Description: This is the first article in a four-part series. In this series of articles, analysis of the U.S. life insurance industry's customers, products, distribution system and regulatory and tax environment will be given. This first part of the series focuses on the customer and the changing product mix of the life insurance industry.

Description: Vision and mission are just two links between successful mountain climbing and launching a successful business. Clear objectives, solid strategies and thorough action plans are the other links. This article describes these parallels between mountain climbing and launching a successful business.

Description: This article reports on the unveiling of a revitalized 'brand' for actuaries revealed at the recent SOA Annual Meeting including the speech by past president Bob Beuerlein and other activities throughout the meeting. The new tagline 'Risk is Opportunity' was introduced and embraced by the members.

Description: This article summarizes a survey on career satisfaction and advancement conducted last fall via FutureRisk.org. The survey asked actuaries about topics ranging from their current job situation, employer and professional aspirations to job satisfaction, career advancement activities and training received via various resources.

Description: This article announces enhancements to the directory of actuarial membership and personnel changes for The Actuary.

Description: The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 established the nationwide expansion of a Long–Term-Care Partnership program into which any state can choose to participate. This article describes that program and what it means for a person insured under a qualifying long-term-care insurance policy.

Description: Summarizes the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, MMA. Focuses on changes to the Medicare Advantage, MA, program and the market reaction to date.

Description: This article is a profile of Jim Tilley, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries a founding trustee of The Actuarial Foundation in 1994. He responds to a few questions about his career.

Description: This article is an interview with Anna Rappaport, past president of the SOA, about her career, her thoughts on the future, and her advice for others.

Description: List of key initiatives for the Society of Actuaries and how they were developed.