Description: The December 2013/January 2014 edition of The Actuary magazine—the Society of Actuaries’ flagship publication.

Description: This section presents book reviews and summarizations of recent publications: 'Regulation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans' by Eilers, 'Changes in Family Medical Care Expenditures and Voluntary Health Insurance' by Anderson, Collette, and Feldman, 'Risk Management' by Snider, 'Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service' by Public Health Service. Digests are also included.

Description: This paper presents reviews of: 'Life Insurance' 11th Edition by Black & Skipper, 'Protecting Against Inflation - and Maximizing Yield' by Bragg, 'Megamistakes: Forecasting and the Myth of Technological Change' by Schnaars, 'The Value of Pensions in Divorce: What It Is and How to Use It' by Snyder, 'Episodes in the Life of Charles Francis McCay - Academic, Actuary, Author and Businessman' by Kellam, 'APL the Language and Its Actuarial Applications' by Stiers, Goovaerts & Kerf, 'Actuarial Mathematics', Vol. 35 edited by Panjer.

Description: This article contains an analysis of fractional premiums and the loss of interest and premium in the year of death. It uses Jordan's text on life contingencies to illustrate a relation between net fractional and net annual premiums and to determine if there is any loss of interest or not.

Description: Learning excellence is of value to both candidates and credentialed actuaries learning new areas. Learning mastery and excellence requires 1) use of executive function (EF), multiple brain areas, for example, verbal, formal (algebraic), computational, and geometric (rule of four), and 2) goal-setting, skillful breaking down of complex tasks into subtasks each of which are simultaneously 2a) clear and specific, 2b) achievable in a short time and 2c) challenging. 10 examples are presented illustrating use of the "rule of four" to achieve elegant solutions to otherwise complex problems as well as goal setting using fellowship-exam approaches, approaches to multi-component problems, and skillful use of databases as visual organizers. The material reflects a new approach to learning complexity that is easier to use than the pedagogic hierarchies and unifies them.

Description: This is the Introductory Study Note for the Society of Actuaries Advanced Finance/Enterprise Risk Management examination for Spring 2012 that will be given on Friday, April 27th, from 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Description: This is the Introductory Study Note for the Society of Actuaries Retirement Benefits-Company/Sponsor Perspective examination for Spring 2012 that will be given on Friday, April 27th, from 8:30 a.m. –1:15 p.m.

Description: The October/November 2013 edition of The Actuary magazine—the Society of Actuaries’ flagship publication.

Description: The questions in this study note for Society of Actuaries Exam MLC Models for Life Contingencies were previously presented in study note MLC-09-08. The questions in this study note have been edited for use under the 2012 learning objectives. Some questions were not applicable to the 2012 learning objectives and these questions were removed. Some of the questions in this study note are taken from past SOA examinations.

Description: Presented at May 1996 Spring Meeting. This session is intended to provide up-to-date information on the redesign effort and the governing principles that guide the design process.