Description: An account of the trials of work ethic issues and college difficulties, and the triumphant story of overcoming obstacles through careful self-improvement.

Description: A discussion of issues and developments that threaten the collective confidence of the LTC insurance industry, including job cutting, changes in reporting requirements, and compliance audits.

Description: The financial services industries that most actuaries serve are fundamentally changing. So it’s critical that the profession change, also, to meet the new needs of those and other industries using actuarial services. This editorial is about the questions that must be addressed by actuaries who want to succeed in the new environment.

Description: With the convergence and consolidation of the financial services industry, the advent of new technologies and the Internet, and increased focus on the customer, actuaries are facing a brand new set of challenges. This editorial prefaces the articles in this issue that point out some key challenges and opportunities facing today’s actuaries.

Description: February issue of The Stepping Stone

Description: A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go from managing a team of 5 to almost losing my job to going back to an individual contributor role. I went through a rough period mentally, emotionally, and physically. In the midst of that experience, I got the opportunity to read "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth" by John C. Maxwell. I credit this book to changing my life and setting me on the path to become a destroyer of self-limiting beliefs.

Description: Model governance must deal with the effects organizational culture, including normalization of behaviors that are inconsistent with appropriate governance.

Description: Interview with Ryan Krisac, director of model controls at Penn Mutual Life.

Description: The article is based on a range of industry insights, and provides readers with a broad overview of the emerging markets, industry trends, and challenges.

Description: This brief article details my observations as a senior consultant for a leading actuarial consultancy across the Middle East and South Asia regarding ORSA. It highlights key challenges, potential solutions and describes the dichotomy of management and consultant paradigm.