A reinsurer wanted to compare technical treaty prices using varying capital allocation methodologies. A Pinnacle actuary assisted in the design of a model that used standard allocation methodologies, capital allocation based on marginal impacts to rating agency required capital, and recent ideas in capital consumption / utility theory. The result was a pricing model that highlighted the sensitivity of expected ROEs to the chosen capital allocation method and allowed underwriters to make more informed decisions.

Pinnacle was retained by an insurance company specializing in catastrophic risk to identify and test alternative sources of risk financing capacity including traditional reinsurance and catastrophe bonds. In order to complete the project, Pinnacle designed a dynamic financial model to determine the cost/benefit of alternate risk financing strategies.

An international financial services holding company wished to become the sole owner of a company in which they had a substantial minority interest. One of our consultants designed a stochastic valuation model projecting dividend streams several decades into the future. One of the more interesting features of this model is that it did not merely arrive at a point estimate of the value of the firm but applied various assumptions to calculate a range of values. The assumptions were discussed in advance with management and the model produced a probability distribution of the value of the firm. This allowed the client to determine the likely return for a given purchase price, improving the decision making process that led to the holding company obtaining full ownership of the subsidiary.

Pinnacle was asked by a regional insurer to help build a customized financial model for use in strategic decision making and in determining economic capital needs. The model reflected current and potential underwriting operations. It also incorporated economic scenario generators, capital allocation, catastrophe model results, regulatory and rating agency metrics such as risk-based capital (RBC) and Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratings (BCAR), as well as loss reserve variability. The model was designed to be used to evaluate a variety of strategic decisions, particularly related to underwriting, reinsurance, macro investment allocation, and capital allocation decisions.

An international insurance and reinsurance company wanted to design an optimization model to be used for both asset and liability decisions. Pinnacle actuaries were able to demonstrate to company management that their initial approach was both practically and theoretically unsound and prevented them from implementing a flawed decision making procedure. We were also able to suggest approaches that were more sound and would allow them to design a model that performed as desired.

A reinsurer wanted to combine the results of their pricing and reserving models for individual treaties - from diverse lines of business and treaty structures - to produce an annual return distribution for the company. This was a part of their ERM framework and the genesis of their economic capital modeling process. After reviewing treaty wordings and pricing and reserving models, we designed a model that reflected dependency amongst the treaties and produced an annual return distribution. Furthermore, the model was designed to allow users of the model output to easily see how sensitive the results were to the assumed dependency structures.

Pinnacle was asked by a large self-insured regional transportation authority to assess the impact of increasing their self-insured retentions for both workers compensation and automobile liability. We developed a stochastic simulation analysis, based on the program’s historical claims experience and industry benchmarks, that examined not only the increase in expected losses but the program’s additional potential loss variability. Finally, we discussed with the customer the relationship between their current capital position, as well as the current reinsurance market, to ensure the retention they selected for their program was appropriate for them. The authority ultimately increased their retentions, put some of their excess capital to work, and realized substantial savings in their reinsurance costs.

Pinnacle was asked by a state department of corrections to provide a comprehensive, independent review of the adequacy of their property and casualty insurance plan. The independent insurance plan review was necessary for compliance purposes with state insurance regulators. The facility had even stricter self-imposed standards for their insurance plan. It was Pinnacle’s job to review the guidelines for reasonableness and appropriateness as part of an overall risk management strategy. Pinnacle reviewed and adhered to the state code as well as the additional standards provided by the facility. Moving through each line of insurance coverage, Pinnacle offered recommendations and approval notations. The result was an increased level of risk control for the facility, and subsequently led to a follow up review by Pinnacle at the next required consultation.

A large group self insurance program was concerned with the amount of retained earnings and wanted to establish a policy for the minimum capital for the program to trigger dividend distributions. Pinnacle compared the program’s capitalization to a wide variety of industry standards for similar programs from rating agencies, regulators, and other sources. The results of this analysis lead to a recommended board policy regarding a minimum capital threshold for dividend distributions and ultimately to the development of an actuarially sound dividend distribution plan.