Description: This is a thank you note sent out by Sarah Christiansen of the Principal Financial Group and Stuart Klugman of Drake University for the opportunity of hosting the 34th Annual Actuarial Research Conference. The Conference was held Aug. 8-11, 1999, in Des Moines, Iowa. The theme of the conference, jointly sponsored by Drake University and The Principal Financial Group, was building bridges between theory and practice. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 2000, Vol. 1.

Description: While we agree with the conclusions expressed by Silver and Hedges The Classical Definition of Compound Interest is Adequate by Murray Silver and Bob Hedges, ARCH 1981.2, we do not believe the theorem follows from the stated Axiom. We present an alternative proof which uses only the accumulation function and not the force of interest.

Description: Two breakout sessions were held. Their goal was to explore ways in which researchers and practitioners could be brought closer together. The following summaries were edited by Stuart Klugman from notes taken by the indicated participants: Session #1 - Bridging the gap with regard to modality and morbidity and Session #2 - Bridging the gap with regard to financial modeling.