Description: Tensions arose between the Society of Actuaries [SOA] and the Casualty Actuarial Society [CAS] organizations’ leadership when articles in the May 1997 issue of the CAS newsletter suggested the SOA was trying to force a merger. This article describes how a meeting between SOA President, Anna Rappaport, and CAS President, Mavis Walters, led to an exchange of views that included the entire Boards of each organization and ultimately led to the members of both Boards demonstrating mutual respect.

Description: This article is part of a series that periodically highlights personal careers and offers new perspectives on actuarial job paths. It features John R. Thompson, one of two deputy superintendents in Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. In addition, he chairs the executive committee of an international organization that sets standards for insurance supervisors worldwide.

Description: This article discusses the media attention received when Al Easton, as 1997-1999 Futurism Section council chair, coordinated a study of the section members and asked the members to forecast future events in members' practice areas. The study utilized the Delphi technique, which assembles a group of experts and polls them on the same questions in up to four rounds of surveying. Each time, the previous round's answers are revealed so the experts can consider their next responses in light of their peers' views. From: The Actuary, January 2000, volume 34, issue 1.

Description: Four experts offer their views on why the life insurance industry as we've come to know it is disappearing and what will be different about the new industry evolving, including: more competition from other financial services providers, distribution changes, better use of technology, and consolidation.

Description: This article looks at the recent trend of mergers and acquisitions between very large organizations. The driving forces, issues involved and keys to success are discussed. The role of the actuary in this process is also reviewed.

Description: This article gives insight about an actuary who incorporates his actuarial skills and love for skiing.

Description: Panelists discuss the usefulness of good public relations techniques in promoting businesses or energizing careers. These tools can add value to your company and energize your career. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 3.

Description: In this artice, seven former Society of Actuaries presidents offer their views of the 'Big Tent' approach to growing and strengthening the SOA and the profession. They were asked for their insights by SOA President Howard J. Bolnick, who crafted the Big Tent concept as head of the SOA Committee on Strategic Planning in 1998.

Description: This article notes the results of a survey of U.K. actuaries asking which actuaries rated as famous and asks for nominations for such notoriety in the U.S.

Description: This article is a response to a lighthearted article from "The Onion" newspaper about the world death rate.