Description: We are living in a time of significant changes which are taking a toll on some employees. To assist our team members through these tumultuous times, being a supportive manager is key. We discuss using emotional intelligence to help employees have a positive work experience.

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: This article is intended to provide young actuarial professionals and job seekers with tips on succeeding in remote interviews.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved a career decision by a near FSA.

Description: Latest in series of articles exploring the adaptation of Buddhist philosophy to actuarial practice. This installment examines the challenges for actuaries in dealing with pain points in actuarial work, and how to best manage these forces so that the work remains aligned with professional standards.

Description: This is the second installment of a two-part series. Part I was published in the July 2023 issue of The Stepping Stone and provided guidance on how a new (re)insurance company can build an attractive work environment for actuarial talent. In part II we will focus on how to encourage those actuaries to remain with the company in the long run.

Description: A discussion with an experienced actuarial manager on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people management and what we can learn and apply in the actuarial profession going forward.

Description: A real-life situation is posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision, and readers are invited to submit their responses to "What Would You Do?" This issue’s case study found amid-career actuary uprooting his family for a new job that involved promotion to Chief Actuary. Shortly after, he found that the company was in serious financial difficulty, and he felt he'd been deceived during the interview process.

Description: This article gives a formula for reversing failure into success

Description: Continuation of series applying Buddhist principles to actuarial work setting. This issue discusses the challenges to actuaries posed by the coronavirus pandemic and how mindfulness practice can expand an actuary's perspective and enhance effectiveness