not purchasing reinsurance

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17
Q

Give 2 points about proportional reinsurance?

A

Administered automatically

Requires a treatee

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18
Q

What is quota share reinsurance, what are its 3 uses?

A

Fixed percent of risk is reinsured
Spread risk
Write larger portfolio of risk
Encourage reciprocal business

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19
Q

Explain surplus reinsurance.
What type of business is it used, what is specified in treaty
What are the disadvantages to the reinsurer
The disadvantages to the insurer
When might the disadvantage happen?
What might be the outcome of the disadvantage?

A

Fixed percentage of each risk reinsured
Retention limit
Maximum level of cover
High volume business, fixed percent in treaty
Low volume, percent varies per risk
No cap on total pay out if reinsurer or insurer
Bankruptcy
Events are 1 large claim, many claims overall, many from 1 incident

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20
Q

Give 2 advantages of non proportional reinsurance and what they mean for the company
Give a disadvantage and what you can do about it?

A

Liability to insurer is capped (accept business with risk of very high claims)
Reduces variation of claims (smoothing, solvency more secure, capital requirements lower)
It may come back to the insurer if over the maximum cap
Purchase more reinsurance

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21
Q

3 point on risk xl

A

Relates to individual losses
Affects only 1 insured risk at a time
Has total claim limit to protect against use as a cat xl substitute

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22
Q

Give 2 points and an example on cat xl

A

Reduce risk relating to non independence of risks insured
Renegotiate premiums each year
Eg. Hurricane destroys 50 houses insured by insurer

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23
Q

Give 7 point on aggregate xl

A

Reduces risk of many claims over a year leading to large outgo
Better than risk xl for this as that wouldn’t protect against many small claims
Retention level
Upper limit
Defined perils
Defined period e.g. 1 years claims
If all perils covered on whole account it’s stop loss reinsurance

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24
Q

What is ART?

What is the mnemonic for them and their uses?

A

Tailor made covers for risks conventional markets regard as uninsurable
DIPSIS
DESCARTES

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25
Q

Uses of DIPSIS covers?

A

Discounted cover, don’t need to fully finance un discounted liability
Integrated risk cover, avoid buying excess cover, smooth results, lock into attractive terms
Post loss funding, funding on specific loss
Securitisation, managing catastrophe risk
Insurance derivatives e.g. Weather options
Swaps, swap oppositely correlated risks

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26
Q

Explain discounted covers and uses

A

Don’t need to fully finance un discounted liabilities
Manage solvency
Capping losses
Risk transfer

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27
Q

Explain integrated risk covers and uses

A
Between insurer and reinsurer
Alternative to debt and equity
Avoid buying excess cover
Smooth results
Lock into attractive terms
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28
Q

Explain securitisation and uses

A

Transfer insurance risk to capital markets
Used for managing catastrophe risk
Not correlated with market risk

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29
Q

Explain post loss funding and uses

A

Pay fee now for funding on specific loss

Funding will be loan or equity

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30
Q

Explain insurance derivatives

A

Example is weather options

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31
Q

Explain swaps

A

Swap negatively correlated risks

E.g. Gas (cold weather) or water company (hot weather)

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32
Q

Explain DESCARTES

A
Diversify risks
Efficient risk management
Smooth results
Cheaper
Available where regular insurance say uninsurable
Solvency management
Reduce capital requirement
Increase security of company and payments 
Tax
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33
Q

How can a company diversify risks?

A
Line of business e.g. Term and annuity
Geographical area
Different reinsurers
Asset classes, multiple
Within asset classes, multiple
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34
Q

What are 2 problems of diversifying by business class (line of business)

A

Many products, different risks - expensive admin, staff training etc,
Many companies with many products - all generalists, no niche players

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35
Q

How do you solve the main problem in diversification by business class (many products, expensive admin)
Why does that help?

A

Reinsurance with other company who will reinsure some parts of their business to you, reciprocal quota share
Business exposed to more risks but can concentrate marketing, sales, administration on core products

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36
Q

What type of fat sir is reinsurance?

A

Transfer of risk

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37
Q

What type of fat sir is claims control?

A

Mitigation of consequence of financial risk that’s happened

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38
Q

What do you compare when deciding which claims control to use?
What are the types if claims control?

A
Cost of the type versus benefits (money saved) from using it 
Claim form
Estimates
Loss adjust
Ongoing monitoring
Inspection by employees or agents
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39
Q

What type of claims control are done for small/medium/large/phi claims?

A

Claim form and 1 estimate
Form and 2 or 3 estimates
Inspection by employee or agent and loss adjusting
Monitor receiver of money to make sure not fraudulent, length of claim

40
Q

What type of fat sir are management controls?

A

Reduce exposure to risk

41
Q

What do management controls include?

A
Data recording
Data checking
Accounting
Audit
Monitor assets and liabilities
Options and guarantees, liability hedging (matching)
42
Q

Explain data recording

A

Assists in adequate provisions for risks taken on
Reduce operational risk of poor data
Still same exposure to business risks (insurance, underwriting, financial over insurance, exposure)
Good quality data needed
Emphasis on risk factors

43
Q

Explain accounting and audit in context of management controls

A

Enable adequate provisions
Still same exposure to business risks
Ensures providers of finance about financial position if company

44
Q

Explain monitoring liabilities taken on in context of management controls

A

Reduces risk of aggregation of risks getting to unacceptable levels
Helps cross subsidies products, new business strain and monitoring

45
Q

Explain special care of options and guarantees

A

Even if they have no value now, might change with economic conditions over long term

46
Q

In the risk management if options and guarantees, what can be done? Give 3 examples

A

Liability hedging
Choose assets to move in same way as liabilities
E.g.
Immunisation hedges interest rate risk
Derivatives if guarantee relates to movement in an index
Option pricing methods, suitable assets don’t always exist

47
Q

What are the 3 reasons to hold reserves?

A

Liabilities accrued not yet paid
Future liabilities where premiums have been received
Claims incurred, not yet settled

48
Q

Give a formula for SCR

A

Best estimate liabilities plus
MAD plus
Buffer for general adverse experience

49
Q

What two ways might an SCR be calculated, bearing in mind we know its formula

A

Prescriptive, prudent valuation, little extra amount

Best estimate provisions plus lots of additional capital

50
Q

What are the 3 pillars

A

Capital requirement and risk exposure quantification
Supervisory regime
Disclosure requirement

51
Q

Explain what courses if action when fall below mcr, SCR

A

Not allowed to trade

Discuss remedies with regulator (close to new business etc)

52
Q

What model do you calculate the SCR ?

A

Internal or standard

53
Q

What 5 uses are there of an internal model?

A

Calculate solvency requirement using normal methods
Calculate economic capital using different risk measures, like var and tail var
Calculate levels of confidence in the ec requirement calculated
Apply different time horizons
Include other risk classes not in standard model

54
Q

Explain economic capital
What to use
What the balance sheet looks like
What ec is based on

A

Determines appropriate capital requirement
Balance sheet has market values if assets, liabilities and surplus
Uses assets, liabilities and business objectives
Based on risk profile of individual assets in portfolio
Based on risk correlations
Based on desired maximum depreciation of credit rating

55
Q

In needing working capital, what is the insurer aiming to do?

A

Ensure liabilities met
Ensure future growth
Maximise reported profits

56
Q

What need does an individual have for capital

A

Unexpected events

Big future expected events, or not expected

57
Q

Why does a general company need (working) capital?

A
Expansion
Volatility of trade volumes
Finance stock
Finance work in progress
Start up capital (premises, staff, equipment)
58
Q

Why does an insurer need capital

A

REG CUSHION
Cashflow timing, payout before sufficient funds gained
Management Systems to administer payments
Collecting premiums
Commission
Investment expenses
Administration expenses
Higher volumes of new business so larger new business strain
Interest rate risk if holding unmatched position
Mergers, aquisitions, demutualisation, new ventures
Smooth profits, mismatching
Improve solvency
Show strength to attract new business, impress market, credit rating agencies
Holding for guarantees and options, impact solvency merging and therefor capital requirements increase

59
Q

Why does a government or state sponsored organisation not need much spare working capital?
When does it need that small amount?

A

Borrow money in developed market
Raise taxes in developed market
Print money (inflationary)
Short term fund because of cashflow timing if government income and outgo.
Some reserves to smooth exchange rate fluctuations, balance of payments, economic cycle, gold and foreign currency.

60
Q

How might a company raise capital? (Increase their assets minus liabilities, raise money)
What special thing might a mutual have to do?

A

Retain profits, don’t distribute as dividends or bonuses
Keeps surplus in business, don’t distribute as dividends or bonuses
Issue shares to existing shareholders, rights issue
Issues debt securities to existing shareholders, rights issue
Issue shares or debt to new people, tender offers
Issue subordinated debt, the liability is after other creditors paid, so increase assets but not liabilities
Reinsure to limit capital requirements
Capital management tools
In mutual, someone must lend money with no requirement to be repaid unless profits emerge, no liability to pay back on balance sheet

61
Q

Why are capital management tools used, what are they?

A

Processes to meet, match and manage capital requirements

Model. 
FinRe
securitisation
subordinated debt
 liquidity facilities
contingent capital
senior unsecured financing
derivatives
equity
internal sources of capital
62
Q

Explain how model used in capital management tools

A

Model existing business and projected new business

Find capital requirement at given ruin probability

63
Q

Explain how FinRe used in capital management tools

A

Efficient management of capital solvency tax position of provider
Takes advantage in some way of position of reinsurer, may be overseas

64
Q

Explain how securitisation used in capital management tools

A

Convert illiquid asset to tradeable instrument

Transfers risk associated with it to a value of asset

65
Q

Explain how subordinated debt used in capital management tools

A

Raise capital that improves free capital position

Payments come after all others made so not used in solvency valuation

66
Q

Explain how liquidity facilities used in capital management tools

A

From banking sector

For short term financing and rapid growth

67
Q

Explain how contingent capital used in capital management tools

A

Capital provided on contingent event

Improves financial strength and credits rating

68
Q

Explain how senior unsecured financing used in capital management tools

A

By group for subsidiary
Cost effective
Group level strength decreases

69
Q

Explain how derivatives used in capital management tools

A

Use if reduce risk overall

Dangerous

70
Q

Explain how equity used in capital management tools

A

Increase assets without increasing regulatory liabilities, paid after all others

71
Q

Explain how internal sources of capital used in capital management tools, give examples

A

Reorganise internally to get better financial structure
Merge funds
Merge assets
Weaken valuation basis(assumptions)
Defer distribution of surplus
Retain capital by not paying dividends or bonuses

72
Q

What is the chart of risks, and what under each risk?

A
Financial
Market, assets, liquidity, matching
Credit, asset default, counterparty risk, debtors
Business, wife
Liquidity

Non financial
Operational, business continuity, third party admin, key person dominance, people processes systems
External
Regulations, tax, war, nature, competition, building setting on fire

73
Q

Why do active management funds exist

A

Not everyone has same estimates of risks and returns
They hold less diversified portfolio in in belief that their expected return over the market compensates for the diversifiable risk
Risk appetite determines extent to which they are prepared to hold diversifiable risk

74
Q

Give a one liner for credit risk
And on it’s 3 components
What’s the questions that need to be asked in good lending?
How Can a lenders position be enhanced?

A

Failure of 3rd parties to repay debts
Asset default, issuer of corporate bond defaulting on interest or capital
Counterparty, one party fails to meet their side of bargain
Debtors, purchaser of goods fails to pay
CASPAR
Security enhances, not an excuse for bad lending, must be within ability to realise it

75
Q

Give examples of character and ability of borrower?

A
Known
Competent
Trustworthy
Who introduced them
References
Don't lend to liars
Key personnel have good skills and experience?
76
Q

Give examples of purpose of lending

A

What purpose will money be put
Is the sector the borrower is in very risky
Already have diversification in that sector
Currency, environmental, resource, technological risks to borrower?
Ethical or moral?
Controls to ensure how money used?

77
Q

Give examples of amount in good lending?

A

Is it reasonable amount considering purpose
Is the borrowers contribution adequate
Who loses if project fails?

78
Q

Examples of repayment in good lending?

A

Can borrower repay when due
How certain is source of payment
What margin of safety is in projections
Margin if safety in assumptions

79
Q

What do decisions of what type of security is needed depend on!

A
Nature of project underlying borrowing
Covenant of borrower
Negotiating strength of borrower and lender
Market circumstances 
What security is available
80
Q

If a company takes actions to improve credit rating, what can it effect

A

Market for that company’s and others shares

81
Q

One liner on liquidity risk

A

Risk an individual or co pant although so,vent, doesn’t have sufficient financial resource to meet obligations when they fall due

82
Q

Why might a trading company go into liquidation?

A

Has sufficient assets, stock, work in progress to cover liabilities
Bit assets can’t be realised

83
Q

Why do insurers and benefit schemes not have much of a liquidity problem, why do banks?
How do collective investment schemes, hedge funds counter liquidity risk?

A

As they invest in cash, bonds, stock market
Banks take shirt term deposits and lend for longer periods, risk of a run
Lock in periods

84
Q

What is marketability risk?

A

A type of liquidity risk
In financial markets
Market doesn’t have capacity to handle volume of an asset to be traded @without adverse impact on price@

85
Q

One liner on market risk

One liners on its components

A

Risks related to changes in investment market values or features correlated with investment markets, like inflation and interest rates
Assets, consequences of changes on asset values
Liabilities, consequences of investment market value changes in liabilities
Matching, consequences of provider not matching when investment returns change

86
Q

Why might asset values change, market risk

A

Market values of equities and property change

Change in interest and inflation effecting bond markets mainly

87
Q

Why might liability values change, market risk

A

Guarantees directly related to investment markets, or inflation or interest rates
Provisions relating to the same thing, interest rates decreasing will increase present values

88
Q

What’s the fundamental principle of investment?

A

Assets should be invested to match nature term currency of liabilities
If it were possible to find a match then market risk could be completely removed

89
Q

Why is a perfect match not possible?

A

Not wide enough range of assets
Assets not long duration
Uncertain cashflow of liabilities after option date
Uncertain cashflow of liabilities from discretionary benefits
Cost of maintaining matches portfolio prohibitive

90
Q

What is additional capital used for in market risk thoughts

A

Allow freedom for mismatching

Covers cost of risk taken

91
Q

You can’t remove operational risk, what can you do?

A

Control or mitigate

92
Q

4 types of area where operational risk can arise

.

A

Failed or inadequate processes, people, systems
Dominance, single individual over running business
3 parties, carrying out major functions for the organisation
Failure of recovery plans from external event

93
Q

What types if external risk are there?

A

It’s systematic in general

Storm, fire, flood, terrorism, change in regulations and tax

94
Q

Give a one liner on business risks

Examples of business risk for an insurer, a company like Samsung

A

Risks specific to business undertaken
Operational risk are non financial events having financial consequences, these are financial events
Insurer, poor underwriting so price not adequate, more claims than anticipated, greater exposure to event than panned, failed project
Samsung, competitor launching new product a week before yours

95
Q

Whose risk appetite is catered for in design of a contract?

A

Company
Stakeholder groups
Individuals within stakeholder groups