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Enhancing SAA Outcomes With Derivatives: Insights From a RILA Case Study

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Alfred Au, Vincent Embser, Ken Qian


Reserve and capital requirements for registered index-linked annuities (RILA) under Valuation Manual-21 (VM-21) and non-variable annuities under VM-22 are heavily driven by asset-liability mismatch. Duration mismatch can drive losses in tail scenarios, and liquidity mismatch can result in forgone profits from an overly conservative strategic asset allocation (SAA) or punitive illiquidity cost from excessive allocation to illiquid assets.

This paper provides a case study on a block of RILA new business to illustrate how derivatives can play a key co-optimization role in SAA. It also presents an analytical framework to quantify the drivers of the VM-21 requirements and facilitate comparisons of candidate SAA portfolios.

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Milliman

Milliman is the global leader in financial risk management, with over two decades of experience helping insurers and insurance-focused asset managers navigate market volatility, regulatory change, capital pressure, strengthen balance sheet resilience and optimize portfolio outcomes.

Our life and annuity risk management capabilities are grounded in deep actuarial expertise and span a wide range of products, including VA, FA, FIA, RILA, and PRT blocks. We help clients manage surplus volatility, create and optimize hedge programs, and comply with evolving accounting and reserve standards.

We engineer ALM, SAA, and portfolio optimization solutions across entire general accounts and targeted blocks, integrating private credit and illiquid structured assets. Our optimization approach incorporates return, risk, capital, and liquidity constraints to support detailed efficient frontier analysis across global regulatory regimes. In capital markets, Milliman supports the design and oversight of over $170 Billion in customized hedge and overlay programs across portfolios, currencies, and risk exposures.

In M&A, we are a trusted advisor, having supported more than three quarters of insurance and reinsurance transactions over the past decade, across major insurance acquisitions, reinsurance, and sidecar structures.

Milliman brings analytical depth and strategic partnership to help our insurance clients solve their most complex challenges, empowering them to grow with strategic insight and confidence.

Todd W. Arbuckle
SAA & ALM Strategic Advisor
Todd.Arbuckle@milliman.com
O +1 312.279.3066
M +1 312 953 7868

Tony Dardis, FSA, MAA, CERA, CFA  
Principal & Consulting Actuary
Anthony.dardis@Milliman.com
O 312 499 5795
M +1.312 804.7996

 

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