Description: This article is an opinion piece on the value of Sections to the Society of Actuaries. In particular, the Smaller Insurance Company Sections supports its members by sponsoring meeting sessions, developing webcasts, actively supporting research and promoting a sense of community and collaboration.

Description: This is the first in a series of articles about accounting for reinsurance under GAAP Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts (LDTI). It provides an introduction to the topic, giving an overview of what has and hasn't changed. Changes include a few that directly address reinsurance and others that indirectly result from changes to direct accounting and the existing ties between reinsurance and direct accounting.

Description: A discussion of issues to consider in selecting and contracting with a PBM.

Description: An announcement of the roster of the newly reconvened Health Section Research Committee, and an invitation to propose, participate in, and read about the committee's projects. informal RFP to solicit research project ideas, invitationto join project oversight groups and

Description: A report on the proceedings of the June 2010 SOA health meeting. Leading topics included health care reform, opportunities to expand actuaries' roles, the global financial crisis, and collaboration with other organizations.

Description: The widening gap in life span between high- and low-income Americans may be eroding the progressivity of Social Security retirement benefits. Differential longevity trends have had the effect of raising lifetime benefits for high earners but not for low earners. Social Security’s long-term financial problems result in part from an increase in average life expectancy driven by wealthier people living longer, and, thereby, collecting more benefits. Policymakers should not use funding shortfalls attributable to these trends as an excuse to cut monthly benefits alike for those who have gained (high earners) and for those who haven’t (low earners).

Description: The author reviews 13 bad habits that create barriers to sales success.

Description: A look at how to apply knowledge of the Myers-Briggs preference pairs to communicate more effectively with those from other preferences.

Description: Learn to distinguish yourself from everyone else, starting with how you introduce yourself to networking contacts, hiring managers and executives.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved whether a recently departed employee should be offered the chance to return, and whether he should consider it.