Description: Tom Terry, FSA, FCA, MAAA, EA, who founded Chicago Consulting Actuaries in 1991, is interviewed by Sam Phillips in this article. The discussion explores how and why Terry started his own business, the opportunities and risks involved, innovations his firm has come up with, and the future of pension consulting. The article includes advice for those interested in starting their own business.

Description: Discusses some basic issues for women to consider in planning for the possibility of being alone.

Description: The article summarizes a survey conducted by the Pension Section's Research Team. Nearly 2,400 actuaries responded with answers that ranged from abolishing the system to expanding the program to include all workers. The question, What changes, if any, should be made to the current system? is recapped.

Description: The United States has received severe negative press the last several years regarding its massive U.S. federal government debt, currently estimated as of April 2007 at about $8.9 trillion. This article looks at the U.S. debt relative to other countries and also explores the impact on U.S. investments.

Description: The Brazilian market is presently the largest life market in Latin America, so the recent news regarding the abolishment of the reinsurance monopoly there will certainly place Brazil on the radar screens of all major life reinsurers. The article describes the impact on the Brazilian lfe insurance market and the international reinsurance market.

Description: Discusses bancassurance in the United States, after providing a brief background about it in Europe.

Description: Discusses why it is so important for actuaries to actively monitor evolving issues with taxation of life insurance companies and products, and how to monitor the issues and get involved with the process.

Description: This article summarizes statutory reporting and the Pinciple-Based Initiative that the Academy, the industry and the regulators have been working on in the U.S. It addresses whether a principles-based approach will simplify reporting regulations and make them more flexible.

Description: This article discusses that while life style funds make sense for some, a growing minority of individuals successfully make their own investment decisions. It points out that these options should be kept available and that if proper education is provided the informed investor population would grow.

Description: Examines the question of whether health-care costs, or health insurance costs, are in crisis.