Reports of Casualty Insurance-Loss Reserve Schedules

The sessions of the National Convention of Insurance Commissioners, the insurance press and financial reports have given considerable time and space to the question of proper admitted values to be placed on bond and stock assets of casualty and surety companies. The total on the balance sheet known as "Admitted Assets" has been in the limelight since market disturbances began but on the liability side, "Total liabilities, except Capital and Surplus" has remained in the background. Each year, the Committee on Valuations has a report to make which is the principal topic under discussion at the December meeting of the commissioners but the standing committee on Reserves Other Than Life has had no report in the proceedings on the matter of loss reserves since 1917. When financial strength and solvency are under consideration, proper reserve or liability values are as important as asset values.