AI coding agents can revolutionize how we develop and validate actuarial models. The below proof of concept shows model configuration for a new product in an hour’s time, including single-cell Excel replication and a summary validation report.

Agents can impact model development across the board. This example focuses on configuration and validation.

TodayAgent Enabled
DocumentationTime-consuming and rarely validated against modelGenerated automatically; continuously compared against code
Code changes & configurationManual, error-prone processAgents turn an Excel example into a code change and update validation
ValidationExcel replication may take weeks to completeAgents replicate model functionality in Excel in minutes
AutomationAvailable at the whim of your model providerAgents batch runs, build exhibits, and begin interpreting results

The setup

To use coding agents effectively they must have full access to the underlying model: the code, the assumptions, and the documentation. This setup is unlikely to work with most model-as-a-service providers, where the model itself isn’t easily consumed as context by the agent.

Agents & skills · Review · Model update · Validation & tests · Batch runs & read-outs MODEL & CONTEXT Open-architecture model code · assumptions runs · outputs Product documentation specs · modeling choices Model documentation spec · walkthrough Validation test-bed exhibits · tie-outs · gates

Coding agents are able to digest the entire code base and documentation at once and may also display a high degree of actuarial knowledge (see AnnuityBench for an example).

Detailed example

This example shows the process of replicating a competitor product where you have access to a brochure and filing. A product spec would work in place of the filing/brochure without issue.

Product

  • Stacking rollup (4% + 125% of credited rate)
  • Income growing at 75% of credited rate after election
  • Hedging done on an economic basis

Pricing model

  • Custom FIA model in development over the past few months

Tools used

  • Claude Code
  • Opus orchestrator agent that delegates to Opus/Sonnet subagents

Context

  • Full model code and specs available to the agent

Skills

  • Custom agent skills govern the research, configuration, and validation process

Process:

  1. Agent receives product filing and brochure and configures the model
  2. Model is automatically run for a single cell to produce full audit traces and single-cell replication
  3. Reviewer skill automatically kicked off to compare configuration to provided materials and assess the quality of the build
  4. After completion an actuary can use this report to quickly review and confirm the model implementation

Output:

OutputDescription
Product configuration
  • Single cell with GLWB features modeled
  • Actuary can now configure cells and assumptions
Audit traces
  • Excel replication of model functionality for a single cell
  • I'm excited about this replication because formulas are automatically adjusted based on product design to provide an easy review
Review binder
  • Key excerpts from audit files to use in the report and user-acceptance review
Validation report
  • First pass review completed by coding agent to speed review process

Cost & time:

The full research/build/validation pipeline was run in Claude Code using Opus 5. The entire process took approximately one hour and cost about $60.