Description: Effective strategic decision-making helps insurance firms succeed by, among other things, enhancing profits and return on investment. Capital optimization is a crucial component for business leaders to consider when it comes to financial planning, new business strategy, and evaluating corporate structures. Actuaries have a vital role in evaluating and communicating key risks and impacts on the capital position for such strategic decisions. In this session we will be exploring in detail the range of practices when it comes to: Assessing the immediate impact to capital from corporate strategy and new product design Creating a forward-looking assessment of capital across the business planning horizon, including considerations with regards to the change in risk profile due to strategic action Keeping pace with internal demand to ensure that capital is part of the decision making process Providing analysis of sufficient quality to allow management understanding of key drivers of change and how their decisions influence results

Description: This article announces that Stephen J. Kaczmarek, ASA, was awarded 30 Fellowship credits for his paper, “A Quantitative Analysis of Factors Affecting Formulary Compliance in Prescription Drug Card Programs.” This is the 13th such paper approved for Fellowship credit under the Future Education Methods program.

Description: This abstract describes a presentation that reviews the latest AHCA update and its impact on market stability from short-term and long-term points of view.

Description: This article introduces the Retirement Probability Analyzer Software. From Pension Section News, January 2005, Issue No. 57.

Description: From a session at a meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in Las Vegas, NV May 22-24, 2000 The American Academy of Actuaries had put together an ad hoc task force charged with developing a long-term strategic approach for marketing the profession to future users of actuarial services and to strategically position and strengthen the profession. This session provided an update on the progress of the task force.

Description: Actuary of the Future, the newsletter of the Actuary of the Future Section. April 2013, entire issue

Description: The author suggests that true actuarial method is a blend of all three modes of thinking, clinical, statistical and heuristic, and using all three early in our processes will make us smarter modelers. From The Actuary, February 2012, Volume 9, Issue 1.

Description: This article features two actuaries, one is a pilot and the other owns a cake business. From The Actuary, February 2012, Volume 9, Issue 1.

Description: Comments on how the profession is changing due to computers and the need for continuing education in order to adapt.

Description: This article discusses the need to broaden and expand the actuarial profession. The author encourages adding new practice areas or enhancing existing ones.