Frequently Asked Questions

Contents

US GAAP for Insurers and International Financial Reporting for Insurers books

Overview and Background

These two publications are available through the “SOA Bookstore,” an eCommerce platform hosted by Sheridan Books and accessible from SOA.org. This “Bookstore” only includes the two books discussed here.

Orders are fulfilled by Sheridan Books, the SOA’s third-party vendor.
Both titles are offered as online eBooks and as bundles that include a print-on-demand physical copy.
Important: Physical copies are not sold separately — they can only be purchased in a bundle that includes the eBook
Important: SOA credentials (username and password) will not grant access to these eBooks. Separate login credentials are required.

The US GAAP for Insurers book is used as a required or recommended text in the curriculum. The International Financial Reporting for Insurers book is not.

Please direct questions about where the US GAAP book fits in the curriculum or exam schedule to the Education Department.

Purchasing Format Options

Physical copies of either title are not sold separately. The eBook is the primary product, and physical copies are available only when bundled with the eBook.

US GAAP purchasing options are:

Online eBook: $285
Online eBook + Softcover: $310
Online eBook + Hardcover: $335

International Financial Reporting for Insurers purchasing options are:

Online eBook, $249
Online eBook + Softcover, $274
Online eBook + Hardcover,$299

Online FAQ

A detailed FAQ has been created to support ordering and use of the US GAAP for Insurers and International Financial Reporting for Insurers books. The FAQ provides step-by-step information about purchasing, shipping options and timelines, accessing purchased eBooks, logging in, password resets, printing, copying, offline use, and other common eBook functions.

Customer Service may refer customers to this FAQ. The resource is especially helpful for questions related to:

Printing, copying, and usage limits
Logging in or password resets (note: separate Sheridan credentials, not SOA.org)
Accessing eBooks or activating offline mode
Common technical or account access issues

Please share the FAQ link with customers who need self-service help, or more detailed instructions:

https://publications.soa.org/support

Key highlights from the FAQ are below. If a question isn’t covered here, please reach out to publications@soa.org.

Order Fulfillment

All orders for these two eBooks (and bundled print versions) are fulfilled by Sheridan Books, the third-party vendor.

Print copies are print-on-demand, meaning books are printed after each order is placed.
SOA does not stock physical inventory.

Purchasing and Account Setup

Purchase is through a Sheridan Book e-Commerce platform that appears to be on SOA.org, but it is not.
Purchasers cannot log into the eCommerce platform for purchasing purposes (or eBook reading) with their SOA credentials. Login credentials for these eBooks are separate and distinct from general SOA credentials.
Customers will be prompted to create a new account with separate usernames and passwords during purchase checkout, unless they have already purchased one of the titles, when they place their order. They will use those usernames and passwords to access their eBooks.
Charges will appear under “Sheridan Books” on bank statements.
If purchasing multiple copies for a team, access codes will be sent via email from publications@soa.org, and each user must redeem the code to create their own account.

Shipping and Production for Physical Copies

Hardcovers and softcovers are printed only after an order is placed.
Expected delivery:
- Softcover: 5–12 days total (3–5 for printing + 2–8 for shipping)
- Hardcover: 7–15 days total (5–7 for printing + 2–8 for shipping)
Expedited shipping affects only delivery speed, not production time.
Customers receive order and shipping confirmations via publications@soa.org with tracking (except for some international flat-rate shipments).

Returns, Refunds, and Support

No refunds are available for digital content, and no returns are accepted for physical books.
Damaged or defective physical copies can be replaced with proper documentation and photos.
Support for eBook access and purchases is available via the Contact Us form, with replies typically within 48 business hours.
General SOA account issues should go to customerservice@soa.org (U.S.) or asiacustomerservice@soa.org (China).

Printing and Copying Limits

Printing: Customers may print up to 5% of the total content of the eBook.
Copying and Pasting: Customers may copy and paste up to 5% of the total text from your eBook into another document.

EBook Format and Offline Access

The eBooks are not PDFs. They are read in an eReader.

The eBook is not downloadable, but it does have offline reading capability.
Users must activate offline mode while online, and then select pages that are cached in the browser.
They will not be able to print an entire copy like a PDF.

Single User Access Terms

Each purchase is for a single user only, and only one device can be logged in at a time.

Please verify whether the customer is having difficulty with their general SOA account, or purchasing or accessing one of the two eBooks.
publications@soa.org receives requests for general SOA credential help frequently via the dedicated publications “contact form.”
There is an option to reset a password if the customer forgets it: https://publications.soa.org/user/password
If a customer did not proactively create a username at purchase, the system automatically created one during checkout if they bought their eBook before 12/1/2025, which consists of the first part of their email address, as in this example: If the email address was “customer123@soa.org,” the username would be “customer123.” If the customer bought their eBook after 12/1/2025, their username would be their email address.

Access and Platform Details

The eBooks are hosted on a third-party platform (Sheridan Books), not SOA.org.
They are browser-based, cannot be downloaded, and can be accessed on any internet-enabled device (desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone).
Offline access is available, but offline mode must first be activated online.
Five percent of the book may be printed, and 5 percent may be copied (and pasted).

How to Access the eBook and Where to Find It

Customers may not know how to get from the SOA website to their eBook or how to open it.

Access begins by logging in to the Sheridan Books ePlatform via this link: https://publications.soa.org/user/login
After login, the eBook is available in “My eLibrary.”
Instructions for first-time setup and login are included in purchase confirmation emails from publications@soa.org.
Email access codes must be redeemed for multiple-copy purchases (team or group orders).

Customer Support and Replacement Requests

Help with eBook access or technical issues must go through the Contact Us form (specific to the eBook platform), not general SOA Customer Service.
We do our best to respond within 48 hours, except during times when we receive a particularly high volume of assistance requests.
For damaged physical copies, customers must email publications@soa.org within 5 business days of receiving the shipment and include photos and order details.
Refunds are not available for digital content, and physical books are non-returnable, so the Contact Us route is critical for resolution.