Description: Discusses the RAND function in Excel and alternatives for generating random numbers.

Description: Call for reviews and articles on software programs.

Description: Feature article describing the latest technological advances and web sites for use by actuaries.

Description: Actuarial systems access and change controls are hot topics these days as modeling continues to increase in complexity and as new modeling regulations may begin to crest over the horizon. Many companies are currently in the process of either formalizing their actuarial system access and change control protocols, or are reevaluating and strengthening their existing control processes in response to identified deficiencies or in conjunction with new actuarial system implementations. With these undertakings in mind, this article discusses a number of valuable components commonly incorporated in formal systems access and change control protocols. Also discussed are leading practices identified in the SOA publication “Actuarial Modeling Controls: A Survey of Actuarial Modeling Controls in the Context of a Model-Based Valuation Framework (December 2012)”, and from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Description: This program allows the user to explore in great detail a technical problem that has occupied a number of investors, financial writers and especially retirees, during the last few years, as the baby boomers start to approach retirement. Namely, what is the probability that one will run out of money before running out of life, if his or her current standard of living is maintained? This is a zip file which includes the Retirement Probability Analyzer software, an instruction manual and a PowerPoint presentation explaining the program.

Description: This column discusses the use and management of data withn the computer language R.

Description: Small insurance companies sometimes feel constrained to use Excel instead of a commercial actuarial system due to cost and inertia. This article provides multiple reasons why that decision leads to unintended risks for the actuarial department and the company as a whole.

Description: Discusses Object Oriented, OO, programming language concepts and SOLID Object Oriented principles.

Description: This article reviews Spreadsheet Check and Control, a book that provides techniques to avoid errors in spreadsheets and to check existing spreadsheets for errors.