by Kevin Pledge
It is hard to believe we are just about halfway through the current council year. We are making good progress with our initiatives that I described in the last two issues of our newsletter, The Independent Consultant. We have drafted requirements for the revamped newsletter and we have amazing sessions planned for the upcoming meetings.
I am particularly excited about the session featuring case studies of actuaries starting a business. I sat in on one of the initial conference calls; we have great speakers who have a lot to share with anyone interested in branching out on his or her own. As I have discovered from my personal experience, there are really no useful manuals that skillfully address starting a business. Every instance is different, but listening to the experiences of people who have done it will tell you what to watch for and give you a feel for what to expect. I hope this session will become a regular feature and the case studies will form part of the resource center, which I think will help fill the “good manual” void.
It’s not too late to run for a section council! Ask anyone who has served on a section council and he or she will tell you how rewarding it is. The Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section gives you the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and shape the direction of the section. If you’re interested in becoming a candidate for election, please submit the “Expression of Interest Form” no later than Friday, May 18. Or if you just want to learn more about the section and how you might get involved, please call me or anyone else on the council.
Kevin Pledge, FSA, FIA, is CEO and co-founder of Insight Decision Solutions, Inc. in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He may be reached at kpledge@insightdecision.com.