Description: background history of the insurance industry and the role of actuaries within it, followed by the current environment and anticipated future environment.

Description: The author reflects on his own personal experiences that led him to be an actuary and that support his feelings about life insurance.

Description: Discusses the paper on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, entitled “AIDS, HIV Mortality and Life Insurance,” by Michael Cowell and Walter Hoskins, and the potential impact of AIDS on the insurance industry in North America. Also solicits comments from other SOA members about the issue.

Description: This article from SOA president David Holland, speaks to the need of the actuarial profession to consistently evolve with the needs of the 21st century.

Description: This article discusses reasons why the Society of Actuaries is not vocal in expressing its opinion.

Description: The March issue of 'The Actuary' asked, 'Just what is an actuary?' This article provides the readers' responses.

Description: David M. Holland, 1997-98 Society of Actuaries President, discusses his goal of working more effectively with the Casualty Actuarial Society. The article discusses recent conflict between some members of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries concerning organizational independence issues.

Description: Discussion about what it means to be a professional. T

Description: The Society of Actuaries now has more than 600 members in Asia. This article describes how the SOA is increasing its outreach to members in Asia by establishing the Asia Committee, and by approving a three-year extension of the SOA’s support for the actuarial program at Nankai University, Tianjin, China.

Description: This article reflects on the decision on creating NAAJ to replace the Transactions. The NAAJ, published quarterly for more timely information, is being marketed aggressively internationally within the academic community and to allied professions.