FAQ

Why Axxima?

What makes Axxima’s team unique?

Axxima combines deep actuarial expertise with practical insurance and risk management experience. Axxima’s team includes actuaries, accountants, lawyers, risk managers, and analysts who bring diverse expertise to every project. We are client-centric and deliver technical excellence alongside practical, easy-to-understand guidance.

How does Axxima build long-term client relationships?

We prioritize trust, transparency, and a strong understanding of each client’s goals. By delivering customized service, practical advice, and dependable support, Axxima has built client relationships that often span over 20 years.

What is the process of working with Axxima?

Our process begins with understanding your organization, objectives, and risk environment. From there, we tailor a solution that fits your needs, provide senior level expertise throughout the engagement, and communicate findings clearly to support confident decision-making.

Licensing & Geographic Coverage

Does Axxima offer insurance brokerage services across Canada?

Yes. Axxima provides insurance brokerage services across Canada as part of its broader insurance and risk management offering, helping clients navigate coverage, strategy, and program implementation.

Does Axxima operate across all provinces and territories?

Yes. Axxima supports clients across Canada and has experience working with organizations in multiple provinces and territories, adapting services to meet regional and regulatory requirements.

Can Axxima support clients outside of Canada?

Yes. While Axxima’s primary focus is Canada, we also support clients internationally by providing actuarial, insurance, and risk management expertise tailored to unique organizational needs.

Actuarial Services

What does an actuary do?

An actuary helps organizations quantify and assess risk by analyzing data, measuring uncertainty, and evaluating potential financial outcomes. Axxima stands out through its ability to communicate complex actuarial and P&C concepts in a clear, accessible way, with practical insights tailored for different audiences to support informed decision-making.

What are typical actuarial services?

Typical actuarial services include:

• Reserving: valuation of actuarial liabilities
• Pricing: funding, ratemaking, rate reviews, experience rating methodologies
• Capital studies: Financial condition testing (FCT), own risk and solvency assessment (ORSA), risk modelling, capital and surplus allocations
• Feasibility studies for captives and self-insurance

Who needs an actuary?

Organizations that need to measure, assess, and manage financial or insurance related risk often benefit from actuarial expertise. This includes insurers, self insured entities, public sector organizations, captives, and businesses managing complex P&C exposures.

What industries in Canada rely on actuarial services?

Insurance and reinsurance companies use actuaries. In addition, many industries and sectors rely on actuarial services, including:

• Municipalities
• Professional associations
• Education
• Healthcare
• Transportation
• Agriculture
• Warranty programs
• Organizations with self-insurance or complex P&C risk exposures.

Does Axxima use fully credentialed actuaries?

Yes. Axxima’s actuarial team includes several fully credentialed P&C actuaries holding Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) and Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) designations, with deep expertise in pricing, valuation, capital adequacy, insurance financial reporting, and regulatory requirements. They are qualified to act as Appointed Actuary.

What does a consulting actuary typically deliver to clients?

A consulting actuary typically delivers presentations, reports, analyses, recommendations, financial models, reserve valuations, pricing assessments, and risk insights designed to help organizations measure and assess business risk. Strong communication matters, which is why results should be tailored for different audiences so both technical and non-technical stakeholders can make informed decisions.

Actuarial Valuation & Reserving

What is actuarial reserving and why is it important?

Actuarial reserving or valuation is the process of estimating the funds needed to meet future insurance obligations and unpaid claims. It is important because it helps organizations measure and assess financial risk, and maintain financial stability. For regulated insurance entities, obtaining a valuation report with an actuarial opinion by a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) is a minimum annual requirement.

How do actuaries estimate insurance liabilities?

Actuaries estimate insurance liabilities (often called reserves) by analyzing historical claims data, trends, risk exposure and financial assumptions, and using professional judgment to project the future cost of claims. At Axxima, annual, semi-annual and quarterly actuarial valuations are tailored for different audiences, helping stakeholders clearly understand risks, assumptions, and financial impacts.

Capital Adequacy & Solvency (FCT / ORSA)

What is Financial Condition Testing (FCT)?

Financial Condition Testing (FCT) is an actuarial process used to assess an insurer’s financial viability under normal and adverse conditions, such as catastrophic losses, deterioration in reserves or economic shocks impacting inflation or interest rates. It helps organizations measure and assess risk, evaluate resilience, and support informed decision-making. This is a regulatory requirement for most regulated insurance entities in Canada.

What is Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA)?

Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) is a structured process that helps organizations identify, quantify, and assess their risk profile while evaluating whether sufficient capital is available to support ongoing operations and future obligations. It involves identifying all material risks, such as underwriting, reserving, investment and operational risks, and determining the capital required to support those risks. ORSA is central to enterprise risk management and to ensure that the risk profile, business strategy and capital strategy are aligned. This is a regulatory requirement for most regulated entities in Canada.

What is the Minimum Capital Test (MCT)?

The Minimum Capital Test (MCT) is the primary regulatory capital adequacy framework for Canadian P&C insurers. It is used to measure whether an insurer maintains sufficient capital to absorb potential losses arising from insurance, market, credit and operational risks.

How do actuarial consultants support solvency and stress testing?

Axxima supports solvency and stress testing by modeling adverse scenarios using both deterministic and stochastic approaches. This enables a comprehensive evaluation of capital resilience and helps organizations quantify and assess business risk. Results are tailored for different audiences to ensure that technical findings are clearly understood by boards, management teams, and regulators.

Financial Reporting & IFRS 17

What is IFRS 17 and how does it impact insurance companies in Canada?

IFRS 17 is an international financial reporting standard for insurance contracts that establishes how insurers measure, report, and present insurance liabilities and financial performance. In Canada, it affects how insurance companies assess profitability, report financial results, and meet financial and regulatory reporting requirements.

How do actuaries support IFRS 17 compliance?

Actuaries support IFRS 17 compliance by helping organizations measure insurance liabilities, assess assumptions, support financial reporting processes, and interpret complex requirements such as the risk adjustment (RA), premium allocation approach (PAA) or general measurement model (GMM) for multi-year contracts. Axxima’s credentialed actuaries provide practical guidance tailored for different audiences to support clear implementation and reporting.

What role do actuaries play in financial reporting?

Actuaries play an important role in financial reporting by estimating insurance liabilities, measuring risk, and supporting the accuracy of financial statements, disclosure notes and regulatory schedules. Their work helps organizations assess financial performance and meet reporting requirements with confidence.

Risk Management

Why is risk management important for entities?

Risk management helps organizations identify, assess, and respond to uncertainty that could affect financial performance, operations, or long-term objectives. A proactive approach supports stronger decision-making, improved resilience, and greater confidence when managing complex risks.

What are the most common risk management strategies?

Common risk management strategies include risk avoidance, mitigation, transfer, retention, and ongoing monitoring. The right approach depends on an organization’s objectives, risk tolerance, and operational environment. In some cases, self-insurance may also be an effective approach depending on an organization’s financial capacity, exposures, and long-term goals. Learn more about self-insurance here:  View Article.

How does Axxima help clients manage risk more effectively?

Axxima helps clients quantify and assess business risk through tailored insurance, actuarial, and risk management solutions. By combining our expertise with practical guidance, Axxima helps organizations better understand exposures, evaluate options, and make informed decisions that align with their goals.

Risk Quantification & Analytics

What is stochastic modelling?

Stochastic modelling is an actuarial technique used to measure uncertainty by analyzing a range of possible probability-based outcomes rather than relying on a single estimate. By allowing key assumptions to vary, such as claims, interest rates, or inflation, this approach provides a more realistic view of risk and helps organizations understand both expected results and the volatility associated with potential adverse scenarios.

How do actuaries use simulations to assess uncertainty?

Actuaries use simulations to model different scenarios and assess how changes in assumptions, claims trends, or external factors may impact outcomes. By quantifying the uncertainty and evaluating potential financial impacts, these analyses help organizations better understand risk and supports strategic planning and decision-making.

Self-Insurance

What is self-insurance and how does it work in Canada?

Self-insurance is a risk financing approach where an organization retains some or all of its own risk instead of transferring it to an insurer. In Canada, self-insurance can range from assuming a higher deductible or retention to funding a more formal self-insurance program, depending on the organization’s financial capacity, risk profile, operational needs, and regulatory environment. Self-insurance may be undertaken individually or collectively, with organizations pooling to resources to share the risk. Common structures include captives, pools and reciprocal insurance exchanges.

What is a self-insured retention (SIR)?

A self-insured retention (SIR) is the amount of loss an organization agrees to retain and fund before insurance coverage responds. SIRs are commonly used as part of self-insurance or alternative risk financing strategies to provide greater control over retained risk.

When should a company, group or organisation consider self-insurance?

A company, group, or organization may consider self-insurance when it has a well-understood risk profile and the financial and operational resources to manage retained risk effectively. A thorough risk assessment and feasibility study can help determine whether self-insurance is feasible and aligned with long-term objectives.

What are the benefits of self-insurance?

Potential benefits of self-insurance include greater control over claims management, tailored coverage, reduced costs and stronger visibility into organizational risk exposures. Additionally, self‑insurance can enhance risk awareness and support more proactive, data‑driven decision‑making as organizations develop a deeper understanding of their underlying risk exposures.

How do actuarial consultants support self-insurance programs?

In addition to assisting in the determination of the appropriate SIR level, Axxima supports self-insurance programs by helping organizations quantify and assess key risks, evaluate funding and capital requirements, measure liabilities, and model potential outcomes. We work closely with clients throughout the process, from the initial feasibility analysis and program design to ongoing management or strategic support once the self-insurance structure is in place.

Risk Retention

What is risk retention in insurance?

Risk retention is a risk financing approach where an organization assumes responsibility for a portion of its losses rather than transferring all risk to an insurer. The level of retained risk depends on factors such as financial capacity, risk profile, risk tolerance and overall risk management objectives.

How do organizations decide how much risk to retain?

Organizations evaluate factors such as financial capacity, risk tolerance, loss experience, and risk exposure when determining retention levels. Actuarial analysis can help quantify potential outcomes and support informed decision-making regarding retained risk.

What is the difference between risk retention and risk transfer?

Risk retention involves assuming responsibility for losses, while risk transfer shifts financial responsibility to another party, typically through insurance. Most organizations use a combination of both approaches to align risk financing strategies with their objectives and risk appetite.

How can companies optimize retention levels?

Organizations can optimize retention levels by evaluating loss experience, risk exposure and financial capacity against insurance market conditions. Actuarial modelling can help assess the range of potential outcomes and support decisions that align with organizational objectives and risk tolerance.

Alternative Risk Financing

What is alternative risk financing?

Alternative risk financing refers to risk funding approaches that differ from traditional insurance. These strategies may include self-insurance, insurance pools, captive insurance companies, reciprocal insurance exchanges, protective associations or risk-sharing arrangements. Alternative risk financing can provide organizations with greater flexibility and control over how risk is managed and financed.

When should organizations consider alternative risk strategies?

Organizations may consider alternative risk strategies when traditional insurance solutions do not align with their risk profile, operational needs, or financial objectives. Factors such as size, stable loss experience, sufficient financial capacity, or increasing insurance costs may support the evaluation of alternative approaches.

Program Design and Structure

How are insurance programs structured for organizations?

Insurance programs are structured to align coverage, retention levels, and risk financing strategies with an organization’s risk profile and objectives. Program structures may include a combination of traditional insurance or reinsurance coverage, retained risk, and alternative risk financing mechanisms designed to support effective risk management.

How do organizations align program structure with risk appetite?

Organizations align program structure with risk appetite by evaluating the level of risk they are willing and able to retain while maintaining appropriate protection against significant losses. This process considers factors such as financial capacity, risk profile, strategic objectives, and potential loss scenarios. Actuarial analysis can help assess the impact of different program structures and provide valuable insight into potential outcomes.

How are customized insurance and risk solutions designed?

Customized insurance and risk solutions are designed by evaluating an organization’s operations, risk exposures, financial objectives, insurance needs, risk management priorities and regulatory landscape. This process typically involves risk assessment, data analysis, and a review of the existing insurance structure to identify opportunities for improvement and alignment with organizational strategy.

Insurance Program Management

What is ongoing insurance program management?

Ongoing insurance program management involves the continuous oversight and administration of an entity’s insurance and risk financing programs. Activities may include:

• Monitoring risk exposures and changes in operational risk profiles
• Reviewing insurance/reinsurance coverage structures and retention levels
• Supporting insurance renewals, underwriting and marketing processes
• Evaluating program performance and financing strategies
• Identifying opportunities for program improvements and optimization
• Supporting ongoing risk management and governance objectives
• Claims management
• Accounting, financial reporting and regulatory reporting

Reinsurance

What is reinsurance and how does it work?

Reinsurance is insurance for insurance companies. It is a risk management and risk financing tool used by insurers to transfer a portion of their risk to another insurance company, known as a reinsurer. It helps insurers manage volatility, protect capital, and maintain financial stability by reducing exposure to large or unexpected losses.

What are the different types of reinsurance?

Reinsurance can be structured in several ways, including treaty and facultative arrangements. Treaty reinsurance covers a defined portfolio of risks, while facultative reinsurance applies to specific individual risks. Reinsurance may also be structured on a proportional (often referred to as quota share) or non-proportional basis (e.g., excess of loss or XOL), depending on how risk and losses are shared.

When should reinsurance be used?

Reinsurance may be appropriate when an insurer seeks to manage risk concentrations, protect against catastrophic losses, support capital adequacy, or stabilize financial results. The appropriate structure depends on an insurer’s risk profile, risk tolerance, business objectives, and financial capacity.

How do actuaries support reinsurance strategy?

Actuaries support reinsurance strategy by analyzing risk exposures, evaluating potential loss scenarios, assessing capital implications, and modelling the financial impact of alternative reinsurance structures. This analysis helps insurers make informed decisions regarding risk transfer and capital management.

Financial Projections & Forecasting

How do actuaries build multi-year financial forecasts?

Actuaries build multi-year financial forecasts by analyzing historical experience, the current financial condition, business plans, and making projections based on a series of assumptions. Forecasts may incorporate projected claims costs, premiums, expenses, investment returns, and capital requirements.

Forecasting helps organizations evaluate potential future outcomes and better understand the financial impact of uncertainty. It supports informed decision-making by identifying emerging risks, assessing capital needs, and evaluating the potential implications of strategic decisions.

Feasibility Studies

What is an actuarial feasibility study?

An actuarial feasibility study evaluates whether a proposed insurance, self-insurance, captive, or alternative risk financing arrangement is financially and operationally viable. The analysis typically considers risk exposures, expected costs, funding requirements, capital requirements and potential outcomes under various scenarios.

When should a feasibility study be conducted?

A feasibility study should be considered when an organization is evaluating a new insurance program, alternative risk financing structure, self-insurance arrangement, or significant change in risk strategy. The study helps support informed decision-making by assessing potential risks, costs, and operational considerations.

Claims & Policy Structures

What is the difference between claims-made vs occurrence policies?

A claims-made policy provides coverage when a claim is reported during the policy period, regardless of when the insured event occurred, as long as it is after the retroactive date if any is listed on the policy. An occurrence policy provides coverage for insured events that occur during the policy period, regardless of when the claim is reported. Understanding these differences is important when evaluating long-term liability exposures.

A professional covered by a claims-made policy may need to continue to purchase insurance after retirement to cover prior acts.  This coverage is often called extended reporting policy or tail coverage.  It is not required under an occurrence-based policy.

Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance

What is directors and officers (D&O) insurance?

Directors and officers (D&O) insurance provides protection for directors, officers, and organizations against certain claims arising from decisions, actions, or alleged wrongful acts performed in the course of their duties. Coverage is intended to help manage financial exposures associated with governance and management responsibilities.

Who needs D&O insurance?

D&O insurance is commonly purchased by corporations, not-for-profit organizations, public entities, professional associations, and other organizations with boards. It helps protect individuals and organizations from potential liabilities associated with governance and decision-making activities.

Regulatory & Compliance (Canada)

What is an appointed actuary in Canada?

In Canada, an appointed actuary is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) designated by the Board of a regulated insurance entity to perform specific statutory responsibilities. These responsibilities typically include providing opinions on policy liabilities, assessing the financial condition and communicating actuarial findings to management, boards, and regulators.

What regulatory and professional standards must Canadian actuaries follow?

Canadian actuaries are required to follow the Standards of Practice and Rules of Professional Conduct established by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA), as well as applicable regulatory requirements.

Depending on the engagement, actuaries may also be required to comply with various insurance laws, regulatory guidelines or financial reporting standards.

Public Sector & Municipalities

How can municipalities manage insurance and financial risk?

Municipalities can manage insurance and financial risk through effective assessment, insurance program design, ongoing monitoring of exposures and loss prevention activities. Actuarial analysis can help quantify and assess risks, evaluate funding requirements, and support informed decision-making regarding long-term financial obligations.

What insurance solutions are best for cities, municipalities, towns and villages?

The appropriate insurance solution depends on operations, risk profile, legal and regulatory environment and financial objectives. Common alternative financing structures include self-insurance, insurance pools, regulated insurance funds and reciprocal insurance exchanges. Cities, municipalities, towns and villages often evaluate property, liability, auto and cyber risks as part of a broader risk management strategy.

How can public sector organizations reduce long-term insurance costs?

Public sector organizations can reduce long-term insurance costs by:

• Strengthening risk management practices
• Evaluating risk retention strategies
• Improving claims management processes
• Assessing alternative risk financing options
• Monitoring long-term loss trends and exposures
• Reviewing insurance program performance regularly

Actuarial analysis can help identify opportunities to improve program efficiency while maintaining appropriate protection against risk exposures.

Professional Services

What insurance solutions are best for professional associations?

Professionals are often exposed to professional liability, directors and officers (D&O) and cyber liability risks. The appropriate structure depends on the association’s membership, risk profile, risk tolerance, financial resources and program objectives. Common alternative financing structures include group purchasing programs, reciprocal insurance exchanges, captives and regulated insurance funds.

What insurance solutions are best for law firms?

Law firms often evaluate professional liability, cyber liability, commercial general liability, and directors and officers (D&O) coverage. The appropriate insurance program depends on the firm’s areas of practice, operations, financial resources and risk profile. Common insurance structures include traditional insurance, group purchasing programs, reciprocal insurance exchanges and captives.

What insurance solutions are best for healthcare organizations?

Healthcare organizations often evaluate malpractice, general liability, cyber liability, property, and specialty healthcare coverages. The appropriate structure depends on services provided, operational complexity, and risk exposures. In Canada, common insurance structures include government-backed self-insurance insurance programs and reciprocal insurance exchanges.

What insurance solutions are best for large organizations?

Large organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, often require customized insurance and risk financing structures that may include layered insurance programs, captives, self-insurance arrangements, or other alternative risk financing solutions. The appropriate structure depends on the organization’s risk profile and strategic objectives.

How do actuaries support insurance programs?

Actuaries support property, general and professional liability, automobile, cyber and other insurance programs by analyzing loss experience, evaluating risk exposures, assessing pricing adequacy, estimating liabilities and determining capital requirements to support the risk. This analysis helps organizations and insurers better understand potential financial impacts and supports informed underwriting and risk management decisions.

Board & Governance Support

How do actuaries support boards and executive teams?

Actuaries support boards and executive teams by providing risk analysis, insights, and recommendations related to:

• Required pricing
• Required provisions
• Required capital
• Insurance program design
• Financial uncertainty

Their role is to provide independent analysis that helps leadership teams evaluate uncertainty, assess potential outcomes, and make well-informed strategic decisions.

What education do boards need on risk and insurance?

Boards benefit from understanding key insurance risks, risk management, and governance concepts that may impact organizational objectives. Education often focuses on risk exposures, insurance program structures, capital implications, premium levels, emerging risks, and the organization’s overall risk profile to support effective oversight and informed decision-making.

Communication & Reporting

How does Axxima present complex actuarial findings clearly?

Axxima communicates complex actuarial findings in a practical and accessible manner that is tailored for different audiences. Results, assumptions, and potential outcomes are presented clearly so that boards, management teams, regulators, and other stakeholders can better understand risks, evaluate options, and make confident decisions.

Custom Solutions & Turnkey Services

Can Axxima provide modular or unbundled services?

Yes. Axxima provides both turnkey and modular actuarial, insurance, and risk management services. Organizations may engage Axxima for a specific project, targeted analysis, or ongoing support across multiple areas of risk management, insurance program management (e.g., accounting, claims), and actuarial consulting. Services are tailored to align with each organization’s objectives, risk profile, and operational requirements.

Can Axxima support both traditional insurers/reinsurers and non-traditional programs?

Yes. Axxima supports insurers as well as organizations operating alternative or non-traditional risk financing arrangements, including self-insurance programs, captives, reciprocal insurance exchanges, group purchasing programs and risk pools. Our experience across a range of insurance and risk management structures helps organizations evaluate options and support informed decision-making.