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: Over the last decade, the actuarial career has gained significant attention of entry level job-seekers as it continues to be one of the consistently top rated jobs in the market. There are different avenues to break into the profession, but one of the most common is through an Actuarial Student Program, where a company formally supports the exam progress of individuals through paid study materials, exam fees, and time off to study. Most programs also include an emphasis on development of leadership and communication skills. As the recruiter for MassMutual’s Actuarial Student Program, I get the opportunity to regularly share with candidates why I believe a student program is such a powerful springboard for a successful actuarial career. Profiled in the article is two actuarial students and one recent actuarial student program “graduate” to highlight the value a student program can bring to one’s professional development.

Description: Interview with Rick Jones, senior partner and national practices leader at Aon Hewitt.

Description: There are reasons for the retirement actuary to be optimistic about the future of our practice. There are reasons to believe that actuaries will play an increasingly large and valuable role in the retirement industry and there are significant opportunities for growth—from both an individual and a profession wide perspective— within the pension consulting field.

Description: Panelists at an Annual Meeting session discuss the actuarial world and current state of the life insurance industry .