Description: Provides a summary of the Small Talk Newsletter for Fall 2016. Also included are thoughts on the need for continuing education and involvement in the industry.

Description: This paper addresses the extension of the theory of life contingencies to a stochastic interest environment and its application to solvency valuation and surplus. A discussion of the paper follows. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1990, Vol. 42.

Description: The actuarial profession has been questioning the continued applicability of its historical paradigm and principles over the past decade. The author feels actuaries should stick with their historical strengths.

Description: Presented at October 1996 Annual Meeting. How do we quantify our unique skills and articulate them to nontraditional industries to enhance their awareness of actuaries and the role they can play in these industries? The profession has struggled with developing a strategic marketing plan for expanding actuarial opportunities to nontraditional employers. Part of the struggle centers on clearly defining and articulating the “product” that actuaries have to market. This role play helps clarify this definition.

Description: Discussion of effective communication. Topics included: 1. Characteristics of an effective communicator 2. How to make a presentation or write a report

Description: Emails are to the business world what cars are to a road trip: we can't get anywhere without them. This article offers 6 specific strategies to write emails more effectively. The theme is that re-reading your emails to check for a clear goal, conciseness, appropriate tone, etc. is a worthwhile time investment as it saves your reader time and prevents problems caused by miscommunication.

Description: The December2012/January 2013 edition of The Actuary magazine—the Society of Actuaries’ flagship publication.

Description: This article provides guidelines to help you to take charge of your career by creating visibility for yourself.

Description: This paper attempts to reduce several variables to their bare minimum and to investigate how the cost of vesting depends upon those few that remain. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1972, Vol. 24, Pt. 1, No. 70.

Description: Presented at June 2000 Spring Meeting. Discusses adjustments mutual company actuaries have to make after demutualization: financial reporting, product design and pricing, profit measures, and roles and opportunities.