This paper will first explore the effect of interest rate changes on the stock returns of Taiwan-listed life insurance companies. Then, we will examine the sensitivity of Taiwanese life insurance companies to interest rates by assuming and explicitly testing a two-factor model. Surprisingly, we found that stock return of the life insurance companies are not significantly affected by the interest rate movement. We will investigate and analyze the reasons why the result is inconsistent with our knowledge. One reason might be due to lack of timely financial reports. We observed that embedded value might be a better financial indicator used to evaluate the interest rate impact on life insurance company financial soundness. / This paper will first explore the effect of interest rate changes on the stock returns of Taiwan-listed life insurance companies. Then, we will examine the sensitivity of Taiwanese life insurance companies to interest rates by assuming and explicitly testing a two-factor model. Surprisingly, we found that stock return of the life insurance companies are not significantly affected by the interest rate movement. We will investigate and analyze the reasons why the result is inconsistent with our knowledge. One reason might be due to lack of timely financial reports. We observed that embedded value might be a better financial indicator used to evaluate the interest rate impact on life insurance company financial soundness.

本研究運用的投資組合理論(Portfolio Theory)與免疫理論(Immunization Theory)建構資產負債管理模型，希望在於免除利率風險下，能夠極大化勞保基金的投資報酬率。本研究探討勞保老年給付年金制實行後，勞保基金在資產負債管理之下最適資產配置。我們以勞保局編印之「勞工保險統計年報」中勞保基金民國81年到91年實際投資的資料及勞保局委託研究之精算報告對於老年給付年金制實行後未來勞保基金的給付預測值，在不同年金選擇率以及不同的費率與控管年限下，根據勞保基金資產與負債的存續期間，建議勞保基金最適的投資組合，並計算資產負債管理成本，研究結果發現： 1 年金選擇率為100％及80%時，勞保費率提高至8.3%僅能確保未來30年與40年勞保基金不會因為利率變動而導致基金破產甚至無力清償，但考慮年限為50年時，國內市場無法找到存續期間可以配合的投資工具，無法規避利率風險。年金選擇率為50%時，由於未來各年之勞保的給付獲得舒緩，使得資產配置所需的存續期間也降低，故當勞保費率提高 至8%即可確保勞保基金未來50年可以規避利率風險的危機，且在國內市場上可以找到投資工具配合。 2. 要使勞保基金免於利率風險的考慮年限越長，其投資組合的重心應該從現行的銀行存款移轉到債券及股票與受益憑證。 3. 進行資產負債管理是需要成本的，若以資產負債管理前後效率前緣下的投資報酬率的差異為資產負債管理成本，在年金選擇率100%時資產負債管理平均成本為0.3695%；選擇率80%時平均成本為0.434%；年金選擇率為50%時資產負債管理平均成本為0.384%，研究結果顯示資產負債管理平均成本都低於0.5%以下，故建議勞保基金應盡早進行資產負債管理以因應老年給付年金化後利率風險對於勞保基金財務上的衝擊。 / This paper investigates the Asset-Liability Management for Labor Insurance Fund. We utilize Immunization Theory and Portfolio Theory selection model to immunize the surplus of Labor Insurance Funds against interest-rate fluctuations and to maximize expected return of Labor Insurance Funds simultaneously. In addition, we use the data from Labor Insurance Funds from 1992 to 2002 to demonstrate the implementation of our model. We calculate the optimal asset allocation and the ALM cost under different lump-sum/annuity selection ratio、time horizon and contribution rates. The empirical results from this study show that： 1. Assuming 100% and 80% participants choice annuity, to prevent the insolvency of Labor Insurance Fund from interest-rate fluctuations in 30 and 40 years, the Labor Insurance premium must increase to 8.3%. Assuming 50% participants choice annuity, to prevent the insolvency of Labor Insurance Fund from interest-rate fluctuations in 50 years, the Labor Insurance premium must increase to 8%. 2. To prolong the period over which the Labor Insurance Funds can immunize its surplus against interest-rate fluctuations, a large proportion of the investment asset should be allocate from bank deposit to bond and stock. 3. ALM needs cost. Assuming 100% participants choice annuity, the average ALM cost is 0.3695%.Assuming 80% participants choice annuity, the average ALM cost is 0.434%.Assuming 50% participants choice annuity, the average ALM cost is 0.384%. We find the average ALM cost is very small under any lump-sum/annuity selection ratio. Therefore, we suggest Bureau of Labor Insurance should start to implement ALM as soon as possible to avoid the affect of interest-rate fluctuations.

[pt] O Asset Liability Management (ALM) é uma ferramenta essencial para uma administração eficaz de bancos, seguradoras e fundos de pensão, principalmente no que diz respeito ao monitoramento e controle de riscos enfrentados por estas instituições. Dentre estes riscos, o de taxa de juros é uma das principais fontes de perda potencial para uma instituição financeira. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar formas de se controlar este tipo de risco. Para tal, será estudada a fundo a estratégia de imunização de carteiras. Esta estratégia consiste em montar uma carteira ótima de forma que a mesma seja imune a variações na taxa de juros, ou seja, independente das variações que ocorram nas taxas de juros, o valor da carteira não se altere. Dois modelos de imunização de carteiras de renda fixa propostos na literatura são estudados detalhadamente. Um utiliza a técnica de análise de componentes principais (ACP), imunizando a carteira na direção destes componentes. O outro modelo usa um método de minimização do risco estocástico. Em ambos, um exemplo ilustrativo é apresentado e uma aplicação prática é feita utilizando-se dados de um fundo de pensão no Brasil (este tipo de estratégia é de extremo interesse para fundos de pensão, que possuem longos fluxos de passivos e que desejam garantir que suas obrigações sejam sempre satisfeitas). Por fim, é feita uma análise dos resultados obtidos após a imunização. / [en] Asset Liability Management (ALM) is an important tool used in the administration of banks, insurance companies and pension funds, especially for monitoring and controlling the risk those institutions usually face. Among the various types of risk, the interest rate risk is one of the main sources of potential loss for a financial institution. This dissertation aims to study ways of controlling this type of risk. Thus, we will thoroughly study the strategy used for Asset Liability Management. This strategy consists in assembling an optimum portfolio in a way that it becomes unaffected by changes in the interest rates. A couple of immunization models for fixed rate portfolios are studied in detail. One of them employs the method of principal component analysis (PCA), immunizing the portfolio in the direction of those components. The other model minimizes the stochastic risk. In both of them, we present an example and use of the method in a Brazilian pension fund (this strategy is highly interesting to pension funds since they work with a long liability cash flow and want to certify their obligations will always be satisfied). Finally, we analyse the results obtained with the two methods.

[pt] O termo imunização denota a construção de uma carteira de títulos de forma a torná-la imune a variações nas taxas de juros. No caso das entidades de previdência complementar, o objetivo da imunização é distribuir os recebimentos intermediários e finais dos ativos de acordo com o fluxo de pagamentos dos benefícios. Em geral, quanto maior a classe de alterações na estrutura a termo das taxas de juros (ETTJ), mais restritivo se torna o modelo. Embora exista uma vasta literatura sobre o aspecto estatístico e sobre o significado econômico dos modelos de imunização, esse trabalho inova ao prover uma análise detalhada do desempenho comparado dos modelos, sob três perspectivas complementares: o método escolhido, a dimensionalidade e, ainda, o horizonte de investimento. Entretanto, a decisão final do gestor não está restrita à escolha do método de imunização, como também ao horizonte de investimento a ser imunizado, uma vez que outros instrumentos financeiros podem garantir tanto a solvência econômica quanto a financeira. Os limites não operacionais à imunização são analisados por meio da comparação das medianas do relativo de riqueza e da probabilidade de exaustão da carteira. A análise permite concluir que os modelos de imunização tradicional são mais eficientes, especialmente no médio e longo prazo, que os modelos multidimensionais de gestão do risco de taxa de juros. Ademais, demonstra-se que não existem limites naturais à imunização, quando aplicada ao mercado previdenciário brasileiro por um período igual ou inferior a 10 anos. / [en] Immunization is defined as the investment in assets in such a way that the fixed income portfolio is immune to a change in interest rates. In the special case of pension funds, immunization seeks the distribution of the cash inflows in accordance with the outflows represented by the fund´s liabilities. The article compares distinct alternative methods of immunization against the traditional duration-matching strategy. All portfolios were obtained as a result of mathematical programming problems, where the choice of the immunization strategy led to the restrictions imposed on the evolution of the term structure of interest rates. Despite the intensive research related to this subject, there are some gaps to be filled yet, especially those concerned with the investment horizon. That is exactly the main objective of this thesis. The work provides the basis for selecting the most appropriate method for immunization and also demonstrates the superiority of the traditional duration-matching strategy, especially in the medium and long run. Moreover, it is demonstrated that there is no limit other than operational to the immunization process concerning Brazilian markets for investment horizons of less than 10 years.

本文考量於Excel介面下設計一「壽險公司現金流量模型」，透過保險財管、精算理論的採用與大量隨機模擬亂數的應用，欲建構一結合理論基礎與實務運用的動態財務分析系統雛形。 模型中，資產面的模擬項目共有七項：1.債券與放款：採用CIR或Vesicek兩利率模型供選擇進行利率期間結構生成，以模擬出各到期期限的債券及放款價格。2.股票：以資本資產訂價模型(CAPM)來模擬各類股股票價格的變動與股票投資報酬。3.不動產：使用幾何布朗運動模擬不動產價值與租金收入。4.國外投資：利用幾何布朗運動模擬匯率的變動。5.現金及銀行存款。6.應收款項，考量壞帳情況下，逐年比率攤回殘餘金額。7.其他資產。 負債面採用定期險、終身生死合險與遞延年金險模擬壽險公司業務經營的現金流量情況。藉由資產與負債的整合，可模擬出公司未來十年內各年度的損益情況，讓使用者了解於承受總體經濟各項不確定風險下，壽險公司資產面、負債面與業主權益的現金流量情況。 文末引用個案範例，進行實務操作的說明，示範如何應用本模型來進行最適資產配置決策與敏感度分析，以證明本系統的合理可行性。最後，並對此系統提出檢討與展望，期待後續研究可加入程式語言的應用而建構出一完備的動態財務分析系統。 / The main purpose of this study is to construct a dynamic cash flow testing for the life insurance company by using Excel. Through the adoption of financial and actuarial theories and the application of stochastic method, we want to provide a rudiment analysis framework of life dynamic financial model that combines theoretical basis and practical application. This analysis framework includes seven categories of assets. The simulation models or related issues for each category will be discussed accordingly. – 1. Bonds and mortgage loans: providing CIR and Vesicek interest rate model for users to generate the interest term structure. 2. Stocks: applying CAPM method to simulate the stock prices and stock returns. 3. Real estate and rental income: using Geometric Brownian Motion to simulate the price of real estate and the rental income. 4. Foreign investment assets: using Geometric Brownian Motion to simulate the movement of exchange rate. 5. Cash and Deposits. 6. Account Receivable: after considering bad loans, we amortize the residual account receivables for a specific period. On the liability side, we use three types of products - term life, whole life endowment, and deferred annuity - to generate the business profile as well as the cash flows patterns of the life insurance company. By integrating the asset and liability sides of the model, we can simulate the revenue of the company for the following ten years and enable the users to predict the future cash flows under uncertain financial conditions. Finally, applications of this model are presented as thoroughly as possible to educate the users about how to make the optimal asset allocation decisions and sensitive scenario analysis. The application results show that the model reasonably fits the desired results. Since the model presented here is not a complete DFA model, future researches may consider adding more refined component into the analysis framework like using programming language.