Description: In “Gearing up for Designing Your Future,” published in the May 2017 issue of Actuary of the Future, the author cited four heroes as his personal inspiration. This article is the successor, showing the glory of these heroes and how they can inspire us actuaries today, as we strive to live our best lives. Identifying your own Noble Purpose as an actuary and in your life makes creating a five-year plan for personal growth meaningful and motivating. What will you gain from reading biographies of famous people and the classics? To aspire, to approach eloquence, to emulate the poetry of how they put their ideas across to mobilize their publics, to elevate our own characters by their examples, to be fully equipped to make moral and ethical judgments, to master the primary tool, verbal communication.

Description: This article urges actuaries to evolve from technical experts to strategic influencers by strengthening their communication skills. It highlights why data alone isn’t enough—actuaries must clearly convey insights, make recommendations, and tailor messages to business audiences. With practical tips and communication shifts, the piece helps actuaries present their work with greater impact. Written by an experienced actuarial leader, it offers real-world relevance for professionals aiming to drive decisions and add strategic value in healthcare and insurance settings.

Description: This article is about the little things that impact your personal brand, and how that personal brand helps you influence others.

Description: Feature article discussing why communication is vital.

Description: This article studies the syllabus as a dynamic, interactive teaching tool that informs and is informed by both solutions of complex course problems and student difficulties with these problems.

Description: Cassie He and Kabeer Jhaveri invite Michael Frank, a health, accident and life actuary with 24 years of experience, to talk about his career experience, his insightful views on the room to growth for actuaries and also the changes happening to the profession.

Description: Discusses how volunteering helps with development of important soft skills such as communication, networking, teamwork and leadership.

Description: The SOA Competency Framework for Actuaries is a powerful tool to enable you to Design Your Future by prioritizing your continuing education goals over time.

Description: This article addresses dealing with distractions, avoiding habits like multi-tasking, and providing guidance on how to reach a state of "flow" to concentrate on deep work.

Description: This article is based on a presentation made by the author at the Annual Meeting of the Actuarial Society of New York in September 2004. The example of the position inventory and complementary skills acquired is from the author's own professional experience. From The Actuary Magazine, April/May 2005