Description: The article presents specific operational guidelines when managers and staff are having difficult conversations. The article reviews half a dozen "popular" guidelines but shows that they are not specific. The article then in two layers presents specific operational guidelines. First the article based on a commonality of principles of email etiquette and Jewish Speech Laws reviews five guidelines for ordinary conversations: focus on events vs. people, focus on fixes vs. blames, being holistic (acknowledge any good done), be operational (indicate outcome and how to accomplish it), and use of tentative tone. The article concludes by adding three specific guidelines for difficult conversations: shared-self-evaluation, skillful use of breaks when emotions flair, and use of open-ended lead-on questions coupled with continuous empathy and offers of collaborative support.

Description: Latest installment in a series covering the application of Buddhist principles to the working world of actuaries. This installment specifically addresses how the desires and wishes of actuaries are never truly satisfied but rather just shift to other wants and desires, and what actuaries can do to find more peace in their workplace and careers.

Description: The chairperson for the marketing and distribution section discusses the section welcome call and outline future topics and themes for the year head.

Description: In this interview, Caroline Grégoire, formerly from Hannover Re, and now international mentor, coach, trainer and speaker, shares her views on how mentoring can support you on your career path and how it also benefits the reinsurance industry as a whole.

Description: In this article, the outgoing Society of Actuaries President, Donald J. Segal, reviews what he learned in the past year about the SOA and the actuarial profession.

Description: Summary of activities by the product development council.

Description: An update on the status of the Product Development Section's research projects.

Description: Feature article discussing post-level term mortality expectations.

Description: Describes professional development opportunities sought by subgroup members and highlights offerings for in-force managers at the 2019 SOA Annual Meeting & Exhibit.

Description: Chairperson's Corner from the March 2004 issue of Reinsurance News.