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: The SOA, in collaboration with CSU-Fullerton, hosted the first event combining local high school students and community college and university students for a day of learning and networking.

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: "In this video titled The Power of Perseverance by Dave Dilon discusses the importance of resilience in both personal and professional life. Dave shares his experiences, including overcoming setbacks while working on health insurance regulations in Louisiana and teaching at Georgia State University. He emphasizes the value of a growth mindset, focusing on solutions, and being open to new challenges and learning opportunities. Contributors: Dave Dillon, FSA, MAAA, FCA,; Scott Allen, FSA, MAAA; Sam Behrend, FSA, MAAA; Jon Forster ASA, MAAA. "

Description: "In this video titled Balancing Act: Managing Work and Life as an Actuary, Dave Dillon emphasizes the importance of time management, stress management, and work-life balance. He shares his strategies for prioritizing tasks, carving out dedicated time for personal activities, and embracing physical fitness to enhance mental clarity and creativity. Dave highlights the significance of balancing intense work periods with essential downtime to maintain long-term mental health and overall well-being. He encourages others to find their own balance for long-term success and happiness.

Description: This article is about the little things that impact your personal brand, and how that personal brand helps you influence others.

Description: In this article, we aim to outline the advantages of smaller programs and gather opinions on the challenges these programs face in their efforts to emphasize these strengths. For our purposes, we define small actuarial programs as those with a relatively low student enrollment count. The following are three key advantages of small programs, which are similar to those of small colleges:(a) Enhanced benefits from small class size; (b) Adaptable curriculum; (c) Increased opportunities for each student. A variety of similar other issues are also discussed with recommendations, challenges, and invitations for further dialogue.

Description: Latest installment of a series applying lessons from Buddhist philosophy to the working world of actuaries. This installment focuses on practicing the yogic principle of "ahimsa" or non-harming with ourselves, and the importance of respecting and caring for oneself in order to better serve the needs of others.

Description: The article describes principles for optimal sub-tasking of a project goal. Two experiments each one comparing different approaches are presented. A summary of principles for optimal goal setting presents seven key points: i)levels of outcome goals should be recognizable and lack ambiguity; ii) each subtask should be atomic, i.e. not be capable of being broken up into further subtasks, iii) the subtasks should be uniform, lacking ambiguity, so that any new trainee could master it without the need for further guidance; iv) each subtask should be attainable in a reasonable amount of time; v) mentor feedback should be provided during the initial stages of learning or training; vi) upon mastery of each subtask trainees should be encouraged to maximize their overall score; vii) after mastery of individual subtasks, while attempting to maximize scores, trainees should be provided with a mixture of easy, intermediate, and difficult tasks.

Description: Read about how a great leader lays a tone upon which the harmonics of their followers are naturally amplified, rallying them together, while the tone of a great follower provides harmonics that further provide a layer of resonance for supporting those around them. These qualities help drive motivation, morale, and productivity within an organization.