Description: This article notes the results of a survey of U.K. actuaries asking which actuaries rated as famous and asks for nominations for such notoriety in the U.S.

Description: This article gives insight about an actuary who incorporates his actuarial skills and love for skiing.

Description: Summary of testimony by an AAA Board member before a congressional subcommittee, as an expert on risk assessment and adjustment, especially in relation to Medicare risk contracting and HMO payments. She recommended: mitigating the geographical region values, credibility weights for payments to health plans, carving out high cost claim segments, reengineering the ACR methodology, shifting AAPCC methodology from fee-for-service toward competitive bidding, and further projects to improve risk methods.

Description: This article describes how actuary and avid bridge player, Donald Sondergeld, fulfilled his own prediction. At the end of his article 'Actuaries and the rule of 11' [The Actuary, October 1997], he said he expected 'to become an ACBL [American Contract Bridge League] Life Master soon.' In a foursome with his wife, Mary, in March 1998, Don crossed the finish line when they won the final gold points he needed.

Description: Each year, one six-day annual event in the United States attracts 5,000 scientists as well as other individuals with a strong interest in science. The Society of Actuaries was formally represented this year for the first time at the event, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS], held Feb. 12-17, 1998 in Philadelphia. An eminent panel discussed the 1997-98 SOA research project, 'Impact of Mortality Improvement on Social Security: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.' The SOA’s session was entitled 'Social Security in the NAFTA Countries: What if People Stop Dying?' This article summarizes that presentation.

Description: This article is a response to a lighthearted article from "The Onion" newspaper about the world death rate.

Description: On the lighter side, actuary Bill Feldman nostalgically recalls playing baritone saxophone for Tony Bennett in two 1969 concerts. From: The Actuary, September 1999 – volume 33 - Issue 7.

Description: This article is part of a series that periodically highlights personal careers and offers new perspectives on actuarial job paths. It features John M. Boermeester, who retired in 1975 after 44 years with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance. Boermeester was one of an elite group of actuaries who were asked to step out of their daily roles and into a special research assignment in World War II. They were members of the U.S. Navy’s Operations Research Group [ORG], a civilian unit formed to analyze military operations to determine what methods and procedures would have the maximum impact with minimum loss.

Description: For more than two years, 'The Actuary' has received more articles and letters on Social Security than on any other single topic. Given actuaries’ interest in analyzing financial situations and the extensive public debate on Social Security worldwide, the subject’s prominence among actuaries is easily understood. To offer more SOA members a forum for their views, editors of the September 1998 issue included a survey asking members’ opinions on five statements related to possible U.S. Social Security reform. The survey drew 1,067 responses, representing 6.6% of the membership, by the Oct. 31, 1998, deadline. This article summarizes the results of that survey.

Description: This article is about a session held at the October 1996 annual meeting, which focused on how actuaries can move beyond traditional employers.