Description: Recently completed research projects from the Society of Actuaries.

Description: This is an interview with Steve Vernon, FSA, MAAA, who runs his own business for helping people live long and prosper–financially, emotionally and with respect to their health. His contribution to society is to use his actuarial expertise and communication skills to help the baby boom generation face these challenges.

Description: The Actuary recently asked Bob Smyth of Gant Travel Management some questions regarding international travel. Smyth says if you plan well and are up to date on new regulations and passport requirements, traveling abroad is smooth sailing.

Description: Feature article discussing the pros and cons of insurance companies in stretch management, using dreams to set business targets with no idea how to get there.

Description: Feature article discussing the Morris Report and its influence on U.K. actuaries and development of the Financial Reporting Council FRC. This includes the Board for Actuarial Standards BAS, Professional Oversight Board POB, and the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board AADB.

Description: Article discussing the SOA’s addition of a new membership section, Social Insurance & Public Finance Section and a new section of the Web site, Pathway to Membership.

Description: This article discusses the changes in the marketing and distribution of lindividual life and annuity products. It highlights new distribution channels including banks, broker dealers, wirehouses and the Internet as well as fee-for-service financial planning.

Description: This is an interview with Shane Chalke, FSA, MAAA, who has started three businesses since 1983. Chalke, the youngest person ever to be elected to the SOA Board of Governors, has a knack for making the right business decisions. He tells how his actuarial background has played a role in his success, and what makes him a winner.

Description: This article is about variable annuity products in Japan. Topics covered are the history of variable annuities, product and risk management, distribution, the regulatory environment and the market outlook.

Description: We are often told that, as actuaries, we excel in technical skills and ethical behavior. SOA member surveys confirm that we believe this to be true. We have also been told that we often demonstrate a lack of business savvy, and in particular, we have difficulty seeing "the big picture." The same SOA surveys indicate that we know this to be true as well.