Description: In this paper, Honorable Mention Essay for the Society of Actuaries' Entrepreneurial Actuaries Section 2010 Papers Competition, the author examines the rapidly increasing costs of maintaining the U.S. prison system and the fiscal pressures the federal and state governments are faced with, and proposes a plan for an early prisoner release program “with a rigorous, merit-based approach that can be expected to demonstrate favorable outcomes for the general public and the released prisoner.” This plan involves “an optimized process for evaluating the perils associated with freeing candidates eligible for early release - an individualized assessment and quantification of those risks…” The article goes on to describe the costs, benefits, risks, and critical success factors. The report includes two appendices.

Description: This article provides guidelines to help you to take charge of your career by creating visibility for yourself.

Description: Business dining is an effective relationship-building tool. This article provides guidelines to help you prepare for hidden dangers in advance so as to maximize the opportunities.

Description: This article compares the characteristics of a retained executive search and a contingency search. It discusses using a Retained Search firm from the candidates perspective.

Description: This article is about how an office can become more efficient using 10 collective time management ideas instituted in the actuarial division of Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Description: A brief review of reading recommendations from the The Actuary’s contributing editors: 1. IFRS Exposure Draft on Insurance Contracts. 2. The Nuts and Bolts of Credit Scores. 3. Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science - How American Healthcare Killed My Father, 4. New Basel III Rules are Announced. 5. Is Law School a Losing Game?

Description: Article that discusses the challenges of being an actuary at a smaller company with limited resources. From the Small Talk Newsletter, Issue 37, January 2012.

Description: This article discusses that first impressions are good indicators, but biases based on dated prior observations can be seriously inaccurate. For leaders, it is important to update your information to accurately reflect your current impression.

Description: Discusses the insurance and actuarial profession in India.

Description: This article contains an interview with Anna M. Rapport. Read her opinions about the actuarial profession and what key SOA and actuarial issues are causes for her concern. Article from The Actuary, Volume 24, Issue 7