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Program focus

This site hosts the MYGA Foundation Course, a hands-on program focused on:

  • understanding MYGA contract mechanics
  • translating contracts into cash flow logic
  • building a Python-based illustration engine
  • developing statutory reserving intuition (CARVM → VM-22)

The material mirrors how annuity products are analyzed, implemented, and explained in real actuarial work.

Instructor

Donovan Hou — FSA, MAAA, MBA (Chicago Booth)

  • Actuarial & analytics leader at a Fortune 500 insurance company
  • Experience across life & annuity products, modeling, statutory / financial reporting
  • Active in actuarial modernization and analytics transformation
  • Career mentor since 2019, focused on long-term skill building

Contact

📧 donovan.hoou@gmail.com

What this course offers?

  • Product mechanics

    • MYGA crediting structure
    • Surrender charges & timing
    • Market Value Adjustment (MVA)
    • Guaranteed funds / nonforfeiture logic
    • Partial withdrawal provisions

  • Modeling & implementation

    • Monthly projection framework
    • Policy-year vs calendar-year logic
    • Clean, auditable Python design
    • Outputs suitable for review and discussion

  • Reserving intuition

    • CARVM concepts and path thinking
    • How benefits drive reserves
    • How assumptions affect valuation
    • Structured understanding of VM-22

How the course is structured?

This course is built around three tightly connected components:

  • Classes — learn concepts, product mechanics, and valuation logic
  • Homework — test understanding with conceptual and Python exercises
  • Projects — milestone builds that integrate everything into reusable tools

Learning philosophy

Projects are designed as working systems, not demos.
The goal is to leave with intuition and code you can explain.

Course Roadmap (Classes)

The course is delivered across five core classes, each building toward a complete MYGA illustration and reserving system.

Class Focus What you’ll learn
Class 1 Actuarial foundations Probability, survival notation, life contingencies, time value of money
Class 2 Annuities & MYGA basics MYGA structure, crediting, guarantees, withdrawals, MVA intuition
Class 3 Assets & ALM Bond cash flows, pricing, duration, ALM logic behind MYGA products
Class 4 CARVM reserving Benefit paths, maximum-value logic, discounting, statutory reserve intuition
Class 5 VM-22 framework Deterministic & stochastic reserves, surplus testing, VM-22 vs CARVM

How to use this roadmap

Click any class to jump directly to its material.
Homework and projects map one-to-one with these class topics.

What you will be able to do?

By the end of this course

  • Explain MYGA products clearly and accurately
  • Translate contract language into cash flow logic
  • Build a MYGA illustration engine in Python
  • Analyze withdrawals, surrender charges, MVA, and guarantees together
  • Communicate mechanics using structured tables, formulas, and documentation

Use the navigation above to start with Classes, or jump directly into Projects if you prefer learning by building.