Description: This is a letter from the editor. This issue completes his first year as editor.

Description: Discusses creating a user-friendly [and bullet-proof] spreadsheet.

Description: This article is about the critical role of actuaries in IT projects.

Description: Article describing new and interesting computer programs.

Description: In this article, the author describes how to get data into and out of R.

Description: Letter from the new chairman of the Technology Section Council introducing the new council members.

Description: Feature article discussing the latest computer programs.

Description: David Januszewski looks at the the development of open source software in statistics. By comparing the virtues between SAS, the proprietary software and R, the open source software used by statisticians, he thinks that open source software "can and does coexist with the proprietary software" and "both have a purpose. "He further looks at the availability of the open source software in the actuarial profession and does not see "open source software sweeping across actuarial science like it has with other fields". Dave explains the possible uses and virtues of the open source software to actuaries and asserts that it may be beneficial that the open source is used together with the propriety software.

Description: This report summarizes the results of a Delphi study to identify and debate possible new approaches or Blue Ocean Strategies to acquiring business by life insurers.

Description: Certain valuation assumptions are difficult to set with a high degree of accuracy, whether because the underlying experience is in different economic or interest rate environments, in addition to other reasons. Examples include assumptions for long-term care insurance, annuity options, lapsation and premium persistency on ULSG. This session will share how the actuary can use predictive analytics to augment the assumption-setting process. Some of the benefits to the actuary (along with the company and the regulator) include more accurate assumptions with lower margins for adverse deviations. Of possible interest as well is that applications go beyond valuation and include acquisitions, reinsurance and pricing.