On the relationship between investment risk and insurance solvency optimum

Abstract

Solvency is a key issue in the insurance sector. Investments can have significant risks, and a compelling research question is whether the solvency optimizing investment risk corresponds to the lowest possible risk level. This question is even more topical with some interest rates approaching very low levels in many countries. The paper aims to answer this question. Theoretical results suggest that if insurance risk and investment risk are uncorrelated, solvency optimizing investment portfolios with non-risk-free components may exist, and the level of optimal investment risk may inversely depend on the insurance portfolio size.