Description: Letter from the SOA president discussing the SOA’s new approach to professional development. From The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2010 Vol 7 Issue 2

Description: Studying in London from a Jamaican’s experience and perspective.

Description: This article provides a summary of the Actuarial Standards Board work and hearing evaluating whether a new ASOP is needed for public sector pension plans.

Description: Discusses earthquake risks and the actuarial profession in New Zealand.

Description: Announces that Ian Rolland, chairman and CEO of Lincoln National Corporation, recently agreed to serve as campaign chair of the Society of Actuaries Foundation's initial member fundraising campaign. This is a recent question and answer column.

Description: Highlights a visit made by the President of the Society of Actuaries to the Far East. Specifically, he shares his learnings about the actuarial profession in Shanghai, Bejjing, Hong Kong and Taipei, locations that contain more than 6 percent of the SOA membership.

Description: Information about a new Education and Examination staff person, Robert A. Conover, FSA

Description: After research involving auto insurance is retracted due to fraud, I revisit my own book review and unskeptical quoting of that now-debunked research. A lesson in ASOP 23, on Data Quality, ensues, as it seems data in the research was falsified. There is also a lesson in ASOP 56, Modeling, which includes aspects of relying on outside experts for model input. At the end of it all, the value of our actuarial professional standards, in light of other professions seemingly having no standards (or no serious repercussions for breaching said standards), shines through. Also, be skeptical of 'one simple trick' approaches to transform the insurance industry.

Description: Discusses meeting the professional development needs of members in Asia

Description: The widening gap in life span between high- and low-income Americans may be eroding the progressivity of Social Security retirement benefits. Differential longevity trends have had the effect of raising lifetime benefits for high earners but not for low earners. Social Security’s long-term financial problems result in part from an increase in average life expectancy driven by wealthier people living longer, and, thereby, collecting more benefits. Policymakers should not use funding shortfalls attributable to these trends as an excuse to cut monthly benefits alike for those who have gained (high earners) and for those who haven’t (low earners).