Description: For 20 years the Education and Research Section has given awards to the top graduate student speakers at the annual Actuarial Research Conference. This article provides the motivation, its evolution, lessons learned that can apply to all who give presentations, and why 2025 was the final year for the awards.

Description: A summary of new members of the India committee for the SOA India newsletter

Description: SOA Outstanding Educator Award

Description: The VM-22 standard provides critical guidance for the modeling of life insurance and annuity products, specifically in relation to the calculation of reserves and capital requirements. As insurance companies continue to adapt to emerging regulations and evolving market conditions, selecting the right assets to back insurance liabilities has become an increasingly important focus. VM-22 provides flexibility but also presents challenges in determining the optimal asset strategy. The goal is to support actuaries in navigating this complexity and ensuring sound financial decisions.Our proposed session will focus on the practical aspects of asset selection under VM-22. We will highlight key considerations for selecting the appropriate assets to match the liabilities of insurance products, and how this impacts reserve calculations and risk management. To provide real-world insight, we plan to invite one or two clients who have successfully implemented VM-22 asset selection strategies. Additionally, we will collaborate with a trusted technology partner that has helped at least one client with the field testing of asset selection strategies under VM-22. This will allow us to offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in asset selection, the strategies employed, and the lessons learned through client case studies and technology integration.Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of asset selection, the tools available to support decision-making, and best practices to optimize outcomes under the VM-22 framework. We aim to provide actionable insights and foster discussion on how actuaries can use the latest tools and techniques to manage asset-liability matching effectively and efficiently.

Description: Large Language Models can help you write emails, code in SQL, R and Python, and be more efficient. But should you use it? Let's review the professional guidance available to actuaries, including the work from the Academy of Actuaries.

Description: In this topic call, we will focus on opportunities for actuaries to flex both their entrepreneurial and innovative muscles within a standard insurance / consulting environment, with a focus on how practitioners of all levels can influence a company’s products, processes, and more. We’ll touch on how to gain buy-in and momentum for innovative ideas and how to fold this into the fabric of your day-to-day work. A companion podcast Innovation in Insurance – A Conversation with Jason Hiquet is recommended listening prior to the topic call.

Description: As the adoption of offshore reinsurance strategies continues to grow among insurers seeking to optimize their capital and balance sheets, a critical focus for both prospective and current adopters is the establishment or enhancement of existing data, technology, and modeling processes to meet offshore reporting requirements. Drawing from practical experience, this presentation aims to provide attendees with key insights for successfully producing the necessary reporting items for offshore reinsurance entities, along with considerations for operational efficiency, model and data governance, and management decision-making.

Description: The objective of this session is to help actuaries understand the impact of tax regulations on actuarial reserving and the calculation of the Value of Business Acquired (VOBA). Actuaries must ensure compliance with tax reserving requirements, assess differences between statutory and tax reserves, analyze tax treatment of VOBA in mergers and acquisitions, and evaluate their financial implications. By integrating tax considerations into actuarial modeling, insurers can optimize tax efficiency, maintain regulatory compliance, and enhance financial performance.

Description: Candidate Connect – 2026 Valuation Actuary Symposium