Description: The numerous restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have certainly affected everyone and those measures may have consequences for our health. The article attempts to uncover possible links between COVID-19 and depression.

Description: The goal of this publication is to give insights on some market trends in the insurance industry from an African perspective. Some of such trends include digital innovation, accounting standards (IFRS 9 and IFRS 17), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Political Violence and Terrorism (PVT) incidents and Covid-19 pandemic exposures as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations. It also highlights the success story of the leading pan-African reinsurer, African Reinsurance Corporation, with a message to young professionals that can help increase their odds of success.

Description: We discuss a teaching program for new actuarial science and risk management & insurance educators at Georgia State University that includes the following topics: - Introducing insurance - Syllabus construction - Creating content and actively engaging students - Student motivation and career paths - Assessment and grading rubrics - Professional ethics and other

Description: This month, Expanding Horizons had the opportunity to interview Tim Boonen, the winner of the Society of Actuaries’ (SOA’s) second Actuarial Science Early Career Award.

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: The momentum in value-based care has produced an opportunity for actuaries to become pioneers in health care

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: Actuaries have the business acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and technical skills to develop innovative and data-driven solutions in the social insurance space. It is time we expand our scope and embrace an increased role in making a positive impact within the health care ecosystem. The primary focus of this paper is on social insurance programs dedicated to the most vulnerable population: low-income families accessing care through Medicaid. While there are numerous challenges that require other subject matter experts to take the lead, this article highlights topics where actuaries can be key players in developing and implementing tangible solutions to improve the care for the most vulnerable. Issues and solutions in this paper focus on the following three areas: 1. Access to appropriate care, 2. continuity of care, and 3. social determinants of health.

Description: We explore the question of how an actuary–artificial intelligence collaboration might look in the future and how actuaries should be trained to best leverage this technology. It felt fitting to accomplish this through a conversation with an AI system, as AI involvement is warranted to ground the analysis in the technology’s true capabilities.