(a) When an actuarial opinion is provided, the memorandum must demonstrate that the analysis has been done in accordance with the standards for asset adequacy referred to in section 1033(d) and any additional standards under this chapter. It must specify:
(1) For reserves
(A) Product descriptions including market description, underwriting and other aspects of a risk profile and the specific risks the appointed actuary considers significant;
(B) Source of liability in force;
(C) Reserve method and basis;
(D) Investment reserves;
(E) Reinsurance arrangements;
(F) Identification of any explicit or implied guarantees made by the general account in support of benefits provided through a separate account or under a separate account policy or contract and the methods used by the appointed actuary to provide for the guarantees in the asset adequacy analysis;
(G) Documentation of assumptions to test reserves for the following:
(i) Lapse rates, both base and excess;
(ii) Interest crediting rate strategy;
(iii) Mortality;
(iv) Policyholder dividend strategy;
(v) Competitor or market interest rate;
(vi) Annuitization rates;
(vii) Commissions and expenses; and
(viii) Morbidity.
(H) The documentation of the assumptions must be such that an actuary reviewing the actuarial memorandum could form a conclusion as to the reasonableness of the assumptions.
(2) For assets:
(A) Portfolio descriptions, including a risk profile disclosing the quality, distribution and types of assets;
(B) Investment and disinvestment assumptions;
(C) Source of asset data;
(D) Asset valuation bases; and
(E) Documentation of assumptions made for:
(i) Default costs;
(ii) Bond call function;
(iii) Mortgage prepayment function;
(iv) Determining market value for assets sold due to disinvestment strategy; and
(iv) Determining yield on assets acquired through the investment strategy.
(F) The documentation of the assumption must be such that an actuary reviewing the actuarial memorandum could form a conclusion as to the reasonableness of the assumptions.
(3) For the analysis basis:
(A) Methodology;
(B) Rationale for inclusion or exclusion of different blocks of business and how pertinent risks were analyzed;
(C) Rationale for degree of rigor in analyzing different blocks of business, including in the rationale the level of “materiality” that was used in determining how rigorously to analyze different blocks of business;
(D) Criteria for determining asset adequacy, including in the criteria the precise basis for determining if assets are adequate to cover reserves under “moderately adverse conditions” or other conditions as specified in relevant actuarial standards of practice; and
(E) Whether the impact of federal income taxes was considered and the method of treating reinsurance in the asset adequacy analysis;
(4) Summary of material changes in methods, procedures, or assumptions from prior year’s asset adequacy analysis;
(5) Summary of results; and
(6) Conclusions
(b) Details of the Regulatory Asset Adequacy Issues Summary
(1) The regulatory asset adequacy issues summary must include:
(A) Descriptions of the scenarios tested, including whether those scenarios are stochastic or deterministic, and the sensitivity testing done relative to those scenarios. If negative ending surplus results under certain tests in the aggregate, the actuary shall describe those tests and the amount of additional reserve as of the valuation date which, if held, would eliminate the negative aggregate surplus values. Ending surplus values must be determined by either extending the projection period until the in force and associated assets and liabilities at the end of the projection period are immaterial or by adjusting the surplus amount at the end of the projection period by an amount that appropriately estimates the value that can reasonably be expected to arise from the assets and liabilities remaining in force.
(B) The extent to which the appointed actuary uses assumptions in the asset adequacy analysis that are materially different than the assumptions used in the previous asset adequacy analysis;
(C) The amount of reserves and the identity of the product lines that had been subjected to asset adequacy analysis in the prior opinion but were not subject to analysis for the current opinion;
(D) Comments on any interim results that may be of significant concern to the appointed actuary, such as the impact of the insufficiency of assets to support the payment of benefits and expenses and the establishment of statutory reserves during one or more interim periods;
(E) The methods used by the actuary to recognize the impact of reinsurance on the company’s cash flows, including both assets and liabilities, under each of the scenarios tested; and
(F) Whether the actuary has been satisfied that all options whether explicit or embedded, in any asset or liability, including but not limited to those affecting cash flows embedded in fixed income securities and equity-like features in any investments have been appropriately considered in the asset adequacy analysis.
(2) The regulatory asset adequacy issues summary must contain the name of the company for which the regulatory asset adequacy issues summary is being supplied and must be signed and dated by the appointed actuary rendering the actuarial opinion.
(c) Conformity to Standards of Practice. The memorandum must include a statement:
(d) Use of Assets Supporting the Interest Maintenance Reserve and the Asset Valuation Reserve
(1) An appropriate allocation of assets in the amount of the interest maintenance reserve, whether positive or negative, must be used in any asset adequacy analysis. Analysis of risks regarding asset default may include an appropriate allocation of assets supporting the asset valuation reserve; these asset valuation reserve assets may not be applied for any other risks with respect to reserve adequacy. Analysis of these and other risks may include assets supporting other mandatory or voluntary reserves available to the extent not used for risk analysis and reserve support.
(2) The amount of the assets used for the asset valuation reserve must be disclosed in the table of reserves and liabilities of the opinion and in the memorandum. The method used for selecting particular assets or allocated portions of assets must be disclosed in the memorandum.
(e) Documentation. For seven years, the appointed actuary must retain on file sufficient documentation so that it will be possible to determine the procedures followed, the analyses performed, the bases for assumptions and the results obtained.