A Tale of Two Tables

It is the best of times and the worst of times for life insurance manufacturers. It's the best because through next year, they can choose to base their product design on either the 1980 or 2001 CSO (Commissioners Standard Ordinary) mortality tables, whichever works better with the product involved. It's the worst because as of Jan. 1, 2009, all new products have to be on the 2001 CSO table, and making the transition is a big and costly task.

A Tale of Two Tables
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)