Optimal strategies for hedging portfolios of unit-linked life insurance contracts with minimum death guarantee

In this paper, we are interested in hedging strategies which allow the insurer to reduce the risk to their portfolio of unit-linked life insurance contracts with minimum death guarantee. Hedging strategies are developed in the Black and Scholes model and in the Merton jump–diffusion model. According to the new frameworks (IFRS, Solvency II and MCEV), risk premium is integrated into our valuations. We will study the optimality of hedging strategies by comparing risk indicators (Expected loss, volatility, VaR and CTE) in relation to transaction costs and costs generated by the re-hedging error. We will analyze the robustness of hedging strategies by stress-testing the effect of a sharp rise in future mortality rates and a severe depreciation in the price of the underlying asset.