Exam FAM

Exam FAM formulas, and when to use each

SOA gives you distribution tables, the Standard Ultimate Life Table and a normal calculator on screen. The formulas that use them are yours to know. These are the ones worth knowing cold, with what each one is for.

Loss elimination ratioLER = E[X ∧ d] ÷ E[X]
Aggregate varianceVar(S) = E[N]Var(X) + Var(N)E[X]²
Insurance and annuityA(x) = 1 − d·ä(x), with d = i ÷ (1 + i)
Equivalence principleEPV of premiums = EPV of benefits and expenses

Coverage modifications

  • Limited expected value: E[X ∧ u] is the integral of S(x) from 0 to u. Exponential with mean θ: θ(1 − e^(−u/θ)).
  • Ordinary deductible d: the payment per loss has mean E[X] − E[X ∧ d]; per payment, divide by S(d).
  • Deductible d, maximum covered loss u and coinsurance α: α(E[X ∧ u] − E[X ∧ d]) per loss.
  • Loss elimination ratio: E[X ∧ d] ÷ E[X]. Exponential: 1 − e^(−d/θ).
  • Inflation r with the deductible fixed: for the new loss Y = (1 + r)X, E[Y ∧ d] = (1 + r)E[X ∧ d ÷ (1 + r)].

Frequency and aggregate losses

Frequencyab
Poisson(λ)0λ
Binomial(m, q)−q ÷ (1 − q)(m + 1)q ÷ (1 − q)
Negative binomial(r, β)β ÷ (1 + β)(r − 1)β ÷ (1 + β)

Using the (a, b, 0) class

  • (a, b, 0): P(N = k) ÷ P(N = k − 1) = a + b ÷ k for k = 1, 2, 3, ...; the (a, b, 1) class starts the same ratio at k = 2.
  • Compound: E[S] = E[N]E[X] and Var(S) = E[N]Var(X) + Var(N)E[X]². Compound Poisson: Var(S) = λE[X²].
  • Stop-loss: E[(S − d)+] = E[S] − E[S ∧ d].
  • Exponential with mean θ: VaR at p is −θ ln(1 − p), and TVaR is VaR + θ.

Credibility

  • Full standard in expected claims: n₀ = (y ÷ k)², where y is the normal value with P(−y < Z < y) = p. With p = 0.90 and k = 0.05, n₀ = 1,082.
  • Poisson claim counts: frequency needs n₀ expected claims, severity n₀ × CV², and aggregate losses n₀(1 + CV²), where CV is the claim size's coefficient of variation.
  • Partial credibility: Z = √(n ÷ full standard), capped at 1. Estimate = Z × observed + (1 − Z) × prior.

Reserving and ratemaking

  • Age-to-ultimate factor: the product of every age-to-age factor still to come.
  • Chain-ladder: ultimate = latest value × age-to-ultimate factor; unpaid = ultimate − paid to date.
  • Bornhuetter-Ferguson: ultimate = reported + expected ultimate × (1 − 1 ÷ age-to-ultimate factor).
  • Expected loss ratio method: ultimate = earned premium × expected loss ratio.
  • Loss cost method: indicated rate = (pure premium + fixed expense per exposure) ÷ (1 − variable expense ratio − profit provision).

Options

  • Put-call parity, no dividends: C − P = S₀ − Ke^(−rT).
  • Binomial tree: q = (e^(rh) − d) ÷ (u − d), and value = e^(−rh)(q × up value + (1 − q) × down value).
  • Delta in one period: (up value − down value) ÷ (S₀u − S₀d).
  • Black-Scholes call: S₀N(d₁) − Ke^(−rT)N(d₂), with d₁ = (ln(S₀ ÷ K) + (r + σ² ÷ 2)T) ÷ (σ√T) and d₂ = d₁ − σ√T.

Survival models

  • Survival over t years: tpx = l(x + t) ÷ l(x), and tpx = exp(−∫ μ) over those t years.
  • A death between ages x + u and x + u + n: (l(x + u) − l(x + u + n)) ÷ l(x).
  • Curtate expectation: e(x) = p(x)(1 + e(x + 1)).
  • Fractional ages: under UDD, sqx = s × qx; under a constant force, spx = (px)^s.

Insurance, annuities, premiums and policy values

  • Second moments use twice the force of interest: Var(Z) = ²A(x) − A(x)².
  • A(x) = 1 − d·ä(x), and the pure endowment nEx = vⁿ × npx.
  • Endowment insurance = term insurance + pure endowment.
  • Equivalence principle, whole life of 1 with level annual premiums: P = A(x) ÷ ä(x).
  • Policy value recursion: (tV + P − e)(1 + i) = q × (S + E) + p × (t+1)V, with q and p at age x + t, S the benefit and E its claim expense.
  • Net premium policy value for whole life of 1: tV = 1 − ä(x + t) ÷ ä(x).

Try 4 questions

Question 1

Losses follow an exponential distribution with mean 1,200. An ordinary deductible of 300 is applied.

Calculate the loss elimination ratio.

Question 2

Claim sizes follow a gamma distribution with α=2.5\alpha = 2.5 and θ=1,000\theta = 1{,}000. Full credibility for the average claim size requires that the observed value is within 10% of its expected value with probability 0.98. Use  from the standard normal table.

Calculate the number of claims needed for full credibility of claim severity.

Question 3

A 4-month European put option on a non-dividend-paying stock with strike price $32 sells for $2.75. The stock price is $30, and the continuously compounded risk-free rate is 5.0%.

Calculate the price of a 4-month European call option on the same stock with the same strike price.

Question 4

For a fully discrete whole life insurance of $100,000 on (x)(x), the net premium policy values at times 10 and 11 are $15,000 and $16,200. The annual net premium is $1,600, payable at the start of each year, and  .

Calculate qx+10q_{x+10}.

Next step

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SOA's Exam FAM page

Questions people ask

Is there a formula sheet on Exam FAM?

SOA provides tables on screen under an Exhibit button: distribution inventories and the Standard Ultimate Life Table at i = 5%, with a normal distribution calculator. The formulas that use them have to be known, and you may not bring your own tables.

What is the loss elimination ratio?

The share of expected losses a deductible removes: E[X ∧ d] ÷ E[X]. For an exponential loss with mean θ it is 1 − e^(−d/θ).

How are A(x) and ä(x) related?

For a whole life insurance and a whole life annuity-due on the same life, A(x) = 1 − d·ä(x), where d = i ÷ (1 + i). At 5% interest, d = 0.047619.