Blog posts

Arithmetic progression annuity

An arithmetic progression annuity (or arithmetic gradient annuity) is a type of annuity where payments either increase or decrease by a fixed amount each period. This contrasts with a standard annuity, where payments remain constant over time. In this post, we'll explore the formulas for an arithmetic progression annuity and build a cash flow model to help illustrate how it works.


Contents:

  1. Key features
  2. Present value formula
  3. Future value formula
  4. Modelling example

Key features

An arithmetic progression annuity has the following key features:

  • Initial payment - the first payment, typically denoted \( P \), is a fixed amount.
  • Constant change …

Call option valuation: Black-Scholes vs. Monte Carlo

In this post, we will tackle the valuation of a call option using two methods: a closed-form formula and a stochastic model. Options are a type of financial instrument that give their owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price within a certain period. Here, we'll focus on a call option, which is a type of option allowing the holder to purchase the asset at a specific price (known as the strike price) before the option expires. Call options are commonly used in financial markets to bet on the potential increase …

Loan repayment structures

In this post, we will discuss the two main types of loan repayment structures and build sample loan schedules in Python using the cashflower package.


List of content:

  1. Repayment structures
  2. Equal payment loan schedule
  3. Equal principal loan schedule

Repayment structures

There are two main types of loan repayment structures:

  • equal payment loan (annuity loan),
  • equal principal loan (fixed principal).

Equal payment loan (annuity loan)

The total monthly payment is fixed (the same amount every month). Initially, a larger portion of the payment goes towards interest and a smaller portion towards the principal. Over time, as the outstanding loan balance …

CashflowerHub - concept presentation

In this blog post, I'll share the concept behind CashflowerHub, an application designed to be a central place for actuarial models, runs, and documentation. Currently, CashflowerHub is in its early development stages, with the core features being outlined.

CashflowerHub combines three key elements needed for effective actuarial reporting:

  • cashflow models,
  • runs,
  • documentation.

The idea is to bring these parts together in one place, saving time and making things easier to manage.

Models

The "Models" page lists all the cashflow models owned by a company. Users can add, edit, and delete models as needed.

Print screen of the 'Models' page.

When viewing a specific model, users …

Best actuarial books

In this post, we want to share a list of some of the best actuarial books that helped us understand actuarial science better. This is just our personal list, but we think these books are great for anyone studying or working in the field.

Is there a book you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments or use our contact form.

"Actuarial Mathematics" by Bowers, Gerber, Hickman, Jones, Nesbitt

Cover for the book Actuarial Mathematics.

This book was recommended to me when I started learning about life insurance, and it's often called the "actuarial bible". Some chapters were very useful …