Description: This article explores a potential alternative to the more typical regression-based specification of risk adjustment models. We demonstrate a proof of concept that a nearest-neighbors approach may hold some promise in certain applications of health-based risk adjustment.

Description: A description of Data Science best practice tools and how they can apply to general actuarial work.

Description: The author reviews the book, The Perfect Swarm: The Science of Complexity in Everyday Life, by Len Fisher. He provides his own interpretation of the power of the swarm and touts the book as a straightforward and informative introduction to various aspects of complexity science.

Description: Short descriptions of the various articles in the June issue.

Description: This article summarizes the new research paper of "InsurTech: A Guide for the Actuarial Community" by Carrie Kelley and Kiki Wang. It serves as a quick read for our members to learn the latest development in the InsurTech space and explore the opportunities for actuarial practitioners

Description: This review discusses the notion that a diverse group of individuals, namely, a crowd, has greater wisdom and can make better decisions than a very accomplished individual expert or a very smart group of individuals who are similar to each another and applies this thinking to business in general.

Description: Book review – this book is a concise look at the evolution of formal investment theory and related financial forecasting, with continual contextual references to its ties to gambling and to organized crime.

Description: This article discusses steps to follow to ensure a more rational and productive approach to data analysis.

Description: At the 2009 SOA Annual Meeting in Boston, Nassim Nicholas Taleb shared some thoughts on Black Swans, operating in the fourth quadrant, and living in the world of Extremistan versus Mediocristan during his keynote speech, all of which can be found in his published work. The follow-up session, summarized in this article, addresses the real question: What do we actuaries do about these phenomena?

Description: The main focus of this article revolves around pension plans and their funding levels.