Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1931. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis presents an attempt to simplify the language used in life insurance provisions.

In recent years, new regulations and stronger competition have further increased the importance of stochastic asset-liability management (ALM) models for life insurance firms. However, the often complex nature of life insurance contracts makes modeling to a challenging task, and insurance firms often struggle with models quickly becoming too complicated and inefficient. There is therefore an interest in investigating if, in fact, certain traits of financial ratios could be exposed through a more efficient model. In this thesis, a discrete time stochastic model framework, for the simulation of simplified balance sheets of life insurance products, is proposed. The model is based on a two-factor stochastic capital market model, supports the most important product characteristics, and incorporates a reserve-dependent bonus declaration. Furthermore, a first approach to endogenously model customer transitions is proposed, where realized policy returns are used for assigning transition probabilities. The model's sensitivity to different input parameters, and ability to capture the most important behaviour patterns, are demonstrated by the use of scenario and sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, based on the findings from these analyses, suggestions for improvements and further research are also presented. / Införandet av nya regelverk och ökad konkurrens har medfört att stokastiska ALM-modeller blivit allt viktigare för livförsäkringsbolag. Den ofta komplexa strukturen hos försäkringsprodukter försvårar dock modelleringen, vilket gör att många modeller anses vara för komplicerade samt ineffektiva, av försäkringsbolagen. Det finns därför ett intresse i att utreda om egenskaper hos viktiga finansiella nyckeltal kan studeras utifrån en mer effektiv och mindre komplicerad modell. I detta arbete föreslås ett ramverk för stokastisk modellering av en förenklad version av balansräkningen hos typiska livförsäkringsbolag. Modellen baseras på en stokastisk kapitalmarknadsmodell, med vilken såväl aktiepriser som räntenivåer simuleras. Vidare så stödjer modellen simulering av de mest väsentliga produktegenskaperna, samt modellerar kundåterbäring som en funktion av den kollektiva konsolideringsgraden. Modellens förmåga att fånga de viktigaste egenskaperna hos balansräkningens ingående komponenter undersöks med hjälp av scenario- och känslighetsanalyser. Ytterligare undersöks även huruvida modellen är känslig för förändringar i olika indata, där fokus främst tillägnas de parametrar som kräver mer avancerade skattningsmetoder.

The treatment of life insurance policies in deceased estates and the effect thereof on marriages in community of property is the cause of various problems for executors. In terms of section 3(3) of the Estate Duty Act 45 of 1955 life insurance policies are deemed to be assets of the deceased. Consequently life insurance policies are reflected in the estate duty addendum of the deceased estate. Life insurance policies however are not always reflected in the liquidation account of the deceased estate as assets, notwithstanding the fact that life insurance policies are deemed to be assets for estate duty purposes. In this regard a distinction should be made between two situations: firstly where life insurance policies are reflected in the liquidation account of the insured estate and secondly where life insurance policies are not reflected in the liquidation account of the insured. For spouses married in community of property this creates a problem especially when you keep in mind that life insurance policies are in many instances a person's biggest monetary asset. When life insurance policies are reflected in the liquidation account of the insured, the surviving spouse has a claim on half of the policy proceeds. When life insurance policies are not reflected in the liquidation account of the insured, the surviving spouse has no claim on the policy proceeds. The problem that arises in this regard is that there is no certainty as to what extent life insurance policies should be included in the calculation of estate duty, and how these policies must be reflected in the estate of the deceased. This uncertainty has been perpetuated by courts. This research will illustrate how the courts came to different conclusions where the facts were more or less similar. / Thesis (LL.M. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The treatment of life insurance policies in deceased estates and the effect thereof on marriages in community of property is the cause of various problems for executors. In terms of section 3(3) of the Estate Duty Act 45 of 1955 life insurance policies are deemed to be assets of the deceased. Consequently life insurance policies are reflected in the estate duty addendum of the deceased estate. Life insurance policies however are not always reflected in the liquidation account of the deceased estate as assets, notwithstanding the fact that life insurance policies are deemed to be assets for estate duty purposes. In this regard a distinction should be made between two situations: firstly where life insurance policies are reflected in the liquidation account of the insured estate and secondly where life insurance policies are not reflected in the liquidation account of the insured. For spouses married in community of property this creates a problem especially when you keep in mind that life insurance policies are in many instances a person's biggest monetary asset. When life insurance policies are reflected in the liquidation account of the insured, the surviving spouse has a claim on half of the policy proceeds. When life insurance policies are not reflected in the liquidation account of the insured, the surviving spouse has no claim on the policy proceeds. The problem that arises in this regard is that there is no certainty as to what extent life insurance policies should be included in the calculation of estate duty, and how these policies must be reflected in the estate of the deceased. This uncertainty has been perpetuated by courts. This research will illustrate how the courts came to different conclusions where the facts were more or less similar. / Thesis (LL.M. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

有鑑於附有最低保證給付投資型保險期末現金流量與選擇權如出一轍，是以應用平賭訂價理論(The Martingale Pricing Method)嵌入HJM利率模型，對隨機利率下附有最低保證給付投資型保險進行評價。並對繳費方式與利率型態兩議題所構成四種類型附有最低保證給付投資型保險作實地數據模擬與評價，以及敏感度分析。 研究結果可以歸納為四點結論。 (1) 單就附有最低保證給付投資型保險簡化版（忽略期中死亡理賠與期滿生存機率）而言： 可視為是最低保證給付折現與以之為履約價的買權組合。因此，當影響因子僅與買權有相關性時，附有最低保證給付投資型保險與理論買權的敏感度分析結果，如出一轍。連動標的期初價格與波動度變動於附有最低保證給付投資型保險影響便是實證。 (2) 延續上點論述衍生： 當影響因子同時對買權與附有最低保證給付折現具有相關性時，由於買權佔整個保險價值比重過低，是以主要影響力皆來自附有最低保證給付的變動。附有最低保證給付與固定利率折現因子變動對於保險價值影響，即反應此結果。 (3) 分別就繳費方式不同下，投保年齡與投保期限變動對於附有最低保證給付投資保險的影響而言： 躉繳型繳費方式下，由第二點結論可得，投保期限越長保費越低，是以當投保年齡越大，期中死亡率提高，且期間短的保費較高的情況下，投保年齡變動對於附有最低保證給付投資型保險影響為正向；分期繳型繳費方式下，由於條款設定不同，無法與躉繳型一概而論，反映在投保期間越長保單價值與保費皆增加，但若是比較其增加的幅度（二階條件小於零）逐漸減少，倒是與躉繳型投資保險投保期間與保費關係意思相同，只是呈現方式不同。分期繳型投資型保險保單價值與投保年齡關係，從投保期限與保費關係以及高年齡層死亡率較高，可以得知，隨著投保年齡的增加，分期繳型投資保險中因為死亡理賠的現金流量產生機會提高，而此部分期間短保單價值較低，是以投保年齡與保單價值呈現反比關係，但是保單價值平準化後的保費，源於平準因子每期存活率因投保年齡增加而減少，造成投保年齡越高，保費也越高。 (4) 就性別而言： 躉繳型附有最低保證給付投資保險，由於女性相較於男性死亡率較低，容易取得期間較長的期滿保證金，而此部分價值較低，是以女生保費較男生便宜；分期繳型附有最低保證給付投資保險，則是相反的表現，由於此部分價值較高，是以女性的保險價值高於男性，同時因女性平準因子中的存活率也比男性高，是以每期所要繳交的保費也比男性低廉。 (5) 就利率型態而言： 隨機利率下躉繳型投資型保險與固定利率下躉繳型投資保險相較，便宜許多，主要是因為利率型態為隨機，且期初利率期間結構打破水平狀態的假設，真實反應正常期初利率期間結構(Normal Interest Rate Term Structure)，是以評價出的保費較固定利率型態下的保費低廉，甚至於分期繳型附有最低保證給付投資保險，在隨機利率下，隨著投保期限增加，保費反而下降。

摘要 衡量壽險公司利率風險的初步作法是估算保單的存續期間。保單的存續期間因現金流量模式的不同與一般債券的存續期間有很大的差異。壽險保單未來不只會產生現金流出 （給付和費用），還會有現金流入（保費），其淨現金流量因而有可能變號，所以壽險保單的存續期問可能小於○，也可能大於到期日，甚至還可能因為準備金接近○的關係而有很大的數值。此外，保單的存續期間不太受死亡率下降的影響，解約率升高通常會使存續期問的數值降低，而佣金的平準化則會使原本正的存續期問變小。從壽險公司銷售保單組合可能的結果（平穩、成長、衰退等三種型態）來分析負債存續期間，由其結果可知一個新創立或成長型的壽險公司其所面臨利率風險的衝擊要大於一個處於平穩型或衰退型的壽險公司。 關鍵字：存續期間、利率風險、淨現金流量、壽險保單、準備金 / Abstract Estimating the duration of the life insurance policy is the first step in measuring the interest rate risk of the life insurance company. Life insurance policy's duration is quite different from bond's due to the difference in the pattern of cash flows. Life insurance policies generate not only cash outflows as payments to policyholders from insurance companies but also cash inflows as premiums from policyholders to insurers. Furthermore, the net cash flow usually turns from inflow to outflow as time goes by. The duration of the life insurance policy therefore could be negative or longer than the maturity of the policy. It could even be huge if its reserve is close to zero. Besides, the mortality rate does not have a significant impact on policy duration; early surrenders of policies would reduce policy duration in general; and leveling commission rate would make positive duration smaller. Findings concluding from analyzing the likely results, referring to the steadying, growing and declining modes, of insurance portfolios offered by life insurance companies for analyzing their liability duration, indicate that the interest rate risk exposure by a start-up life insurance company or a growing life insurance company is greater than a life insurance company that is at a steadying or declining phase. Keywords: duration, interest rate risk, net cash flow, life insurance policies, reserve.