Description: The article describes my career in Diversity, starting at the workplace, and continuing during my current service on the Board. Readers should get ideas as to how they too can work towards improving Diversity and Inclusion in our workplaces and our profession.

Description: From a session at a meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in Las Vegas, NV May 22-24, 2000 The panel explored the following question: With all the consolidation in the health insurance business, what can an actuary do to maintain marketability of his or her skills?

Description: David M. Holland, 1997-98 Society of Actuaries President, discusses his goal of working more effectively with the Casualty Actuarial Society. The article discusses recent conflict between some members of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries concerning organizational independence issues.

Description: Reader responses to whether an actuary faced with unexpected negative financial results should cancel personal plans to deal with it immediately.

Description: Part 3 of a 3 part series on Strategic Planning Issues. This document contains material from a speech given on June 17, 1997, in Singapore by Tom Kelly, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of LIMRA International, at a LOMA/LIMRA Strategic Issues Conference.

Description: From 2000 Valuation Actuary Symposium Panel discussion which provides an overview of the current uses of reinsurance, focusing on recent developments and issues. Panelists discussed application of reinsurance to specific products and lines of business and its use as a financial management tool in: • Term insurance • Mortality stabilization • Earnings volatility stabilization • Variable life and annuities and other investment-oriented products Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP treatment of reinsurance e.g., FAS 113 and due diligence issues in selecting reinsurers and maintaining reinsurance arrangements is also discussed. Finally, panelists discussed advantages of onshore and offshore reinsurance transactions.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved whether an actuary who had recently started consulting should consider a job offer to return to a corporate role.

Description: The panel discussed conservation strategies for permanent and term insurance. Topics included: 1.Impact on in-force business from new products e.g., continuous reduction in ART rails, non-smoker discounts, universal life: increased policy loans?, replacements?, lapses?, surrenders and _exchanges? 2. Responses from companies: e.g. extension of new cost methods to existing policyholders?, Field compensation when replacing existing business?, internal conservation functions?, update programs policyholder/agent communication strategies? applicability of new products to in-force policyholders. 3. Interest groups which must be considered and differences between stock vs. mutual companies? e.g. Policyholder, agent/broker, management, stockholders, prospective policyholder, legal/regulatory forces IRS, SEC, state insurance departments. 4. Appropriate financial considerations and anticipated results? Is stonewalling a viable alternative? GAAP effects statutory effects use of reinsurance field force compensation/survival, anticipated future mortality results, Federal Income Taxes.

Description: Presentation of asset liability management techniques to better manage interest rate risk by matching the anticipated cash flows from assets with that of the companies liabilities. Some alternative perspectives/techniques from Canadian insurers are discussed. Article discusses the varying asset/liability management issues pertinent to life insurance companies and defined benefit plan sponsors

Description: From a session at the Spring meeting of the Society of Actuaries held in San Antonio, Texas, June 14-15, 2004. Panel members from the sales and marketing disciplines discussed their best and worst experiences in bringing an innovative product to market and share insights on how to best develop a working relationship within the product development team.