Final Program

Speaker Presentations are available throughout the program below.

Final Program for Print: download and print the
Final Program Brochure (PDF) (6 MB)

See Also:
Spouse/Guest Program (PDF)
Accreditation Information

Strategic Partners:

Forum 500: General Session (Michigan A & B, Level 2)
Sunday morning's Forum 500 program is designed for companies with less than $2 billion in assets or $300 million or less in capital surplus. All conference participants are welcome to attend.

NAIC Update
An interactive dialogue with Forum 500 Members regarding key issues pending at NAIC.
Michael T. McRaith, Director, Illinois Department of Insurance.

Leading Your Board to Better Practices: Structure Follows Strategy
Strategic planning for tomorrow's economic and regulatory environment not only involves revising your business plan, but also evaluating corporate governance structure. This session will focus on how to engage your board in the planning process; assess and strengthen the expertise on your board; educate board members on economic fundamentals; and align compensation and incentives with your company's strategic direction.
John P. Beavers, Bricker & Eckler LLP
Faith M. Williams, Bricker & Eckler LLP
Presentation (PDF, 230KB)

Luncheon: How the Future of Politics is Being Shaped
(Chicago Ballroom 8 & 9, Level 4)

Stuart Rothenberg, Editor and Publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report and Columnist for Roll Call

Stuart Rothenberg offers his razor-sharp insights into political trends and elections. Known as one of Washington's most intuitive political handicappers, Rothenberg presents his insider views on hotly debated issues and how politics is shaping the future.

Sponsored by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Board of Directors and Directors’ Council Reception and Dinner
(Columbus A & B, Level 3)
(Invitation only)
Sponsored by CSC

Hot Issue Breakfast (Chicago Ballroom 8 & 9, Level 4)

How the Economic Environment and Credit Crisis Are Impacting the Life Insurance Industury
This session will look at how the current economic environment and asset-related issues are impacting the credit profile of life insurance companies. How effectively are companies navigating the turbulent markets and challenges to their balance sheets and competitive positions? How are companies dealing with the pressures created by growing retirement needs, as well as pressures on their own capital? What investment exposures does the industry have and how is capital viewed under Standard & Poor's incremental asset stress factors? This session will also cover S&P's views on the challenges facing life insurers and what they might mean for the industry and credit ratings.(CPE eligible)
Kevin Ahern, Senior Director, Standard & Poor's
Gregory Gaskel, Director, Standard & Poor's
Grace Osborne, Managing Director, Standard & Poor's
Presentation (PDF, 130KB)

Sponsored by Standard and Poor's

General Session (Chicago Ballroom 6 & 7, Level 4)

Welcome: Bill Press, Master of Ceremonies
Bill Press, host of The Bill Press Show on Sirius Satellite Radio, is an award-winning radio talk show personality, television commentator, author, and syndicated columnist, who applies his investigative talents to current events in Washington. With nearly 10 years experience as our master of ceremonies, Bill has developed an acute appreciation of the life insurance industry.

ACLI: Foundation for the Future: Frank Keating, President & Chief Executive Officer, ACLI

Chairman’s Perspective: Patrick S. Baird, Chief Executive Officer, AEGON USA, LLC

Annual Business Meeting and Elections

Keynote Address: The Economy: Dr. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President & Chief Executive Officer, TIAA-CREF

As the current President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA-CREF and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Dr. Ferguson's experience ranges from international policy to banking regulation and financial stability issues. He has co-published notable works dealing with the challenges facing the global marketplace and presently serves on President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Bad Faith in Hard Times
(Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4) Economic uncertainty can increase litigation risks for insurers that are targeted by plaintiffs aggressively testing the limits of bad faith claims. Learn about the most recent litigation developments and how to better manage associated risks. (CLE eligible)
Michael A. Colliflower, Consultant
Jason Gosselin, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Lisa Tate, Vice President, Litigation & Associate General Counsel, ACLI (moderator)
James L. Young, Attorney, Phillips & Reiter, PLLC
Presentation (PDF, 146KB)

Session 2: The Financial Market Rally: Is It Real?
(Chicago Ballroom 9, Level 4) A panel of prominent economists and investment professionals will discuss whether the huge rally in stocks and corporate bonds since March is warranted. Key issues and questions to be addressed include: Is the credit crunch over? Is the current economic upturn sustainable? How should stock bond portfolios be positioned? (CPE eligible)
Tony Crescenzi, Executive Vice President, PIMCO
Maury N. Harris, Managing Director & Chief Economist (Americas), UBS Investment Research
Presentation (PDF, 78KB)
Handout (PDF, 123 KB)
Don LuskinChief Investment Officer, Trend Macrolytics, LLC
Nicholas P. Sargen, PhD, Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Western and Southern Financial Group (moderator)
Presentation (PDF, 165KB)

Session 3: International Regulatory Convergence
(Huron, Level 2) The global economic crisis has accelerated and elevated the level of political and diplomatic pressure for jurisdictions to cooperate on regulatory responses to improve the current economic downturn and prevent dramatic market volatility in the future. Join a discussion about the impact of macro-prudential initiatives stemming from the G20 countries on insurers and reinsurers.
Carolyn C. Cobb, Principal, Cobb Law Office
Presentation (PDF, 149KB)
Gary E. Hughes, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, ACLI (moderator)
Stuart P.M. Mackintosh, Executive Director, Group of Thirty
Presentation (PDF, 488KB)

Session 4: Solving the Puzzle: The Automatic Annuity
(Chicago Ballroom 10, Level 4) How will the industry and policy-makers come together to encourage workers to insure against the risk of outliving their savings in order to maintain their standard of living in retirement? Auto (default) enrollment has been a success in increasing 401(k) plan participation. Will behavioral economics have a similar effect with auto (default) annuitization?
Jeffrey R. Brown, PhD, Professor of Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Robyn Credico, Director, Plan Management Group, Watson Wyatt
Jody Strakosch, National Director, Institutional Business-Strategic Alliances, MetLife
- Presentation (PDF, 80KB)
- View Dr. Brown's White Paper here.

Luncheon: Politics and the Economy: What Issues on Capitol Hill Mean for Main Street and Wall Street
(Chicago Ballroom 6 & 7, Level 4)

Ron Insana, Senior Analyst, CNBC and Financial Industry Expert
Forget GE, Big Blue and ExxonMobil. In the age of the financial crisis, Washington has cemented itself as the world's most dominant market player. Ron Insana will look at how the stimulus, bailout, and other government interventions are working as well as how actions by Capitol Hill and the Fed affect both Wall Street and Main Street. In this presentation, filled with historical perspective, Insana will explore how government solutions are needed to provide stability; how policy needs to be on time and enlightened to turn the economy around; and steps government and industry can take to avoid similar meltdowns.

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Facebook, Twitter & Other Social Media: Maximizing Reach While Minimizing Exposure
(Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4) Social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, have changed how people and businesses communicate. This session will examine how financial services providers are using these mediums, provide insight into how your company can utilize these popular tools, and discuss the potential legal liabilities associated with social media networks. (CLE eligible)
Jennifer C. Archie, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
Presentation (PDF, 1.4MB)

Session 2: Update on the Impact of the Financial Crisis on the Insurance Industry
(Chicago Ballroom 9, Level 4) What are the long term implications for insureres in managing capital market risks? This discussion will focus on capital market challenges and government, regulatory and accounting responses to the crisis. (CPE eligible)
Martin Klein, Managing Director, Head of Insurance & Pension Solutions Group, Barclays Capital
Presentation (PDF, 267KB)

Session 3: Medicine Past, Present, and Future
(Huron, Level 2) A look at some of the issues and events that have had a dramatic impact on the field of medicine in the past and a look forward to major events such as cloning and healthcare practices. Also discussed will be genetic testing advances, underwriting, privacy, drug resistance, and an overview of significant improvements in medical care.
William B. Camm, MD, Vice President & Corporate Medical Director, OneAmerica
Presentation (PDF, 3.2MB)
Presentation Text Only (PDF, 50KB)

Session 4: Raising Capital in a Challenging Market: A Review of Capital-Raising Strategies in 2009
(Chicago Ballroom 10, Level 4) This year's capital markets have been volatile and not always available to insurance companies. In this panel discussion, capital markets representatives from leading investment banks will discuss strategies employed and the instruments issued by insurers who have successfully accessed the markets this year. Representatives of rating agencies will also participate and offer their views as to what to expect over the next six months. (CLE and CPE eligible)
Kevin Ahern, Senior Director, Standard & Poor's
Anne Kronenberg, Managing Director, JP Morgan
Gavin McFarland, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
John M. Schwolsky, Co-Chair of the Global Corporate Finance and Capital Markets Practice, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Insight into Life Insurance Industry Suspicious Filings Report (Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4)
A comprehensive analysis of suspicious filings over the past year by Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). (CLE eligible)
Barbara Bishop, Regulatory Outreach Project Officer, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, (FinCEN)
Carl B. Wilkerson, Vice President & Chief Counsel, Securities & Litigation, ACLI (moderator)

Session 2: A Different Look at Financial Risk
(Chicago Ballroom 9, Level 4) CSC and ACLI have again joined forces to conduct research on identifying both data and technology best practices with respect to quantifying, assessing and reporting financial risk. We have partnered with Towers Perrin, a world-recognized expert in financial risk, to survey industry best practices. The preliminary findings from the survey will be unveiled during this session. (CPE eligible)
Linda Chase-Jenkins, Principal, Towers-Perrin
Robert McDonald, Principal Consultant, CSC
Presentation (PDF, 850KB)
Michael Sinitiere, Director, Professional Services, Towers Perrin

Session 3: Playing STOLI Jeopardy
(Chicago Ballroom 10, Level 4) Learn about litigation against stranger-originated life insurance settlement abuses. This panel will discuss scenarios representing insurance companies in their efforts to rescind policies lacking insurable interest or evidencing fraud and more. (CLE eligible)
James S. Bainbridge, Associate, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Stephen C. Baker, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Michael Lovendusky, Vice President & Associate General Council, ACLI
Michael Miller, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Hot Issue Breakfast (Chicago Ballroom 9 & 10, Level 4)

Ask The Analysts
This session will include a brief presentation from a well-known equity analyst and discussion of current issues being addressed by one of the insurance industry's leading credit rating agency. The analysts will then field questions from the audience on current industry topics such as federal vs. state regulation; global accounting convergence; principles-based reserving; capital management; and investment trends, among others.(CPE eligible)
Colin Devine, Managing Director, Citigroup Investment Research
Andrew Edelsberg, Vice President, Life/Health, A.M. Best Company
Kenneth Frino, Group Vice President, Life/Health, A.M. Best Company
Steve Irwin, Vice President, Life/Health, A.M. Best Company

Sponsored by A.M. Best Company

General Session: Equity Analysts Perspective on the US Life Insurance Industry
(Chicago Ballroom 6 & 7, Level 4)
Mark Finkelstein, Head US Life Insurance, Fox-Pitt Kelton
Paul Sarran, Senior Research Associate, Fox-Pitt Kelton

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Financial Services Regulation
(Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4) This session will cover the important aspects of the changing regulatory landscape, including key players and impact on company operations. The discussion will focus on integrating government affairs, legal, and compliance functions to monitor, participate in, and respond to regulatory changes and helping you examine the possible gaps in expertise needed to respond to newly created or consolidated regulators. This session will also answer questions such as how your international operations, or lack thereof, may impact your view of proposed domestic regulatory changes. (CLE and CPE eligible)
Kenneth S. Cohen, Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
James D. Gallagher, Senior Vice President, Global Compliance Chief, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
Karen E. Shaff, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Principal Financial Group
Mary Jane Wilson-Bilik, Partner, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (moderator)
Presentation (PDF, 100KB)
Outline (PDF, 144KB)

Session 2: The Workout of Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Debt
(Chicago Ballroom 9, Level 4) We are in an environment of transformation-where old systems have failed and new financial systems need to be resurrected. This panel will discuss where we are now and where we need to go to meet the needs of creating usable financial systems in the real estate industry. (CPE eligible)
William T. Barry, Senior Vice President, Draper and Kramer
Dennis Fisher, Commercial Real Estate Risk Leader, Nationwide Life Insurance Company
John Fitzpatrick, Senior Portfolio Manager, Allstate Real Estate Investment Group
Ethan Penner, Executive Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis Investors
Tom Powers, Investment Leader, Asset Management, Nationwide Life Insurance Company (moderator)
Stuart M. Salins, Senior Managing Director, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.

Session 3: Annuity Suitability: Finding Common Ground
(Chicago Ballroom 10, Level 4) Regulators, industry groups, and consumer advocates are putting forth varying proposals to address continued concern in the annuity marketplace. This panel will discuss approaches to annuity suitability, developments at NAIC, and how stakeholders can come together to ensure consumers are sold suitable products, agents are properly trained, and insurers can continue to offer innovative products to meet evolving consumer needs.
Thomas E. Bartell, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (moderator)
Susan B. Voss, Commissioner, Iowa Division of Insurance
Ryan Wilson, Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP

Session 4: Re-packaging, Re-securitization, and Other Strategies for Managing Distressed Portions of Invested Asset Portfolios
(Huron, Level 2) This panel will focus on invested asset-related issues such as re-REMICs and re-securitizations of distressed portfolios and will offer some creative solutions for repackaging distressed assets. (CLE and CPE eligible)
Michael P. Goldman, Co-chair of the Global Insurance Financial Services Practice Group, Sidley Austin LLP (moderator)
Peter Sack, Managing Director, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Quincy Tang, Senior Vice President, RMBS U.S. Structured Finance DBRS, Inc.
William F. Wallace, Managing Director, JP Morgan Securities

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1: Financial Crisis: Modernizing Life Insurance Reserves and Treatment of Deferred Tax Assets
(Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4) This discussion will focus on the impact of the financial crisis on life insurance reserve modernization, including ACLI's efforts with: (1) the NAIC regarding capital and reserve relief (focusing on the treatment of deferred tax assets), (2) the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service regarding guidance on the tax implications of recently-adopted AG 43 (VA CARVM), and (3) the NAIC regarding the inclusion of a net premium reserve floor in the Life PBR proposal. (CLE and CPE eligible)
Paul S. Graham, Senior Vice President, Insurance Regulation & Chief Actuary, ACLI
Edward Robbins, Senior Managing Director, SMART Group
Walter C. Welsh, Executive Vice President, Taxes & Retirement Security, ACLI (moderator)
Presentation (PDF, 760KB)

Session 2: Taking the Pulse of the Compact
(Chicago Ballroom 9, Level 4) This session will review the progress of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission. With 36 states currently on board with the Compact, subjects covered include operational information, such as which standards are available; the average turnaround time for filings; and how many companies are utilizing the system.
Mary Jo Hudson, Director, Ohio Department of Insurance
Miriam Krol, Vice President, Long-Term Care, ACLI
Handout 1 (PDF, 260KB)
Handout 2 (PDF, 1.3MB)

Session 3: Adopting the Virtual Insurance Company Model
(Chicago Ballroom 10, Level 4) Join a discussion of the Virtual Insurance Company—a model that will dramatically reduce costs, helping to manage through the current financial crisis, and position the insurance carrier to experience tremendous growth durnig the recovery. (CPE eligible)
Dave Keith, Chief Executive Officer, Se2
Eric Rea, President, se2

Douglas Brinkley, PhD, American Historian, Author
Called "America's new past master" and "the best of the new generation of American historians," Dr. Brinkley will share his insights on the history of the presidency based on his voluminous research on the Roosevelt, Reagan, and Carter presidencies. He will frame the challenges facing President Obama and discuss how the 2008 election changed the course of history.

Sponsored by AAM and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

Closing Session: Legislative and Regulatory Challenges
(Chicago Ballroom 8, Level 4) A review of the legislative and regulatory issues that are dominating ACLI's advocacy agenda in 2009. The session will also look at what the industry can expect in 2010. (CLE eligible)
Kimberly Olson Dorgan, Senior Executive Vice President, Federal Relations & Political Affairs, ACLI
J. Bruce Ferguson, Senior Vice President, State Relations, ACLI
Gary E. Hughes, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, ACLI
Walter C. Welsh, Executive Vice President, Taxes & Retirement Security, ACLI