The Independent Consultant
February 2010, Issue No. 29


Issue Notes from the Editor

by Bill Ely

In this quarter's issue of The Independent Consultant, we feature a wide range of topics, including a book review, tips on writing how-to articles, talent acquisition and more. Enjoy the issue!
[Full article]

From the Chairperson-Check Us Out!

by Larry Stern

I would like to highlight a few of the visible activities your Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section (EAS) Council is making available to you: preferred vendor program, webinars and networking opportunities.
[Full article]

Book Review: Self Promotion for Introverts®

by Nancy Ancowitz (Review by Ruth Ann Woodley)

I've just finished reading a very helpful book that reads as though it were written with actuaries in mind: Self Promotion for Introverts®: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead. Full disclosure-I've known Nancy Ancowitz for several years, helping coordinate her presentations for the SOA and articles for this newsletter. So I was looking forward to her first book, knowing how well Nancy understands the personal preferences I share with many of my fellow introverted actuaries.
[Full article]

Write the Right Kind of How-To Article

by Carl Friesen

In thinking about a possible theme for an article to write and get published in a business publication, many consultants assume that writing about what they do for a living makes a good topic. It's interesting to them-why not to the readers of the publication?
[Full article]

Talent Acquisition Is More Important and Complex in Recession

by Douglas Reiter

Even when times are bad, it's still hard to find good talent. That is what many consultants are learning as they attempt to replace talent they let go earlier in the past year's recession, whether for subcontracting help or collaborative efforts.
[Full article]

Is Self-Insurance the Right Choice for Your Practice's Short-Term Disability Program?

by Jim Mooradian

As employers and consultants look for ways to save money, all costs are under scrutiny, and the first place they look is their medical plan, given high premium costs. That's fine, but it also makes sense to analyze the costs of a self-insured, short-term disability (STD) program.
[Full article]

Negate Failure and Legal ("N-F-L") Optimizing Player Decision-Making in the National Football League (NFL™)

by Nickolas J. Ortner

On-field failures and off-field transgressions of players represent business, fiscal and public relations risk to National Football League (NFL™) franchises. In this era of emerging economic uncertainty and fiscal pressure in the NFL™ due to the league-specified salary cap (preventing teams from simply 'buying out' their personnel mistakes), those risks are magnified.
[Full article]

The Birth of an Independent Actuarial Consultant

by John Dante

Have you ever dreamed of becoming an independent actuarial consultant? What if you found yourself in a situation where becoming an independent actuarial consultant was the only option you had to continue to provide for the needs of your family? How would you go about this? What would you need to do?
[Full article]

2010 Health Meeting Scheduled for June 28-30 in Orlando!

by the SOA

Attend the SOA '10 Health Meeting, where we've lined up engaging speakers, thought-provoking sessions and plenty of networking opportunities. You won't want to miss our point/counterpoint debate between two leading minds in health care reform, followed by a question-and-answer session. Matt Weinstein, humorist and author of Work Like Your Dog, will round out our speakers. We've got sessions planned on a wide variety of topics-emotional intelligence, trends and issues facing health insurance companies and reinsurers and untapped opportunities for health actuaries. And, we're once again offering a unique learning experience-sign up for our computer-based learning session, where you will design a basic health plan to cover the uninsured. The catch? The money available is one-third less than typical employer based coverage.
[Full article]