Wisconsin Code § 623.06

Standard valuation law
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(1) In this section:
(a) “Accident and health insurance contract” means a contract
that incorporates morbidity risk and provides protection against
economic loss resulting from accident, sickness, or medical conditions and as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(b) “Appointed actuary” means a qualified actuary who is appointed in accordance with the valuation manual to prepare the
actuarial opinion required in sub. (1r).
(c) “Deposit-type contract” means a contract that does not incorporate mortality or morbidity risks and as may be specified in
the valuation manual.
(d) “Law enforcement agency,” “National Association of Insurance Commissioners,” or “regulatory agency” includes the
employees, agents, consultants, and contractors of each such
entity.
(e) “Life insurance,” “life insurance contract,” “life insurance
policy,” or “plan of life insurance” means a contract that incorporates mortality risk, including annuity and pure endowment contracts, and as may be specified in the valuation manual.
(f) “Operative date of the valuation manual” means January 1,
2017, as determined under sub. (9) (b).
(g) “Principle-based valuation” means a reserve valuation that
uses one or more methods, or one or more assumptions, determined by the insurer and that is required to comply with sub. (10)
as specified in the valuation manual.
(h) “Qualified actuary” means an individual who is qualified
to sign the applicable statement of actuarial opinion in accordance with the American academy of actuaries qualification standards for actuaries signing such statements and who meets the requirements specified in the valuation manual, if the valuation
manual is in effect, and any other requirements that the commissioner may by rule specify.
(i) “Tail risk” means a risk that occurs either when the frequency of low probability events is higher than expected under a
normal probability distribution or when there are observed events
of very significant size or magnitude.
(j) “Valuation manual” means the manual of valuation instructions as adopted by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners under sub. (9) or as subsequently amended.
(1f) (a) For policies and contracts issued before the operative
date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually
value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter
called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance policies and annuity and pure endowment contracts of every life insurance company doing business in this state and may certify the amount of
any such reserves, specifying the mortality table or tables, rate or
rates of interest and methods (net level premium method or other)
used in the calculation of such reserves. In calculating such reserves, the commissioner may use group methods and approximate averages for fractions of a year or otherwise. In lieu of the
valuation of the reserves herein required of any foreign or alien
company, the commissioner may accept any valuation made, or
caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any
state or other jurisdiction if such valuation complies with the
minimum standard herein provided and if the official of such
state or jurisdiction accepts as sufficient and valid for all legal
purposes the certificate of valuation of the commissioner when
such certificate states the valuation to have been made in a specified manner according to which the aggregate reserves would be
at least as large as if they had been computed in the manner prescribed by the law of that state or jurisdiction. Subsections (2) to
(7) apply to all policies and contracts issued before the operative
date of the valuation manual.
(b) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative
date of the valuation manual, the commissioner shall annually
value, or cause to be valued, the reserve liabilities (hereinafter
called reserves) for all outstanding life insurance contracts, annuity and pure endowment contracts, accident and health insurance
contracts, and deposit-type contracts of every insurer doing business in this state. In lieu of the valuation of the reserves required
of a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept a
valuation made, or caused to be made, by the insurance supervisory official of any state or other jurisdiction if the valuation
complies with the minimum standard provided in this section.

Subsections (9) and (10) apply to all policies and contracts issued
on or after the operative date of the valuation manual.
(1m) Before the operative date of the valuation manual, all of
the following apply:
(a) 1. For each year ending on or after December 31, 1996,
every life insurance company doing business in this state shall
submit to the commissioner, with its annual statement due by
March 1 of the following year, an opinion by a qualified actuary
as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner
by rule satisfy all of the following:
a. They are computed appropriately.
b. They are based on assumptions that satisfy contractual
provisions.
c. They are consistent with prior reported amounts.
d. They comply with the applicable laws of this state.
2. The commissioner shall by rule specify in detail the nature
of the information required in the opinion under subd. 1. and may
by rule require any additional information that the commissioner
determines is necessary to the scope of the opinion.
(b) 1. Every life insurance company not exempted by rule
shall include with the opinion required under par. (a) the opinion
of the qualified actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies and contracts specified by the commissioner by rule, when considered in light of the
assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including but not limited to the investment
earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies
and contracts, including but not limited to the benefits under and
expenses associated with the policies and contracts. The commissioner may by rule provide for a transition period for an insurance company to establish any higher reserves that the qualified
actuary determines are necessary to make adequate provision for
the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts.
2. An insurance company that is required to submit an opinion under subd. 1. shall have prepared by the qualified actuary
who renders the opinion a memorandum in support of the opinion under subd. 1. The commissioner shall specify by rule the
form and content of the memorandum. The insurance company
shall provide the memorandum to the commissioner, at the commissioner’s request, for his or her examination. After examination, the commissioner shall return the memorandum to the insurance company. The memorandum shall not be considered a
record of the commissioner’s office.
3. If an insurance company fails to provide a supporting
memorandum to the commissioner upon request within the period specified by rule, or if the commissioner determines that the
supporting memorandum provided by an insurance company fails
to meet the standards prescribed by rule or is otherwise unacceptable, the commissioner may retain a qualified actuary at the expense of the insurance company to review the opinion required
under subd. 1. and the basis for the opinion and to prepare such
supporting memorandum as the commissioner requires.
(c) The following provisions apply to an opinion required under par. (a) or (b):
1. The opinion shall apply to all business in force, including
individual and group health insurance plans, in form and substance acceptable to the commissioner as specified by rule.
2. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from
time to time by the actuarial standards board established by the
American academy of actuaries and on such additional standards
as the commissioner may by rule prescribe.
3. In the case of an opinion required to be submitted by a foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion
filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official of
another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company domiciled in this state.
(d) Except for fraud or willful misconduct, a qualified actuary
may not be held liable for damages to any person other than the
insurance company or the commissioner for any act, error, omission, decision or conduct with respect to an opinion required under this subsection.
(e) The commissioner shall specify by rule any disciplinary
action that the commissioner may take against an insurance company or a qualified actuary related to any of the requirements under this subsection.
(f) 1. The commissioner shall keep confidential any memorandum in support of, and any other material provided by an insurance company to the commissioner in connection with, an
opinion required under this subsection. Any such memorandum
or other material may not be made public and may not be subject
to subpoena except for the purpose of defending an action seeking
damages from any person on account of an act required under this
subsection or required by a rule authorized or required under this
subsection.
2. The commissioner may release any such memorandum or
other material with the written consent of the insurance company,
or to the American academy of actuaries upon its request if the
memorandum or other material is required for professional disciplinary proceedings and if the request sets forth procedures that
are satisfactory to the commissioner for preserving the confidentiality of the memorandum or other material.
3. A memorandum loses its confidentiality if the insurance
company cites any portion of the memorandum for marketing
purposes or before any governmental agency other than a state insurance department or if the insurance company releases any portion of the memorandum to the news media.
(1r) Beginning on the operative date of the valuation manual,
all of the following apply:
(a) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation
by the commissioner shall submit to the commissioner, as prescribed in par. (c), the opinion of the appointed actuary as to
whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of
those outstanding contracts are computed appropriately, are
based on assumptions that satisfy contractual provisions, are consistent with prior reported amounts, and comply with applicable
laws of this state. The valuation manual shall prescribe the
specifics of this opinion, including any items that are necessary to
its scope.
(b) Every insurance company that has outstanding life insurance contracts, accident and health insurance contracts, or deposit-type contracts in this state and that is subject to regulation
by the commissioner, except as exempted in the valuation manual, shall also annually include in the opinion required under par.
(a) an opinion of the same appointed actuary as to whether the reserves and related actuarial items held in support of the policies
and contracts specified in the valuation manual, when considered
in light of the assets held by the company with respect to the reserves and related actuarial items, including the investment earnings on the assets and the considerations anticipated to be received and retained under the policies and contracts, make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies
and contracts, including the benefits under and expenses associ-

ated with the policies and contracts. The opinion required under
this paragraph shall be governed by the following:
1. A memorandum, in form and substance as specified in the
valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner, shall be
prepared to support each actuarial opinion.
2. If the insurance company fails to provide a supporting
memorandum at the request of the commissioner within a period
specified in the valuation manual, or the commissioner determines that the supporting memorandum provided by the insurance company fails to meet the standards prescribed by the valuation manual or is otherwise unacceptable to the commissioner,
the commissioner may engage a qualified actuary at the expense
of the company to review the opinion and the basis for the opinion and prepare the supporting memorandum required by the
commissioner.
(c) All opinions required under this subsection shall be governed by the following:
1. The opinion shall be in form and substance as specified in
the valuation manual and acceptable to the commissioner.
2. The opinion shall be submitted with the annual statement
reflecting the valuation of such reserve liabilities for each year
ending after the operative date of the valuation manual.
3. The opinion shall apply to all policies and contracts described in pars. (a) and (b), plus other actuarial liabilities as may
be specified in the valuation manual.
4. The opinion shall be based on standards adopted from
time to time by the actuarial standards board or its successor and
on any additional standards prescribed in the valuation manual.
5. With respect to an opinion required to be submitted by a
foreign or alien company, the commissioner may accept the opinion filed by that company with the insurance supervisory official
of another state if the commissioner determines that the opinion
reasonably meets the requirements applicable to a company
domiciled in this state.
6. Except in cases of fraud or willful misconduct, the appointed actuary shall not be liable for damages to any person,
other than the insurance company and the commissioner, for any
act, error, omission, decision, or conduct with respect to the appointed actuary’s opinion.
(2) Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum
standard for the valuation of all policies and contracts specified
by the commissioner under sub. (1m) (a) 1. issued prior to the effective date of this section [see sub. (13) and s. 632.43 (9)] shall
be that provided by the laws in effect immediately prior to such
date. Except as provided in subs. (2a) and (2m), the minimum
standard for the valuation of all such policies and contracts issued
on or after the effective date of this section shall be the commissioners reserve valuation methods defined in subs. (3) to (4m)
and (7), with 3.5 percent interest, or in the case of policies and
contracts, other than annuity and pure endowment contracts, issued on or after June 19, 1974, and prior to November 8, 1977, 4
percent interest, and for policies issued on or after November 8,
1977, 4.5 percent interest and the following tables:
(a) For all ordinary policies of life insurance issued on the
standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in those policies, the commissioners 1941 standard ordinary
mortality table for those policies issued before the operative date
of s. 632.43 (6) (b), and the commissioners 1958 standard ordinary mortality table for those policies issued on or after the operative date of s. 632.43 (6) (b) and before the operative date of s.
632.43 (6m). For any category of those policies issued on female
risks all modified net premiums and present values referred to in
this section may be calculated according to an age not more than
6 years younger than the actual age of the insured.
(am) For policies under par. (a) issued on or after the operative date of s. 632.43 (6m):
1. The commissioners 1980 standard ordinary mortality
table;
2. At the election of the company for any one or more specified plans of life insurance, the commissioners 1980 standard ordinary mortality table with 10-year select mortality factors; or
3. Any ordinary mortality table adopted after 1980 by the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, that is approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies.
(b) For all industrial life insurance policies issued on the standard basis, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits
in those policies, the 1941 standard industrial mortality table for
those policies issued before the operative date of s. 632.43 (6) (c),
and for those policies issued on or after the operative date of s.
632.43 (6) (c) the commissioners 1961 standard industrial mortality table or any industrial mortality table adopted after 1980 by
the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, that is approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies.
(c) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies — the 1937 standard annuity mortality table or, at the option
of the company, the annuity mortality table for 1949, ultimate, or
any modification of either of these tables approved by the
commissioner.
(d) For group annuity and pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such policies
— the group annuity mortality table for 1951, any modification
of such table approved by the commissioner, or, at the option of
the company, any of the tables or modifications of tables specified for individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(e) For total and permanent disability benefits in or supplementary to ordinary policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1966, the tables of Period 2 disablement rates and the 1930
to 1950 termination rates of the 1952 disability study of the society of actuaries, with regard to the type of benefit, or any tables of
disablement rates and termination rates adopted after 1980 by the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, that are approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies; for
policies or contracts issued on or after January 1, 1961 and before
January 1, 1966, either those tables or, at the option of the company, the Class (3) disability table (1926); and for policies issued
before January 1, 1961, the Class (3) disability table (1926). Any
such table shall, for active lives, be combined with a mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance
policies.
(f) For accidental death benefits in or supplementary to policies issued on or after January 1, 1966, the 1959 accidental death
benefits table or any accidental death benefits table adopted after
1980 by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
that is approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in
determining the minimum standard of valuation for those policies; for policies issued on or after January 1, 1961 and before
January 1, 1966, either that table or, at the option of the company,
the intercompany double indemnity mortality table; and for policies issued before January 1, 1961, the intercompany double indemnity mortality table. Either table shall be combined with a
mortality table permitted for calculating the reserves for life insurance policies.
(g) For group life insurance, life insurance issued on the substandard basis and other special benefits, such tables as may be
approved by the commissioner.

(2a) Except as provided in sub. (2m), the minimum standard
for the valuation of all individual annuity and pure endowment
contracts issued on or after the operative date of this subsection,
as defined in sub. (2b), and for all annuities and pure endowments
purchased on or after that operative date under group annuity and
pure endowment contracts, shall be the commissioners reserve
valuation methods defined in subs. (3) to (4m) and the following
tables and interest rates:
(a) For individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued prior to November 8, 1977, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts — the 1971 individual
annuity mortality table, or any modification of this table approved by the commissioner, and 6 percent interest for single premium immediate annuity contracts, and 4 percent interest for all
other individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(b) For individual single premium immediate annuity contracts issued on or after November 8, 1977, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in those contracts, the 1971 individual annuity mortality table or any individual annuity mortality
table adopted after 1980 by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners, that is approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation
for those contracts or any modification of either table approved
by the commissioner, and 7.5 percent interest. For other individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued on or after November 8, 1977, excluding any disability and accidental death
benefits in those contracts, the 1971 individual annuity mortality
table or any individual annuity mortality table adopted after 1980
by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, that is
approved by rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those contracts, or
any modification of either table approved by the commissioner,
and 5.5 percent interest for single premium deferred annuity and
pure endowment contracts and 4.5 percent interest for all other
individual annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(c) For all annuities and pure endowments purchased prior to
November 8, 1977, under group annuity and pure endowment
contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits
purchased under such contracts — the 1971 group annuity mortality table, or any modification of this table approved by the
commissioner, and 6 percent interest.
(d) For all annuities and pure endowments purchased on or after November 8, 1977, under group annuity and pure endowment
contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits
in those contracts, the 1971 group annuity mortality table or any
group annuity mortality table adopted after 1980 by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners, that is approved by
rule adopted by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum standard of valuation for those annuities and pure endowments, or any modification of either table approved by the commissioner, and 7.5 percent interest.
(2b) After June 19, 1974, any company may file with the
commissioner a written notice of its election to comply with sub.
(2a) after a specified date before January 1, 1979, which shall be
the operative date of sub. (2a) for such company, but a company
may elect a different operative date for individual annuity and
pure endowment contracts from that elected for group annuity
and pure endowment contracts. If a company makes no such
election, the operative date of sub. (2a) for such company shall be
January 1, 1979.
(2m) (a) In this subsection:
1. “Change in fund basis” means a valuation basis under
which the interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation
standard applicable to each change in the fund held under an annuity or guaranteed interest contract is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of the change in the fund.
2. “Guarantee duration” means:
a. For life insurance, the maximum number of years the life
insurance can remain in force on a basis guaranteed in the policy
or under options to convert to plans of life insurance with premium rates, nonforfeiture values or both which are guaranteed in
the original policy.
b. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, the number of years for which the contract
guarantees interest rates in excess of the calendar year valuation
interest rate for life insurance policies with a guarantee duration
of more than 20 years.
c. For annuities and guaranteed interest contracts without
cash settlement options, the number of years from the date of issue or date of purchase to the date annuity or guaranteed interest
benefits are scheduled to begin.
3. “I” means the applicable calendar year valuation interest
rate determined under par. (c), rounded to the nearest 0.25
percent.
4. “Issue year basis” means a valuation basis under which the
interest rate used to determine the minimum valuation standard
for the full duration of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract
is the calendar year valuation interest rate for the year of issue or
year of purchase of the annuity or guaranteed interest contract.
5. “Moody’s monthly average” means the corporate bond
yield monthly average, as published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
6. “Plan type A” means a policyholder may:
a. Withdraw funds with an adjustment to reflect changes in
interest rates or asset values since receipt of the funds by the insurance company;
b. Withdraw funds without adjustment in installments over 5
years or more;
c. Withdraw funds as an immediate life annuity; or
d. Not withdraw funds.
7. “Plan type B” means that a policyholder is subject to any
of subd. 6. a., b. or d. At the end of the interest rate guarantee,
funds may be withdrawn without the adjustment under subd. 6. a.
in a single sum or installments over less than 5 years.
8. “Plan type C” means a policyholder may withdraw funds
before the end of the interest rate guarantee in a single sum or installments over less than 5 years without the adjustment under
subd. 6. a. or subject to a fixed surrender charge stipulated in the
contract as a percentage of the fund.
9. “R” means the applicable reference interest rate determined under par. (f).
10. “R1” means the lesser of R and 0.09.
11. “R2” means the greater of R and 0.09.
12. “W” means the applicable weighting factor determined
under par. (e).
(b) Except as provided in par. (d), the formulas under par. (c)
shall be used in determining the minimum standard for the valuation of all of the following:
1. Life insurance policies issued in a calendar year on or after
the operative date of s. 632.43 (6m).
2. Individual annuity and pure endowment contracts issued
in a calendar year after 1982.
3. Annuities and pure endowments purchased in a calendar
year after 1982 under group annuity and pure endowment
contracts.
4. The net increase in a calendar year after 1982, in amounts
held under guaranteed interest contracts.

(c) 1. For life insurance, I = 0.03 + W (R1 - 0.03) + W/2 (R2
- 0.09).
2. For single premium immediate annuities and for annuity
benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities
with cash settlement options and from guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options, I = 0.03 + W (R - 0.03).
3. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities with cash
settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, valued on an issue year basis and having guarantee durations greater than 10 years, I = 0.03 + W (R1 - 0.03)
W/2 (R2 - 0.09).
4. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities with cash
settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, valued on an issue year basis and having guarantee durations not exceeding 10 years, I = 0.03 + W (R - 0.03).
5. For annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, I = 0.03
+ W (R - 0.03).
6. For annuities with cash settlement options and guaranteed
interest contracts with cash settlement options, valued on a
change in fund basis, I = 0.03 + W (R - 0.03).
(d) Notwithstanding par. (c) 1., if the calendar year valuation
interest rate determined under par. (c) 1. differs from the corresponding actual rate for similar policies issued in the immediately
preceding calendar year by less than 0.5 percent, the calendar
year valuation interest rate for those policies is the corresponding
actual rate for the immediately preceding calendar year. For purposes of this paragraph, the calendar year valuation interest rate
for policies issued in 1980 shall be determined using the reference interest rate for 1979 and shall be determined under this
paragraph for subsequent calendar years notwithstanding s.
632.43 (6m).
(e) 1. For life insurance having a guarantee duration of:
a. Not more than 10 years, the weighting factor is 0.50.
b. More than 10 years and not more than 20 years, the
weighting factor is 0.45.
c. More than 20 years, the weighting factor is 0.35.
2. For single premium immediate annuities and annuity benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities
with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts
with cash settlement options, the weighting factor is 0.80.
3. Except as provided in subd. 2., for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue year basis and having a
guarantee duration of:
a. Not more than 5 years, the weighting factor is 0.80 for plan
type A, 0.60 for plan type B and 0.50 for plan type C.
b. More than 5 years and not more than 10 years, the weighting factor is 0.75 for plan type A, 0.60 for plan type B and 0.50
for plan type C.
c. More than 10 years and not more than 20 years, the
weighting factor is 0.65 for plan type A, 0.50 for plan type B and
0.45 for plan type C.
d. More than 20 years, the weighting factor is 0.45 for plan
type A and 0.35 for plan types B and C.
4. Except as provided in subd. 2., for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change in fund basis, the
weighting factor is that specified under subd. 3. increased by 0.15
for plan type A, 0.25 for plan type B and 0.05 for plan type C.
5. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on an issue year basis, other than
those with no cash settlement options, which do not guarantee interest on considerations received more than one year after issue or
purchase and for annuities and guaranteed interest contracts valued on a change in fund basis which do not guarantee interest
rates on considerations received more than 12 months beyond the
valuation date, the weighting factor is that specified under subd.
3. or 4. increased by 0.05 for plan types A, B and C.
(f) 1. For life insurance, the reference interest rate is the lesser
of the average over a period of 36 months and the average over a
period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year next
preceding the year of issue, of Moody’s monthly average.
2. For single premium immediate annuities and for annuity
benefits involving life contingencies arising from other annuities
with cash settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts
with cash settlement options, the reference interest rate is the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or year of purchase, of Moody’s monthly
average.
3. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities with cash
settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, valued on an issue year basis and having a
guarantee duration in excess of 10 years, the reference interest is
the lesser of the average over a period of 36 months and the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar
year of issue or purchase, of Moody’s monthly average.
4. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities with cash
settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, valued on an issue year basis and having a
guarantee duration of 10 years or less, the reference interest rate
is the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of
the calendar year of issue or purchase, of Moody’s monthly
average.
5. For annuities with no cash settlement options and for guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options, the reference interest rate is the average over a period of 12 months,
ending on June 30 of the calendar year of issue or purchase, of
Moody’s monthly average.
6. Except as provided under subd. 2., for annuities with cash
settlement options and guaranteed interest contracts with cash
settlement options, valued on a change in fund basis, the reference interest rate is the average over a period of 12 months, ending on June 30 of the calendar year of the change in the fund, of
Moody’s monthly average.
(g) If Moody’s monthly average is no longer published, or if
the national association of insurance commissioners determines
that Moody’s monthly average is no longer appropriate for the determination of the reference interest rate, an alternative method
for determination of the reference interest rate, which is adopted
by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and approved by rule adopted by the commissioner, may be substituted.
(h) A company may elect to value guaranteed interest contracts with cash settlement options and annuities with cash settlement options on an issue year basis or a change in fund basis.
Guaranteed interest contracts with no cash settlement options and
other annuities with no cash settlement options must be valued on
an issue year basis.
(3) Except as provided in subs. (4m) and (7), reserves according to the commissioners reserve valuation method, for the life insurance and endowment benefits of policies providing for a uniform amount of insurance and requiring the payment of uniform
premiums shall be the excess, if any, of the present value, at the
date of valuation, of such future guaranteed benefits provided for
by such policies, over the then present value of any future modified net premiums therefor. The modified net premiums for any
such policy shall be such uniform percentage of the respective
contract premiums for such benefits that the present value, at the
date of issue of the policy, of all such modified net premiums
shall be equal to the sum of the then present value of such bene-

fits provided for by the policy and the excess of par. (a) over par.
(b), as follows:
(a) A net level annual premium equal to the present value, at
the date of issue, of such benefits provided for after the first policy year, divided by the present value, at the date of issue, of an
annuity of one per year payable on the first and each subsequent
anniversary of such policy on which a premium falls due; provided, that such net level annual premium shall not exceed the net
level annual premium on the 19-year premium whole life plan for
insurance of the same amount at an age one year higher than the
age at issue of such policy.
(b) A net one-year term premium for such benefits provided
for in the first policy year.
(3m) (a) In this subsection:
1. “Assumed ending date” means the first policy anniversary
on which the sum of any endowment benefit and any cash surrender value then available is greater than the excess premium.
2. “Excess premium” means the amount by which a contract
premium in the first policy year exceeds the contract premium in
the 2nd policy year.
(b) Except as provided under sub. (7), any life insurance policy issued on or after January 1, 1984, for which no comparable
benefit is provided in the first year for an excess premium and
which provides an endowment benefit or a cash surrender value
or a combination of both in an amount greater than the excess
premium, the reserve according to the commissioners reserve valuation method as of any policy anniversary occurring on or before the assumed ending date is the greater of the reserve on that
policy anniversary calculated under sub. (3) and the reserve on
that policy anniversary calculated under sub. (3) subject to the
following computational assumptions:
1. The value defined in sub. (3) (a) is reduced by 15 percent
of the amount of the excess premium.
2. All present values of benefits and premiums are determined without reference to premiums or benefits provided by the
policy after the assumed ending date.
3. The policy matures on the assumed ending date as an
endowment.
4. The cash surrender value provided on the assumed ending
date is an endowment benefit.
(c) In making the comparison under par. (b) the mortality and
interest bases stated in subs. (2) and (2m) shall be used.
(4) Reserves according to the commissioners reserve valuation method for the following shall be calculated by a method
consistent with the principles of sub. (3), except that any extra
premiums charged because of impairments or special hazards
shall be disregarded in the determination of modified net
premiums:
(a) Life insurance policies providing for a varying amount of
insurance or requiring the payment of varying premiums.
(b) Group annuity and pure endowment contracts purchased
under a retirement plan or plan of deferred compensation, established or maintained by an employer, including a partnership or
sole proprietorship, or by an employee organization, or by both,
other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under section 408 of the internal
revenue code, as amended.
(c) Disability and accidental death benefits in all policies and
contracts.
(d) All other benefits, except life insurance and endowment
benefits in life insurance policies and benefits provided by all
other annuity and pure endowment contracts.
(4m) This subsection applies to all annuity and pure endowment contracts other than group annuity and pure endowment
contracts purchased under a retirement plan or plan of deferred
compensation, established or maintained by an employer, including a partnership or sole proprietorship, or by an employee organization, or by both, other than a plan providing individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities under section
408 of the Internal Revenue Code. Reserves according to the
commissioners annuity reserve method for benefits under annuity or pure endowment contracts, excluding any disability and accidental death benefits in such contracts, shall be the greatest of
the respective excesses of the present values, at the date of valuation, of the future guaranteed benefits, including guaranteed nonforfeiture benefits, provided for by such contracts at the end of
each respective contract year, over the present value, at the date of
valuation, of any future valuation considerations derived from future gross considerations, required by the terms of such contract,
that become payable prior to the end of such respective contract
year. The future guaranteed benefits shall be determined by using the mortality table, if any, and the interest rate specified in
such contracts for determining guaranteed benefits. The valuation considerations are the portions of the respective gross considerations applied under the terms of such contracts to determine nonforfeiture values.
(5) (a) In no event may a company’s aggregate reserves for all
life insurance policies, excluding disability and accidental death
benefits, issued on or after the effective date of this section, be
less than the aggregate reserves calculated in accordance with the
method set forth in subs. (3) to (4m) and (7) and the mortality table or tables and rate or rates of interest used in calculating nonforfeiture benefits for such policies.
(b) In no event may a company’s aggregate reserves for all
policies, contracts and benefits be less than the aggregate reserves determined by a qualified actuary in an opinion under sub.
(1m) (b) 1. to be necessary to make adequate provision for the
company’s obligations under the policies and contracts.
(6) Reserves for all policies and contracts issued prior to the
effective date of this subsection may be calculated, at the option
of the company, according to any standards that produce greater
aggregate reserves for all such policies and contracts than the
minimum reserves required by the laws in effect immediately
prior to such date. Reserves for any category of policies, contracts or benefits as established by the commissioner, issued on or
after the effective date of this subsection, may be calculated, at
the option of the company, according to any standards that produce greater aggregate reserves for such category than those calculated according to the minimum standard herein provided, but
the rate or rates of interest used for policies and contracts, other
than annuity and pure endowment contracts, shall not be higher
than the corresponding rate or rates of interest used in calculating
any nonforfeiture benefits provided for therein. Any such company that at any time has adopted any standard of valuation producing greater aggregate reserves than those calculated according
to the minimum standard herein provided may, with the approval
of the commissioner, adopt any lower standard of valuation, but
not lower than the minimum herein provided. For the purposes of
this subsection, holding any additional reserves that a qualified
actuary, in an opinion under sub. (1m) (b) 1. , determined to be
necessary to make adequate provision for the company’s obligations under the policies and contracts shall not be considered the
adoption of a higher standard of valuation.
(7) (a) If in any contract year the gross premium charged by
any life insurance company on any policy or contract is less than
the valuation net premium for the policy or contract calculated by
the method used in calculating its reserve but using the minimum
valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest under subs.
(2) and (2m), the minimum reserve required for the policy or contract shall be the greater of either the reserve calculated according

to the mortality table, rate of interest, and method actually used
for the policy or contract, or the reserve calculated by the method
actually used for the policy or contract but using the minimum
valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest under subs.
(2) and (2m) and replacing the valuation net premium by the actual gross premium in each contract year for which the valuation
net premium exceeds the actual gross premium.
(b) 1. In this paragraph, “excess premium” means the amount
by which a gross premium in the first policy year exceeds the
gross premium in the 2nd policy year.
2. If a life insurance policy issued on or after January 1,
1984, provides no comparable benefit in the first year for an excess premium and provides an endowment benefit, cash surrender value or both in an amount greater than the excess premium,
the minimum reserve at each policy anniversary is the greater of
the minimum reserve under subs. (3) to (4) and the minimum reserve under par. (a).
3. For purposes of par. (a), the method used in calculating the
reserve of a policy under subd. 2. is specified under subs. (3) to
(4).
(c) If a plan of life insurance provides for future determination
of premiums based on recent estimates of future experience available at the time of the determination, or if the minimum reserves
for a plan of life insurance or an annuity cannot be determined
under subs. (3) to (4m) and this subsection, the commissioner
shall by rule adopt a method for determining the minimum reserves for the plan or annuity. A rule adopted under this paragraph shall specify a method consistent with the principles of this
section and appropriate in relation to the benefits and pattern of
premiums for the plan or annuity.
(8m) For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or
after November 13, 2015, but before the operative date of the valuation manual, the minimum standard of valuation is the standard
adopted by the commissioner by rule. For accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the valuation manual
shall be the minimum standard of valuation required under sub.
(1f) (b).
(9) (a) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the standard prescribed in the
valuation manual is the minimum standard of valuation required
under sub. (1f) (b), except as provided in pars. (e) and (g).
(b) The operative date of the valuation manual is January 1 of
the first calendar year beginning after the first July 1 as of which
all of the following have occurred:
1. The valuation manual has been adopted by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners by an affirmative vote
of at least 42 members or three-fourths of the members voting,
whichever is greater.
2. The standard valuation law, as amended by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or legislation
including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by states representing more than 75 percent of the direct
premiums written as reported in all of the following annual statements submitted for 2008:
a. Life, accident, and health annual statements.
b. Health annual statements.
c. Fraternal annual statements.
3. The standard valuation law, as amended by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2009, or legislation
including substantially similar terms and provisions, has been enacted by at least 42 of the following 55 jurisdictions:
a. The 50 states of the United States.
b. American Samoa.
c. The American Virgin Islands.
d. The District of Columbia.
e. Guam.
f. Puerto Rico.
(c) Unless a change in the valuation manual specifies a later
effective date, changes to the valuation manual shall be effective
on the first January 1 after the date when such changes have been
adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
by an affirmative vote representing all of the following:
1. At least three-fourths of the members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners voting, but not less than a
majority of the total membership.
2. Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners representing the jurisdictions specified in par. (b) 3.
with more than 75 percent of the direct premiums written as reported in all of the following annual statements most recently
available before the vote under subd. 1.:
a. Life, accident, and health annual statements.
b. Health annual statements.
c. Fraternal annual statements.
(d) The valuation manual must specify all of the following:
1. Minimum valuation standards for and definitions of the
policies and contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b). The minimum valuation standards shall be all of the following:
a. The commissioners reserve valuation method for life insurance contracts, other than annuity contracts, subject to sub.
(1f) (b).
b. The commissioners annuity reserve valuation method for
annuity contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b).
c. Minimum reserves for all other policies and contracts subject to sub. (1f) (b).
2. Which policies or contracts, or types of policies or contracts, are subject to the requirements of a principle-based valuation in sub. (10) (a) and the minimum valuation standards consistent with those requirements.
3. For policies and contracts subject to a principle-based valuation under sub. (10), all of the following:
a. Requirements for the format of reports to the commissioner under sub. (10) (b) 3., which reports shall include information necessary to determine if the valuation is appropriate and in
compliance with this section.
b. Requirements regarding the treatment of risks over which
the insurance company does not have significant control or
influence.
c. Procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the
actuarial function and a process for appropriate waiver or modification of such procedures.
4. The minimum valuation standard for policies not subject
to a principle-based valuation under sub. (10), which minimum
valuation standard shall be the greater of the following:
a. Reserves that are consistent with the minimum standard of
valuation before the operative date of the valuation manual.
b. Reserves that quantify the benefits, guarantees, and funding associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events
that have a reasonable probability of occurring. This does not
preclude, for policies with significant tail risk, reflecting in the
reserve conditions appropriately adverse to quantify that tail risk.
5. Other requirements, including those relating to reserve
methods, models for measuring risk, generation of economic scenarios, assumptions, margins, use of insurance company experience, risk measurement, disclosure, certifications, reports, actu-

arial opinions and memoranda, transition rules, and internal
controls.
6. The data and form of the data required under sub. (11) and
to whom the data must be submitted. The valuation manual may
specify other related requirements, including data analyses and
reporting of analyses.
(e) In the absence of a specific valuation requirement, or if a
specific valuation requirement in the valuation manual is not, in
the opinion of the commissioner, in compliance with this section,
the insurance company shall, with respect to such requirements,
comply with minimum valuation standards prescribed by the
commissioner by rule.
(f) The commissioner may engage a qualified actuary, at the
expense of the insurance company, to perform an actuarial examination of the company and opine on the appropriateness of any
reserve assumption or method used by the company, or to review
and opine on a company’s compliance with any requirement in
this section. The commissioner may rely on the opinion, regarding provisions in this section, of a qualified actuary engaged by
the commissioner of another state or district or territory of the
United States. As used in this paragraph, the term “engage” includes both “employ” and “contract with.”
(g) The commissioner may require an insurance company to
make any change to an assumption or method that, in the opinion
of the commissioner, is necessary to comply with the requirements of the valuation manual or this section. An insurance company shall adjust the reserves as required by the commissioner.
The commissioner may take any disciplinary action permitted
under ss. 601.41 (4) and 601.64.
(h) 1. The commissioner may exempt specific product forms
or product lines of a domestic company that is licensed and doing
business only in Wisconsin from the requirements of this subsection if all of the following are satisfied:
a. The commissioner has issued an exemption in writing to
the company and has not subsequently revoked the exemption in
writing.
b. The company computes reserves using assumptions and
methods used before the operative date of the valuation manual in
addition to any requirements established by the commissioner
and promulgated by rule.
2. For policy forms and product lines for which a company is
granted an exemption under subd. 1., subs. (1f) (a), (1m), and (2)
to (7) apply, and any reference to the valuation manual does not
apply.
(10) (a) For policies and contracts issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, an insurer must establish reserves for policies and contracts as specified in the valuation
manual using a principle-based valuation that does all of the
following:
1. Quantifies the benefits, guarantees, and funding associated with the contracts and their risks at a level of conservatism
that reflects conditions that include unfavorable events that have a
reasonable probability of occurring during the lifetime of the
contracts. For policies or contracts with significant tail risk, the
principle-based valuation should reflect conditions appropriately
adverse to quantify the tail risk.
2. Incorporates assumptions, risk analysis methods and financial models, and management techniques that are consistent
with, but not necessarily identical with, those used within the
company’s overall risk assessment process, while recognizing potential differences in financial reporting structures and any prescribed assumptions or methods.
3. Incorporates assumptions that are derived in one of the
following ways:
a. The assumption is prescribed in the valuation manual.
b. For an assumption that is not prescribed in the valuation
manual, the assumption is established using the company’s available experience to the extent it is relevant and statistically credible. To the extent that company data is not available, relevant, or
statistically credible, the assumption is established using other
relevant, statistically credible experience.
4. Provides margins for uncertainty, including adverse deviation and estimation error, such that the greater the uncertainty,
the larger the margin and resulting reserve.
(b) A company using a principle-based valuation for one or
more policies or contracts subject to this section as specified in
the valuation manual shall do all of the following:
1. Establish procedures for corporate governance and oversight of the actuarial valuation function consistent with those described in the valuation manual.
2. Provide to the commissioner and the board of directors an
annual certification of the effectiveness of the internal controls
with respect to the principle-based valuation. The internal controls shall be designed to ensure that all material risks inherent in
the liabilities and associated assets subject to the valuation are included in the valuation and that valuations are made in accordance with the valuation manual. The certification shall be based
on the controls in place as of the end of the preceding calendar
year.
3. Develop, and file with the commissioner upon request, a
principle-based valuation report that complies with standards
prescribed in the valuation manual.
(c) A principle-based valuation may include a prescribed formulaic reserve component.
(11) Beginning on the operative date of the valuation manual,
a company shall submit mortality, morbidity, policyholder behavior, or expense experience and other data for all policies and contracts in force as prescribed in the valuation manual.
(12) (a) In this subsection:
1. “Experience data” means any documents, materials, data,
or other information submitted by a company under sub. (11).
2. “Experience materials” means any documents, materials,
data, or other information, including all working papers and
copies of working papers, created or produced in connection with
experience data, in each case that include any potentially company-identifying or personally identifiable information, that is
provided to or obtained by the commissioner, together with any
experience data.
(am) For purposes of pars. (b) and (c), all of the following are
confidential information:
1. A memorandum in support of an opinion submitted under
sub. (1m) or (1r) and any other documents, materials, or other information, including all working papers and copies of working
papers, created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in connection with the
memorandum.
2. All documents, materials, and other information, including all working papers and copies of working papers, created,
produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any
other person in the course of an examination made under sub. (9)
(f), except that if an examination report or other material prepared in connection with an examination made under ss. 601.43
and 601.44 is not held as private and confidential information under s. 601.465 (1m) (b), an examination report or other material
prepared in connection with an examination made under sub. (9)
(f) is not confidential information to the same extent as if the examination report or other material had been prepared under ss.
601.43 and 601.44.
3. Any reports, documents, materials, or other information

developed by a company in support of, or in connection with, an
annual certification by the company under sub. (10) (b) 2. evaluating the effectiveness of the company’s internal controls with respect to a principle-based valuation and any other documents,
materials, or other information, including all working papers and
copies of working papers, created, produced, or obtained by or
disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in connection
with the reports, documents, materials, and other information.
4. Any principle-based valuation report developed under
sub. (10) (b) 3. and any other documents, materials, or other information, including all working papers and copies of working
papers, created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in connection with the report.
5. Experience data, experience materials, and any other documents, materials, data, or other information, including all working papers and copies of working papers, created, produced, or
obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person
in connection with experience materials.
(b) 1. Information described as confidential under par. (am)
is confidential and privileged; is not subject to receipt, inspection,
or copying under s. 19.35 (1); is not subject to subpoena; and is
not subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private
civil action. The commissioner is authorized to use the confidential information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought against the company as a part of the commissioner’s
official duties.
2. Neither the commissioner nor any person who received
confidential information while acting under the authority of the
commissioner may testify in any private civil action concerning
any confidential information.
3. a. In furtherance of the performance of the commissioner’s regulatory duties, the commissioner may share confidential information with other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies; the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries; the Actuarial Board for
Counseling and Discipline or its successor, in the case of confidential information under par. (am) 1. and 4. only, upon request
stating that the confidential information is required for the purposes of professional disciplinary proceedings; and state, federal,
and international law enforcement agencies.
b. Confidential information may be shared under subd. 3. a.
only if the recipient agrees, and has the legal authority to agree, to
maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of such documents, materials, data, and other information in the same manner
and to the same extent as required for the commissioner.
c. The commissioner may receive documents, materials, or
other information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, data, or information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and its affiliates
and subsidiaries, from regulatory or law enforcement agencies of
other foreign or domestic jurisdictions, and from the Actuarial
Board for Counseling and Discipline or its successor, and shall
maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, or
other information received with notice or the understanding that
it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction
that is the source of the document, material, or information.
d. The commissioner may enter into agreements governing
sharing and use of information consistent with this subsection.
e. No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the confidential information shall occur as a result of
disclosure of such information or documents to the commissioner
under this subsection or as a result of the commissioner sharing
such information or documents as authorized in this subsection.
f. A privilege established under the law of any state or jurisdiction that is substantially similar to the privilege established under this subsection shall be available and enforced in any proceeding in, and in any court of, this state.
(c) Notwithstanding par. (b), any confidential information
specified in par. (am) 1. and 4. is subject to all of the following:
1. The confidential information may be subject to subpoena
for the purpose of d

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