Description: This story won the Predictive Analytics and Futurism Section prize for most novel prediction forming the basis for the narrative in the 2019 Actuarial Speculative Fiction contest.

Description: In his book The Power of Habit (2012), Charles Duhigg tells a tale of finding common ground and reaching consensus on change. The common ground that was sought between warring corporate tribes was mutually beneficial, not just to achieve the ends to which those changes were aimed, but also for the cooperation that they engendered across the entire organization.

Description: This article summarizes the treatment of changes in the basis for determining life insurance tax reserves under prior law and describes the changes enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It further explains the procedures for changing the basis of computing reserves under the new rules as outlined in Revenue Procedure 2019-10, the IRS’s December 2018 guidance on the subject, and discusses the uncertainties that remain.

Description: Article about lessons learned from working with the Actuaries Without Borders Global Mentorship Program for a year.

Description: In this column from the section chairperson, he suggests that in a world where 'too big to fail' is encouraged, entrepreneurs must adapt by developing marketing strategies and capabilities that deal effectively with both the end user of the services and the procurement professionals and process.

Description: In this article, the Society of Actuaries Executive Director discusses what the SOA is doing to build stronger ties with members and candidates. The efforts include the use of social media, the posting of articles, news, updates and videos more regularly on the SOA blog, the introduction of the first SOA mobile app, and access to the SOA's Online Membership Directory is now available via smartphone. Following the article is a list news articles involving the actuarial profession, a list of professional development opportunities, recommended readings and a list of actuarial e-courses.

Description: Leadership Through Mastery of Soft Skills by Jim Blair from The Stepping Stone Newsletter, July 2004, Issue No. 15.

Description: The editor highlights the articles in this newsletter and points out how they cover a variety of business-savvy categories.

Description: The author discusses the importance of branding yourself and provides ideas to assist you in that process.

Description: The author of this article offers alternative answers when we are asked, as actuaries, what we do for a living.