Coral Gables, February 17, 2025 –SL FINANCIAL is an actuarial consulting and advisory firm based in Miami, Florida. We offer actuarial consulting and advisory services for businesses and governments in both traditional (re)insurance and alternative risk financing industries.

Life insurance companies rely on extensive data analysis to assess risk, set premiums, and ensure financial stability. Two key factors influencing this process are mortality and longevity, which shape the foundation of group and individual life insurance plans. However, their application extends beyond insurance into other sectors such as pension plans, post-employment benefits, and social security systems. 

Mortality Tables: The Backbone of Life Insurance and Other Sectors

Mortality tables, or life tables, use historical data and actuarial models to predict life expectancies and set insurance pricing. They play a crucial role in areas such as:

• Post-employment Benefits: Companies use life tables to accurately estimate post-retirement obligations for their employees.
• Healthcare and Social Security:  Governments and institutions rely on life tables to design well-structured and appropriate social security expenditures.
• Financial Planning: Investment firms also use life tables to develop long-term strategies for annuities and retirement portfolios.

Benefits of Well-Developed Mortality Tables

The use of well-constructed mortality tables provides numerous benefits, including:

• Improved Risk Management: Better assessment of financial risks for insurers and pension funds.
• Better Pricing and Reserving: Ensuring premiums and reserves are set correctly to reduce financial strain..
• Enhanced Financial Planning: Supporting long-term obligations planning, such as pensions and post-employment benefits..
• Regulatory Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring solvency for financial institutions.

What Are the key Factors in Building and Validating Life Tables?

The accuracy of mortality tables is essential for their effectiveness in various sectors. Key aspects to consider when constructing and validating these tables include: 

• Data Quality: Accurate predictions depend on reliable and comprehensive demographic data.
• Segmentation: Mortality risk factors such as age, gender, lifestyle, and medical history must be accounted for.
• Statistical Methods: Actuarial and statistical techniques, including smoothing and graduation help refine mortality projections. 
• Periodic Updates: Mortality trends evolve, requiring frequent updates and recalibration to reflect current conditions.

After building standard mortality tables, it’s worth shifting focus to a particular type called Experience Tables, which play a key role in specialized tasks and different business applications.

Experience Tables: A Closer Look at Their Specialized Role

Experience life tables, based on an entity’s own demographic data, provide more precise mortality estimates than standard population tables. They help insurers, pension funds, and corporations refine risk assessments and financial projections.

With the implementation of IFRS 17, insurers must recognize profits over time, making accurate mortality assumptions critical for financial reporting. The standard requires best-estimate assumptions tailored to company-specific data, encouraging the use of experience life tables. These tables help insurers comply with IFRS 17, reduce financial volatility, and improve reserve adequacy.

Industry Insights and Collaboration

To keep mortality and longevity tables accurate and relevant, insurers and institutions often rely on studies and reports from actuarial associations like the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and other industry experts. These studies help refine models and ensure better decision-making in the face of evolving risks.

SL FINANCIAL’s Expertise

SL FINANCIAL excels in constructing and validating these tables by testing their predictive accuracy against observed outcomes, enabling businesses to adjust their pricing models, reserving strategies, and benefit obligations accordingly. 

Understanding mortality and longevity is crucial for both insurers and policyholders. Beyond insurance, their role in pensions, social security, and financial planning underscores their significance in various industries. A well-developed life table enhances financial stability, reduces unexpected liabilities, and allows companies to make informed decisions about long-term commitments in an ever-changing world.

For any question or media inquiry, please visit our website at www.sl-financial.com or contact our team at that ceo@sl-financial.com. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Achille Sime

CEO

ceo@sl-financial.com