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IFRS 17 - Practical Tips and Lessons Learnt (Part 2)

Second blog in a three-part series containing practical pointers, simplified solutions, and top tips to prepare for IFRS 17, with this part focusing on technical actuarial topics.

Part 2: Technical Actuarial Aspects

Introduction

This blog is the second in a three-part series containing practical pointers, simplified solutions, and top tips to prepare for IFRS 17 implementation, with this part focusing on technical actuarial topics.

Fulfilment Cash Flows

What is required under IFRS 17?

IFRS 17 states that fulfilment cash flows of an insurance contract should consist of “an explicit, unbiased, and probability-weighted estimate of the present value of the future cash outflows less the present value of the future cash inflows that will arise as the entity fulfils insurance contracts”. These cash flows include, but are not limited to, premiums, claims, expenses, and commissions.

Top Practical Tips:

The reserving philosophy of case estimates and “incurred but not reported” claims is key. Are you able to justify that your current approach is on a best estimate basis? Your auditor may challenge you on this.

In addition, “actual” verses “expected” analysis must be disclosed. Therefore, you may need to review the current process, and consider automation/industrialisation, to ensure it is efficient on a business as usual basis.

Discount Rates:

What is required under IFRS 17?

IFRS 17 requires an entity to “adjust the estimates of future cash flows to reflect the time value of money and the financial risk related to those cash flows, to the extent that the financial risks are not included in the estimates of cash flows”.

Top-down Method:

Check the availability of the asset data and external market data that is required to derive the discount rates. This may need to be purchased from your asset manager and should be factored into your overall implementation plan.

Bottom-up Method:

Key considerations for deriving the discount rates are:

Which risk-free rates should be used.
How to quantify the illiquidity premium, for instance how predictable are the insurance cash flows.

Practical Pointers:

Consider how to interpolate between maturity points in the discount rate curve or extrapolate beyond the last given maturity. Different methods can be used, from linear interpolation to more complex modelling. Consider how this can be implemented on a business as usual basis, and if the process can be automated/industrialised.

Risk Adjustment

What is required under IFRS 17?

IFRS 17 requires an entity to “Adjust the estimate of the present value of the future cash flows to reflect the compensation that the entity requires for bearing the uncertainty about the amount and timing of the cash flows that arise from non-financial risk.”

Lessons Learnt:

Explore different methods to determine the risk adjustment, and justify the chosen approach based on your risk profile. In our experience, entities rarely conclude on the confidence level the first time. There are numerous ways to determine this and it could be an iterative process, and it is important to ensure the risk adjustment is aligned to the company’s risk appetite.

If you calculate the risk adjustment at a higher aggregation level for actuarial calculation credibility and precision, think about how to allocate this down to the IFRS 17 cohort level.

Contractual Service Margin

What is required under IFRS 17?

“The contractual service margin is a component of the asset or liability for the group of insurance contracts that represents the unearned profit the entity will recognise as it provides services in the future.”

Lessons Learnt:

The coverage unit pattern can materially impact the timing of profit recognition in the income statement and the outcome of any “premium allocation approach” eligibility testing. Therefore, check if you have the data required for coverage unit calculations available.

Transition Valuation

Practical considerations regarding the three permitted methods to assess future profits on existing business at the transition date:

Full Retrospective: This approach may require extensive historical data and actuarial assumptions. Check if this is available without using hindsight, and at the level of granularity required.

Modified Retrospective: This is not necessarily easier because you still need sound data on actual cash flows and justification for why you cannot apply the full retrospective approach.

Fair Value: Practical challenges may be encountered when deriving a fair value risk adjustment or discount rate, for example. This is a highly subjective area that can significantly impact the valuation.

How Marsh Can Help

If you work for an insurance company or captive that reports under IFRS and are concerned about implementation, get in touch with the Marsh Actuarial Solutions team to discuss how to prepare for a smooth transition.

IFRS 17 - Practical Tips and Lessons Learnt (Part 2)

Part 2: Technical Actuarial Aspects

Introduction

Fulfilment Cash Flows

What is required under IFRS 17?

Top Practical Tips:

Discount Rates:

What is required under IFRS 17?

Top-down Method:

Bottom-up Method:

Practical Pointers:

Risk Adjustment

What is required under IFRS 17?

Lessons Learnt:

Contractual Service Margin

What is required under IFRS 17?

Lessons Learnt:

Transition Valuation

How Marsh Can Help

More in this series