KPMG Paper - Solvency II still fit for purpose?

A handy survey from one of the Big 4 on some of the biggest challenges remaining on Solvency II. Small sample (20 people), and is GI-flavoured, but that doesn't make the experiences any less relevant to you 'Lifers' out there. The following was noteworthy;

• A good half of respondents expect their capital models to be a key driver in their business planning process post- Solvency II, with the remainder using it as a "reasonable consideration" - this contrasts with a quarter who use them to a negligible degree if at all pre-Solvency II.
• Suggestion that, with Solvency II accounting being viewed as a "regulatory exercise" for non-lifers, there is plenty of transitional work to do in order to align the GAAP/IFRS view with the Solvency II accounting view
• Concerns around reporting lines for different strands of actuarial activity (pricing, reserving and capital) potentially going into one executive, with those assessing risk versus those taking it being the primary issue.
• Suggestion that the increased requirements around actuarial staffing may drive some work offshore in order to reduce the costs
• Concerns around calculation of Risk Margin, specifically around what the Finance function will demand versus what the Actuarial function can provide.
• Comment that, as the internal model is expected to change as a business's risk profile changes, that current best practice ensures this is done at least annually, though monitoring of new business (therefore plan against portfolio) agaist forecast is done more frequently - no lead on size of divergence that might drive a model change however, which was one of Mr Adam's bugbears from the speech last week.
  
• The provision of Actuarial opinions regarding the adequacy of reinsurance and underwriting arrangements appears to have split the respondents, with a decent number taking a wait-and-see approach - KMPG are similarly guarded when providing their own view, highlighting concerns with the impact of opinions on decision making and how they are worded.
• Further areas of collaboration between Risk, Actuarial and Finance functions are expected around Capital Management, Performance Management and ORSA, with devolution of previously shared responsibilities made to first line functions, and the second line becoming a multi-skilled "centre of excellence" - nice schematic to go with this on page 18.