Description: As the search continues for a solution to the U.S. Social Security system’s financing problems, the U.S. Congress is considering raising the normal retirement age for U.S. workers. The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee heard testimony on Feb. 26, 1998 from Christopher Bone, chief actuary, Actuarial Sciences Associates, Somerset, N.J., Ron Gebhardtsbauer, senior pension fellow, American Academy of Actuaries, and Robert Myers, former chief actuary of the U.S. Social Security Administration and professor emeritus, Temple University. All discussed the impact of a higher normal retirement age. This article summarizes the testimony of these three actuaries.

Description: A study funded by the Committee on Finance Research of the Society of Actuaries on actuaries serving individuals. Focus would be on consulting to private individuals to assist with retirement issues as well as other insurance related issues.

Description: This article provides comments about questions raised and discussed in the March and May 1981 issues of The Actuary regarding the relative merits of a U.S. Government Actuary post.

Description: Actuaries and the Actuarial profession have an obligation to act in the public interest. It is not enough to pass exams, keep current and do "good actuarial work.” Both Science and public service must be reflected in all of our activities...The intent of this article is to clarify what "acting in the public service” means for actuaries, particularly U.S. actuaries. It emphasizes the importance (necessity) of examining the "public interest" in everything we do ... and to warn the public where we have concerns. ...Acting in the public interest (a requirement for any profession or professional, is critical to the profession's future reputation and relevance.

Description: Discussion as to whether within an organization an actuary's regulatory role can conflict with his business-oriented role or be aligned with the strategic goals of the company.

Description: The author discusses a definition of an actuary that he suggested several years earlier, noting that the public has a right to know why we think we constitute a profession, and why it should care. The author’s definition is: “that professional who is trained in evaluating the current financial implications of future contingent events.”

Description: This article is about the passing of Christopher Wright, a great -grandson of the noted 19th century American actuary Elizur Wright.

Description: In this “nontraditional” general session from the 1991 Annual Meeting of the Society of Actuaries, held October 20-23 in Toronto, the panelists, a “judge,” a “defendant,” and a “prosecutor” present a humorous “trial” to explore what the boundaries of “traditional” actuarial work are. A theme of the session is that some of what we call “nontraditional” is an expansion of traditional actuarial work, and that we owe it to our public to broaden our horizons. Discussion from participants is included. From the Record of Society of Actuaries, Volume 17, No. 4A.

Description: This is an editorial by the president of the SOA on the subject of how the world views actuaries.

Description: This 1978 session discussion included important challenges to the actuarial profession that result from current social and economic changes, opportunities for actuarial input in a political process, and expanding horizons for the actuarial profession. From Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 4, No. 1.