Description: Analytics, big data and predictive modeling are red-hot buzzwords and compelling mandates in the insurance industry. As the demand for analytics and big data continues to increase, how does the actuarial experience and perspective fit in? Margaret Resce Milkint of The Jacobson Group discusses the current state of the analytics field and strategies for ensuring that actuaries and their skill set remain relevant in the growing word of analytics.

Description: A review of the classic business book Built to Last, originally published in 1994. Looking at the past twenty years -- how have the BTL companies done? How have their comparison companies fared? Read the review and find out!

Description: Many top-performing businesses aren’t just risk aware, but rather risk intelligent. Such a posture helps prepare companies for a major event and can demonstrate to a regulator or auditor that an appropriately strong control framework is in place. Better still, companies gain real strategic value from a “risk adjusted” understanding not only of their threats and vulnerabilities, but also the upside opportunities associated with various risks. It starts with having both qualitative and quantitative information to identify, assess and manage risks. Strategic risk management, at its core, is about creating value by increasing transparency and accountability, and quality of information. More than a mere compliance exercise, effective risk management enables more informed strategic decision making, increased accountability and transparency, a greater likelihood of organizational success, and – ultimately – competitive advantage, as borne out by many studies that correlate risk management and financial results.

Description: The author suggests aptitude testing is time well spent if you are trying to choose between possible paths, or would like to be able to find the path that best fits you.

Description: The Actuarial Education and Research Fund AERF is a not for profit corporation organized under the applicable law of the State of Illinois in 1976. This paper focuses on the maturing of AERF as well as its creation and implementation by the Society of Actuaries Committee on Professional Development.

Description: In the past few years, SoA members and leaders have raised questions about future needs for actuarial skills, globalization of markets, and the appropriate focus of the present education system in preparing actuaries for their professional futures. As a consequence of these questions, the SoA Board of Governors set aside a major portion of its January 1994 meeting to discuss the education of actuaries, with primary consideration being given to a longer horizon than the immediate future. Chris Daykin, representing the Institute of Actuaries, reported that the Institute was incorporating fundamental changes to its basic Education and Examination [E&E] system. These changes were aimed at focusing more on fundamental principles and away from details of practice.

Description: Chairperson’s column discussing the Marketing and Distribution Section initiatives.

Description: The article highlights the fallacies of multitasking and targets six actions or points of focus that will enable readers to accomplish more and be significantly more productive.

Description: Article Summary Non-Routine Business By Board And Executive Committee, 4 Months To Oct. 31 by Gray in The Actuary, December 1979, Volume 13, Number 10

Description: The article is Part 1 of two articles that provide a case study for the development of a profitability and risk dashboard. The sample dashboard provides distilled information regarding actual to expected (A/E) ratios for key risks, agent quality scores and customer value scores. The dashboard would also provide the value of new business written, surplus strain, debit balances, and expected losses on debit balances at different levels, down to the agent level. A product mix index is provided, together with visual comparisons of key metrics to the company's business plan. The Part 2 article will add information to the dashboard regarding risk margins, target capital, and company value.