Description: An account of the trials of work ethic issues and college difficulties, and the triumphant story of overcoming obstacles through careful self-improvement.

Description: As part of its recent change in focus, the Marketing and Distribution MAD Section has undertaken two initiatives which require specialized assistance. The first of these is to identify individuals with expertise and/or a common interest in various areas related to marketing and distribution. The second initiative addresses the broad product development process that surrounds actual product design and pricing.

Description: Key Health Issues for 2003, as identified by the Health Benefit Systems Practice Advancement Committee HBSPAC and the Health Section Council HSC of the Society of Actuaries, which will have their top priority attention.

Description: The editor extends his thanks to all section council and members of the Smaller Insurance Company Section and he resigns as editor of the newsletter.

Description: This article discusses many of the complexities of the new IDI valuation table and how they might impact the implementation process.

Description: Based on April webinar, develops nine guidelines for setting assumptions.

Description: Review of FASB's proposed "Targeted Improvements" to long duration insurance accounting and how they will impact valuation processes for Long Term Care.

Description: Regular update on Health Section Council activities, focusing on provider payment reform and strategic approach to continuing education.

Description: Provides an overview of India's insurance market and the important role of the actuary.

Description: On October 30, 2015, the SOA Assumption Development and Governance Group, an informal discussion group consisting of nearly 200 interested actuaries with topics pertaining to actuarial assumption development and governance, organized an industry discussion call on end-to-end assumption documentation practices. The purpose of this call was to generate a large list of ideas for best-practice assumption documentation. More than thirty companies were represented in the call, including direct insurers, reinsurers and consulting firms. This article is the work product of the discussion written by Laurie Li and Alex Zaidlin.