Description: The working life of actuaries has become faster paced, more complex, and potentially more volatile than in any previous period in the history of the profession. Furthermore, actuaries are increasingly being asked to expand their roles into areas that lie beyond the traditional space associated with the actuarial profession. As a result, actuaries are increasingly finding themselves faced with professional and ethical dilemmas for which there is little precedent to rely for guidance. Take part in a guided discussion about three real-world case studies where actuaries were required to make difficult decisions. We will see how by remaining calm and leaning on the ASOPs, actuaries were able to navigate professional and ethical pitfalls despite pressure from key stakeholders. Each case study will highlight actuaries working in different areas within the industry. Some examples may include: - Case study 1: An actuary working for a direct insurer finds a last-minute error during a busy production cycle. - Case study 2: An actuary working for a reinsurer finds themselves under pressure to apply an unrealistic assumption. - Case study 3: An actuarial consultant is under pressure from a non-actuarial client to perform work in a way that would not comply with actuarial standards. By attending the session, you will: - Understand how to lean on the ASOPs to keep cool during stressful situations. - Manage deadlines and expectations. - Balance risk and reward, and remain true professionals, no matter how hot the fire.

Description: The war for actuarial talent is intensifying, amplified by an existing mid-level talent gap and increased competition from outside industries. As insurers continue to experience “Great Reshuffle,” effectively retaining junior and mid-level actuaries and growing them into future leaders is vital for long-term success. Actuarial leaders must be strategic in how they demonstrate commitment to their employees’ futures and proactive in providing clear career pathing and development opportunities within their organizations. Discuss common characteristics and expectations of younger generations, the skillsets essential for tomorrow’s leaders, the role professional development plays in retention, and ways to effectively support their growth and advancement to build long-term loyalty. Gain insight into specific actions to maintain open and honest conversations with your teams, uncover employees’ career aspirations, and grow vital interpersonal skills among high potential employees to foster a bench of future leaders who can think beyond the numbers and provide broader enterprise impact. By attending the session, you will:•Understand the values and characteristics common to younger generations, while recognizing and emphasizing individual needs.•Uncover how to identify and support individual employee’s professional aspirations to increase retention.•Identify the skills that separate good actuaries from great leaders and how they can be developed.•Leverage strategies and tools to grow future leaders and help close the mid-level talent gap within their own organizations.

Description: Explore concepts of listening, intention, emotion and bias to promote constructive conversations and constructive feedback. A panel of actuarial leaders will share skills and techniques they use to deal with topics that are sometimes stressful and tough to deal with. By utilizing a strong feedback model and emotional intelligence, anxiety and frustration can be reduced for everyone, leading to purposeful outcomes and positive resolutions. There will be time to ask questions and seek advice for difficult situations you may be experiencing. Possible topics: - Asking for a raise or promotion - Giving performance reviews - Sharing insights with your boss - Team members not pulling their weight By attending this session, you will: - Reduce fear and anxiety - Improve problem-solving - Enhance listening skills - Understand motives of self and others

Description: Explore similarities between actuaries and data scientists as speakers share personal experiences on the importance of organizational structure. Attend the Actuary, Data Scientist, or Actuarial Data Scientist webcast to discover the effectiveness of partnering both of these career paths in a life insurance atmosphere. In addition to personal experiences, speakers will discuss several success stories where collaboration and connection became the key to driving innovation. Come learn about the progress these professions have caused in pricing and risk management.

Description: Based on a late 19th century analysis, life insurance premiums were once differentiated by race, with Blacks/African Americans experiencing higher rates than for whites. Over time, the actuarial profession has had increasing focus on professionalism and responsibility to the public, and today all members of the five actuarial organizations based in the U.S. are subject to the Code of Professional Conduct. Come engage in interactive discussion about how Precept 1 might help current actuaries avoid bias in our work, including when thinking about risk classifications and dealing with new technologies. By attending the session, you will be able to:- Understand the importance of Precept 1 in our self-governing profession.- Think about prevailing conventional wisdom and potential bias in your current work.

Description: Chairperson's welcome to the RS and thoughts about our future.

Description: News from the Chair of the SOA International Section

Description: Self-management is your ability to use awareness of your emotions to stay flexible and direct your behavior positively. When you understand what you are feeling, you can effectively choose how to react. Knowing your individual tendencies can help you prepare for future events by consciously deciding to change or adjust your behavior when certain situations occur. The article shares strategies, examples and personal insights to illustrate how to develop the skill of self-management.

Description: A real life situation is posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision, and readers are invited to submit the irresponses to "What Would You Do?" This issue’s case study involved a staff performance issue faced by an actuary new to management.

Description: Defining fairness for life insurance processes is complex and challenging as well as subjective. The Society of Actuaries Research Institute submits to the public discourse this summary of the challenges and complexities involved in trying to define fairness for life insurance processes in the United States.