Description: Discusses the evolution of the Valuation Actuaries Symposium since the 1980s.

Description: This article explains the replacement of the TSA with the North American Actuarial Journal. It gives a chart showing the differences between the two journals and also names the editorial board of the NAAJ.

Description: This newsletter column by the Modeling Section Chair reflects on his attendance at the 2015 Actuarial Research Conference in Toronto and the relationships between practicing actuaries in industry and those in academia, and specifically those involved in research. How can we help promote academics research that is effective and relevant for practical use? Hopefully the Modeling Section might facilitate that effort.

Description: Noteworthy Reads has a simple aim—to inform our readers of good sources on models; specifically, to point out sources beyond what we can include in a newsletter. Noteworthy Reads will select a few and provide mini-reviews.

Description: On October 30, 2015, the SOA Assumption Development and Governance Group, an informal discussion group consisting of nearly 200 interested actuaries with topics pertaining to actuarial assumption development and governance, organized an industry discussion call on end-to-end assumption documentation practices. The purpose of this call was to generate a large list of ideas for best-practice assumption documentation. More than thirty companies were represented in the call, including direct insurers, reinsurers and consulting firms. This article is the work product of the discussion written by Laurie Li and Alex Zaidlin.

Description: An outline of an additional method for exposure formula toll road diagrams, which supplements the usual one- and two-dimensional methods suggested by Gershenson.

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

Description: Updates on the efforts of the Academy’s health practice council. its work groups and task forces, to educate health care policymakers on issues including health care reform, Medicare, loss ratios, premium review, reinsurance, benefit and eligibility changes, exchanges, and risk based capital.

Description: How can actuaries tailor their work to a target audience? This article explores success stories and key considerations when preparing work for others.