Joseph A. Herbers
Robert J. Walling III
Erich A. Brandt
Nicholas Gurgone
Christina L. Negley
Gregory W. Fears, Jr.
Aaron N. Hillebrandt
Darcie R. Truttmann
Travis G. Murnan
Jordan R. Paszek
Christopher J. Schubert
Arthur R. Randolph II
Timothy C. Mosler
Derek W. Freihaut
Laura A. Maxwell
Nicholas E. Alicea
Ken J. Hawkins
Pinnacle brought a lot of medical malpractice knowledge to the task, interfaced with us well and produced a solid and highly usable report.
Pinnacle consultants deal with auditors daily, assisting them in serving their customers and evaluating the work products of other actuaries.
Pinnacle strives to construct benchmarks for any analysis, whether ratemaking, loss reserving or some other use, as close as possible to replicating the nature of the underlying data being reviewed.
Pinnacle provides loss reserve analyses and other diagnostics in support of collateral negotiations associated with deductible and/or self-insured retentions.
Assessing the reasonableness of indicated loss and loss adjustment expense reserves after the analysis is completed is an essential element of the loss reserve analysis. In particular, measures such as loss ratios, changes since the prior evaluation, implied claim frequencies and severities and costs per unit of exposure are a few of the diagnostic tests employed when considering the reasonableness of indicated reserves.
Management sometimes wishes to reflect the time value of money in funding projections, accruals for unpaid claims liabilities and other valuations. The two most important parameters for doing so are the assumed interest rate and the underlying claim payment pattern. Assessing reasonable values for these parameters is not trivial as the interest rate may need an adjustment for risk while the claim payment pattern may not be readily available.
Loss reserving is a process of estimating reasonable accruals for the unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses that must be posted on a balance sheet. As this is often times the largest liability in a company’s financials, the accrual has a very significant impact on income and surplus (or net worth).
Pinnacle tailors our analysis of indicated reserves to your particular situation. Our loss reserve analyses are used to support statements of actuarial opinion (SAOs), audit opinions, financial examinations, insurance company liquidations and rehabilitations and as expert opinions in lawsuits. We rely on a wide variety of traditional actuarial methods to develop reasonable estimates of unpaid claims liabilities. The results of such a study can be stated as a point estimate, a reasonable range of outcomes or as a statistical distribution of all possible outcomes. There are many factors that influence the analysis of indicated reserves, including internal factors such as safety programs, loss control efforts or management changes.
There are external influences as well - regulatory/judicial climate, the economy or weather patterns. Our consultants spend considerable time and effort to understand the unique climate in which your company operates before customizing our analysis to include the real world influences likely to influence the true accrual for unpaid claims liabilities. We also have significant expertise with insurer liquidators and rehabilitators.
Our experience with property/casualty insurance programs is both broad and deep, with no two programs alike. From financial analysis of companies and their management to expert witness testimony regarding our findings and recommendations, you can rely on our support.
December 2019 APEX Three Perspectives on Peer Review Authored by Erich A. Brandt and Darcie R. Truttmann.
July 2019 APEX Webinar Causes of Recent Reserve Development Authored by Erich A. Brandt and Gregory W. Fears, Jr..
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Dedicated Fund Review More »
Pinnacle was asked by a State Insurance Department to review the financial soundness of a State controlled, dedicated fund. The review consisted of establishing the State’s outstanding liabilities and future funding needs. Detailed historic exposure and loss experience were not readily available from the State because the program was administered by individual insurers. Pinnacle designed and conducted an industry data call on behalf of the State. The collected data was then used by Pinnacle in support of their analysis. As the data was still somewhat limited, additional industry data was gathered from other states to supplement Pinnacle’s analysis. Pinnacle then provided the State with a report detailing the determination of the estimated liabilities, the indicated rate changes, and recommendations on data capturing for enhancement on future studies.
Florida Department of Financial Services More »
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DOFS) oversees and administers the runoff of domestic Florida insurance companies in rehabilitation. Typically, when a company's financial condition is perilous, the DOFS obtains court orders to oversee the company’s administration and manage the orderly adjudication of all unpaid claims liabilities.
Measuring the extent of those claims liabilities involves uncertainty as to the number and severity of those claims. Further complicating the issue relates to the attitudes of claimants and their attorneys as regards to settlement of such claims knowing the company itself is under regulatory supervision.
We assisted the DOFS in a formal way with the runoff of three nonstandard auto writers, all part of a company group. The nature of the exposure was such that the unpaid claims were dominated by bodily injury and property damage liability claims. Our modeling of the anticipated future settlements considered input from company claims representatives, the DOFS itself and the company’s auditors.
At the outset of the assignment, the company’s surplus was impaired significantly. During the process, the DOFS was able to achieve significant concessions on the part of claimants given the uncertain financial condition of the carriers involved. The outcome was when the last claim was paid, the company shell that remained had a positive surplus balance.
U S Domestic Statement of Actuarial Opinion More »
Domestic U.S. property/casualty insurers and risk retention groups are required to file an Annual Statement with state regulators each year by March 1. Part of that filing includes the submission of a formal Statement of Actuarial Opinion (SAO) by a qualified Appointed Actuary as to the reasonableness of held loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The SAO must be one of five types:
In addition to the SAO, most jurisdictions require an Actuarial Opinion Summary (AOS) providing more detail on the Appointed Actuary’s specific findings by March 15. Lastly, a formal report narrative in support of the SAO and AOS is required to be available by May 1.
As the SAO is a compliance document, the primary audience is state regulators but the individual company must arrange for the service to be provided.
A recent SAO for one of our clients touched on many of the required disclosures:
At Pinnacle, we partner with you to explore whatever path it takes to find the answers you need.
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June 17, 2021 June APEX Webinar - Medical Professional Liability: State of the Market in 2021 Register
July 13, 2021 July APEX Webinar - Causes of Recent Adverse Development Register